LIMITS

Syllabus

1. Indeterminate form

2. Limits of a Function

 Left and right limits

4. To find left/right limit

5. Existence of limit

6. Theorems of limits

7. Methods of evaluation of limits

8. Standard limits

9. Limits which do not exist

Total No. of questions in Limits are:

Solved examples……….......………………..…27
Level # 1 …….……………………………….…103

Level # 2 …….……………………………….…36
Level # 3 …….……………………………….…31

Level # 4 ……………………………………..…30

Total No. of questions…..…………………….227

***
IIT JEE PREPRETION LIMIT 1
 1. Students are advised to solve the questions of exercises (Levels # 1, 2, 3, 4) in the
same sequence or as directed by the faculty members.
2. Level #3 is not for foundation course students, it will be discussed in fresher and
target courses.

Index : Preparing your own list of Important/Difficult Questions

Instruction to fill

(A) Write down the Question Number you are unable to solve in column A below, by Pen.
(B) After discussing the Questions written in column A with faculties, strike off them in the
manner so that you can see at the time of Revision also, to solve these questions again.
(C) Write down the Question Number you feel are important or good in the column B.

COLUMN :A COLUMN :B
EXERCISE
NO. Questions I am unable
Good/Important questions
to solve in first attempt

Level # 1

Level # 2

Level # 3

Level # 4

Advantages

1. It is advised to the students that they should prepare a question bank for the revision as it is
very difficult to solve all the questions at the time of revision.

2. Using above index you can prepare and maintain the questions for your revision.

IIT JEE PREPRETION LIMIT 2

 KEY CONCEPTS
1. Indeterminate Form f(a–0) or lim
–
f(x) or lim f(x)
x a x a–0
Some times we come across with some functions
which do not have definite value corresponding to
some particular value of the variable. For evaluation
For example for the function
f(a–0) = lim f(a–h)
2 h 0
x – 4 4 – 4 0
f(x) = , f(2) = =
x – 2 2 – 2 0 Similarly, we can define right hand limit (RHL) of
which cannot be determined. Such a form is called f(x) at x = a. In this case x tends to 'a' from right.
an Indeterminate form. Some other indeterminate We can write it as
forms are f(a+0) or lim f(x) or lim f(x)

h a h a  0

0 ×  , 0º, 1 , – , /,º, 0/0.
For evaluation
2. Limits of a Function
f(a+ 0) = lim f(a + h)
h 0
Let y = f (x) be a function of x and for some
particular value of x say x = a, the value of y is 4. To Find Left/Right Limit
indeterminate, then we consider the values of the
function at the points which are very near to 'a'. If (i) For finding right hand limit of the function we
these values tend to a definite unique number  as x write (x+h) in place of x while for left hand
tends to 'a' ( either from left or from right) then this limit we write (x–h) in place of x.
unique number  is called the limits of f(x) at x = a (ii) We replace then x by a in the function so
and we write it as obtained.
lim f(x) =  (iii) Conclusively we find limit h 0
x a

Meaning of 'x  a' : Let x be a variable and a be a 5. Existence of Limit

constant. If x assumes values nearer and nearer to 'a'
The limit of a function at some point exists only
then we can say ' x tends to a' and we write 'x a'.
when its left- hand limit and right hand limit at that
It should be noted that as x a. we have x a. point exist and are equal. Thus
By ' x tends to a' we mean that
lim f (x) exists lim f(x) = lim f(x) =
(i) x  a x a x a
–
x a


(ii) x assumes values nearer and nearer to 'a' and where  is called the limit of the function.
(iii) we are not spacifying any manner in which x
should approach to a.x may approach to a from left 6. Theorems on Limits
or right as shown in figure.
The following theorems are very helpful for
x a
evaluation of limits–
(i) lim [k f(x) ] = k lim f(x) , where k is a
a x x a x a

constant
3. Left and Right Limits
(ii) lim [f(x) + g(x)] = lim f(x) + lim g (x)
If value of a function f(x) tend to a definite unique x a x a x a

number when x tends to 'a' from left, then this

(iii) lim [f(x) –g(x) ] = lim f(x) – lim g (x)
unique number is called left hand limit (LHL) of x a x a x a

f(x) at x = a and we can write it as

(iv) lim [f(x).g(x) ] = lim f(x). lim g (x)
x a x a x a

IIT JEE PREPRETION LIMIT 3

 (v) lim [f(x) /g(x)] = [ lim f(x)]/[ lim g (x)] x
2
x
3

x a x a x a (i) ex = 1 + x + + + ……
2! 3!
provided g (x)  0
2 3
x x
(vi) lim
x a
f [g(x) ] = f [ lim g(x) ]
x a
(ii) e–x = 1–x + – + ……
2! 3!

(vii) lim [f(x) + k] = lim f(x) + k where k is a constant 2 3

x a x a x x
(iii) log (1+x) = x – + – ……
2 3
(viii) lim log { f (x) } = log { lim f (x) }
x a x a
2 3
x x
(iv) log (1–x) = – x – – – ……
(ix) If f (x)  g(x) for all x, 2 3

then lim f(x)  lim g(x) ( x log a )

2
( x log a )
3
x a x a
(v) ax= 1+ ( x log a) + + ...
2! 3!
Lim g ( x )
(x) lim [f(x)]g(x) = { lim f ( x )} x  a 3 5
x a x a x x
(vi) sin x = x – + – ……
3! 5!
(xi) lim f(x) = lim f(1/x)
x   x 0
2 4
x x
(xii) lim f(–x) = lim f(x) (vii) cos x = 1 – + – ……
x 0

x 0
– 2! 4!

3
x 2
7. Methods of Evaluation of Limits (viii) tan x = x + + x5 + ……
3 15
7.1 : When x   3 5
x 9x
In this case expression should be expressed as a (ix) sin–1x = x + + +……
3! 5!
function 1/x and then after removing indeterminant
form, (If it is there) replace 1/x by 0.   x
3
9x
5

(x) cos–1x = – x 

  ...... 

7. 2 : When x a, a R. 2  3! 5! 

7.2.1 Factorisation method : 3 5 7

x x x
(xi) tan–1 x = x – + – + ……
f (x ) 3 5 7
If f(x) is of the form and of indeterminate
g(x )
n ( n – 1)
form then this form is removed by factorising g(x) (xii) (1+x)n = 1 + nx + x2 +……
2!
and h(x) and cancel the common factors, then put
the value of x. 7.2.4 'L' Hospital rule
7.2.2 Rationalisation Method: f (x ) 0 
If lim is of the form , or , then
x a g(x ) 0 
In this method we rationalise the factor containing the
square root and simplify and we put the value of x. f (x ) f (x )
lim = lim
7.2.3 Expansion method x a g(x ) x a g ( x )

If x  0 and there is atleast one function in the Note :

given expression which can be expanded then we 0
(1) This rule is applicable only when there is or
express numerator and Denominator in the 0
ascending powers of x and remove the common 
factor there. form.

The following expansions of some standard (2) This rule is applicable only when the limits of
functions are given- the function exists.

IIT JEE PREPRETION LIMIT 4

8. Some Standard Limits 9. Some Limits Which do not Exist
sin x x
(i) lim = lim = 1; lim sin x = 0  1 
x 0 x x 0 sin x x 0 (i) lim   (ii) lim x1/x
x 0 x  x 0

 1 
(ii) lim cos x = lim   =1 |x | |x – a|
x 0 x 0  cos x  (iii) lim (iv) lim
x 0 x x a x – a
tan x x
(iii) lim = lim = 1; lim tan x =0 (v) lim sin 1/x (vi) lim cos 1/x
x 0 x x 0 tan x x 0 x 0 x 0

sin
–1
x x (vii) lim e1/x (viii) lim sin x
(iv) lim = lim –1
=1 x 0 x 
x 0 x x 0 sin x
–1
(ix) lim cos x
tan x x x 
(v) lim = lim
–1
=1
x 0 x x 0 tan x
x
 a 
(vi) lim 1   = lim (1+ax)1/x = ea
x   x  x 0

x
a –1
(vii) lim = loge a (a>0)
x 0 x
x
e –1
(viii) lim =1
x 0 x
n n
x – a
(ix) lim = n an–1
x a x – a

log (1  x )
(x) lim =1
x 0 x
n
(1  x ) –1
(xi) lim =n
x 0 x

sin x cos x
(xii) lim = lim =0
x  x x  x

sin 1 / x
(xiii) lim =1
x  1/ x

(xiv) lim 1/x = 0

x 

1
(xv) lim =
x 0 |x |

 0 , if | a |  1

 1 , if a  1
(xvi) lim ax = 
x 
  , if a  1
 does not exit , if a  – 1

lim g(x) {f(x) – 1}
(xvii) lim [f(x)]g(x) = e x a

x a

IIT JEE PREPRETION LIMIT 5