22 4.

LIMITS

4.2. Exercises
x3 −13x2 + 51x − 63 a
(1) lim = where a = .
x→3 x3 2
− 4x − 3x + 18 5
√
x2 + 9x + 9 − 3 a
(2) lim = where a = .
x→0 x 2
x3 − x2 + 2x − 2 3
(3) lim = where a = .
x→1 x3 + 3x2 − 4x a
t
(4) lim √ = .
t→0 4−t−2
√
x+9−3 1
(5) lim = where a = .
x→0 x a
x3 − 3x2 + x + 2 1
(6) lim 3
= where a = .
x→2 x −x−6 a
x3 − x2 − 8x + 12 a
(7) lim 3 = − where a = .
x→2 x − 10x2 + 28x − 24 4
√
x2 − x + 4 − 2 1
(8) lim = − where a = .
x→0 x2 + 3x a
x3 + x2 − 5x + 3
(9) lim 3 = .
x→1 x − 4x2 + 5x − 2

x3 − 4x2 − 3x + 18
(10) lim 3 = .
x→3 x − 8x2 + 21x − 18

x3 − x2 − 5x − 3 4
(11) lim 3 = − where a = .
x→−1 x + 6x2 + 9x + 4 a
2x sin x
(12) lim = .
x→0 1 − cos x
1 − cos x 1
(13) lim = where a = .
x→0 3x sin x a
tan 3x − sin 3x a
(14) lim 3
= where a = .
x→0 x 2
sin 2h
(15) lim = .
h→0 5h2 + 7h
cot 7h
(16) lim = .
h→0 cot 5h
sec x − cos x 1
(17) lim 2
= where a = .
x→0 3x a
(9x8 − 6x5 + 4)1/2 a
(18) lim 12 7 1/3
= where a = .
x→∞ (64x + 14x − 7) 4
√ √ √ a
(19) lim x( x + 3 − x − 2) = where a = .
x→∞ 2
2 3
7 − x + 2x − 3x − 5x 4 a
(20) lim = where a = .
x→∞ 4 + 3x − x2 + x3 + 2x4 2
4
(2x − 137) 5
(21) lim = .
x→∞ (x2 + 429)10
 4.2. EXERCISES 23

(5x10 + 32)3 a
(22) lim =− where a = .
x→∞ (1 − 2x6 )5 32
p  1
(23) lim x2 + x − x = where a = .
x→∞ a
1
(24) lim x(256x4 + 81x2 + 49)−1/4 = where a = .
x→∞ a
√
p p 
(25) lim x 2 2
3x + 22 − 3x + 4 = a a where a = .
x→∞

2 1 1
1
(26) lim x 3 (x + 1) 3 − x 3 = where a = .
x→∞ a
√ √
q q 
(27) lim x+ x− x− x = .
x→∞

 2x − 1, if x < 2;
(28) Let f (x) = Then lim f (x) = and lim f (x) = .
 x2 + 1, if x > 2. x→2− x→2+

|x − 1|
(29) Let f (x) = . Then lim f (x) = and lim f (x) = .
x−1 x→1− x→1+

 5x − 3, if x < 1;
(30) Let f (x) = Then lim f (x) = and lim f (x) = .
 x2 , if x ≥ 1. x→1− x→1+

 3x + 2, if x < −2;
(31) Let f (x) = Then lim f (x) = and lim f (x) = .
 x2 + 3x − 1, if x ≥ −2. x→−2− x→−2+

(32) Suppose y = f (x) is the equation of a curve which always lies between the parabola
x2 = y − 1 and the hyperbola yx + y − 1 = 0. Then lim f (x) = .
x→0
24 4. LIMITS

4.3. Problems
 
(1) Find lim e−1/x sin(1/x) − (x + 2)3 (if it exists) and give a careful argument showing
x→0+
that your answer is correct.
(2) The notation limx→a f (x) = ` that we use for limits is somewhat optimistic. It assumes
the uniqueness of limits. Prove that limits, if they exist, are indeed unique. That is,
suppose that f is a real valued function of a real variable, a is an accumulation point of
the domain of f , and `, m ∈ R. Prove that if f (x) → ` as x → a and f (x) → m as
x → a, then l = m. (Explain carefully why it was important that we require a to be an
accumulation point of the domain of f .)
sin πx
(3) Let f (x) = for all x 6= −1. The following information is known about a function g
x+1
defined for all real numbers x 6= 1:
p
(i) g = where p(x) = ax2 + bx + c and q(x) = dx + e for some constants a, b, c, d, e;
q
(ii) the only x-intercept of the curve y = g(x) occurs at the origin;
(iii) g(x) ≥ 0 on the interval [0, 1) and is negative elsewhere on its domain;
(iv) g has a vertical asymptote at x = 1; and
(v) g(1/2) = 3.

Either find lim g(x)f (x) or else show that this limit does not exist.
x→1

Hints. Write an explicit formula for g by determining the constants a . . . e. Use (ii)
to find c; use (ii) and (iii) to find a; use (iv) to find a relationship between d and e;
then use (v) to obtain an explicit form for g. Finally look at f (x)g(x); replace sin πx
by sin(π(x − 1) + π) and use the formula for the sine of the sum of two numbers.
p 2
|x| cos (π 1/x )
(4) Evaluate lim √ (if it exists). Give a careful proof that your conclusion is
x→0 2 + x2 + 3
correct.