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Limits of Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Math 130
Supplement to Section 3.1

Exponential Functions

Look at the graph of f ( x)  e x to determine the two basic limits. The first graph shows the
function over the interval [– 2, 4 ]. The next two graph portions show what happens as x increases.

From these we conclude that lim e x  __________ .

x 

In the next series of graphs, the first graph shows f ( x)  e x over the interval [ – 3, 1 ]. The next
two show what happens as x decreases without bound.

From these we conclude that lim e x  __________ .

x 

Example 1: Use the two basic limits to find each of the following limits.

lim e 3 x  lim e x 
2
a) b)
x  x 

c) lim e 2 x  d) lim e  x 
x  x 

lim e x  lim e x 5 
3
e) f)
x  x 
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Logarithmic Functions

Look at the graph of f ( x)  ln x to determine its two basic limits. The first graph shows the
function over the interval [– 1, 6 ]. The next two graphs show what happens as x increases.

From these we conclude that lim ln x  __________ .

x 

In the next series of graphs, the first graph shows f ( x)  ln x over the interval [ – .1, 1 ]. The next
two show what happens as x approaches zero from the right.

From these we conclude that lim ln x  __________ .

x 0

Example 2: Use the two basic limits to find each of the following limits.

a) lim ln  4 x   b) lim ln  x 2  5  
x  x 

c) lim ln  x 4   d) lim ln  2 x  
x  x  0

e) lim   ln x   f) lim  ln x 1  
x  0 x 
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More Examples – Combinations of Functions

Example 3: Find each of the following limits involving exponentials.

 4x 
a) lim  x e x   b) lim  x  
x  x 
e 

 x4   x4 
c) lim  x   d) lim   
x  e x  e x
   

e) lim  x e x   f) lim  x 2 e 3 x  
x  x 

g) lim  x 2 e 3 x  
x 
h)
x 

lim 3 x e 2 x
2



Example 4: Find each of the following limits involving logarithms.

a) lim  7  ln x   b) lim  4 x  ln x  
x  0 x 

c) lim  4 x  ln x   d) lim  4 x  ln x  
x  x  0

e) lim  x 2  8ln x   f) lim  x 2 ln x  

x  0 x  0

 ln x   x 
g) lim   h) lim  
x 
 x  
x  ln x

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Homework on Limits of Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Supplement to Section 3.1

Find each of the following limits.

1) lim  250  e  x   2) lim  2 x  ln x  

x  x 

 x2 
3) lim   4) lim  3 x e x  
x  ln x x 
 

5) lim  3x e x   6) lim  4 x ln x  
x  x  0

7)
 x
lim   x

x  e



8)
x 

lim 5 e  x
2



 ln x 
9) lim  2   10) lim  x 2 e  x  
x 0  x  x 

11) lim  x 2 e  x   12) lim   x e x  

x  x 

13) lim   x e  x   14) lim  x  ln x  

x  x  0

15) lim ln  x  1 
x 1

ANSWERS

1) 250 2)  3)  4) 0

5)  6) 0 7) 0 8) 0

9) – 10) 0 11)  12) 0

13)  14)  15) –