(Section 2.2: Properties of Limits and Algebraic Functions) 2.2.

SECTION 2.2: PROPERTIES OF LIMITS and ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Know properties of limits, and use them to evaluate limits of functions, particularly algebraic functions. Understand how the properties of limits justify the limit theorems in Section 2.1. Be able to use informal Limit Form notation to analyze limits. even Learn to exercise caution when handling Limit Form 0 .

PART A: PROPERTIES OF LIMITS / THE ALGEBRA OF LIMITS; LIMIT FORMS Assume that: lim f x = L1 , and lim g x = L2 , where a, L1 , L2

.
x
a x
a

()

()

1) The limit of a sum equals the sum of the limits.

x
a

 lim  f x + lim g x  f x + g x  = xlim
a x
a = L1 + L2

() ()

()

()

We may refer to this as the Sum Rule of Limits. For example, as x
a , if f ( x )
2 and g ( x )
3 , then   f ( x ) + g ( x ) 
5. We can represent this informally using a Limit Form: ( Limit Form 2 + 3)
5 . WARNING 1: Limit Forms. There is no standard notation for Limit Forms, and they represent footnotes to the rigorous evaluation of limits. Different instructors may have different rules on when Limit Forms need to be written. 2) The limit of a difference equals the difference of the limits.
xa

 lim  f x
lim g x  f x
g x  = xlim a xa = L1
L2

() ()

()

()

For example, ( Limit Form 5
3)  2 .

(Section 2.2: Properties of Limits and Algebraic Functions) 2.2.2 3) The limit of a product equals the product of the limits.

, or lim f x g x =  lim f x   lim g x  lim  f x g x       x
a x
a x
a x
a   = L1 L2

For example, ( Limit Form 2
3)  6 . 4) The limit of a quotient equals the quotient of the limits, if the limit of the divisor (or denominator) is not zero.

() ()

() ()

()

()

lim f x f x  f x x
a  , or lim lim  = x
a g x x
a g x lim g x     x
a = L1 L2

() ()

() ()

() ()

, if L2  0

6  For example,  Limit Form 
3 .  2

5) The limit of a (positive integer) power equals the power of the limit. If n is a positive integer n

+ , then:
n  =  lim f x  lim  f x    x
a  x
a 

()

()

= L1

( )

This is a direct consequence of Property 3. For instance,

x
a

lim x 2 = lim xx = lim x

x
a

For example, Limit Form 2

x
a

)(

x
a

lim x = lim x .

(constant 3)
8 .

The seemingly simpler statement Limit Form 2 3
8 is also true, but it actually says something more powerful. It says that something approaching 2 raised to an exponent approaching 3 will approach 8. However, this idea falls apart when the base f ( x ) approaches a negative number. It is true that (constant 3) Limit Form (
2 ) 
8 , for example, but it is not true that

)(

x
a

(Limit Form (
2) ) 
8 . Think about why (
2)

3

3.5

, or (
2 )

7/2

, is not a real

number; we will address this issue in Part B.

(Section 2.2: Properties of Limits and Algebraic Functions) 2.2.3 6) The limit of a constant multiple equals the constant multiple of the limit. (Constant Factors Pop Out.) If c

, then:
x
a

 lim  cf x = c  lim f x  c  f x  , or xlim
a x
a = cL1

()

()

()

For example, twice something that approaches 3 will approach 6. In multivariable calculus, if y is independent of x, then we can pop out y. Note: Properties 5, 6, and 7 (upcoming) are generalized in Section 2.8, Footnote 6.

Limit Operators are Linear Properties 1), 2), and 6) imply that limit operators are linear operators. This means that we can take limits term-by-term, and then constant factors pop out, assuming the limits exist. (See Footnote 1.) This is a key property that is shared by differentiation and integration operators in later chapters. Properties 1-6, building on the elementary rules lim c = c and lim x = a

( a, c

) , justify the Basic Limit Theorem for Rational Functions in

Section 2.1. A demonstration follows.

x
a

x
a

(Section 2.2: Properties of Limits and Algebraic Functions) 2.2.4 Example 1 (Demonstrating How the Properties of Limits Justify the Basic Limit Theorem for Rational Functions)

3x 2
1 Evaluate lim using the properties of limits in this section. x4 x + 5

Solution

3x 2
1 3x 2
1 xlim 4 lim = x4 x + 5 lim x + 5

x4

( by Property 4 on quotients) ( by Properties 1, 2 on sums, differences)

x4

lim 3x 2
lim 1
x4 x4

lim x + lim 5
x4

= =

x4

lim 3x 2
1

3 lim x 2
1
x4

( (

4+5 4+5
x4

( by elementary rules) ( by Property 6 on constant multiples)

 by Property 5 on powers, or    by Property 3 on products: x 2 = xx  

= =

3 lim x

4+5
2

)
1
2

3 4
1

()

4+5 47 = 9

( by elementary rules; see Note 1 below )

Note 1: Observe that the limit can be evaluated by simply substituting x = 4 3x 2
1 , as the Basic Limit Theorem for Rational Functions suggests. into x+5 Note 2: Observe that all indicated limits exist and there are no zero denominator issues, so we could apply Properties 1-6. Our use of the = sign is appropriate here, though we often use it informally even when the limit turns out not to exist.

(Section 2.2: Properties of Limits and Algebraic Functions) 2.2.5 Properties of One-Sided Limits Properties 1-6 extend naturally to one-sided limits. For example,

() () () () lim  f ( x ) + g ( x )  f ( x ) + lim+ g ( x ) ,  = x lim x
a+ 
a+ x
a

x  a

 lim  f x + lim
g x , and  f x + g x  = x lim  a
xa

provided the indicated limits exist.

PART B: PROPERTIES OF LIMITS OF ROOTS We now motivate Property 7, a much more complicated property on roots. Example 2 (Evaluating the Limit of a Square Root) Evaluate lim x , lim
x
1 x 
1

x , lim+ x , lim
x , and lim

x
0 x0

x
0

x.

Solution The graph of y = x is below. We emphasize the interesting cases where a = 0.

x
1

lim x = 1 = 1 , evidently. lim x does not exist (DNE).

Actually, this is not because

x 
1

1 is imaginary. It is because there is

no punctured neighborhood of x =
1 on which x is real. There is no way to approach x =
1 through the domain of f , where f is the (principal) square root function.

(Section 2.2: Properties of Limits and Algebraic Functions) 2.2.6 Review Section 2.1, Example 6. Dom f =  0,
here, as well.
x
0+ x  0

( )

lim

x = 0 = 0. x does not exist (DNE).

x
0

lim

Therefore, lim

x does not exist (DNE).

Example 3 (Evaluating the Limit of a Cube Root) Evaluate lim Solution The graph of y = 3 x is below.
3

x 
1

x and lim

x
0

x.

The domain of the cube root function is
. The (principal) cube roots of negative real numbers are (negative) real numbers; this is a key difference from square roots. It turns out that substituting x = a works here for both limits.
x 
1 x
0

lim

x = 3
1 =
1.

lim

x = 3 0 = 0.

Property 7 now extends our observations from Examples 2 and 3 to more general radicands, not just x, and also to general types of roots. WARNING 2: In theory, even roots tend to require more thought than odd roots.

(Section 2.2: Properties of Limits and Algebraic Functions) 2.2.7 As before, assume lim f x = L1 .
x
a

()

7) The limit of a root equals the root of the limit sometimes. If n is a positive integer n

+ , and either (n is odd), or (n is even, and L1 > 0 ), then:
x
a

lim

f x =

()

x
a

lim f x

()

= n L1
For example, Limit Form

4
2 , and Limit Form 3
8 
2 .

3

(The index of a radical, such as the 3 in

even

8 , is assumed to be a constant.)

WARNING 3: The Limit Form 0 , corresponding to L1 = 0 , could either yield a limit value of 0 or a limit that does not exist (DNE). Informally, even Limit Form 0
0 or DNE, but further analysis is required to determine

which is the case. Limit Forms such as

1 and

5 imply that the limits do not exist (DNE).

Property 7* below elaborates on limits of even roots. 7*) Properties of Limits of Even Roots Let n be a positive even integer. If L1 > 0 , then lim
x
a x
a
n

f x = n L1 by Property 7. f x does not exist (DNE). The one-sided limits

n

()

If L1 < 0 , then lim

x
a

lim+

f x and lim

xa
n

()
n

() f ( x ) also do not exist (DNE).

If L1 = 0 , then lim lim

x
a

() f ( x ) = 0  f ( x )  0 on some punctured neighborhood of a;

x
a

f x = 0 or DNE. In particular,

change this to a right-neighborhood for a right-hand limit and a left-neighborhood for a left-hand limit. Otherwise, the limit does not exist (DNE).

(Section 2.2: Properties of Limits and Algebraic Functions) 2.2.8 PART C: LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS Our understanding of Property 7 will now allow us to extend our Basic Limit Theorem for Rational Functions to more general algebraic functions. Remember that: all constant functions are also polynomial functions, all polynomial functions are also rational functions, and all rational functions are also algebraic functions. Basic Limit Theorem for Algebraic Functions If f is an algebraic function, a
Dom f , and no radicand of any even root approaches 0 in the limit even (informally, the Limit Form 0 does not appear), then lim f x = f a .
x
a

( )

()

()

To evaluate the limit, substitute (plug in) x = a , and evaluate f a . If the Limit Form 0 does appear, this substitution method might still work, but further analysis is required. How is the radicand approaching 0? Example 4 (Evaluating the Limit of an Algebraic Function) Let f x = Solution f is an algebraic function. Observe that: 2 f ( x ) is real
 x + 3  0 and 3 x
9  0 ( )   . As a result,
even

()

()

x
4

3x
9

+ x + 3 . Evaluate lim f x .
x
2

()

Dom f = x 
x 
3 and x  3 =  
3,  \ 3 =  
3, 3  3,  . even We observe that 2
Dom f , and the Limit Form 0 will not appear, so

( ) {

( )

) {}
()

) ( )

we substitute (plug in) x = 2 and evaluate f 2 . TIP 1: As a practical matter, when we evaluate the limit of an algebraic function, we often substitute immediately and see what happens. (We might not have time to find the domain.) If we end up with a even real number, and if any 0 Limit Forms encountered only yield 0 (not DNE), then that number will be the limit value.

(Section 2.2: Properties of Limits and Algebraic Functions) 2.2.9

 3  x
4 lim f x = lim  + x + 3 2 x2 x2    3x
9 

()

( ) ( 2)
4 + 2 + 3 = ()  3( 2 )
9   
3 2 3

2 + 5 9
3

2 =
+ 5, or 9
We confront the Limit Form
even

2 9 5
3 2 5
, or 9 9
3

0 in the following Examples.

even

Example 5 (Resolving the Limit Form

Evaluate lim+ 3r 2
3 .
r 1

0)

Solution The radicand 3r 2
3 is rational. By the Extended Limit Theorem for Rational Functions in Section 2.1, we find that lim+ 3r 2
3 = 0 , so we
r 1

are facing the Limit Form

even

0.

We use Property 7*. We will show that 3r 2
3  0 on a rightneighborhood of r = 1 , and then lim+ 3r 2
3 = 0 . Otherwise, the limit
r 1

would not exist (DNE). The graph of y = 3r 2
3 follows. It is an upward-opening parabola in the ry-plane. The zeros of 3r 2
3 ,
1 and 1, correspond to the r-intercepts. The domain of 3r 2
3 consists of the r-values that make y = 3r 2
3  0 . It corresponds to the parts of the parabola that lie above or on the r-axis. This is important, because we are only allowed to approach r = 1 through this domain (in purple). In fact, here, we can approach r = 1 from the right.

(Section 2.2: Properties of Limits and Algebraic Functions) 2.2.10

Therefore, lim+ 3r 2
3 = 0 .
r 1

(For more, see Section 2.7: Nonlinear Inequalities in the Precalculus notes.)

Heres a non-graphical approach. As r
1+ , r > 1 . Now,

r >1  r2 > 1  3r > 3 

2

Therefore, lim+ 3r 2
3 = 0 .
r 1

3r 2
3 > 0
The graph of y = 3r 2
3 is below. Observe that the graph disappears where 3r 2
3 < 0 ; this is where we fall outside the domain (in purple).

(Section 2.2: Properties of Limits and Algebraic Functions) 2.2.11. Example 6 (Evaluating a Limit Using Example 5 and Properties of Limits) Evaluate lim+ 7 3r 2
3 + 5 .
r 1

Solution
r 1

lim+ 7 3r 2
3 + 5 = lim+ 7 3r 2
3 + lim+ 5

r 1 r 1

( by Prop.1 on sums)

 by Prop. 6 on constant    = 7  lim+ 3r 2
3  + 5   r 1   multiples, elem. rules   = 7 0 +5 =5

()

( by Example 5)
0)

Example 7 (Resolving the Limit Form

Evaluate lim Solution 1 As x 
7 , x + 7
0 .
x 
7

even

( x + 7)

. Solution 2

( x + 7)
x 
7

0 for all real x

x 
7

lim

( x + 7)

= lim

x 
7

x+7

(
x 
) . Therefore,
lim

=
7 + 7 =0
Below is the graph of

( x + 7)

= 0.

y=

( x + 7)

, or y = x + 7 .

FOOTNOTES
1. Limits of linear combinations. The fact that limit operators are linear implies that the limit of a linear combination of f ( x ) and g ( x ) equals the linear combination of the limits:
x
a

 lim  f x + d  lim g x  c  f x + d  g x  = c  xlim
a x
a

1 2

()

()

() = cL + dL ( c, d 
)

()