LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS

Basic Calculus
11-Oxygen | Ma’am Melinda I. Pascual | 2nd Semester - Quarter 1

Recall: Graphs of Polynomial, Radical, and Rational Functions

Polynomial Rational Radical

𝑓(𝑥) = − 2𝑥 + 1 2
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−1
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥

3 𝑥−2
𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 1 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+1
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−2

2 2𝑥
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 3𝑥 + 1 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−3

3 2
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 4𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 1

Let 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) and evaluate 𝑓(𝑐).

What is 𝑦 when 𝑥 = 𝑐?

1) 𝑓(− 2) 1 a. 𝑓(2) 1

2) 𝑓(− 1) 2 b. 𝑓(3) 2

3) 𝑓(0) undf c. 𝑓(4) 5

4) 𝑓(1) 2 d. 𝑓(5) 4

5) 𝑓(1. 5) 1.5 e. 𝑓(6) 1

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LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
Basic Calculus
11-Oxygen | Ma’am Melinda I. Pascual | 2nd Semester - Quarter 1

LIMIT OF A FUNCTION

Definition Unique real value that 𝑓(𝑥) will approach as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐.

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿
Notation 𝑥→𝑐
Read as “The limit of 𝑓(𝑥) as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐 is 𝐿.”

limit 𝐿 exists if:

★ limits from the left and from the right (one-sided limits) both exist
★ limits are equal to 𝐿
Conditions for the Limit lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿 and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿
of a Function to Exist 𝑥→𝑐
−
𝑥→𝑐
+

limit 𝐿 does not exist (DNE) whenever lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ lim 𝑓(𝑥)
− +
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

★ If 𝑥 approaches 𝑐 from the LEFT (values LESS THAN 𝑐),

then we write lim 𝑓(𝑥)
−
𝑥→𝑐
One-Sided Limits
★ If 𝑥 approaches 𝑐 from the RIGHT (values GREATER THAN 𝑐),
then we write lim 𝑓(𝑥)
+
𝑥→𝑐

★ Table of Values
Techniques for
★ Graph
Evaluating Limits
★ Direct Substitution

Remark #1

We do not say that lim 𝑓(𝑥) “equals DNE”, nor do we write “ lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐷𝑁𝐸”, because “DNE” is
𝑥→4 𝑥→4
not a value.

★ “DNE” indicates that the function moves in different directions as its variable approaches 𝑐
from the left and from the right.
1
★ In other cases, the limit fails to exist because it is undefined, such as for lim 𝑥 which leads
𝑥→0
to division of 1 by zero.

Remark #2

The limit of a function lim 𝑓(𝑥) is different from point 𝑓(𝑐) !!!
−
𝑥→𝑐

Limits Point
➢ lim 𝑓(𝑥) either exists or DNE ➢ 𝑓(𝑐) either exists (shaded point) or
−
𝑥→𝑐 undefined (hollow point)
➢ Solved by using the techniques to find ➢ Solved by substituting c into the function
the limit of the function (stated above)

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LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
Basic Calculus
11-Oxygen | Ma’am Melinda I. Pascual | 2nd Semester - Quarter 1

HOW TO SOLVE FOR LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS?

Using Table of Values Using Graph

1. Determine the left-hand and right-hand 1. Locate 𝑐 in the graph.

value of the function as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐.
a. This will serve as the x-values of the 2. Check if there’s a line or curve connected
table of values. to it.
a. LHL - Left line from the point
2. Construct 2 tables of values. b. RHL - Right line from the point
a. List at least 4 x-values starting from
the left/right-hand value. The values 3. ‘Trace’ the line or curve and locate its ‘limit.’
a. The limit refers to the y-axis /
must be getting closer to 𝑐. y-value.
x f(x)
4. The limit exists if the limits of LHL and RHL
are equal.
a. If the one-sided limits are unequal,
the function’s limit DNE.

3. Substitute each x-value to the ‘algebraic

function’ inside the limit.
basta common sense na ‘to
a. Place the answer in the 𝑓(𝑥) column
bahala na kayo jn eme
of the table.

4. Assess the limit of left-hand and right-hand.

5. Check if the limits are equal.

a. If they are equal, then the limit
exists.
b. If they are not equal, then the limit
does not exist (DNE).

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LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
Basic Calculus
11-Oxygen | Ma’am Melinda I. Pascual | 2nd Semester - Quarter 1

Illustrative Examples (Using Table of Values)

(1) lim (1 + 3𝑥) Final: lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 7

𝑥→2 𝑥→2

LHL: RHL:
x f(x) x f(x)

1 4 3 10

1.5 5.5 2.5 8.5

1.9 6.7 2.1 7.3

1.9999 6.9997 2.0001 7.0003

1.9999999 6.9999997 2.0000001 7.0000003

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 7 lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 7
− +
𝑥→2 𝑥→2

2
(2) lim (𝑥 + 1) Final: lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 2
𝑥 → −1 𝑥 → −1

LHL: RHL:
x f(x) x f(x)

-2 5 0 1

-1.5 3.25 -0.5 1.25

-1.1 2.21 -0.9 1.81

-1.0001 2.00020001 -0.9999 1.99980001

-1.0000001 2.0000002 -0.9999999 1.9999998

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 2 lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 2
− +
𝑥 → −1 𝑥 → −1

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LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
Basic Calculus
11-Oxygen | Ma’am Melinda I. Pascual | 2nd Semester - Quarter 1

(3) Final: lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝐷𝑁𝐸

𝑥→4

LHL: RHL:
x f(x) x f(x)

3 4 5 4

3.5 4.5 4.5 3.25

3.9 4.9 4.1 3.01

3.9999 4.9999 4.0001 3.00000001

3.9999999 4.9999999 4.0000001 3

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 5 lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 3
− +
𝑥→4 𝑥→4

1
(4) lim ( 2 ) Final: lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝐷𝑁𝐸 (Infinite Limits)
𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→0

LHL: RHL:
x f(x) x f(x)

-1 1 1 1

-0.5 4 0.5 4

-0.1 100 0.1 100

-0.001 1,000,000 0.001 1,000,000

-0.0001 100,000,000 0.0001 100,000,000

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞ lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞
− +
𝑥→0 𝑥→0

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LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
Basic Calculus
11-Oxygen | Ma’am Melinda I. Pascual | 2nd Semester - Quarter 1

Illustrative Examples (Using Graph)

As 𝑥 approaches 𝑐, 𝑦 approaches what value?

1) lim 𝑓(𝑥) 3 a. lim 𝑓(𝑥) DNE

−
𝑥→2 𝑥→4

2) lim 𝑓(𝑥) 3 b. lim 𝑓(𝑥) 4

+ +
𝑥→2 𝑥→3

3) lim 𝑓(𝑥) 3 c. lim 𝑓(𝑥) 4

−
𝑥→2 𝑥→5

4) lim 𝑓(𝑥) 3 d. lim 𝑓(𝑥) DNE

+
𝑥→4 𝑥→6

5) lim 𝑓(𝑥) 5 e. lim 𝑓(𝑥) DNE

−
𝑥→4 𝑥→0

As 𝑥 approaches 𝑐, 𝑦 approaches what value?

1) lim 𝑓(𝑥) 1 a. lim 𝑓(𝑥) 2

−
𝑥→2 𝑥 → −1

2) lim 𝑓(𝑥) 1 b. lim 𝑓(𝑥) 4

+
𝑥 → −2 𝑥→3

3) lim 𝑓(𝑥) 1 c. lim 𝑓(𝑥) 0

−
𝑥→2 𝑥→3

4) lim 𝑓(𝑥) 3 d. lim 𝑓(𝑥) DNE

𝑥→0 𝑥→3

5) lim 𝑓(𝑥) 5 e. lim 𝑓(𝑥) 4

𝑥→4 𝑥→5

6) lim 𝑓(𝑥) 2 f. lim 𝑓(𝑥) DNE

𝑥→1 𝑥→6