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Evaluating Limits I

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22 views3 pages

Evaluating Limits I

.

Uploaded by

Mitko Georgiev
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Math 251, 2.

3 Evaluating Limits I

(1) Basics. At this point we will focus on evaluating limits of algebraic functions (polyno-
mials, rational functions, radical functions). We start with a basic theorem. We will not
prove it, however, you should ask yourself how it would proved using the  − δ definition
of the limit.

Theorem
Let b and c be real numbers, and let n be a positive integer. Then
(a) lim b = b
x→c

(b) lim x = c
x→c

Think of the graph of the function. As we get closer to x = c on the graph f (x) = x, f
get’s closer to c along the y-axis.

(2) Example A: lim 3 = 3, and lim x = −4.


x→2 x→−4

(3) More Theorems

Theorem: Properties of Limits Let b and c be real numbers, and let n be a


positive integer, and let f and g be functions for which the limits
lim f (x) = L and lim g(x) = K
x→c x→c
Then,
(a) (Scalar Multiple)lim [bf (x)] = bL
x→c

(b) (Sum or Difference) lim [f (x) ± g(x)] = L ± K.


x→c

(c) (Product) lim [f (x) · g(x)] = L · K.


x→c
f (x) L
(d) (Quotient) lim = .
x→c g(x) K
(e) (Power) lim [f (x)]n = Ln .
x→c

Note: In general, these rules work only if you can evaluate the function. They seem to
suggest that the way to evaluate lim f (x) = f (c). In general, this is not true unless the
x→c
function is continuous. In cases where you get DNE, or 0/0, you would need to do some
more work to investigate the limit.

(4) Example B: Evaluate lim (4x2 + 3).


x→2
Solution:

lim (4x2 + 3) = lim 4x2 + lim 3


x→2 x→2 x→2
 
2
= 4 lim x + lim 3
x→2 x→2
2
= 4(2) + 3
= 19
1
x2 + x + 2
(5) Example C: Evaluate lim .
x→1 x+1
Solution:
x2 + x + 2 limx→1 x2 + x + 1
lim =
x→1 x+1 x+1
2
1 +1+1
=
1+1
4
=
2
= 2
(6) Radicals.

Theorem: Limits of a Function Involving a Radical: Let n be a positive


integer. Then the following is valid for when n odd for all c, and when n is even,
only for c > 0.
√
n
√
n
lim x= c
x→c

(7) Compositie Functions.

Theorem: Limits of Composite Functions: If f and g are functions such that


lim g(x) = L and limx→L f (x) = f (L), then
x→
 
lim f (g(x)) = f lim g(x) = f (L).
x→c x→c
p
3
(8) Example D: Evaluate lim 2x2 − 10.
x→3
Solution:
p
3
q
lim 2x2 − 10 = 3 lim (2x2 − 10)
x→3 x→3
√3
= 8
= 2
(9) What happens when we get a 0/0 form (that is given a rational function, if the top
function evaluate to 0 and the bottom function evaluate to 0). We have the following
theorem which enables us to find the limit.

Theorem: Functions that Agree at All but One Point: Let c be a real num-
ber, and let f (x) = g(x) for all x 6= c in an open interval containing c. If the limit
of g(x) as x approaches c exists, then the limit of f (x) as x approaches c exists and

lim f (x) = lim g(x)


x→c x→c

x2 + x − 6
(10) Example E: Evaluate lim .
x→−3 x+3
Solution: Notice that when we plug the limit in, we get 0/0. So we need to investigate
further. First we check if we can simplify the expression.
x2 + x − 6 (x + 3)(x − 2)
lim = lim
x→−3 x+3 x→−3 (x + 3)
= lim x − 2
x→−3
= −5
2
Notice when you try to graph the function, you will get a straight line. The calcula-
tor’s resolution is poor, and so it will not show you that there is a break unless you get
very close to the point (essentially the zoom feature on your calculator is a technological
form of the  − δ proof.
1 1
−
(11) Example F: Evaluate lim 3 + h 3 .
h→0 h
Solution: We notice that we get a 0/0. So we check if we can simplify the problem.

1 1 3−3−h
−
3(3 + h)
lim 3 + h 3 = lim
h→0 h h→0 h
−h
= lim
h→0 h(3(3 + h)
−1
= lim
h→0 9 + 3h
1
= −
9
(12) Rationalizing Technique. Another way to find a limit is the technique of rationaliz-
ing the numerator of the a fractional expression containing a radical, and that evaluates
to a 0/0 form. We do this bu multiplying the top and the bottom by the conjugate of
the numerator.
√
x+1−1
(13) Example G: Evaluate lim .
x→0 x
Solution: When we evaluate √ the limit, we get a 0/0. So we multiply the top and the
bottom of the function by x + 1 + 1.
√ √ √
x+1−1 x+1−1 x+1+1
lim = lim ·√
x→0 x x→0 x x+1+1
√ √
x+1−1 x+1+1
= lim ·√
x→0 x x+1+1
(x + 1) − 1
= lim √
x→0 x( x + 1 + 1)
x
= lim √
x→0 x( x + 1 + 1)
= 1
√
x+1−2
(14) (You DO!) lim .
x→3 x−3

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