42

MODULE II
LIMITS

CONTENTS:

Lesson 6: Limit of a Function and Theorems on Limits

Lesson 7: One Sided Limits
Lesson 8: Infinite Limits
Lesson 9: Vertical and Horizontal Asymptotes
Lesson 10: Continuity of a Function of a Number

OVERVIEW OF THE MODULE:

Calculus is a very powerful branch of mathematics with a wide range of

applications, including curve tracing, interpretation of functions and analysis of
rates of changes.

What gives calculus its power and distinguishes it from the other branches
of mathematics is the concept of limits. The purpose of this module is to explain
this fundamental concept.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this module, the students are expected to perform the
following:
 define limits and continuity
 illustrate limits
 describe limits and its properties
 evaluate limits
 determine vertical and horizontal asymptotes
 sketch the graphs of function with vertical and horizontal asymptotes
 demonstrate continuity of a function.
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LESSON 6: Limits of a Function and Theorems on

Limits

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this lesson, the students are expected to perform the
following:
 define limits;
 illustrate limits and its theorems; and
 evaluate limits applying the given theorems.

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES:

Discovery approach together with class discussion is a good technique to

consider in this are. It guides the students to discuss and organize their ideas,
and process these ideas by themselves. The approach will be both intuitive and
formal.

The following discussion will form the foundation for a more rigorous
development of the laws and procedures of Calculus.

PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT:

To evaluate students’ performance in this area, ask your students to

redefine limits in their own words. Evaluate the limits and justify each step using
the appropriate theories.

DISCUSSION OF THE TOPICS:

Consider the function

x3 - 1
f (x) =
x -1

Note that the given function is not defined at x = 1 since at this point f(x)
0
has the form which is meaningless or indeterminate.
0

But what will happen to f(x) as x approaches 1, or is f(x) approaching

some specific values as x approaches 1?
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To answer the question, consider the following:

Calculate some values of f(x) for values of x close to 1. Show these relationships
in a schematic diagram, and sketch the graph of the function.

x 1.2 1.1 1.01 1 0.99 0.9 0.8 0.7

x3 - 1
y= 3.64 3.31 3.03 ? 2.97 2.71 2.31 2.19
x -1

y
3.64
f(x) y=
1.20 3.31 4

1.10
1.01 3.03 3

0.99 2.97
0.90
2.71 2

0.80
1
0.70 2.31 f(x)

2.19

x
x y 1 2
Schematic
Diagram
From the illustrations above, we arrived at the conclusion that “f(x)
approaches 3 as x approaches 1”. In symbol we write

x3 - 1
lim =3
x �1 x - 1

x3 - 1
and read as “the limit of as x approaches 1 is 3.”
x -1

Algebraically, a better illustration is given by

x3 - 1 ( x - 1)( x 2 + x + 1)
lim = lim
x �1 x - 1 x �1 x -1

= lim( x 2 + x + 1) , x1
x �1

= 12 + 1 + 1
=3
x -1
To justify the second illustration, note that = 1 as long as x �1 .
x -1
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Given the above illustration then,

lim f ( x ) = L means that when x is close to but not equal to a, then f(x) is
x �a

close to L.

Theorems on Limits. To evaluate limits using simpler methods, the following

theorems are presented based on the definition.

Theorem 1 Limit of a Constant

If c is a constant, then for any number a

lim C = C
x �a

Example:
lim 4 = 4
x�2

Theorem 2 Limit of the Identify Function

lim x = a
x �a

Example:
lim x = -5
x �-5

Theorem 3 Limit of a Linear Function

If m and b are constants

lim(mx + b ) = ma + b
x �a

Example:
lim(2 x + 3) = 2(4) + 3
x �4

= 11

Theorem 4 Limit of the Sum and Difference

If lim f ( x ) = L and lim g ( x ) = M , then

x �a x �a
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lim [ f ( x)  g ( x)] = lim f ( x)  lim g ( x)

xa xa x a
=LM

Example:
lim(2 x - 5) = lim(2 x ) + lim( -5)
x �4 x �4 x �4

= 8 -5

=3

Theorem 5 Limit of the Product

If lim f ( x ) = L and lim g ( x ) = M , then

x �a x �a

lim [ f ( x)  g ( x)] = lim[ f ( x)]  lim[ g ( x)]

xa xa xa
=LM

Theorem 6 Limit of the nth Power of a Function

If lim f ( x ) = L and n is any positive integer, then

x �a

[lim f ( x)]n = Ln
xa

Example:
3
lim (3 x + 6)3 = �lim (3 x + 6)�
x �-3 �x �- 3 �

= (-3)3

= -27

Theorem 7 Limit of a Quotient

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If lim
x �a
f(x) = L and lim g(x) = M , then
x �a

f ( x) lim f (x)
xa
lim =
x a g ( x ) lim g(x)
xa

Example: L
= lim(2
, Mx ) 0
lim
x �5
2x
5x - 4
= M x �5

lim(5 x ) + lim( -4)

x �5 x �5

10
=
21

Theorem 8 Limit of the nth Root of a Function

If n is a positive integer and lim f ( x ) = L , then

x �a

lim n f ( x) = n lim f ( x)
xa xa note: If n is even L > 0.
=n L

Example:
8x + 1 8x + 1
lim = lim
x �1 x +3 x �1 x + 3

9
=
4

3
=
2

Example 6.1. Evaluate lim

x �3
(
3x 2 + 4x - 1 )
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Solution:
( ) ( )( ) + ( lim 4) ( lim x ) - lim1
2
lim 3 x 2 + 4 x - 1 = lim 3 lim x
x �3 x �3 x �3 x �3 x �3 x �3

= 3 ( 3) + 4 ( 3) - 1
2

= 27 + 12 - 1
= 38
or: When evaluating the limit of a function at a given value, simply replace the
variable by the indicated limit then solve for the value of the function:
( )
lim 3 x 2 + 4 x - 1 = 3 ( 3 ) + 4 ( 3 ) - 1
x �3
2

= 27 + 12 - 1
= 38

x3 + 8
Example 6.2. Evaluate lim
x � -2 x + 2

Solution:
x 3 + 8 ( -2 ) + 8 -8 + 8 0
3

lim = = = (indeterminate)
x � -2 x + 2 -2 + 2 0 0

Equivalent function: Note: In evaluating a limit of a quotient

= lim
(
( x + 2 ) x 2 - 2x + 4 ) which reduces to
0
, simplify the
x � -2 x+2 0
fraction. Just remove the common factor
(
= lim x 2 - 2 x + 4
x � -2
) in the numerator and denominator which
0
= ( -2 ) - 2 ( - 2 ) + 4
2
makes the quotient . To do this use
0
= 4+4+4 factoring or rationalizing the numerator
= 12 or denominator, wherever the radical is.

x3 + 8
\ lim = 12
x � -2 x + 2

x+2- 2
Example 6.3. Evaluate lim
x �0 x
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Solution:
x+2- 2 2- 2 0
lim = = (indeterminate)
x �0 x 0 0

Rationalizing the numerator:

x+2- 2 x+2+ 2 x +2-2
lim � = lim
x �0 x x + 2 + 2 x �0 x x + 2 + 2 ( )
1 1 1 2
� lim = = =
x �0
x+2+ 2 2+ 2 2 2 4

x+2 - 2 2
\ lim =
x �0 x 4

8 x 3 - 27
Example 6.4. Evaluate lim3
x�2 4x 2 - 9
Solution:
3
�3 �
8 � �- 27
8 x - 27
3
�2 � 27 - 27 0
lim3 = = = (indeterminate)
x�2 4x - 9
2 2
�3 � 9-9 0
4 � �- 9
�2 �

Factoring the numerator and denominator:

8 x 3 - 27 ( 2x - 3 ) ( 4 x 2 + 6 x + 9 )
lim3 = lim3
x�2 4x2 - 9 x�2 ( 2x + 3 ) ( 2x - 3)
4x 2 + 6x + 9 9+9+9
= lim3 =
x�2 2x + 3 3+3
27 9 3 3 2
= = = =
6 2 2 2

x 3 + 2x + 3
Example 6.5. Evaluate lim
x �2 x2 + 5
Solution:
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( 2) + 2 ( 2) + 3
3
x 3 + 2x + 3
lim =
x2 + 5 ( 2)
2
x �2
+5
8+4+3
=
4+5 .
15
=
9
15
=
3

EXERCISES:

Evaluate the limits of the following.

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1. xlim (4x 2 - 5 x + 2)
�-3

2x + 1
2. lim
x �-1 x - 3x + 4
2

x 2 + 3x + 4
3. lim
x �-1 x3 + 1

x3 - 8
4. lim
x �2 x - 2

3x - 1
5. lim1
x�3 9 x 2 - 1

2x 3 + 3 x 2 - 2 x - 3
6. lim
x �1 x2 - 1

1
�4y 3 + 8 y �3
7. lim � �
y �2
� y +4 �

(y-1)(y 2 + 2y - 3)
8. lim
y �1 y 2 - 2y + 1

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9. lim(2x
4
- 9 x 3 + 19)
x �5

w 2 + 7w + 7
10. lim
w �-1 w 2 - 4w - 5