Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT

UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com

HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

6.1 Limit
Brief Definition:
When f(x) is getting closer and closer to a finite value L as x is getting closer and closer to a, we say
lim f (x)  L
x a

Properties
If lim f ( x)   ,lim g ( x)   ,then
x c x c

limk1 f ( x)  k 2 g ( x)  k1  k 2 
x c

lim f ( x) g ( x)  lim f ( x) lim g ( x)  

x c x c x c

f ( x) lim f ( x) 
lim  x c  (if   0)
x c g ( x ) lim g ( x) 
x c

lim f ( x)  {lim f ( x)} p

p
x c x c

lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)
x c x c


lim f  g ( x)   f lim g ( x)
x c x c

Important results:
1) If f(x) is a continuous at x=a, then
lim f (x)  f (a) .
x a

2) In particular, if p(x) is a polynomial, then

lim p(x)  p(a)
x a
m leading coefficient p1 and
3) If p(x) is a polynomial of degrees
q(x) is a polynomial of degrees n leading coefficient q1, then

 (not exist), if m  n
p(x) p
lim   1 , if m  n
x  q(x)
q1

 0, if m  n

4) when x is expressed in radian, then

 x
lim 1
x0 sin x

x
lim 1
x0 tan x

In other words, when x is small, we can simply approximate sin x or tan x by x.

Note that when x is small, we approximate cos x by 1−x2

Limits at a Point
 Always try (a) direct substitution first.
If the direct substitution yields an indeterminate form
0 
(i.e.: or ), use (b) factoring, (c) rationalizing, or (d) L’Hospital’s Rule to calculate the limit.
0 

6.1 (a) Direct Substitution

Limits of Continuous or Piecewise Continuous Functions

A function is continuous when its graph is a single unbroken curve that you could draw without lifting
your pen from the paper.

All polynomials are continuous functions.

Example 1: (Linear function)

lim  3x  2   3(-3)+2=-7
x 3
 Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT
UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com
HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

Example 2: (Quadratic functions)

a. lim(4 x 2  2 x  1)  4(2)2 - 2(2) + 1 ← Substitute x = 2

x2

=13
∵because polynomial is continuous at all values.

b. lim( x 2  2 x  1)  (3)2  2(3)  1  16

x 3

c. lim( x 2  2 x  4)  (1)2  2(1)  4  5

x 3

d.

Example 3: (Cubic function)

 
lim 3x3  2 x 2  4  3-2+4=5
x 1

Example 4:

 
lim 3x5  4 x 4  3x  6 = 3 15  4 14  3 1  6
x  1

= –3 + 4 + 3 + 6 = 10

Example 5: (Rational function)

2 2
a. lim   1
x 4 x  2 42

b. lim
x 2  25
=
32  25  9  25   16  4
x 3 x2 5 32  5 9  5 4

x 2  2x  8
 lim
x  4x  2  lim
x4

24

6

3
c. lim
x 2 2
x 4 x 2 x  2x  2 x 2 x2 22 4 2

CAUTION: You must write lim in front of each expression until you plug in a!
x a

Example 6:
 x2 02 0
lim =  0
x 0 x  2 x  4
3 2
0  2(0)  4 4
3 2

Example 7:
x 2  2 x  1 (1) 2  2(1)  1 4
a. lim  2   0.4
x1 x 2  5 x  6 (1)  5(1)  6  10
∵because the function is continuous at x=1.
x 2  2 x  1 (2) 2  2(2)  1 9
b. lim    Limit does NOT exist
x2 x2  5x  6 (2) 2  5(2)  6 0
∵because the denominator function is NOT continuous at x=2.

Example 8:

lim
x 2  3x  10
 lim
x  5x  2  lim x  5  2  5  7 Limit does NOT exist.
x2 x  4x  4
2 x2  x  2  x  2  x2 x  2 22 0

Example 9:

1 lim1 1
lim  x4  Limit does not exist.
x4 x  4 lim x  4 0
x4

Example 10: (Radical function)

a. lim 4x - 11  4(9) - 11  5
x9

b. lim 4x - 11  4(0) - 11  - 11 limit does NOT exit

x0

Example 11:

    lim x  lim 16 = lim x 16

1 1 1

=  lim x 2  16  =
1

a. lim x  16 = lim x  16
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
=
x3 x 3  x 3  x 3 x 3 x 3

3 
1
= 9  16  2 =  7 2 =
1 1
2
 16 2 7 Limit does NOT exist.

b. lim x  1  √8 + 1 = 3
x 8

x 1 3 1 2
lim    2
Example 12: x 3 x4 3  4 1

Example 13: (Trigonometric functions)

 Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT
UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com
HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

Evaluate

a.

b.

c.

Solution:

a.

b. =sin 0 = 0


c. lim tan x  tan 1
x 4
4

Example 14: (Trigonometric functions)

1  sin x 1  sin(0) 1  0
lim =  1
x 0 cos x cos(0) 1

Example 15:
lim( x  cos x)    cos    1
2 2 2
x 

∵because the function is continuous at x=π.

Your Turn!

Let f(x) = x + 2 and g(x) = 2x  1. Find the limit of each of the following limits. Answers:

1. lim [ f ( x)  g ( x)]
x 1

4
2. lim [ f ( x)  g ( x)]
x2

1
3. lim 4 f ( x) g ( x)
x0

8
f ( x)
4. lim
x  1 g ( x)

1

3
x 1
5. lim
x  2 2x  5

1
9
3x  7
6. lim
x  3 2x 1

16
5
x2  4x
7. lim
x  0 x2  x

4
4 x  5x  2
2
8. lim
x  1 6 x 2  8 x  3

11
9. lim x2  2x  5
x  1

2
1
10. lim ( x 3  x 2  6) 2
x2

10
 Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT
UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com
HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

Evaluate the following limits.

11. lim 3 x
x

0
x
1
12. lim 2 
x  5

0
1
13. lim
x   2x

1
14. lim
x4 x4

No limit
0.4 x
15. lim
x x

0
6  0.6 x
16. lim
x 3
2
0.2  1
x
17. lim
x   0.5 x  3

1

3
5 x  11
18. lim ( x 3  1)e
x 1

2e4
e3 x  5e x  2
19. lim ln
x   e 4 x  2e x  2
0