A Detailed Lesson Plan In Calculus 3

Topic: Limits of Polynomial, Rational, and Radical Function

I. Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
a. define limit of polynomial, rational, and radical function.
b. evaluate the limit of algebraic function (polynomial, rational, and radical);
c. give an example on limitation of polynomial, rational, and radical;
d. show interest on the lesson through active participation in class.

II. Subject Matter:

A. Topic: Limits of Polynomial, Rational, and Radical Function
B. Reference: Basic Calculus book by Verzosa Earnhart
C. Materials: book and powerpoint presentation
D. Strategies: Problem Solving and Discussion
E. Values: “Conflict cannot survive without your participation”- Wayne Dyer

III. Procedure:
 Teacher’s Activity Students’ Activity

A. Motivation:
Good day everyone! Today, I
prepared a games before we proceed
to the discussion of our lesson. First 5
pictures that I will show in screen is
you have to identify if the equation is
polynomial or not. In nearpod you
will have each board to write your
answer.
Then the remaining pictures you have
to solve it by using the laws of
exponent. The student who get a high
score will receive the prize. Is that
clear?
Yes ma’am

Okay, Let us start!

x-2
(The students will write the answer on
their own board in nearpod.)

3bn−2 polynomial
(The students will write the answer on
their own board in nearpod.)

1/x
not
(The students will write the answer on
their own board in nearpod.)

512c 2+123n2
not
(The students will write the answer on
their own board in nearpod.)

2/(x+2)
(The students will write the answer on
their own board in nearpod.) polynomial

2
15
(The students will write the answer on
their own board in nearpod.) not

225
 ax
y
a
(The students will write the answer on
their own board in nearpod.)
x− y
a
−2
b
(The students will write the answer on
their own board in nearpod.)

1
Well done. Congratulations everyone and b2
the student who get a high points. Okay
class, do you have any idea what would
be our lesson for today?

(Teacher gives them time to think)

What do you think?

It is related in Polynomial and rational ma’am.

That’s great. You’re right!
 B. Presentation:
There are types of algebraic functions that already
discuss and explain of your previous teacher in
math, so that can you give a type of algebraic
functions?
Linear functions

Quadratic functions.
Very Good!
Cubic functions.

Polynomial functions.

Radical functions.

Rational functions.

Very good class. Your answers are all correct!

But today we will focus to the limits of
polynomial, rational, and radical functions.

C. Lesson Proper:
Let us talk about first the limits
polynomial function.
What is Polynomial function by the
way? A polynomial function is a function such as a
quadratic, a cubic, a quartic.

A polynomial function is a function that involves only

non-negative integer powers

Very good. So polynomial function a

function that involves only a positive
integer exponent of a variable in an
equation like the quadratic equation,
cubic equation. Just for example:
2x+5
512c 2+123n2
x-2
5c 3+17n2

The reason why I recalling you what is

the polynomial function, because of the
connection this in our topic. One of the
part of lesson today is the limits of
polynomial function, this terms means
that the limit of a polynomial function
can be found by finding the sum of the
limits of the individual terms.

Recall that a function f(x)polynomial

function if it satisfies:

f(x)=a n x n+a n−1 x n−1+…+ a 2 x 2+a 1x+a 0

for all x, where n is a non-negative

integer and a 0 , a 1 , a2 , … an are constant
coefficients.

As a refresher, use the limit properties to

❑
find lim ( x −3 x+ 4 )
2
the limit as x
x→ 20
approaches a particular value.

The function is a polynomial, a

quadratic trinomial that is graphed
below, and can be treated as the sum of
three functions. This means that we can
use the rule “the limit of the sum is the
sum of the limits” in the determination

of the limit.

Since, the polynomial can be treated as

the sum of three functions, we can use
the property “the limit of the sum is the
sum of the limits” in the determination
of the limit.
❑
lim ( x −3 x+ 4 )
2

x→ 20
 ¿ lim x2 + lim (−3 x )+ lim 4
x → 20 x→ 20 x →20
¿¿
2
¿ ( 20 ) −3 ( 20 ) + 4
¿ 344

❑
Therefore, lim ( x −3 x+ 4 ) = 344
2

x→ 20

Let’s have some examples:

1. Determine lim (2 x+1)x →1

lim (2 x+1)= lim 2 x +lim 1

x →1 x →1 x→ 1
=¿
=2(1)+1
=2+1
=3

2. lim (2 x 3¿ −4 x 2 +1) ¿
Determine the x→−1

lim (2 x ¿ −4 x +1) ¿
3 2
x→−1

lim 2 x 3− lim 4 x 2+ lim 1 ¿

= x→−1 x →−1 x →−1

= 2 xlim ¿ x 3- 4 lim x 2 + 1
→−1 x →−1

= 2(−1 ¿ ¿3-4 (−1)2+1

= -2-4+1
= -5
 (3 x ¿−2 x−1)¿
4
3. Evaluate lim
x →0
lim (3 x 4 ¿−2 x−1) ¿
x →0

= lim 3 x 4 −lim 2 x−lim 1

x →0 x→ 0 x →0
4
=3 lim
x →0
x −2 lim x−1
x→ 0

= 3(0 ¿ ¿4 - 2(0) -1
= 0-0-1
=-1

(The teacher gives more examples if

necessary)

Now let’s consider limits of rational

functions. A rational function is the ratio of two
polynomials. In the case of a single variable, x,
a function is called a rational function if and
only if it can be written in the form:
f(x)=
n n−1 2
P( x ) an x +a n−1 x +…+ a2 x +a1 x+ a0
=
Q(x) bm x m +b m−1 x m −1+ …+b 2 x 2+ b1 x +b 0

where P(x) and Q(x) are polynomial functions in x

and Q(x) is non-zero. The domain of f is the set of
all values of x for which the denominator Q(x) is not
zero.

x−4
Find lim
x→ 10 x−2

The function is shown in the graph below:

We note first that the denominator of the

rational function is not zero at the value x=10.
The quotient rule can therefore be used to start
the evaluation of the function as follows:

x−4
lim
x→ 10 x−2
 lim ( x−4 )
x →10
=
lim ( x−2)
x→ 10

lim ( x )−¿ lim ( 4 )

x →10 x→ 10
= ¿
lim ( x )−¿ lim ( 2 ) ¿
x →10 x→ 10
(10−4)
=
(10−2)
3
=
4
x−4 3
Therefore, the lim is
x→ 10 x−2 4

Note that because the denominator does not

equal 0 at x=10, the limit could have been
found by direct substitution of x=10 in the
rational function.

Let’s have some examples:

1
1. lim
x →1 x
lim 1
x →1
=
lim x
x→ 1
1
=
1
=1
1
Therefore, the lim is 1.
x →1 x
x
2. lim x
x →2 x +1 lim
x →2 x +1
lim x
x→ 2
= lim x +lim 1
x→ 2 x→ 2
2
=3

( x−3)
3. lim 2
x→ 4 x +1 (x−3)
lim 2
x→ 4 x +1

lim x−lim 3
x →4 x →4
= 2
lim x + lim 1
x→4 x→4
1
= 17
 (The teacher gives more examples if
necessary)

There are many problems that will involve

taking the nth root of a variable
expression, so it is natural that there
may sometimes be a need to find the
limit of a function involving radical
expressions, using square or cube
roots, or other roots.

When evaluating a limit involving a

radical function, use direct substitution
to see if a limit can be evaluated
whenever possible. If not, other
methods to evaluate the limit need to
be explored.

Take the following function

f(x)= √ x -3. Find lim √ x−3

x →9

= lim √ x−lim 3
x →9 x→9
= √ 9- 3
=0
Therefore, lim √ x−3=0
x →9
Let’s have some examples:
1. lim √ x
x→ 36
= √ 36
=6

lim √ x−1
x→4 lim √ x−1
2. x−2 x→4
x−2
lim √ x−lim 1
x →4 x→ 4

= lim x−lim 2
x→4 x→ 4
√ 4−1
=- 4−2
1
=2
3. lim √ x +4
x →0
lim √ x +4
x →0

= lim √0+ 4
x →0
=√ 4
=2

(The teacher gives more examples if

 necessary)

D. Generalization:
I will use wheel of names to call
someone and he/she will give an
example thenhe/she have to solve it
and show the solution by draw chat
application so that the class can see it.
After you get the answer, you have to
tell this by using a hugot lines. Is that
clear?

Yes ma’am.

IV. Application:
I will group you into six. I will show problems here in conference then answer it with
your nearpod board, each group have one representative to input the answer. Write
your final answer in your designated board in nearpod app. The first group who get first
the correct answer will get the point. I will monitor you and I can see the progress of
your work.

2
1. lim (3 x −2 x +1)
x →2
x
2. lim (−5)
x→−2
x
lim 3
3. x→
1
2

lim 2 x−3
4. x→ 3
2
x +5 x
2
5. lim ( x −5 x)
x→ 4

V. Evaluation:
Determine the limits of the following:
2
1. lim (5 x −x+ 4)
x →1

2. lim (x 2−x +1)

x →3

x
3. lim (−3)
x→−2

4. lim √ x −3
x→ 16

5. lim (3)2 x
x →3

VI. Assignment:
A. Find the limits of the following:
 2
1. lim (x −7 x +2)
x →5

lim √ x−1
2. x→ 25

x
3. lim (8)
x →2

B. Read about the law of exponents..

Prepared By:

Kaye S. Celino