LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

WEEK 1 -2
SESSION 1
 1. 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 − 5 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 = 9

2. 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 2 + 1 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 = 2.9999
Find the value
of 𝑓(𝑥) given 3. 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥 2 +5𝑥−3
𝑥+2
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 = 1.5
the specified
4. 𝑓 𝑥 = |2𝑥 − 7| 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 = 3.8
value of 𝑥.
𝑥 − 3, 𝑥 < 1
5. 𝑓 𝑥 = ቊ 2
𝑥 + 5, 𝑥 ≥ 1
 1.How did you get the value of
𝑓 𝑥 ?
Guide
Questions: 2.What mathematical process
did you apply in getting the
value of 𝑓(𝑥)?
Let us complete the table of values representing
𝒍𝒊𝒎(𝟐 + 𝟒𝒙)
𝒙→𝟒
𝑥 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)
3 14 5 22
3.5 16 4.8 21.2
3.8 17.2 4.5 20
3.9 17.6 4.1 18.4
3.99 17.96 4.001 18.004
3.9999 17.9996 4.00001 18.000004
Graph of
lim (2 + 4𝑥)
𝑥→4
• The graph shows the table of
values for lim−(2 + 4𝑥) and
𝑥→4
lim+ (2 + 4𝑥). As we notice,
𝑥→4
as 𝑥 is approaching 4, the
graph is getting closer and
closer to 𝑦 = 18. Thus, we can
say that lim (2 + 4𝑥) = 18
𝑥→4
 How did you find the value for 𝒇(𝒙)?

What did you notice about the given

values of 𝒙 in the two tables?
Guide What did you observe about the values
Questions: on 𝒇(𝒙)?

By synthesizing your observations on

the values of 𝒙 and 𝒇(𝒙) on the two
tables, how are you going to define a
limit?
 • The limit of a function 𝒇(𝒙) as x
approaches 𝒄 is denoted by 𝑳, written as
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝑳, if the values of 𝒇(𝒙) get
𝒙→𝒄
closer to 𝑳 as the values of 𝒙 closer to 𝒄
(both from left and right of 𝒄).
LIMITS
• The number 𝒄 in the definition above
may or may not be in the domain of the
function 𝒇(𝒙) while the number 𝑳 is
understood to be a finite real number.
Complete the given 2 sets of tables of values to
investigate the limits of a function.

1. lim 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6
𝑥→−2
𝑥 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)
-3 30 -1 12
-2.5 24.75 -1.5 15.75
-2.1 20.91 -1.9 19.11
-2.0001 20.0009 -1.9999 19.9991
lim 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6
𝑥→−2
TRY THIS!
Use the tabular method to find the limit.

1. lim (𝑥 3 −2𝑥 + 3)
𝑥→−1

𝑥 2 +𝑥−6
2. lim 𝑥−2
𝑥→2

𝑥 3 +27
3. lim 𝑥+3
𝑥→−3
SESSION 2
 • The limit of a function 𝑓(𝑥) as x approaches 𝑐 is
denoted by 𝐿, written as lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿, if the
𝑥→𝑐
values of 𝑓(𝑥) get closer to 𝐿 as the values of 𝑥
closer to 𝑐 (both from left and right of 𝑐).

Recall: • The number 𝑐 in the definition above may or

may not be in the domain of the function 𝑓(𝑥)
Definition of while the number 𝐿 is understood to be a finite
real number.
Limit • Functional evaluation and limit evaluation are
two different processes. The value of 𝑓(𝑐) finds
the value of the function when x=c, whereas the
value of lim 𝑓(𝑥) evaluate f(x) when 𝑥 is near
𝑥→𝑐
but 𝑥 not equal to 𝑐.
Exercise 1: Compare the two given:
3
𝑥 −𝑥 2
A. 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−1

𝑥 3 −𝑥 2
B. lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
C. Construct a table of values:
C. Construct a table of values:
Try this: Determine the following limit by looking at
the graph of the involved function or a table of
values:

3 2
𝑥 −𝑥
lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
Therefore,
3 2
𝑥 −𝑥
lim =1
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏, its graph is
given by:

• It can be seen from the

graph that as values of 𝒙
approach −1, the values
of 𝒇(𝒙) approach 2.
 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥|

• It is clear that
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙 , that is, the
𝒙→𝟎
two sides of the
graph both move
downward to the
origin (0, 0) as 𝒙
approaches 0.
 2
𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 4
𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−1
Take note that
𝒙𝟐 − 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟒
𝒇 𝒙 =
𝒙−𝟏
(𝒙 − 𝟒)(𝒙 − 𝟏)
=
𝒙−𝟏
=𝒙−𝟒
provided 𝒙 ≠ 𝟏.
Hence, the graph of 𝒇(𝒙) is
also the graph of 𝒚 = 𝒙 − 𝟏,
excluding the point where
𝒙 = 𝟏.
 𝒙+𝟏 𝒊𝒇 𝒙 < 𝟒
𝒇 𝒙 =൝ 𝟐
𝒙−𝟒 +𝟑 𝒊𝒇 𝒙 ≥ 𝟒

• Again, we can see from the

graph that 𝒇(𝒙) has no limit
as 𝒙 approaches 4. The two
separate parts of the
function move toward
different y-levels (𝒚 = 𝟓 from
the left, 𝒚 = 𝟑 from the right)
in the vicinity of 𝒄 = 𝟒.
• 𝑳 = 𝑫𝑵𝑬
By inspection,
determine the limits
from the graph of
the function 𝒇(𝒙):
By inspection, determine the limits from the graph of the
function:
For instance, it can be seen from the graph
of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) that:
a. lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 1
𝑥→−2

b. lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 3 Here, it does not matter

𝑥→0
that 𝑓(0) does not exist (that is, it is
undefined, or 𝑥 = 0 is not in the domain
of 𝑓(𝑥)).
c. lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐷𝑁𝐸. As can be seen in the
𝑥→3
figure, the two parts of the graph near
𝑐 = 3 do not move toward a common
𝑦 − 𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙 as x approaches c = 3.
Consider the function f(x) whose graph is shown
below: (A)

1
𝐷𝑁𝐸
−1
𝐷𝑁𝐸
5
(B) Determine the following:

a. lim 𝑓(𝑥) 2.5

𝑥→−1.5

b. lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝐷𝑁𝐸

𝑥→0

c. lim 𝑓(𝑥) 0
𝑥→2

d. lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝐷𝑁𝐸

𝑥→4
 𝟏
Consider the function 𝒇 𝒙 =
𝒙

What can be said about

lim 𝑓(𝑥)?
𝑥→0

Does it exist or not?

Why?
 • The value being approached by
𝑓(𝑥) as 𝑥 approaches c from the
COMMON right is different from what is being
CASES OF approached as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐 from
the left.
NONEXISTENT • The function increases or decreases
LIMIT without bound as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐.
• The function alternates between two
distinct values as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐.
 EXAMPLES

𝑥
1. lim
𝑥→0 𝑥

3
2. lim
𝑥→3 (𝑥−3)2

2
3. lim cos
𝑥
𝑥→0
 𝑥
lim
𝑥→0 𝑥

𝑥 𝑥
𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥 𝑥
−0.1 −1 0.1 1
−0.01 −1 0.01 1
−0.001 −1 0.001 1
−0.0001 −1 0.0001 1
−0.00001 −1 0.00001 1
 𝑥
lim does not exist (DNE)
𝑥→0 𝑥

𝑥
lim− = −1
𝑥→0 𝑥

𝑥
𝑎𝑛𝑑 lim+ =1
𝑥→0 𝑥
 3
lim
𝑥→3 (𝑥 − 3)2

3 3
𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 =
(𝑥 − 3)2 (𝑥 − 3)2

2.9 300 3.9 3.7

2.99 30,000 3.7 6.1
2.999 3,000,000 3.5 12
2.9999 300,000,000 3.0001 300,000,000
2.99999 30,000,000,000 3.00001 30,000,000,000
 3
lim
𝑥→3 (𝑥 − 3)2

3
lim
𝑥→3 (𝑥 − 3)2

= DNE
• The values of the function increase
without bound as x approaches 3 from
both sides. We may also write the
limit:
3
lim 2
=∞
𝑥→3 (𝑥 − 3)
 2
lim cos
𝑥→0 𝑥

2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
𝑥
𝜋 𝜋 3𝜋 2𝜋 5𝜋 3𝜋 7𝜋 4𝜋 9𝜋

2
𝜋 2𝜋 3𝜋 4𝜋 5𝜋 6𝜋 7𝜋 8𝜋 9𝜋
𝑥
2
𝑓 𝑥 = cos −1 1 −1 1 −1 1 −1 1 −1
𝑥
 2
lim cos
𝑥→0 𝑥

2
lim cos
𝑥→0 𝑥
𝐿 = DNE
 TRY THIS

2𝑥 − 1 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < 1
𝑓 𝑥 =ቊ
1 − 2𝑥 2 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 1

Find:
1. 𝑓 1
2. lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→1
 SOLUTION

𝑥<1 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 − 1 𝑥≥1 𝑓 𝑥 = 1 − 2𝑥 2

0.9 0.8 1.1 −1.42

0.99 0.98 1.01 −1.0402
0.999 0.998 1.001 −1.004002
0.9999 0.9998 1.0001 −1.00040002
0.99999 0.99998 1.00001 −1.00004
 SOLUTION

lim 𝑓(𝑥) DNE since lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = 1

𝑥→1 𝑥→1

and lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) = −1

𝑥→1
SESSION 3
RECALL
 A. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 – 1
B. 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 1
Consider the C. Is it true that (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) is
following equal to 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)?
functions: D. Is it true that (𝑓/𝑔)(𝑥) is the
same as 𝑓(𝑥)/𝑔(𝑥)?
E. Justify your answers.
Properties of Limit
Limits Laws
Let a and c be real numbers. Suppose f(x) and g(x) are two
functions that 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) and 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) both exist.
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒄

1. The limit of a constant is itself. If k is any

constant, then,
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒌 = 𝒌
𝒙→𝒄
Example:
i. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐 = 2
𝒙→𝒄
ii. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 −𝟑. 𝟏𝟒 = −3.14
𝒙→𝒄
iii. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟕𝟖𝟗 = 789
𝒙→𝒄
Let a and c be real numbers. Suppose f(x) and g(x) are two
functions that 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) and 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) both exist.
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝟎

2. The limit of x as x approaches c is equal o c. This may be

thought of as the substitution law, because x is simply
substituted by c.
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙 = 𝒄
𝒙→𝒄
• Example:
i. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 = 9
𝒙→𝟗
ii. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 = 0.005
𝒙→𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟓
iii. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 = −10
𝒙→−𝟏𝟎
For the remaining theorems/properties/laws, assume:
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
3. The Constant Multiple Theorem: This says that the limit of a
multiple of a function is simply that multiple of the limit of
the function.
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒌 ∙ 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒌 ∙ 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒌 ∙ 𝑳
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

Example: if 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟒, then:

𝒙→𝒄
i. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟖 ∙ 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟖 ∙ 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟖 ∙ 𝟒 = 32
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

ii. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 −𝟏𝟏 ∙ 𝒇 𝒙 = −𝟏𝟏 ∙ 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 = −𝟏𝟏 ∙ 𝟒 = −44

𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
𝟑 𝟑 𝟑
iii. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 ∙ 𝒇 𝒙 = ∙ 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 = ∙ 𝟒 = 6
𝒙→𝒄 𝟐 𝟐 𝒙→𝒄 𝟐
For the remaining theorems/properties/laws, assume:
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

4. The Addition Theorem: This says that the limit of a sum of

functions is the sum of the limits of the individual
functions. Subtraction is also included in this law, that is,
the limit of a difference of functions is the difference of
their limits.

𝒍𝒊𝒎 (𝒇 𝒙 ± 𝒈 𝒙 ) = 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 ± 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑳 ± 𝑴

𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
Addition Theorem:
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 ± 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 ± 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑳 ± 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

Example: if 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟒 and 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈 𝒙 = −𝟓, then:

𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

i. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 + 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 + 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈 𝒙

𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
= 𝟒 + −𝟓 = −𝟏

ii. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 (𝒇 𝒙 − 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 -𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈 𝒙

𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
= 𝟒 − −𝟓 = 𝟗
For the remaining theorems/properties/laws, assume:
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
5. The Multiplication Theorem: This is similar to the Addition
Theorem, with multiplication replacing addition as the
operation involved. Thus, the limit of a product of
functions is equal to the product of their limits.
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 ∙ 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 ∙ 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳 ∙ 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

Example: Let 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟒 and 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈 𝒙 = −𝟓, then:

𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

i. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 ∙ 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 ∙ 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈 𝒙 = 4 ∙ −5 = −20

𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
For the remaining theorems/properties/laws, assume:
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

6. The Division Theorem: This says that the limit of a

quotient of functions is equal to the quotient of the limits
of the individual functions, provided the denominator
limit is not equal to 0.
𝒇(𝒙) 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒙→𝒄
𝒇(𝒙) 𝑳
𝒍𝒊𝒎 = = , 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑴 ≠ 𝟎
𝒙→𝒄 𝒈(𝒙) 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄
Division Theorem:
𝒇(𝒙) 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒙→𝒄
𝒇(𝒙) 𝑳
𝒍𝒊𝒎 = = , 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑴 ≠ 𝟎
𝒙→𝒄 𝒈(𝒙) 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄

If 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟒 and 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈 𝒙 = −𝟓, then

𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
𝒇(𝒙) 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙)
𝒙→𝒄
i. 𝒍𝒊𝒎 =
𝒙→𝒄 𝒈(𝒙) 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙)
𝒙→𝒄
𝟒 𝟒
= = −
−𝟓 𝟓
If 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟎 and 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈 𝒙 = −𝟓, then
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
𝒇(𝒙)
ii. 𝒍𝒊𝒎
𝒙→𝒄 𝒈(𝒙)
𝟎
= =𝟎
−𝟓
Division Theorem:
𝒇(𝒙) 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒙→𝒄
𝒇(𝒙) 𝑳
𝒍𝒊𝒎 = = , 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑴 ≠ 𝟎
𝒙→𝒄 𝒈(𝒙) 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄

iii. If 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟒 and 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝟎,

𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

𝒇(𝒙)
➢it is not possible to evaluate 𝒍𝒊𝒎 ,
𝒙→𝒄 𝒈(𝒙)

➢we may say that the limit DNE.

For the remaining theorems/properties/laws, assume:
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

7. The Power Theorem: This theorem states that the

limit of an integer power p of a function is just that
power of the limit of the function.

𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙)𝒑 = (𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙))𝒑 = 𝑳𝒑

𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
The Power Theorem: 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙)𝒑 = (𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙))𝒑 = 𝑳𝒑
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

Example: Evaluate the limit of 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝟏 (𝟑𝒙𝟒 ):

𝒙→
𝟐

𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝟑𝒙𝟒 = 𝟑 ∙ 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙𝟒

𝟏 𝟏
𝒙→ 𝒙→
𝟐 𝟐
= 𝟑 ∙ 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙 ∙ 𝒙 ∙ 𝒙 ∙ 𝒙
𝟏
𝒙→
𝟐
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= 𝟑(𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙) (𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙)(𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙)(𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙) = 𝟑
𝒙→
𝟏
𝒙→
𝟏
𝒙→
𝟏
𝒙→
𝟏 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝟑
=
𝟏𝟔
For the remaining theorems/properties/laws, assume:
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

8. The Radical/Root Theorem: This theorem states that if n

is a positive integer, the limit of the nth root of a function
is just the nth root of the limit of the function, provided
the nth root of the limit is a real number. Thus, it is
important to keep in mind that if n is even, the limit of the
function must be positive.

𝒏 𝒏
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 , 𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒆𝒓,
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 > 𝟎 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏
𝒙→𝒄
 𝒏 𝒏
The Radical/Root Theorem :𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 , 𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒆𝒓,
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 > 𝟎 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏
𝒙→𝒄

𝟑
Example: Evaluate the limit of 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟐:
𝒙→𝟓

𝟑 𝟑
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟐 = 𝒍𝒊𝒎 (𝟓𝒙 + 𝟐)
𝒙→𝟓 𝒙→𝟓

𝟑
= 𝟓(𝟓) + 𝟐
𝟑
= 𝟐𝟕
=3
SESSION 4
Theorem 1: Limit Laws
Theorem 2. Let f be a polynomial of the form

𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒂𝒏𝒙𝒏 + 𝒂𝒏−𝟏 𝒙𝒏−𝟏 + 𝒂𝒏−𝟐 𝒙𝒏−𝟐 + … + 𝒂𝟏𝒙 + 𝒂𝟎

• If 𝒄 is a real number, then 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒄).

𝒙→𝒄
Theorem 2:
Example: Evaluate 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐𝒙𝟑 − 𝟒𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏
𝒙→−𝟏

Solution:
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙𝟑 − 𝟒𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏, is a polynomial. Computing for the
value of 𝒇 at 𝒙 = −𝟏, we get
𝒇 −𝟏 = 𝟐(−𝟏)𝟑 −𝟒 −𝟏 𝟐
+ 𝟏 = 𝟐 −𝟏 − 𝟒 𝟏 + 𝟏 = −𝟓
Therefore, from Theorem 2:
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝟐𝒙𝟑 − 𝟒𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏 = −𝟓
𝒙→−𝟏
Theorem 3. Let h be a rational function of the form
𝒇(𝒙)
𝒉 𝒙 = where f and g are polynomial functions.
𝒈(𝒙)

If c is a real number and 𝒈(𝒄) ≠ 𝟎, then

𝒇(𝒙) 𝒇(𝒄)
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒉 𝒙 = 𝒍𝒊𝒎 =
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒈(𝒙) 𝒈(𝒄)
Theorem 3:
𝟏−𝟓𝒙
Example: Evaluate 𝒍𝒊𝒎( 𝟐 𝟒 )
𝒙→𝟏 𝟏+𝟑𝒙 +𝟒𝒙

Solution. Since the denominator is not zero when

evaluated at x = 1, we may apply Theorem 3:

𝟏−𝟓𝒙 𝟏 − 𝟓(𝟏) 𝟒 𝟏
𝒍𝒊𝒎( 𝟐 𝟒 ) = 𝟏 + 𝟑(𝟏)𝟐 +𝟒(𝟏)𝟒 =−
𝟖
=−
𝟐
𝒙→𝟏 𝟏+𝟑𝒙 +𝟒𝒙
Evaluating Example: Evaluate 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙.
𝒙→𝟏
Limits of
Solution: Note that 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙 = 𝟏 > 𝟎.
Radical 𝒙→𝟏

Functions Therefore, by the Radical/Root Rule,

Using Limit 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙 = 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙 = 𝟏 = 𝟏
Theorems 𝒙→𝟏 𝒙→𝟏
 𝒙−𝒄 𝒏(𝒙)
Let 𝒇 𝒙 = . Then 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙)
𝒙−𝒄 𝒅(𝒙) 𝒙→𝒄
Limit of 𝟎
takes the indeterminate form of and the
Rational 𝟎
𝒙−𝒄 𝒏(𝒙) 𝒏 𝒙 𝒏(𝒄)
Functions 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) =
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙−𝒄 𝒅(𝒙)
= 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) =
𝒙→𝒄 𝒅(𝒙)
=
𝒅(𝒄)
𝟎
Yielding provided that 𝒅 𝒙 ≠ 𝟎.
𝟎
 𝟎
Limit of Rational Functions Yielding
𝟎
𝒙𝟐 −𝟒𝒙+𝟒
Example: Evaluate 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐 .
𝒙→𝟐 𝒙 −𝟒
𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟒
𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝟐 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒
(𝒙 − 𝟐)𝟐
= 𝒍𝒊𝒎
𝒙→𝟐 (𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒙 + 𝟐)

𝒙−𝟐 𝟎
𝒍𝒊𝒎 = =𝟎
𝒙→𝟐 𝒙 + 𝟐 𝟒
 TRY THIS!
Evaluate the following limits:
1. 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙 − 𝟑
𝒙→−𝟐

2. 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒
𝒙→𝟐

3. 𝒍𝒊𝒎(𝟓𝒙 + 𝟐)
𝒙→𝟏

𝒙𝟐 −𝒙+𝟑
4. 𝒍𝒊𝒎
𝒙→𝟐 𝟏−𝟐𝒙
 TRY THIS!

5. 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝟏 (𝟑𝒙𝟒 )
𝒙→
𝟐

6. 𝒍𝒊𝒎(𝟑𝒙𝟒 + 𝟒𝒙𝟑 − 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟓)
𝒙→𝟐

𝒙𝟑 −𝟐𝟕
7. 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝟐
𝒙→𝟑 𝒙 −𝟗

𝒙+𝟗−𝟑
8. 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙
𝒙→𝟎
Extra Challenge
 PERFORMANCE TASK 3.1
Sketch one possible graph of a function f(x) defined on R that satisfies all
the listed conditions. You can use different colors of pen and highlight the
hole and point on the graph.

Tasks:
1. Sketch one possible graph that satisfies the condition.
2. Design your graph
3. Explain your work of solutions why you arrived with that kind of graph.
(You may use an oslo paper in doing this learning task).
PERFORMANCE TASK 3.1