LIMITS

PRINCE TEOTIA
 INTUITIVE NOTION OF LIMITS
Sometimes we meet the word “almost” or “approach” in our daily life.For example:

“Today, I almost late for the class “

or
“He almost got an accident when he tried to pass that fast motorbike”, etc.

In mathematics, the word almost or approach is known in terms of limits.

As the number of side of the polygons increases, its perimeter gets closer to the circumference of the circle.
PRINCE TEOTIA
 We can break a complex curve into simpler parts(rectangles):

But, we want an accurate model. The thinner the rectangles, the more
accurate the model. The simpler model, built from rectangles, is easier to
analyze than dealing with the complex curve.
PRINCE TEOTIA
 LIMIT OF A FUNCTION
Notice in the graphs below that the two functions yield the same graphs, except for the
value x = 2:

PRINCE TEOTIA
LIMIT OF A FUNCTION

PRINCE TEOTIA
 LIMIT OF A FUNCTION
Suppose we have a function f(x). The value, a function attains, as the variable x
approaches a particular value say a(but not equal to a), i.e., x → a is called its limit. Here,
‘a’ is some pre-assigned value. It is denoted as
limx→af(x) = L
The expected value of the function shown by the points to the left of a point ‘a’ is the
left-hand limit of the function at that point. It is denoted as
limx→a− f(x)
The points to the right of a point ‘a’ which shows the value of the function is the
right-hand limit of the function at that point. It is denoted as
limx→a+ f(x)
Limts exists at a
i limx→a− f(x)= limx→a+ f(x)=L
PRINCE TEOTIA
 x2 −4 x2 −4
lim  lim =4
x →2 x − 2 x →2 x − 2

x x2 −4
x
2
x −4

This is the limit from the left side of x = 2

This is the limit from the right side of x = 2
x −2 x −2
3 5 1 3
2.5 4.5 1.5 3.5
2.1 4.1 1.9 3.9
2.01 4.01 1.99 3.99
2.001 4.001 1.999 3.999
x2 −4 x2 −4
lim+ =4 lim− =4
x →2 x − 2 PRINCE TEOTIA x →2 x − 2
 INDETERMINATE FORM
Indeterminate forms occur when substitution in the limit results in 0/0. In
such cases either factor or rationalize the expressions.

0
x+5 Notice form
Ex. lim 2
x →−5 x − 25 0
x+5
= lim Factor and cancel
x →−5 ( x − 5 )( x + 5 )
common factors
1 1
= lim =
x →−5 ( x − 5 ) −10

PRINCE TEOTIA
 PRACTICE QUESTIONS

lim x − 4
2

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

lim x − 5x + 6 . lim − 1 . lim x − 3x + 4 . lim x − 6x + 11x − 6 .

2 3 3 2 3 2
x
x →2 x →1 x →2
x2 − 4 x −1 x →2 4
x − 8x 2 + 16 x 2 − 6x + 8

PRINCE TEOTIA
 PRACTICE QUESTIONS

lim  2 + 1  . lim  1 x  2x 2
+ 9x − 5
x →1   − 3 . lim
 1− x x −1  x →1  2
2
 x + x − 2 x −1  x →−5
x +5

lim − 81 lim  1 − 3 
4
x
lim x −2
2
x →3  
x →3  x − 3 x − 3x 
2
x2 − 9 x→
x + 2x − 4
2 2

PRINCE TEOTIA
 PROPERTIES OF LIMIT

• lim 𝑓(𝑥) ± 𝑔(𝑥) = lim 𝑓 𝑥 ± lim 𝑔 𝑥

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

• lim 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥) = lim 𝑓(𝑥) lim 𝑔 (𝑥)

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

𝑓(𝑥) lim 𝑓(𝑥)

• lim = 𝑥→𝑎
𝑥→𝑎 𝑔(𝑥) lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎

• lim 𝑐𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐 lim 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

𝑟
• lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑟 = lim 𝑓 (𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
PRINCE TEOTIA
 EXAMPLE
1.
x →3
( )
lim x 2 + 1 = lim x + lim1
2
x →3 x →3

( ) + lim1
2
= lim x
x →3 x →3

= 32 + 1 = 10

2x −1 lim ( 2 x − 1) 2 lim x − lim1

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

2 −1 1
= =
3+5 8

PRINCE TEOTIA
 PRACTICE QUESTIONS

lim x − 4 lim x − 3x + 1
2 3
lim lim 1 + x + 1 − x x →−1 lim 2x + 3
x →1 3x2 + 4x + 5. x →2 x −1
x +3
x →0 x →3
1+ x x +3

x4 − 4 lim x + 3x − 9x − 2 lim  1 − 4 
lim x − 9
2/3 3 2
lim x − 1 + x − 1 , x  1
2
lim . x →2  2 
 x − 2 x − 2x 
3
x→ x →2
x →0 x + 3x 2 − 8
2 2
x3 − x − 6 x →1
x − 27 x2 −1

PRINCE TEOTIA
lim x − 1024 .
10
lim x − 27
3/ 2
lim (x + 2) − (a + 2)5/ 3
5/ 3 lim x − 2 .
. . x →2 3
x →2
x 5 − 32
x →9
x −9
x →a
x −a x−32

lim (x + x + x + ... + x ) − n .
2 3 n

x →1
x −1

lim x 4
− 1 x 3
− k 3

x →1 =lim
x →k . Find k.
x −1 x −k
2 2

lim x − 64
3

x→4 2
x − 16

lim (1 + x) − 1
6

x→0
(1 + x) 2 − 1

PRINCE TEOTIA
LIMITS OF TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

PRINCE TEOTIA
LIMITS OF TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

PRINCE TEOTIA
LIMITS OF TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

PRINCE TEOTIA
 PRACTICE QUESTIONS

lim 1 − cos mx
lim 1 − cos 2x lim sin ax lim sin 5x x →0
x →0 x →0 x →0
2x 1 − cos nx
x sin bx

lim tan x − sin x lim cot 2x − cos ec2x lim sec 4x − sec 2x lim 3sin x − 4sin x
3

x →0 x →0
x3 x →0
x sec 3x − sec x x→0
x

lim tan 8x lim sin 5x − sin 3x lim sin(2 + x) − sin(2 − x) lim x tan x
x→0 x→0
sin 2x x→0
sin x x→0
x 1 − cos x

PRINCE TEOTIA
 PRACTICE QUESTIONS

lim x cos x + 2sin x

x→0
lim tan 3x − 2x lim 2 − 1 + cos x lim ax + x cos x
x 2 + tan x x→0
3x − sin 2 x x→0
x2 x→0
b sin x

lim sin 3x + 7x lim 3 sin x − cos x lim 1 + cos 2x lim sin 3x − 3sin x
x→0
4x + sin 2x
x → / 6
 
x → (  − 2x) 2
x →
( − x)3
x− 2
6

PRINCE TEOTIA
 LIMITS AT INFINITY

For all n > 0, lim 1 = lim 1

=0
𝑥→∞ 𝑥 𝑛 𝑥→−∞ 𝑥 𝑛

provided that 1 is defined.

n 5 1
x2 3+ + 2
3x + 5 x + 1 x x
Divide by
Ex. lim = lim 2
x → 2 − 4x 2 x → 2
− 4 x
x2
5  1 
lim 3 + lim   + lim  2 
x → x →  x  x →  x  3+ 0+ 0 3
= = =−
 2  0−4 4
lim  2  − lim 4
x →  x  x →
PRINCE TEOTIA
 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
lim ax + bx + c .
2
lim 5x − 6 .
lim 3x − 1 + 2x − 1 . lim x ( x + c − x ).
2 2
x →
x →
dx 2 + ex + f 4x 2 + 9 x →
4x + 3
x →

( )
lim x
lim x + x +1 − x2 +1 . lim 1 + 2 + 3 + ... + n . x →
x → n → 4x 2 + 1 − 1
n2

PRINCE TEOTIA
 PRACTICE QUESTIONS

lim 1 + 2 + ... + n lim 1 + 2 + ... + n

2 2 2 −1 −2
lim 3x + 4x
3 3 3

n → n → x →
n3 n4 5x −1 + 6x −2

lim 5x − 6
3
x +a − x +b
2 2 2 2
lim 3x − 4x + 6x − 1
3 2
lim x →
x → 9 + 4x 6
x 2 + c2 − x 2 + d 2 x →
2x 3 + x 2 − 5x + 7

PRINCE TEOTIA
 ONE SIDED LIMIT
The left-hand limit of f (x), as x approaches a, equals M

written: lim− f ( x) = M
x →a

if we can make the value f (x) arbitrarily close to L by taking x to be

sufficiently close to the left of a.
y = f ( x)

M
a
PRINCE TEOTIA
 ONE SIDED LIMIT
The right-hand limit of f (x), as x approaches a, equals L

written: lim+ f ( x) = L
x →a

if we can make the value f (x) arbitrarily close to L by taking x to be

sufficiently close to the right of a.
y = f ( x)
L

a
PRINCE TEOTIA
 EXAMPLE

 x 2 if x  3
f ( x) = 
2x if x  3

LEFT HAND LIMIT LHL RIGHT HAND LIMIT RHL

lim− f ( x)
x→3 lim+ f ( x)
x→3

lim− 𝑓 (𝑥) = lim (3 − ℎ)2 = 9 lim 𝑓 (𝑥) = lim 2 (3 + ℎ) = 6

𝑥→3 ℎ→0 𝑥→3+ ℎ→0

PRINCE TEOTIA
 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1.Evaluate the left hand and right hand limits of the function defined by

1 + 𝑥 2 , 𝑖𝑓0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1
𝑓 𝑥 =ቊ 𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 1.
2 − 𝑥, 𝑖𝑓𝑥 > 1

𝑥−|𝑥|
,𝑥 ≠0
2.If (x) = 𝑓(𝑥) = ൝ 𝑥 show that lim f(x) does not exist.
2, 𝑥 = 0 𝑥→0

5𝑥 − 4, 0<𝑥≤1
3.If (x) = 𝑓(𝑥) = ቊ 3 , show that lim f(x) exists.
4𝑥 − 3𝑥, 1 < 𝑥 < 2 𝑥→1

PRINCE TEOTIA
 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 , 𝑖𝑓𝑥 ≥ 0
4.Let f(x) =𝑥 + 𝑘, 𝑖𝑓𝑥 < 0 Find the value of constant k, given thatlim f(x) exists.
𝑥→0

4𝑥 − 5, 𝑖𝑓𝑥 ≤ 2
5.Let f(x) be a function defined by f(x) = ൜ . Find , if lim f(x) exists.
𝑥 − 𝜆, 𝑖𝑓𝑥 > 2 𝑥→2

𝑎 + 𝑏𝑥, 𝑥 < 1
6.f(x) = ቐ 4, 𝑥 = 1 and if limf(x) = f(1). What are possible values of a and b?
𝑥→1
𝑏 − 𝑎𝑥, 𝑥 > 1

PRINCE TEOTIA
 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
7.Determine the value of k for which the following if limf(x) = f(3)
𝑥→3
𝑥2 − 9
𝑓(𝑥) = ቐ 𝑥 − 3 , 𝑥 ≠ 3
𝑘, 𝑥=3
sin(a + 1)𝑥 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥
, 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑥 < 0
𝑥
8. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐 , 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑥 = 0 Find a,b,c if limf(x) = f(0)
𝑥→0
𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 2 − 𝑥
, 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑥 > 0
𝑏𝑥 3Τ2

1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑘 𝑥
, 𝑥≠0 Find k if limf(x) = f(0)
9. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥
𝑥→0
1
, 𝑥=0
2

PRINCE TEOTIA
 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
10. Determine the value of a,b for which the following is continuous at x = 1.
3𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 , 𝑖𝑓𝑥 > 1
𝑓(𝑥) = ቐ 11 , 𝑖𝑓𝑥 = 1
5𝑎𝑥 − 2𝑏 , 𝑖𝑓𝑥 < 1
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 3
, 𝑥 ≠ −1
11.Find the value of the constant  so that lim f(x) = f(-1) 𝑓(𝑥) = ቐ 𝑥 + 1
𝑥→−1
𝜆, 𝑥 = −1

1 − cos 2 𝑥
12.Find the value of the constant k so that limf(x) = f(0) 𝑓(𝑥) = ቐ 2𝑥 2 , 𝑥≠0
𝑥→0
𝑘, 𝑥=0

13. Find the value of a if limf(x) = f(2) 2𝑥 − 1 , 𝑥 < 2

𝑥→2 𝑓(𝑥) = ቐ 𝑎 , 𝑥=2
𝑥+1 , 𝑥 >2
PRINCE TEOTIA
 PRACTICE QUESTIONS

14. 𝑓(𝑥)
1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 4 𝑥
, 𝑖𝑓𝑥 < 0
𝑥2 Find a if limf(x) = f(0)
= 𝑎 , 𝑖𝑓𝑥 = 0 𝑥→0
𝑥
, 𝑖𝑓𝑥 > 0
16 + 𝑥 − 4

PRINCE TEOTIA
OTHER LIMITS

PRINCE TEOTIA