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Mathematics 21
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 1 / 30
For today
2 Evaluating Limits
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 2 / 30
Introduction
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 4 / 30
Illustration 1
Consider f ( x ) = 3x − 1.
What can we say about values of f ( x ) for values of x near 1 but not equal to 1?
x f (x) x f (x)
0 −1 2 5
0.5 0.5 1.5 3.5
0.9 1.7 1.1 2.3
0.99 1.97 1.001 2.003
0.99999 1.99997 1.00001 2.00003
Based on the table, as x gets closer and closer to 1, f ( x ) gets closer and closer
to 2.
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 5 / 30
Illustration 1
x f (x)
0 −1 4
0.5 0.5 3
0.9 1.7
2
0.99 1.97
1
0.99999 1.99997
−1 1 2 3
−1
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 6 / 30
Illustration 1
x f (x)
2 5 4
1.5 3.5 3
1.1 2.3
2
1.001 2.003
1
1.00001 2.00003
−1 1 2 3
−1
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 7 / 30
Illustration 2
3x2 − 4x + 1
Consider: g( x ) =
x−1 4
(3x − 1)( x − 1)
= 3
x−1
= 3x − 1, x 6= 1 2
−1 1 2 3
−1
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 8 / 30
Illustration 3
3x − 1, x 6= 1
Consider: h( x ) = 4
0, x=1
3
−1 1 2 3
−1
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 9 / 30
Limit
if the values of f ( x ) get closer and closer to L as x assumes values getting closer
and closer to a but not reaching a.
Notation:
lim f ( x ) = L
x→a
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 10 / 30
Examples
f ( x ) = 3x − 1
4
lim (3x − 1) = 2
x →1
3
Note: In this case, lim f ( x ) = f (1).
x →1
2
−1 1 2 3
−1
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 11 / 30
Examples
3x2 − 4x + 1
g( x ) =
x−1
3x2 − 4x + 1
4 lim =2
x →1 x−1
3
Note: Though g(1) is undefined,
2 lim g( x ) exists.
x →1
1
−1 1 2 3
−1
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 12 / 30
Examples
3x − 1, x 6= 1
h( x ) =
0, x=1
lim h( x ) = 2
4 x →1
−1 1 2 3
−1
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 13 / 30
Some Remarks
Remark
In finding lim f ( x ):
x→a
We only need to consider values of x very close to a but not exactly at a.
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 14 / 30
Some Remarks
−3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3
e.g.
lim H ( x ) = 0? No.
1, x ≥ 0
x →0
H (x) = lim H ( x ) = 1? No.
x →0
0, x < 0
lim H ( x ) dne
x →0
(Heaviside Function)
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 15 / 30
Limit Theorems
Theorem
If lim f ( x ) exists, then it is unique.
x→a
If c ∈ R, then xlim
→a
c = c.
lim x = a
x→a
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 17 / 30
Limit Theorems
Theorem
Suppose lim f ( x ) = L1 and lim g( x ) = L2 . Let c ∈
x→a x→a
R, n ∈ N.
lim [ f ( x ) ± g( x )] = lim f ( x ) ± lim g( x ) = L1 ± L2
x→a x→a x→a
lim [ f ( x ) g( x )] = lim f ( x ) lim g( x ) = L1 L2
x→a x→a x→a
lim [c f ( x )] = c lim f ( x ) = cL1
x→a x→a
f (x) lim f ( x )
L
lim = x→a = 1 , provided L2 6= 0
x→a g( x ) lim g( x ) L2
x→a
n
lim ( f ( x ))n = lim f ( x ) = ( L1 ) n
x→a x→a
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 18 / 30
Evaluate: lim (2x2 + 3x − 4)
x →−1
In general:
Remark
If f is a polynomial function, then lim f ( x ) = f ( a).
x→a
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 19 / 30
4x3 + 3x2 − x + 1
Evaluate: lim
x →−2 x2 + 2
Remark
If f is a rational function and f ( a) is defined, then lim f ( x ) = f ( a).
x→a
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 20 / 30
Theorem
Suppose lim f ( x ) exists and n ∈
x→a
N. Then,
q q
n
lim f (x) = n lim f ( x ),
x→a x→a
√ q √ √
lim 3x − 1 = lim (3x − 1) = 8=2 2
x →3 x →3
r r
3 x+4 3 −1 + 4
lim = = −1
x →−1 x−2 −1 − 2
√
4
lim 3 − 2x dne
x →7/2
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 21 / 30
√ !3
2x2 − 5x + 1
Evaluate: lim
x →3 x3 − x + 4
√ !3 √ !3
2x2 − 5x + 1 2x2 − 5x + 1
lim = lim
x →3 x3 − x + 4 x →3 x3 − x + 4
q 3
lim 2x2 − lim (5x + 1)
= x →3 x →3
lim ( x3 − x + 4)
x →3
3
18 − 4
=
28
1
=
8
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 22 / 30
3x2 − 4x + 1
Consider: g( x ) = . From earlier, lim g( x ) = 2.
x−1 x →1
Note that lim 3x2 − 4x + 1 = 0 and lim ( x − 1) = 0.
x →1 x →1
3x2 − 4x + 1
lim = lim (3x − 1) = 2.
x →1 x−1 x →1
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 23 / 30
Definition
If lim f ( x ) = 0 and lim g( x ) = 0 then
x→a x→a
f (x)
lim
x→a g( x )
0
is called an indeterminate form of type .
0
Remarks:
f ( a)
1 If f ( a) = 0 and g( a) = 0, then is undefined!
g( a)
2 The limit above MAY or MAY NOT exist.
3 Some techniques used in evaluating such limits are:
Factoring
Rationalization
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 24 / 30
Examples
x2 + 2x + 1
0
Evaluate: lim
x →−1 x+1 0
x2 + 2x + 1 ( x + 1)2
lim = lim
x →−1 x+1 x →−1 x + 1
= lim ( x + 1)
x →−1
= (−1 + 1)
= 0
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 25 / 30
Examples
x3 + 8
0
Evaluate: lim 2
x →−2 x − 4 0
x3 + 8 ( x + 2)( x2 − 2x + 4)
lim = lim
x →−2 x2 − 4 x →−2 ( x + 2)( x − 2)
x2 − 2x + 4
= lim
x →−2 x−2
4+4+4
=
−2 − 2
= −3
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 26 / 30
Examples
x2 − 16
0
Evaluate: lim √
x →4 2 − x 0
√
x2 − 16 x2 − 16 2 + x
lim √ = lim √ · √
x →4 2 − x x →4 2 − x 2 + x
√
( x2 − 16)(2 + x )
= lim
x →4 4−x
√
( x − 4)( x + 4)(2 + x )
= lim
x →4 4−x
√
= lim [−( x + 4)(2 + x )]
x →4
= (−8)(4)
= −32
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 27 / 30
Examples
√
3
x−2
0
Evaluate: lim 2
x →8 x − 7x − 8 0
√ √ √3 2 √
3 3
x−2 x−2 x +2 3 x+4
lim = lim ·√ √
x →8 x2 − 7x − 8 x →8 x2 − 7x − 8 3 2
x +2 3 x+4
x−8
= lim √ √
x →8 ( x − 8)( x + 1)( 3 x2 + 2 3 x + 4)
1
= lim √ √
x →8 ( x + 1)( 3 x2 + 2 3 x + 4)
1
=
9(4 + 4 + 4)
1
=
108
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 28 / 30
Exercise 1
Evaluate:
3x − 12
lim √ .
x →4 3 − 2x + 1
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 29 / 30
Exercise 2
x3 − 3x − 2
f (x) = .
x3 − x2 − x + 1
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Limit of a Function and Limit Theorems Mathematics 21 30 / 30