Calculating Limits using Limit Laws

We have seen that calculating limits with a calculator

sometimes leads to incorrect results.

We will now see how to compute limits using Limit Laws:

Let c be a constant, and let limx→a f (x) and limx→a g(x) exist.
Then
1. limx→a [f (x) + g(x)] = limx→a f (x) + limx→a g(x)
2. limx→a [f (x) − g(x)] = limx→a f (x) − limx→a g(x)
3. limx→a [c · f (x)] = c · limx→a f (x)
4. limx→a [f (x) · g(x)] = limx→a f (x) · limx→a g(x)
f (x) limx→a f (x)
5. limx→a g(x) = limx→a g(x) if limx→a g(x) 6= 0

These laws also work for one-sided limits limx→a± .

Calculating Limits using Limit Laws

1. limx→a [f (x) + g(x)] = limx→a f (x) + limx→a g(x)

2. limx→a [f (x) − g(x)] = limx→a f (x) − limx→a g(x)
3. limx→a [c · f (x)] = c · limx→a f (x)
4. limx→a [f (x) · g(x)] = limx→a f (x) · limx→a g(x)
f (x) limx→a f (x)
5. limx→a g(x) = limx→a g(x) if limx→a g(x) 6= 0

y Use these graphs to estimate:

2
1. limx→−2 [f (x) + 5g(x)]
g(x) = limx→−2 f (x) + limx→−2 [5g(x)]
1
= limx→−2 f (x) + 5 limx→−2 g(x)
f (x)
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 x = 2 + 5(−1)
-1 = −3
Calculating Limits using Limit Laws

1. limx→a [f (x) + g(x)] = limx→a f (x) + limx→a g(x)

2. limx→a [f (x) − g(x)] = limx→a f (x) − limx→a g(x)
3. limx→a [c · f (x)] = c · limx→a f (x)
4. limx→a [f (x) · g(x)] = limx→a f (x) · limx→a g(x)
f (x) limx→a f (x)
5. limx→a g(x) = limx→a g(x) if limx→a g(x) 6= 0

y Use these graphs to estimate:

2
2. limx→1 [f (x)g(x)]
g(x) = limx→1 f (x) · limx→1 g(x)
1
f (x)
limx→1 g(x) does not exist
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 x

-1
(we cannot use the limit laws)
Calculating Limits using Limit Laws

1. limx→a [f (x) + g(x)] = limx→a f (x) + limx→a g(x)

2. limx→a [f (x) − g(x)] = limx→a f (x) − limx→a g(x)
3. limx→a [c · f (x)] = c · limx→a f (x)
4. limx→a [f (x) · g(x)] = limx→a f (x) · limx→a g(x)
f (x) limx→a f (x)
5. limx→a g(x) = limx→a g(x) if limx→a g(x) 6= 0

y Use these graphs to estimate:

2
2a. limx→1− [f (x)g(x)]
g(x) = limx→1− f (x) · limx→1− g(x)
1
= 2 · −2= −4
f (x)
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 x 2b. limx→1+ [f (x)g(x)]
-1 = limx→1+ f (x) · limx→1+ g(x)
= 2 · −1= −2
=⇒ limx→1 [f (x)g(x)] does not exist
Calculating Limits using Limit Laws

1. limx→a [f (x) + g(x)] = limx→a f (x) + limx→a g(x)

2. limx→a [f (x) − g(x)] = limx→a f (x) − limx→a g(x)
3. limx→a [c · f (x)] = c · limx→a f (x)
4. limx→a [f (x) · g(x)] = limx→a f (x) · limx→a g(x)
f (x) limx→a f (x)
5. limx→a g(x) = limx→a g(x) if limx→a g(x) 6= 0

y Use these graphs to estimate:

f (x) limx→2 f (x)
2 3. limx→2 g(x) = limx→2 g(x)
g(x)
1 limx→2 g(x) = 0
f (x)
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 x (we cannot use the limit laws)
-1
Calculating Limits using Limit Laws

1. limx→a [f (x) + g(x)] = limx→a f (x) + limx→a g(x)

2. limx→a [f (x) − g(x)] = limx→a f (x) − limx→a g(x)
3. limx→a [c · f (x)] = c · limx→a f (x)
4. limx→a [f (x) · g(x)] = limx→a f (x) · limx→a g(x)
f (x) limx→a f (x)
5. limx→a g(x) = limx→a g(x) if limx→a g(x) 6= 0

y Use these graphs to estimate:

Lets try without limit laws:
2
f (x)
g(x) 3a. limx→2− g(x) = −∞
1
f (x) since limx→2− f (x) ≈ 1.6, and
x
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 g(x) approaches 0, g(x) < 0
-1 f (x)
3b. limx→2+ g(x) =∞
since limx→2+ f (x) ≈ 1.6, and
g(x) approaches 0, g(x) > 0
More Limits Laws

1. limx→a [f (x) + g(x)] = limx→a f (x) + limx→a g(x)

2. limx→a [f (x) − g(x)] = limx→a f (x) − limx→a g(x)
3. limx→a [c · f (x)] = c · limx→a f (x)
4. limx→a [f (x) · g(x)] = limx→a f (x) · limx→a g(x)
f (x) limx→a f (x)
5. limx→a g(x) = limx→a g(x) if limx→a g(x) 6= 0
6. limx→a [f (x)]n = [limx→a f (x)]n for n a positive integer
7. limx→a c = c
8. limx→a x n = an
√ √
9. limx→a n x = n a for n a positive integer
(if n is even we require a > 0)
p p
10. limx→a n f (x) = n limx→a f (x) for n a positive integer
(if n is even we require limx→a f (x) > 0)
Limit Laws: Examples
1. limx→a [f (x) + g(x)] = limx→a f (x) + limx→a g(x)
2. limx→a [f (x) − g(x)] = limx→a f (x) − limx→a g(x)
3. limx→a [c · f (x)] = c · limx→a f (x)
4. limx→a [f (x) · g(x)] = limx→a f (x) · limx→a g(x)
f (x) limx→a f (x)
5. limx→a g(x) = limx→a g(x) if limx→a g(x) 6= 0
6. limx→a [f (x)]n = [limx→a f (x)]n for n a positive integer
7. limx→a c = c
8. limx→a x n = an
√ √
9. limx→a n x = n a for n a positive integer
(if n is even we require a > 0)
p p
10. limx→a n f (x) = n limx→a f (x) for n a positive integer
(if n is even we require limx→a f (x) > 0)

lim (2x 2 − 3x + 4) = lim (2x 2 ) − lim (3x) + lim 4 (law 1 and 2)

x→5 x→5 x→5 x→5
2
= 2 lim (x ) − 3 lim (x) + 4 (law 3 and 7)
x→5 x→5
2
= 2 · 5 − 3 · 5 + 4 = 39 (law 8)
Limit Laws: Examples

x 3 + 2x 2 − 1
lim
x→−2 5 − 3x
limx→−2 (x 3 + 2x 2 − 1)
= (law 5)
limx→−2 (5 − 3x)
limx→−2 x 3 + 2 limx→−2 x 2 − limx→−2 1
= (law 1, 2, 3)
limx→−2 5 − 3 limx→−2 x
(−2) + 2 · (−2)2 − 1
3
= (law 7, 8)
5 − 3 · (−2)
1
=−
11
Computing Limits: Direct Substitution Property
Direct Substitution Property
If f is a polynomial or a rational and a is in the domain of f , then:
lim f (x) = f (a)
x→a

Works also for one-sided limits limx→a± f (x) = f (a).

Works also for algebraic functions if f (x) is defined close to a.

The function f (x) = 2x 2 − 3x + 4 is a polynomial and hence:

lim f (x) = f (5) = 2 · 52 − 3 · 5 + 4 = 39
x→5

x 3 +2x 2 −1
The function g(x) = 5−3x is rational and −2 is in the
domain; hence:
(−2)3 + 2 · (−2)2 − 1 1
lim g(x) = g(−2) = =−
x→−2 5 − 3 · (−2) 11
Computing Limits: Function Replacement

Function Replacement
If f (x) = g(x) for all x 6= a, then limx→a f (x) = limx→a g(x)
(provided that the limit exists).
Actually it suffices f (x) = g(x) when x is close to a.

x 2 −1
Find limx→1 x−1 .
I Direct substitution is not applicable because x = 1 is not in
the domain.
We replace the function:
x2 − 1 (x + 1)(x − 1) for x 6= 1
= = x +1
x −1 x −1
As a consequence
x2 − 1
lim = lim x + 1 = 1 + 1 = 2
x→1 x − 1 x→1
Computing Limits: Function Replacement

Find limx→1 g(x) where


2x + 1 for x 6= 1,
g(x) =
π for x = 1
We have:
g(x) = 2x + 1 for all x 6= 1
As a consequence:
lim g(x) = lim 2x + 1 = 2 + 1 = 3
x→1 x→1
Computing Limits: Function Replacement

Find
(3 + h)2 − 9
lim
h→0 h
We have:
(3 + h)2 − 9 9 + 6h + h2 − 9 6h + h2 for h 6= 0
= = = 6+h
h h h
As a consequence:
(3 + h)2 − 9
lim = lim (6 + h) = 6
h→0 h h→0
Computing Limits: Function Replacement
Find √
t2 + 9 − 3
lim
t→0 t2
We have:
√ √ √
t2 + 9 − 3 t2 + 9 − 3 t2 + 9 + 3 t2 + 9 − 9
= · √ = √
t2 t2 t2 + 9 + 3 t 2 · ( t 2 + 9 + 3)
t2 for t 6= 0 1
= √ = √
2 2
t · ( t + 9 + 3) 2
t +9+3
As a consequence:
√
t2 + 9 − 3 1
lim 2
= lim √
t→0 t t→0 t2 + 9 + 3
1
=p by laws 5, 1, 9, 7
limt→0 (t 2 + 9) + 3
1 1
=√ =
9+3 6
Limits and One-Sided Limits

We recall the following theorem:

lim f (x) = L if and only if lim f (x) = L = lim+ f (x)

x→a x→a− x→a

The theorem in words:

I The limit of f (x), for x approaching a, is L if and only if
the left-limit and the right-limit at a are both L.

The limit laws also apply for one-sided limits!

I if limx→a− f (x) 6= limx→a+ f (x)
then limx→a f (x) does not exist
Computing Limits: Function Replacement
Function replacement for one-sided limits:

If f (x) = g(x) for all x < a, then limx→a− f (x) = limx→a− g(x).

If f (x) = g(x) for all x > a, then limx→a+ f (x) = limx→a+ g(x).

Find limx→2− g(x) where


x2 for x < 2
g(x) =
5x + 1 for x ≥ 2
We have
g(x) = x 2 for all x < 2
Hence:
lim g(x) = lim− x 2 = 4
x→2− x→2
Computing Limits: Function Replacement
For one-sided limits we have:
If f (x) = g(x) for all x < a, then limx→a− f (x) = limx→a− g(x).

If f (x) = g(x) for all x > a, then limx→a+ f (x) = limx→a+ g(x).

Find limx→0 |x| where


x for x ≥ 0
|x| =
−x for x < 0
Since |x| = x for all x > 0 we obtain:
lim |x| = lim+ x = 0
x→0+ x→0

Since |x| = −x for all x < 0 we obtain:

lim |x| = lim− −x = 0
x→0− x→0

Hence limx→0 |x| = 0.

Computing Limits: Function Replacement
For one-sided limits we have:
If f (x) = g(x) for all x < a, then limx→a− f (x) = limx→a− g(x).

If f (x) = g(x) for all x > a, then limx→a+ f (x) = limx→a+ g(x).

|x|
Proof that limx→0 x does not exist.

|x| x
For all x > 0 we have x = x = 1. Thus
|x|
lim = lim+ 1 = 1
x→0+ x x→0
|x| −x
For all x < 0 we have x = x = −1. Thus
|x|
lim− = lim− −1 = −1
x→0 x x→0

Hence limx→0 |x|

x does not exist since limx→0− |x|
x 6= limx→0+ |x|
x .
Properties of Limits

If
I f (x) ≤ g(x) when x is near a (except possibly a),
I limx→a f (x) exists, and
I limx→a g(x) exist,
then
lim f (x) ≤ lim g(x)
x→a x→a

Formally, near a means on (a − , a + ) \ {a} for some  > 0.

We have x 3 ≤ x 2 for x ∈ (−1, 1).

As a consequence:
lim x 3 ≤ lim x 2
x→a x→a

for all a ∈ (−1, 1).

Properties of Limits
The Squeeze Theorem
If f (x) ≤ g(x) ≤ h(x) when x is near a (except possibly a) and
lim f (x) = L = lim h(x)
x→a x→a
then
lim g(x) = L
x→a

h(x)
y

g(x)
L

f (x)
0 a x

Here f is below g, and h is above g (close to a). If f and h have

the same limit, then the squeezed function g also has.
Properties of Limits

Show that limx→0 g(x) = 0 where g(x) = x 2 · sin x1 .

The application of limit laws
1 1
lim (x 2 · sin ) = ( lim x 2 ) · ( lim sin )
x→0 x x→0 x→0 x
does not work since limx→0 sin x1 does not exist.

To apply the squeeze theorem we need:

I a function f smaller (≤) than g, and
I a function h bigger (≥) than g
for which limx→0 f (x) = 0 and limx→0 h(x) = 0.

We know that −1 ≤ sin x1 ≤ 1 and hence

1
−x 2 ≤ x 2 · sin ≤ x2
x
Properties of Limits

We have
1
−x 2 ≤ x 2 · sin ≤ x2
x
We take f (x) = −x 2 and h(x) = x 2 .

y x2

x 2 · sin x1

0 x

−x 2

We know limx→0 x 2 = 0 and limx→0 −x 2 = 0.

Hence by the squeeze theorem we get: limx→0 x 2 · sin x1 = 0.