CALC 1034 CALCULUS

Week 2
Evaluating Limits of Logarithmic,
Exponential Functions and Trigonometric
Functions
LEARNING OUTCOME
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to evaluate
limits of exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions.
Limit of Exponential Function
Theorem
Suppose b > 0 and Lim f x = L, then Lim b f(x) = bL .
x→a x→a

Note
Finding the limit of exponential function is similar to that
of finding the limit of algebraic functions discussed in the
previous week. This theorem can be simplified as
Lim bx = ba
x→a
Provided that b > 0 and b ≠ 1.
EXAMPLES
Discuss the limit of the following functions.
PROBLEM 1

A direct substitution of x = 0 will yield an

4x − 1 0
Lim x indeterminate form , hence apply factoring
x→0 2 − 1 0
technique.

22 x − 1
= Lim Rewrite 4x as (2𝑥 )2
x→0 2x − 1

(2𝑥 )2 −1 Recall
= Lim x a2 − b2 = (a − b)(a + b)
x→0 2 − 1
PROBLEM 1
(2x −1)(2x +1)
= Lim Cancel common factor
x→0 2x − 1

= Lim (2x +1) Apply limit of exponential function

x→0

= 20 +1 Simplify

=2 Final Answer
PROBLEM 1 Graphical Representation
PROBLEM 2
A direct substitution of x = 0 in this
1 − 2 ∗ 3x + 9x example will again yield an
Lim 0
x→0 1 − 9x indeterminate form , hence apply
0
factoring technique.

1 − 2 ∗ 3x +(32 )x
= Lim Rewrite 9x as (3𝑥 )2
x→0 1 − (32 )x

Recall
x 𝑥 2
1 − 2 ∗ 3 + (3 ) a2 − b2 = (a − b)(a + b)
= Lim
x→0 1 − (3𝑥 )2 (a − b)2 = a2 − 2ab + b2
PROBLEM 2
(1 − 3x )(1 − 3x )
= Lim Cancel common factor
x→0 (1 − 3x )(1 + 3x )

(1 − 3x )
= Lim Apply limit of exponential function
x→0 (1 + 3x )

(1 − 30 )
= Simplify
(1 + 30 )

0
= or 0 Final Answer
2
PROBLEM 2 Graphical Representation
The Limit Definition of e
Theorems

1
1. e = Lim 1 + x x
x→ 0

X
1
2. e = Lim 1+
x→ ∞ x
ex − 1
3. Lim =1
x→ 0 x
EXAMPLE
Discuss the limit of the following functions.
PROBLEM
It can be easily verified that a direct
e2x − 1 substitution of x = 0 in this example will yield
Lim
x→0 x ex + x 0
an indeterminate form , hence apply
0
factoring technique.

e2x − 1
= Lim Rewrite e2x as (𝑒 𝑥 )2
x→0 x ex + x

Apply a2 − b2 = (a − b)(a + b) in the

(𝑒 𝑥 )2 −1
= Lim numerator
x→0 x ex + x
Factor out x in the denominator
PROBLEM

(𝑒 x −1)(𝑒 x +1)
= Lim Cancel common factor
x→0 x (ex + 1)

(𝑒 x −1) Apply limit of exponential function,

= Lim Theorem No. 3
x→0 x

=1 Final Answer
Limit of Logarithmic Functions

Theorem
Suppose L > 0 and Lim f x = L, then
x→a
1. Lim Ln f x = Ln L
x→a
2. Lim Log b f x = Log b L
x→a
Note
Specifically, the theorem states that
Lim Ln x = Ln a and . Lim Log b x = Log b a .
x→a x→a
provided that a > 0.
PROBLEM 1
A direct substitution of x = 0 will yield an
Ln x 0
Lim indeterminate form , hence apply properties of
x→1 Log x 0
logarithm.

Ln x
= Lim Log x = Log10 x
x→1 Log10 x

Ln x Recall
= Lim Ln x
x→1 Ln x
Log b x =
Ln 10 Ln b
PROBLEM 1

Ln 10
= Lim Ln x ∗ Simplify and cancel common factor
x→1 Ln x

= Lim Ln 10 Recall Limit of a Constant

x→1

= Ln 10 Final Answer
Limits of Trigonometric Functions
For any real number a, then

1. Lim sin x = sin a 4. Lim csc x = csc a

x→a x→a

2. Lim cos x = cos a 5. Lim sec x = sec a

x→a x→a

3. Lim tan x = tan a 6. Lim cot x = cot a

x→a x→a
Limits of Trigonometric Functions
Other limits involving trigonometric functions that are useful in the
computation are:
sin x x
1. Lim =1 or Lim =1
x→0 x x→0 sin x

1 − cos x cosx − 1
2. Lim =0 or Lim =0
x→0 x x→0 x
sin ax a
3. Lim =
x→0 sin bx b
tan x
4. Lim =1
x→0 x
PROBLEM 1
sin3 x A direct substitution of x = 0 will yield an
Lim 0
x→0 x3 indeterminate form .
0

3
Rewrite the function in order to apply
sin x
= Lim sin x
x→0 x Lim =1
x→0 x
3
sinx
= Lim Apply Power Rule (Limit Laws)
x→0 x
= 1 3 sin x
Apply Lim =1
x→0 x
=1 Final Answer
PROBLEM 2

sin3 2x
Lim
x→0 x3

3 Multiply both the numerator and denominator by

sin 2x 2
= Lim ∗ 2 in order to apply Lim
sin x
=1
x→0 x 2 x→0 x

3
sin 2x
= Lim ∗2
x→0 2x
PROBLEM 2
3
sin 2x Apply Power Rule (Limit Laws)
= Lim ∗2
x→0 2x

3
sin 2x Apply Product Rule (Limit Laws)
= Lim ∗ Lim 2
x→0 2x x→0

Apply Limit of a Constant and

3
= 1∗2 sin 2x
Lim =1
x→0 2x

=8 Final Answer
PROBLEM 3

Lim x cotx
x→0

Recall
cos x
= Lim x ∗ cos x
x→0 sin x cot x =
sin x

Rewrite the function in order to apply

x
= Lim cos x ∗ x
x→0 sin x Lim =1
x→0 sinx
PROBLEM 3

x
= Lim cosx ∗ Lim Apply Product Rule (Limit Laws)
x→0 x→0 sin x

x
=1∗1 Lim cos 𝑥 = cos 0 = 1 & Lim =1
x→0 sinx
x→0

=1 Final Answer
PROBLEM 4
It can be easily verified that a direct
sin2 x substitution of x = 0 will yield an
Lim 0
x→0 1 − cosx indeterminate form , hence apply
0
factoring technique.

1 − cos 2 x Recall
= Lim sin2 x = 1 − cos 2 x
x→0 1 − cosx

(1 − cosx)(1 + cosx) Apply a2 − b2 = (a − b)(a + b) in the

= Lim
x→0 (1 − cosx) numerator, then cancel common factors
PROBLEM 4

= Lim(1 + cosx) Apply Sum Rule (Limit Laws)

x→0

=1+1 Lim cos 𝑥 = cos 0 = 1

x→0
x→0

=2 Final Answer
Thank You !