Section 1.

4 Calculating Limits

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

Calculating Limits
LIMIT LAWS: Suppose that c is a constant and the limits
lim f (x) and

xa

lim g(x)

xa

exist. Then
1. lim [f (x) + g(x)] = lim f (x) + lim g(x)
xa

xa

xa

2. lim [f (x) g(x)] = lim f (x) lim g(x)

xa

xa

xa

3. lim [cf (x)] = c lim f (x)

xa

xa

4. lim [f (x)g(x)] = lim f (x) lim g(x)

xa

xa

xa

lim f (x)
f (x)
= xa
if lim g(x) 6= 0
xa g(x)
xa
lim g(x)
xa
h
in
6. lim [f (x)]n = lim f (x) where n is a positive integer
5. lim

xa

xa

7. lim c = c
xa

8. lim x = a
xa

9. lim xn = an where n is a positive integer

xa

10. lim n x = n a where n is a positive integer (if n is even, we assume that a > 0)
xa
q
p
11. lim n f (x) = n lim f (x) where n is a positive integer (if n is even, we assume that
xa

xa

lim f (x) > 0)

xa

EXAMPLES:
(1),(2)

(3)

1. lim (4x2 3x + 5) = lim (4x2 ) lim (3x) + lim 5 = 4 lim x2 3 lim x + lim 5
x3

x3

x3

x3

x3

(7),(8),(9)

lim (x2 x + 1)
x2 x + 1 (5) x1
2. lim
=
x1
2x
lim (2 x)

x3

x3

4 32 3 3 + 5 = 32

lim x2 lim x + lim 1

(1),(2) x1

x1

x1

lim 2 lim x

x1

x1
(7),(8),(9)

x1

(1)2 (1) + 1
=1
2 (1)

DIRECT SUBSTITUTION PROPERTY: If f is a polynomial or a rational function and a is

in the domain of f, then
lim f (x) = f (a)
xa

REMARK: The trigonometric functions also enjoy the Direct Substitution Property.
1

Section 1.4 Calculating Limits

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

EXAMPLES:
DSP

1 . lim (4x2 3x + 5) = 4 32 3 3 + 5 = 32
x3

x2 x + 1 DSP (1)2 (1) + 1

=
=1
x1
2x
2 (1)

2 . lim

 
0 A
1
x2 A
1 DSP 1
(x 2) 1 A
x2
= lim 2
= lim
=
=
= lim
=
3. lim 2
2
x2 x 2
x2 x + 2
x2 (x 2)(x + 2)
x2 x 4
0
2+2
4
In short,
x2
1
x2
1
= lim
= lim
=
2
x2 x 4
x2 (x 2)(x + 2)
x2 x + 2
4
lim

 
1
(x + 1)(x + 2) A
x + 2 DSP 1 + 2
0 A
x2 + 3x + 2
= lim
= lim
=
=
=
4. lim 2
x1 (x + 1)(x + 8)
x1 x + 8
x1 x + 9x + 8
0
1 + 8
7
x2 + 3x + 2 DSP (2)2 + 3 (2) + 2
0
=
= =0
2
2
x2
x 1
(2) 1
3

5. lim

 
x2 7x + 12
0 A
(x 3)(x 4) A
x4
6. lim 2
= lim
=
= lim
2
x3 x 6x + 9
x3
x3 x 3
0
(x 3)

DOES NOT EXIST

 
25 + 10h + h2 25 A
10h + h2
0 A
(5 + h)2 25
= lim
= lim
=
7. lim
h0
h0
h0
h
0
h
h
A

h(10 + h) A
DSP
= lim (10 + h) = 10
h0
h0
h

= lim
(2 + h)1 21
h0
h

8. lim

Section 1.4 Calculating Limits

(2 + h)1 21
h0
h

8. lim

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka



1
1
1
1
 
(2 + h)2

0 A
2+h 2
A
2
+
h
2
= lim
= lim
=
h0
h0
0
h
(2 + h)2 h

1
1
(2 + h)2
2 (2 + h) A
22h
A
A
2+h
2 =
= lim
lim
= lim
h0
h0
h0
(2 + h)2 h
(2 + h)2 h
(2 + h)2 h


h
(1) h
1
1
1
1
A
A
A
DSP
= lim
= lim
= lim
=
=
=
h0 (2 + h)2 h
h0 (2 + h)2 h
h0 (2 + h)2
(2 + 0)2
22
4
(2 + h)2

In short,
(2 + h)1 21
h0
h
lim



1
1
1
1

(2 + h)2

2+h 2
2
+
h
2
= lim
= lim
h0
h0
h
(2 + h)2 h
2 (2 + h)
h
1
1
= lim
= lim
=
h0 (2 + h)2 h
h0 (2 + h)2h
h0 (2 + h)2
4

= lim

We can evaluate this limit in a different way:

(2 + h) 1
12
1
1

 

(2 + h)1 21
0 A
(2 + h) 2 (2 + h) 2
A
2
+
h
2
lim
= lim
= lim
=
h0
h0
h0

h
0
h
h

h
22h
h
2 (2 + h)
(2 + h)2
(2 + h)2 A
(2 + h)2 A
(2 + h)2 A
(2 + h)2
A
= lim
= lim
= lim
= lim
h0
h0
h0
h0
h
h
h
(2 + h)2 h


h
(1) h
1
1
1
1
A
A
DSP
A
= lim
= lim
= lim
=
=
=
h0 (2 + h)2 h
h0 (2 + h)2 h
h0 (2 + h)2
(2 + 0)2
22
4

In short,

lim

h0

(2 + h)

2 (2 + h)
1
1

(2 + h)2
= lim 2 + h 2 = lim
h0
h0
h
h
h
h
1
1
(2 + h)2
= lim
= lim
= lim
=
h0
h0 (2 + h)2h
h0 (2 + h)2
h
4

9. lim

x1

1
3

1 x 1 x3


3

Section 1.4 Calculating Limits

9. lim

x1

1
3

1 x 1 x3

= lim

x1

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

= [ ] = lim

x1

1
3

1 x (1 x)(1 + x + x2 )

1 + x + x2
3

2
(1 x)(1 + x + x ) (1 x)(1 + x + x2 )

1 + x + x2 3
x1 (1 x)(1 + x + x2 )

= lim

 
(x + 2)(x 1)
(x + 2)(x 1)
0 A
x2 + x 2
A
= lim
= lim
=
= lim
2
2
x1 (1 x)(1 + x + x )
x1 (x 1)(1 + x + x2 )
x1 (1 x)(1 + x + x )
0
A

x+2
1+2
DSP
=
= 1
2
x1 (1 + x + x )
(1 + 1 + 12 )

= lim

 
x3 8
x3 23 A
(x 2)(x2 + 2x + 4)
0 A
10. lim
= lim
= lim
=
x2 x 2
x2 x 2
x2
0
x2
A

DSP

= lim (x2 + 2x + 4) = 22 + 2 2 + 4 = 12
x2

 
0 A
x4 34 A
(x 3)(x3 + 3x2 + 9x + 27)
x4 81
= lim
= lim
=
11. lim
x3 x 3
x3
x3 x 3
0
x3
A

DSP

= lim (x3 + 3x2 + 9x + 27) = 33 + 3 32 + 9 3 + 27 = 108

x3

or
 
0 A
(x2 )2 92 A
(x2 9)(x2 + 9) A
(x2 32 )(x2 + 9)
x4 81
=
= lim
= lim
= lim
lim
x3
x3
x3
x3 x 3
0
x3
x3
x3
A

(x 3)(x + 3)(x2 + 9) A
DSP
= lim (x + 3)(x2 + 9) = (3 + 3)(32 + 9) = 108
x3
x3
x3

= lim

 
0 A
(x 2)(x 5)
(x 2)(x 5)
x2 7x + 10
A
= lim
= lim
12. lim
=
3
2
x2 (2 x)(4 + 2x + x )
x2 (x 2)(4 + 2x + x2 )
x2
8x
0
A

x5
25
3
1
DSP
=
=
=
2
2
x2 (4 + 2x + x )
(4 + 2 2 + 2 )
12
4

= lim

13. lim

x4

x2
x4

Section 1.4 Calculating Limits

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

 

0 A
x2
x2 A
x2
1
1
1
A
LL

13. lim
=
=
= lim 2
= lim
=
= lim
2
x4 ( x) 2
x4 x 4
x4
x4 ( x 2)( x + 2)
0
x+2
4+2 4

or

 

0 A
x2
( x 2)( x + 2) A
( x)2 22 A
x4

lim
= lim
=
= lim
= lim
x4 x 4
x4 (x 4)( x + 2)
x4 (x 4)( x + 2)
x4 (x 4)( x + 2)
0

1
1
1
LL
=
=
x4
4
x+2
4+2

 
x2 + 16 4
x2 + 16 4 A
x2 + 16 4
0 A

14. lim
=
lim
=
lim
=
x0
x0 x2 + 16 16
x0 ( x2 + 16)2 42
x2
0

x2 + 16 4
1
1
1
A
LL
A

= lim
=
=
= lim
x0
x0 ( x2 + 16 4)( x2 + 16 + 4)
8
x2 + 16 + 4
02 + 16 + 4
A

= lim

or

 
x2 + 16 4
0 A
( x2 + 16 4)( x2 + 16 + 4)

lim
= lim
=
x0
x0
x2
0
x2 ( x2 + 16 + 4)

(x2 + 16) 16
( x2 + 16)2 42 A
A

= lim
= lim
x0 x2 ( x2 + 16 + 4)
x0 x2 ( x2 + 16 + 4)

x2
1
1
1
A
LL
= lim
=
=
2
2
2
2
x0 x ( x + 16 + 4)
x0
8
x + 16 + 4
0 + 16 + 4

= lim

 
0 A
x+73
( x + 7 3)( x + 7 + 3)( x + 2 + 2)

=
15. lim
= lim
x2
x2 ( x + 2 2)( x + 7 + 3)( x + 2 + 2)
0
x+22

((x + 7) 9)( x + 2 + 2)
(( x + 7)2 32 )( x + 2 + 2) A
A

= lim
= lim
x2 ((x + 2) 4)( x + 7 + 3)
x2 (( x + 2)2 22 )( x + 7 + 3)

4
(x 2)( x + 2 + 2) A
x + 2 + 2 LL 2 + 2 + 2
2
A

= =
= lim
=
= lim
x2
x2 (x 2)( x + 7 + 3)
6
3
x+7+3
2+7+3
 sin 3x
sin 3x
3x A
3x
= lim sin3x4x
sin 4x
4x x0
4x
4x
sin 3x

lim
3x
C 3x0 3x
=
= lim
lim
u0
lim sin4x4x x0 4x
4x0

 
0 A
sin 3x
= lim
=
16. lim
x0
x0 sin 4x
0
C x0

lim

sin 3x
3x

lim

sin 4x
4x

x0

3x
lim
x0 4x

In short,
sin 3x
lim
= lim
x0 sin 4x
x0

sin 3x
3x
sin 4x
4x

3x
4x

tan 7x
x0 tan 2x
5

sin 3x
3x
x0 sin 4x
4x

3x
x0 4x

lim


sin u
3x A
3 C 3
C 1
= 1 = lim
= lim =
u
1 x0 4x x0 4
4

3x
1 3x
3
3
= lim
= lim =
4
4x x0 1 4x x0 4

17. lim

= lim

Section 1.4 Calculating Limits

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

 
0 T
tan 7x
17. lim
= lim
=
x0 tan 2x
x0
0
 
0 A
=
= lim
x0
0

sin 7x
7x
sin 2x
2x

sin 7x
cos 7x
sin 2x
cos 2x

sin 7x
A
1
= lim
x0 sin 2x
x0
1

h
i
C
= lim cos u = 1 = lim
u0

sin 7x
sin 2x



7x
sin u
7 C 7
1 7x A
C
= lim
= lim =
= 1 = lim
u0 u
x0 2
x0 1 2x
2
2x

 h

i
x
cos 2x
C
= lim cos u = 1 = lim
18. lim (x cot 2x) = [0 ] = lim x
u0
x0 sin 2x
x0
x0
sin 2x
T

= lim

x0

1
2x

2 sin 2x


1
sin u
u
C 1
= lim
= lim
=1 = 1=
u0 u
u0 sin u
2
2

 
0 A
sin(2(x 1))
19. lim 2
= lim
=
x1 x 7x + 6
x1
0

sin(2(x 1))
sin(2(x 1))
2(x 1)
2
2(x 1)
2(x 1)
A
= lim
x1
(x 1)(x 6)
x6


2
sin u
1 2 DSP 1 2
C
= lim
=
= 1 = lim
=
u0 u
x1 x 6
16
5

20. lim

x0

1 cos x
x2

Section 1.4 Calculating Limits

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

 
1 cos x
0 A
(1 cos x)(1 + cos x) A
1 cos2 x T
sin2 x
20. lim
=
lim
=
lim
=
lim
=
x0
x0
x0 x2 (1 + cos x)
x0 x2 (1 + cos x)
x2
0
x2 (1 + cos x)
A

= lim

x0

sin2 x
1

x2
1 + cos x


sin u
1
C
= lim
= 1 = lim
u0 u
x0 1 + cos x

LL,DSP

1
1
=
1 + cos 0
2

  
0 T
1 (cos2 3x sin2 3x) A
1 cos2 3x + sin2 3x
1 cos 6x
= lim
= lim
=
21. lim
x0
x0
x0 x sin 3x
0
x sin 3x
x sin 3x



sin2 3x + sin2 3x A
2 sin2 3x A
2 sin 3x A
6 sin 3x
sin u
C
= lim
= lim
= lim
= lim
= lim
= 1 =6
x0
x0 x sin 3x
x0
x0
u0 u
x sin 3x
x
3x
T

22. Let
f (x) =

x2

if x 2

x + 1 if x > 2

Then
DSP

lim f (x) = lim x2 = 22 = 4 and

x2

x2

DSP

lim+ f (x) = lim+ (x + 1) = 2 + 1 = 3.

x2

x2

Since lim f (x) 6= lim+ f (x), it follows that lim f (x) does not exist.
x2

x2

x2

23. Let
g(x) =

Then
(a)

lim g(x) =

x1

(e) lim g(x) = 0

x0

1
(b)
2

x+2

if x 1

x1
x3

sin x

if 1 < x 0
if x > 0

lim + g(x) = 1 (c) lim g(x) D.N.E. (d) g(1) =

x1

x1

(f) lim+ g(x) = 0

(g) lim g(x) = 0

x0

x0

(h) g(0) = 0

|x + 1|
does not exist. In fact,
x1 x + 1

24. We show that lim

lim

x1

|x + 1|
(x + 1)
= lim
= 1 and
x1
x+1
x+1

Since
lim

x1

lim +

x1

|x + 1|
x+1
= lim +
=1
x1 x + 1
x+1

|x + 1|
|x + 1|
6= lim +
x1
x+1
x+1

|x + 1|
does not exist.
x1 x + 1

it follows that lim

1
2

Section 1.4 Calculating Limits

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

THE SQUEEZE THEOREM: If f (x) g(x) h(x) when x is near a (except possibly at a)
and
lim f (x) = lim h(x) = L
xa

xa

then
lim g(x) = L

xa

 
1
EXAMPLE: Show that lim x sin
= 0.
x0
x
2

Solution: We first note that

 
1
1
1 sin
x

Multiplying all three parts of this inequality by x2 , we get

 
1
2
2
x2
x x sin
x
Since
lim (x2 ) = 0 and

x0

it follows that

 
1
lim x sin
=0
x0
x
2

by the Squeeze Theorem.

lim x2 = 0

x0