CEM 111 – ENGINEERING CALCULUS 1 | 1st Sem.

SY 2023-2024

CEM 111 – ENGINEERING CALCULUS 1

Lecture No. 2

LIMITS

2.1 INTRODUCTION

The idea of a variable approaching a limit occurs in elementary geometry in establishing a formula
for the area of circle. The area of a regular inscribed polygon with any number of sides n is considered,
and n is then assumed to increase indefinitely. The variable area then approaches a limit, and this limit is
defined as the area of the circle. In this case, the variable A (the area) increases constantly, and the
difference 𝒂 − 𝑨, where a is the area of the circle, diminishes and ultimately becomes less than any
preassigned number, however small.

The relation illustrated above is made precise by the definition:

“Let f(x) be a function of x and let a be constant. If there is a number L such that, in order to make
the value of f(x) as close to L as may be desired, It is sufficient to choose x close enough to a, but different
from a. Then we say that "the limit of f(x), as x approaches a, is L"”

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳
𝒙→𝒂

2.2 THEOREMS ON LIMITS (ALGREBRAIC FUNCTIONS)

In calculating the limiting value of a function, the following theorems may be applied. Proofs are
not necessary for this course.

Theorem 1. If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐 for any x where c is a constant, then for any number a,
lim 𝑐 = 𝑐
𝑥→𝑎

Theorem 2. If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥, then

lim 𝑥 = 𝑎
𝑥→𝑎
Theorem 3. If 𝑓(𝑥) = L , then
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑎

Theorem 4. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿1 , and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐿2 , then

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
lim (𝑓 (𝑥 ) ± 𝑔(𝑥 )) = 𝐿1 ± 𝐿2
𝑥→𝑎

Theorem 5. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿1 , and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐿2 , then

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
lim (𝑓(𝑥 ) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥 )) = 𝐿1 ∙ 𝐿2
𝑥→𝑎

Theorem 6. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿1 , and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐿2 ≠ 0 , then

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
𝑓(𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥) 𝐿 𝐿1
lim(
lim ==1
𝑔(𝑥) 𝐿2𝐿2
𝑥 → 𝑎𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎
𝑛
Theorem 7. If n is a positive integer, and lim(𝑓 (𝑥 )) = (lim 𝑓(𝑥))𝑛 , then
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

lim (𝑓 (𝑥 )) = 𝐿𝑛
𝑛
𝑥→𝑎
Theorem 8. If n is a positive integer and L > 0, and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿, then
𝑥→𝑎
𝑛 𝑛
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑎

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 CEM 111 – ENGINEERING CALCULUS 1 | 1st Sem. SY 2023-2024

Example 2.1
Evaluate: lim(𝑥2 + 1)

Solution

lim(𝑥2 + 1) = lim 𝑥2 + lim 1

= (3)(3) + 1
= 𝟏𝟎 ∴ 𝑨𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓

Example 2.2
3𝑥−9
Evaluate: lim
𝑥 →3 𝑥−3

Solution ∴ 𝑨𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓
3𝑥 − 9 3(𝑥 − 3)
lim = =𝟑
𝑥 →3 𝑥 − 3 𝑥−3

Example 2.3

3𝑥 2 +𝑥+1
Evaluate: lim
𝑥 →2 𝑥+3

Solution lim ( 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1)
3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1 𝑥 →2
lim =
𝑥 →2 𝑥+3 lim (𝑥 + 3)
𝑥 →2
(3(2)2 + 2 + 1) 15
Example 2.4 = = =𝟑 ∴ 𝑨𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓
(2 + 3) 5

Example 2.4
𝑥 3 −9𝑥+10
Evaluate: lim
𝑥 →2 𝑥 2 −4
Simplifying: 𝑥3 − 9𝑥 + 10
Solution lim ( 𝑥 3 − 9𝑥 + 10)
𝑥 3 − 9𝑥 + 10 𝑥 →2 (Using Synthetic Division)
lim =
𝑥 →2 𝑥2 − 4 lim (𝑥 2 − 4) 2 1 0
2
−9 10
4 − 10
𝑥 →2
1 2 −5 0
(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 5) (𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 5)
try ∶ (𝑥 − 2) = lim = lim
𝑥 →2 (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 2) 𝑥 →2 (𝑥 + 2) Therefore:
(𝑥 − 2) (𝑥2 + 2𝑥 − 5)
(22 + 2(2) − 5) 𝟑
= = ∴ 𝑨𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓
(2 + 2) 𝟒

Example 2.5

Evaluate: 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3
lim
𝑥 →1 4𝑥 2 − 4
Solution
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3 (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 + 3)
By simplifying first the given function: 𝑓(𝑥) = 2 = =
4(𝑥 − 1) 4(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1) 4(𝑥 + 1)
Then apply Theorem 8: 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3 (𝑥 + 3) (1 + 3)
lim 2
= =
𝑥 → 1 4(𝑥 − 1) 4(𝑥 + 1) 4(1 + 1)
Therefore 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3 (𝑥 + 3) 1 𝟐
lim 2 = lim = = ∴ 𝑨𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓
𝑥 →1 4𝑥 − 4 𝑥 → 1 4(𝑥 + 1) 2 𝟐

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 CEM 111 – ENGINEERING CALCULUS 1 | 1st Sem. SY 2023-2024

2.3 LIMITS OF 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜶⁄𝜶 AS α APPROACHES TO ZERO

Consider the figure in which RV is a circular arc with radius r and with center at B.

We can say that the,

Area of ∆RBT < Area of the Sector RVB < Area of ∆SVB

The area of the sector RVB is,

𝟏
𝑨𝒔 = 𝜶𝒓𝟐
𝟐
The area of the ∆SVB is,
1 1
𝐴∆𝑆𝑉𝐵 = 𝑏ℎ = ( BV )( SV )
2 2
since,
( SV )
tan 𝛼 = & 𝐵𝑉 = 𝑟 so, tan 𝛼 = 𝑆𝑉
( BV ) 𝑟

Therefore, the Area of ∆SVB,

1 1
𝐴∆𝑆𝑉𝐵 = (𝐵𝑉)(𝑆𝑉) = 𝑟∙ 𝑟 tan 𝛼
2 2
𝟏
𝑨∆𝑺𝑽𝑩 = 𝒓𝟐 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝜶
𝟐

So that the,
Area of ∆RBT < Area of the Sector RVB < Area of ∆SVB
1 1 1
𝑟 cos 𝛼 ∙ 𝑟 sin 𝛼 < 𝛼𝑟2 < 𝑟2 tan 𝛼
2 2 2
1 1 1 sin 𝛼
𝑟 cos 𝛼 ∙ 𝑟 sin 𝛼 < 𝛼𝑟2 < 𝑟2
2 2 2 cos 𝛼
1
Divide by 𝑟2 sin 𝛼
2
𝛼 1
We get cos 𝛼 < <
sin 𝛼 cos 𝛼

1 sin 𝛼
Inverting each member > > cos 𝛼
cos 𝛼 𝛼

1
As α approaches zero both cos 𝛼 and cos 𝛼
approaches to unity (1).

Therefore, sin 𝛼 𝛼
𝛼 or sin 𝛼 Must also approach to unity (1)

Now we can say that,

𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜶
𝐥𝐢𝐦 =𝟏 where α is measured in radians.
𝜶→𝟎 𝜶

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 CEM 111 – ENGINEERING CALCULUS 1 | 1st Sem. SY 2023-2024

Example 2.6
Evaluate: sin 3𝜃
lim

Solution sin 3𝜃 3
= ∙
𝜃 3
3 sin 3𝜃
= = 3(1) = 𝟑
3𝜃

Example 2.7
Evaluate: tan 𝛼 sin 𝛼
lim =
𝛼 cos 𝛼
Solution
sin 𝛼 1
= ∙ = 1∙1
𝛼 cos 𝛼
=𝟏

Example 2.8
Evaluate: 1 − cos 4𝑥 1 − cos 2(2𝑥)
lim =
𝑥→0 1 − cos 2𝑥 1 − cos 2𝑥
Solution sin22𝐴
=
sin2𝐴 sin2 𝐴 = 1 − cos 2𝐴

sin 2𝐴 ∙ sin 2𝐴 2𝐴 ∙ 2𝐴
= ∙
sin 𝐴 ∙ sin 𝐴 2𝐴 ∙ 2𝐴

sin 2𝐴 sin 2𝐴 𝐴 𝐴
= ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙4
2𝐴 2𝐴 sin 𝐴 sin 𝐴

= 1∙1∙1∙1∙4 = 𝟒

Example 2.9
Evaluate:
sin 𝛼 sin 2𝛼
lim
𝛼→0 1 − cos 𝛼
Solution

2(1 − cos2 𝛼)(cos 𝛼) 2(1 + cos 𝛼)(1 − cos 𝛼)(cos 𝛼)

= =
1 − cos 𝛼 1 − cos 𝛼

= 2(1 + cos 𝛼)(cos 𝛼) = 2(1 + cos 0)( cos 0)

= 2(1 + 1)(1) = 𝟒

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