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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
limk1 f ( x) k 2 g ( x) k1 k 2
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)
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
x
lim 1
x0 sin x
x
lim 1
x0 tan x
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
A function is continuous when its graph is a single unbroken curve that you could draw without lifting
your pen from the paper.
lim 3x 2 3(-3)+2=-7
x 3
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=13
∵because polynomial is continuous at all values.
d.
lim 3x3 2 x 2 4 3-2+4=5
x 1
Example 4:
lim 3x5 4 x 4 3x 6 = 3 15 4 14 3 1 6
x 1
= –3 + 4 + 3 + 6 = 10
b. lim
x 2 25
=
32 25 9 25 16 4
x 3 x2 5 32 5 9 5 4
x 2 2x 8
lim
x 4x 2 lim
x4
24
6
3
c. lim
x 2 2
x 4 x 2 x 2x 2 x 2 x2 22 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
x1 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
x2 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 5x 2 lim x 5 2 5 7 Limit does NOT exist.
x2 x 4x 4
2 x2 x 2 x 2 x2 x 2 22 0
Example 9:
1 lim1 1
lim x4 Limit does not exist.
x4 x 4 lim x 4 0
x4
a. lim 4x - 11 4(9) - 11 5
x9
Example 11:
= lim x 2 16 =
1
a. lim x 16 = lim x 16
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
=
x3 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 x4 3 4 1
Evaluate
a.
b.
c.
Solution:
a.
b. =sin 0 = 0
c. lim tan x tan 1
x 4
4
Example 15:
lim( x cos x) cos 1
2 2 2
x
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)]
x2
1
3. lim 4 f ( x) g ( x)
x0
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
x2
10
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0
x
1
12. lim 2
x 5
0
1
13. lim
x 2x
1
14. lim
x4 x4
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