3 Limit Laws
3 Limit Laws
3 Limit Laws
𝒙𝟑 − 𝒙𝟐
Consider the function, 𝒇 𝒙 = , and find the limit of f(x) as
𝒙−𝟏
x approaches 1.
𝒙𝟑 − 𝒙𝟐
1. What is the limit notation? 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝟏 𝒙 − 𝟏
𝟐. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒕 𝟒. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈𝟑
𝒕→−𝟑𝟔 𝒈→−𝟑
Limit Laws
3. The Constant-Multiple Theorem
This says that the limit of a multiple of a function is simple that
multiple of the limit of the function.
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒌𝒙 = 𝒌 ∙ 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐱
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
Examples:
𝟏. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐𝒙 = 𝟐 ∙ 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 𝟐. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟐 = 𝟏𝟐 ∙ 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙𝟐
𝒙→−𝟓 𝒙→−𝟓 𝒙→−𝟐 𝒙→−𝟐
= 𝟐 ∙ −𝟓 = 𝟏𝟐 ∙ 𝟒
= −𝟏𝟎 = 𝟒𝟖
Limit Laws
4. The Addition/Subtraction Theorem
This says that the limit of a sum of functions is the sum of the limits
of the individual functions. Same with subtraction.
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 ± 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) + 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝑳 ± 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
Examples:
𝟏. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑𝒙𝟐 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐𝒙 + 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟑𝒙𝟐
𝒙→−𝟓 𝒙→−𝟓 𝒙→−𝟓
= 𝟐 ∙ 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 +𝟑 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙𝟐
𝒙→−𝟓 𝒙→−𝟓
= 𝟐 ∙ −𝟓 + 𝟑 ∙ 𝟐𝟓
= −𝟏𝟎 + 𝟕𝟓 = 𝟔𝟓
Limit Laws
5. The Multiplication Theorem
This is similar to Addition/Subtraction Theorem, with multiplication
replacing addition as the operation involved.
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 ∗ 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) ∗ 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝑳 ∗ 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
Examples:
𝟏. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 (𝟐𝒙)(𝟑𝒙𝟐 ) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐𝒙 ∙ 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟑𝒙𝟐
𝒙→−𝟓 𝒙→−𝟓 𝒙→−𝟓
= 𝟐 ∙ 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 ∙ 𝟑 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙𝟐
𝒙→−𝟓 𝒙→−𝟓
= (𝟐 ∙ −𝟓)(𝟑 ∙ 𝟐𝟓)
= (−𝟏𝟎)(𝟕𝟓) = −𝟕𝟓𝟎
Limit Laws
6. The Division Theorem (Rational Function)
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) 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙→𝒄
𝒇(𝒙) 𝑳
𝒍𝒊𝒎 = = , 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝑴 ≠ 𝟎
𝒙→𝒄 𝒈(𝒙) 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄
Examples:
lim 𝟏 + 𝒙 𝟏 + (−𝟓) −𝟒 𝟒
𝟏 + 𝒙 𝒙→−𝟓
𝟏. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = = = =
𝒙→−𝟓 𝒙 lim 𝒙 −𝟓 −𝟓 𝟓
𝒙→−𝟓
Limit Laws
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.
𝒑 𝒑
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 = (𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝑳𝒑
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
Examples:
𝟒
𝟐 𝟒
𝟏. 𝐥𝐢𝐦(𝒙 ) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝒙𝟐
𝒙→𝟐 𝒙→𝟐
= 𝟒𝟒
= 𝟐𝟓𝟔
Limit Laws
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 he 𝑛th root of he limit is a real number.
𝒏 𝒏 𝒏
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳 , where 𝑳 is a real number
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
Examples:
𝟏. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 = 𝟐 𝟐. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐𝒙 = 𝟖
𝒙→𝟐 𝒙→𝟒
= 𝟒∙𝟐
=𝟐 𝟐
General Rule “To give immediately the answer”
Type of Function How to give immediately the limit Examples
answer?
Constant Function Constant itself lim 25
𝑥→4
Polynomial Function Substitution lim (𝑥 +2𝑥 2 + 1)
3
𝑥→4
(Linear, Quadratic,
Cubic, etc)
Rational Function Substitution 𝑥+2
lim
Consideration: 𝑥→−2 𝑥 − 1
❑ If the result becomes indeterminate,
perform cancellation of the same factors 𝑥 2 − 49
lim
first, then find the limit using 𝑥→7 𝑥 − 7
substitution.
❑ If the result becomes undefined, 𝑥+2
lim
illustrate and find the limit through the 𝑥→1 𝑥 − 1
table of values
General Rule “To give immediately the answer”
Type of Function How to give immediately the limit Examples
answer?
Radical Function Substitution lim 𝑥+4
𝑥→−2
Consideration:
❑ If the limit result becomes a number
lim 66 − 𝑥
greater than zero, that is the limit. 𝑥→10
❑ If the limit result becomes zero, illustrate
and find the limit through the table of lim 𝑥 3
𝑥→0
values.
Class Activity
GENERALIZATION
What are the different limit laws?
In rational function, what are the other
considerations in utilizing limit laws?