Limit Laws

(1)
lim x = a
x→a

(2)
lim c = c
x→a
Supposing each of the limits on the right hand side exist, then the limit on
the left hand side exists.
(3)
lim [c · f (x)] = c · [lim f (x)]
x→a x→a

(4)
lim [f (x) ± g(x)] = [lim f (x)] ± [lim g(x)]
x→a x→a x→a

(5)
lim [f (x)g(x)] = [lim f (x)] · [lim g(x)]
x→a x→a x→a

(6)
f (x) limx→a f (x)
lim = , provided lim g(x) 6= 0.
x→a g(x) limx→a g(x) x→a

(7)
lim [f (x)p ] = [lim f (x)]p , provided [lim f (x)]p is defined.
x→a x→a x→a

(8) If f (x) ≤ g(x) for all x near a then

lim f (x) ≤ lim g(x).
x→a x→a

(9) Suppose f (x) = g(x) except possibly at a finite number of points, and suppose
limx→a f (x) = L. Then limx→a g(x) exists and
lim f (x) = lim g(x).
x→a x→a

(10) If limx→a g(x) = L and f (x) is continuous at x = L then

lim f (g(x)) = f (lim g(x))
x→a x→a

(11) limx→a f (x) exists if and only if limx→a− f (x) and limx→a+ f (x) both exist and
are equal. In this case,

lim f (x) = lim− f (x) = lim+ f (x)

x→a x→a x→a
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Continuous Functions
(1) Polynomials are continuous everywhere

(2) Rational functions are continuous everywhere except where the denominator
is zero.

(3) f (x) = bx is continuous for all x. (As always, b > 0.)

(4) f (x) = ln x is continuous on its entire domain, x > 0.
(5) Sine and Cosine are continuous everywhere.

(6) Tangent, cotangent, secant, cosecant are defined everywhere where they are
defined.

(7) Arcsine, arccosine, arctangent are continuous on each of their respective do-
mains.

(8) Power functions are continuous on their entire domains.

(9) Suppose f (x) and g(x) are continuous at x = a and c is a constant. Then
(a) c · f (x) is continuous at x = a
(b) f (x) ± g(x) is continuous at x = a
(c) f (x) · g(x) is continuous at x = a
(d) f (x)/g(x) is continuous at x = a, provided g(a) 6= 0.
(10) Suppose g(x) is continuous at x = a and f (x) is continuous at x = g(a), then
f ◦ g(x) is continuous at x = a.
(11) Let (
f (x), x ≤ a;
F (x) =
g(x), x > a
and suppose f (x) and g(x) are each continuous at x = a. Then F (x) is
continuous at x = a if and only if f (a) = g(a).