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Raising a new Generation of Leaders
OPEN DISTANT LEARNING CENTRE
COURSE MATRIAL
MAT121: Calculus III
MODULE 2: LIMIT OF FUNCTIONS
2
UNIT 1: LIMIT OF FUNCTIONS
Unit Objectives
After studying this unit, you should be able to:
❖define a limit;
❖evaluate the limit of a function by substitution;
❖evaluate the limit of a function by dividing out technique;
❖evaluate the limit of a function by rationalization;
❖compute one-sided limits;
❖determine if the limit of a function exists
3
DEFINITION OF LIMIT OF FUNCTIONS
x2 - 9
Let us consider the behaviour of the function f(x)=
x-3
around a point x=3.
X 2.9 2.99 2.999 2.9999 3.1 3.01 3.001 3.0001
f(x) 5.9 5.99 5.999 5.9999 6.1 6.01 6.001 6.0001
You will notice in the Table, that as the values of x moves closer
to 3 from both directions, the values of the function f(x) moves
closer to 6. This means that the limit of the function f(x) as x
approaches 3 is 6. This is written as lim
x →3
f(x) = 6.
4
Definition:
If the values of f(x) can be made as close as we like to a unique
number L by taking values of x sufficiently close to a (but not equal
to a), then we write
lim f ( x ) = L
x →a
which is read as “the limit of f(x) as x approaches a is L.”
5
Evaluating Limits Using Basic Limit Results
1. Basic Limit Result: For any real number a and constant c,
i) xlim
→a
x =a
ii) xlim
→a
c=c
Example 2.1. Evaluate i) lim
x →4
x ii) lim10
x →3
Solution: Using i) you obtain lim
x →4
x=4 .
ii) Using (ii) you obtain lim10
x →3
= 10
6
Evaluating Limits Using Laws of Limits
Let b and a be real numbers, let n be a positive integer, and
let f and g be functions with the following limits xlim
→a
f(x) = L
and xlim
→a
g(x) = K , then
i. Scalar multiple Law: xlim
→a
[bf(x)] = bL
ii. Sum Law: xlim
→a
[f(x) + g(x)] = L + K
iii. Difference Law: xlim
→a
[f(x) − g(x)] = L − K
iv. Product Law: xlim
→a
[f(x)g(x)] = LK
7 7
f(x) L
v. Quotient Law: lim =
x →a g(x) K
vi. Power Law: lim[f(x)]n = Ln
x →a
n
vii. Root Law: xlim →a
n f(x) = n lim f(x) = L
x →a
for all L if n is odd and for L 0 if n is even and f(x) 0.
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2x 2 − 3x + 1
Evaluate i)xlim
→−5
(3x + 3) ii) lim
x →2 x3 + 4
Solution. i) xlim
→−5
(3x + 2) = lim 3x + lim 2
x →−5 x →−5 Applying ii
= 3 lim x + lim 2 Applying i
x →−5 x →−5
= 3 (−5) + 2 = −17
2
2x − 3x + 1 (
lim 2x 2 − 3x + 1 )
ii) lim = x →2
Applying v
x →2 3
x +4 (
lim x + 4
x →2
3
)
2 lim x 2 − 3 lim x + lim1
x →2 x →2 x →2
=
lim x 3 + lim 4
x →2 x →2
( )
2
2 lim x − 3 lim x + lim1 2(4) − 3(2) + 1 1
= x →2 x →2 x →2
= =
( lim x ) (8) + 4
3
+ lim 4
4
x →2 x →2
9 9
Computation of Limits by Substitution Method
x2 + x −6
Evaluate lim
x →−1 x +3
x 2 + x − 6 ( −1)2 + ( −1) − 6
Solution. lim =
x →−1 x +3 ( −1) + 3
1 −1 − 6
=
−1 + 3
−6
= = −3
2
10
Computation of Limits by Dividing through Technique
Example: Evaluate lim − 6 x + 9
2
x
x →3 x −3
Solution.
x 2 − 6x + 9 ( x − 3)2
Factorize: lxim = lim = lim( x − 3)
→3 x −3 x →3 x −3 x →3
Substitute 3 for x: lim( x − 3) = 3 − 3 = 0
x →3
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Computation of Limits by Rationalization Technique
x + 1 −1
Example: Evaluate lim
x →0 x
x + 1 −1 x + 1 + 1 x + 1 −1
Solution. lim = lim
x →0
x (
x + 1 + 1 x →0 x x + 1 + 1 )
x
= lim
x →0
x ( )
x +1 +1
1
= lim
x →0
x +1 +1
Substituting 0 for x: 1 1 1 1
lim = = =
x →0
x +1 +1 0 +1 +1 1 +1 2
12
Evaluating Limits by Simplifying Complex Functions
3 3
−
Evaluate lim x + 1 2 .
x →1 x − 1
Solution. Simplifying yields
3 3 6 − 3(x + 1) 6 − 3x − 3
−
2(x + 1) 2(x + 1)
lim x + 1 2 = lim = lim
x →1 x − 1 x →1 x −1 x →1 x −1
3 − 3x
2(x + 1) 3 − 3x −3(x − 1)
= lim = lim = lim
x →1 x − 1 x →1 2(x + 1)(x − 1) x →1 2(x + 1)(x − 1)
13
You now apply the dividing through technique to obtain
−3(x − 1) −3
lim = lim
x →1 2(x + 1)(x − 1) x →1 2(x + 1)
Finally, you use the substitution method
−3 −3 3
lim = =−
x →1 2(x + 1) 2(1+ 1) 4
14
Evaluating Limits When Laws of Limit Do Not Apply
2 10
Evaluate lim +
x →0 x x(x − 5)
Solution. First simplify the function
2 10 2x(x − 5) + 10x 2x 2 − 10x + 10x 2
lim + = lim = lim = lim
x →0 x x(x − 5) x →0 x 2(x − 5) x →0 x 2(x − 5) x →0 x − 5
Finally, you apply the substitution technique
2 10 2 2
lim + = lim = −
x →0 x x(x − 5) x →0 x − 5 5
15
One-Sided Limits:
Right Hand Limit: If the values of f(x) can be made close as we like
to L by taking values of x sufficiently close to a (but greater than a),
then we write
lim+ f ( x ) = L.
x →a
Left Hand Limit: if the values of f(x) can be made close as we like to
L by taking values of x sufficiently close to a (but less than a), then we
write
lim− f ( x ) = L.
x →a
16
Evaluate i) xlim
→2−
|x − 2| ii) lim+ |x − 2|
x →2
Solution. i) When you approach x from the left of 2, you have
x 0 . Subtracting 2 from both sides of the inequality gives
x − 2 0 . This means |x − 2| equals −(x − 2) for x 2 . You use
substitution to evaluate this limit
lim− |x − 2|= lim− -(x − 2) = −(2 − 2) = 0
x →2 x →2
ii) Approaching x from the right of 2 gives x>0. Subtracting 2
from both sides gives x-2>0. This means |x − 2| equals x-2 for
x<2. You use substitution to evaluate this limit
lim+ |x − 2|= lim+(x − 2) = (2 − 2) = 0
x →2 x →2
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|2 x | |2 x |
Example. Evaluate the following a) lim b) lim
x →0 −
x x →0 +
x
Solution.
|2 x | 2x
a) lim = lim −
x →0 −
x x →0 −
x
= lim − 2
x →0 −
= −2
|2 x | 2x
b) lim = lim
x →0 +
x x →0 x
+
= lim 2
x →0 +
=2
18
Existence of Limits
If f(x) is a function and a and L are real numbers, then
lim f(x) = L.
x →a
if and only if both the left-hand and right-hand limits exist
and are equal to L.
19
4− x if x 1
Discuss the existence of the limit of f ( x ) = as x → 1
4 x − x 2
if x 1
lim f ( x ) = lim(4 − x ) lim f ( x ) = lim 4 x − x 2
x →1− x →1− x →1+ 1→+
= 4 −1 = 4(1) − (1)2
=3 = 4 −1
=3
Since the left hand limit is equal to the right hand limit, the limit exists.
20
Review
1. Evaluate following limits
3 x 2 − 2 x −1 x 2 − 6x + 9 x + 1 −1
i ) lim 5 ii) lim iii) lim
x →−1 x + x − 1
3
x →3 x −3 x →0 x
| x − 2|( x + x )
2
2. Given the function f ( x ) = , compute
x −2
i ) lim ii) lim
x →2 + x →2 −
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Answers
1i) 5/4 ii) 0 iii) 2
2i) -6 ii) 6
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