In mathematics, a limit is the value that a function (or sequence) approaches as the

[1]
argument (or index) approaches some value. Limits of functions are essential to
calculus and mathematical analysis, and are used to define continuity, derivatives, and
integrals. The concept of a limit of a sequence is further generalized to the concept of a
limit of a topological net, and is closely related to limit and direct limit in category theory.
The limit inferior and limit superior provide generalizations of the concept of a limit which
are particularly relevant when the limit at a point may not exist.A fuA function may
approach two different limits. One where the variable approaches its limit through
values larger than the limit and the other where the variable approaches its limit through
values smaller than the limit. In such a case, the limit is not defined but the right and
left-hand limits exist.
● When the

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● f

● (

● x

● )

● =

● A

● +

● limx→af(x)=A+

● given the values of f near x to the right of a. This value is said to be the right

hand limit of f(x) at a.

● When the

● lim

● x
● →

● a

● f

● (

● x

● )

● =

● A

● −

● limx→af(x)=A−

● given the values of f near x to the left of a. This value is called the left hand

limit of f(x) at a.

● The limit of a function exists if and only if the left-hand limit is equal to the

right-hand limit.

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● −

● 1

● f

● (

● x

● )

● =
 ● lim

● x

● →

● a

● +

● f

● (

● x

● )

● =

● L

● limx→a−1f(x)=limx→a+f(x)=L

Note: The limit of the function exists between any two consecutive integers.

Properties of Limits
Here are some properties of the limits of the function: If limits

lim

limx→a

f(x) and

lim
x

limx→a

g(x) exists, and n is an integer, then,

● Law of Addition:

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● [

● f

● (

● x

● )

● +

● g

● (

● x

● )

● ]

● =

● lim

● x
● →

● a

● f

● (

● x

● )

● +

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● g

● (

● x

● )

● limx→a[f(x)+g(x)]=limx→af(x)+limx→ag(x)

● Law of Subtraction:

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● [

● f

● (
● x

● )

● −

● g

● (

● x

● )

● ]

● =

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● f

● (

● x

● )

● −

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● g

● (
● x

● )

● limx→a[f(x)−g(x)]=limx→af(x)−limx→ag(x)

● Law of Multiplication:

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● [

● f

● (

● x

● )

● ⋅

● g

● (

● x

● )

● ]

● =

● lim

● x

● →

● a
● f

● (

● x

● )

● ⋅

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● g

● (

● x

● )

● limx→a[f(x)⋅g(x)]=limx→af(x)⋅limx→ag(x)

● Law of Division:

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● [

● f

● (

● x

● )
● g

● (

● x

● )

● ]

● =

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● f

● (

● x

● )

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● g

● (

● x

● )

● ,

● where

● lim

● x
 ● →

● a

● g

● (

● x

● )

● ≠

● 0

● limx→a[f(x)g(x)]=limx→af(x)limx→ag(x), where

limx→ag(x)≠0
●

● Law of Power:

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● c

● =

● c

● limx→ac=c

Special Rules:
1.

lim
x

limx→axn−anx−a=na(n−1)

, for all real values of n.

2.

lim

θ
→

sin

limθ→0sin⁡θθ=1

3.

lim

tan

limθ→0tan⁡θθ=1

4.

lim
θ

cos

limθ→01−cos⁡θθ=0

5.

lim

cos

limθ→0cos⁡θ=1
6.

lim

limx→0ex=1

7.

lim

=
1

limx→0ex−1x=1

8.

lim

limx→∞(1+1x)x=e

Limit of a Function of Two Variables

If we have a function f(x, y) which depends on two variables x and y, then

this given function has the limit, say, C as (x,y) → (a,b) provided that ϵ > 0,

there exists Δ > 0 such that |f(x, y)-C| < ϵ whenever 0 <
√

(x−a)2+(y−b)2

< Δ . It defined as

lim

y
)

lim(x,y)→(a,b)

f(x,y) = C.

Limits of Functions and Continuity

Limits of the function and continuity of the function are closely related to each other.

Functions can be continuous or discontinuous. For a function to be continuous, if there

are small changes in the input of the function then must be small changes in the output.

In elementary calculus, the condition f(X) →λ as x → a means that the

number f(x) can be made to lie as close as we like to the number λ as long

we take the number unequal to the number a but close enough to a. Which

shows that f(a) might be very far from λ and there is no need for f(a) even to

be defined. The very important result we use for the derivation of function is:

f'(a) of a given function f at a number a can be thought of as,

f'(a) =

lim

a
f

limx→af(x)−f(a)x−a

Limits of Complex Functions

To differentiate functions of a complex variable follow the below formula:

The function

f(z)

is said to be differentiable at

z
=

z=z0

if

lim

)
Δ

limΔz→0f(z0+Δz)−f(z0)Δz

exists. Here

Δz=Δx+iΔy

Limits of Exponential Functions

x
For any real number x, the exponential function f with the base a is f(x) = a where a >0

and a not equal to zero. Below are some of the important laws of limits used while

dealing with limits of exponential functions.

For f(b) >1

● lim
 ● x

● →

● ∞

● b

● x

● =

● ∞

● limx→∞bx=∞

● lim

● x

● →

● −

● ∞

● b

● x

● =

● 0

● limx→−∞bx=0

For

<

b
<

0<b<1

● lim

● x

● →

● ∞

● b

● x

● =

● 0

● limx→∞bx=0

● lim

● x

● →

● −

● ∞

● b

● x

● =

● ∞

● limx→−∞bx=∞

●
☛ Also Check:

● Calculus

● Limit Formula

● Integration

● Derivative Formula

● Integration Formulas

Download FREE Study Materials

Limits Worksheet

Limits Worksheet
Worksheet on Calculus

Examples of Limits

● Example 1: Check for the limit,

● lim

● x

● →

● 0

● sin

● x

● x

● limx→0sin⁡xx

● Solution:

Since we have modulus function in the numerator, so let us evaluate right

hand and left-hand limits first.

RHL=

● lim

● h

● →

● 0

● +

● |

● sin

● (

● h

● )

● |

● h
● =

● 1

● limh→0+|sin⁡(h)|h=1

● LHL=

● lim

● h

● →

● 0

● −

● |

● sin

● (

● −

● h

● )

● |

● −

● h

● =

● −

● 1

● limh→0−|sin⁡(−h)|−h=−1
● Answer: As RHL and LHL revert different values, therefore, the given

limit does not exist.

● Example 2: Find the limit of the function. lim_(x→0) (tan x)/(sin x)

Solution: lim

● x

● →

● 0

● x→0

● (tan x)/(sin x)

We know, tan x = sin x / cos x

= lim

● x

● →

● 0

● x→0

● (1/cos x)

=1

Answer: The limit lim

● x

● →

● 0

● x→0

● (tan x)/(sin x) =1

● Example 3: Evaluate lim

● x

● →

● 0

● x→0

● sin(2x)

Solution:

lim

● x

● →

● 0

● x→0

● sin(2x) = lim

● x

● →

● 0

● x→0

● [sin(2x)/2×(2)]

= 2 lim

● x

● →

● 0

● x→0

● sin(2x)/2

=2

Answer: The limit lim

 ● x

● →

● 0

● x→0

● sin(2x) = 2

Practice Questions on Limits

● Q. 1

● Using the limit formula, find the value of lim (x → 2)

● x

● 2

● +

● 5

● x2+5

● Responses

● 5

● 5

● 8

● 8

● 9

● 9
 ● Check Answer
● Q. 1

● Find the value of: lim(x→0) 3x

● 3

● 3

● +4x+5.

● Responses

● 5

● 5

● 3

● 3

● 1

● 1

nction may approach two different limits. One where the variable approaches its limit
through values larger than the limit and the other where the variable approaches its limit
through values smaller than the limit. In such a case, the limit is not defined but the right
and left-hand limits exist.
● When the

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● f

● (
● x

● )

● =

● A

● +

● limx→af(x)=A+

● given the values of f near x to the right of a. This value is said to be the right

hand limit of f(x) at a.

● When the

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● f

● (

● x

● )

● =

● A

● −

● limx→af(x)=A−

● given the values of f near x to the left of a. This value is called the left hand

limit of f(x) at a.

● The limit of a function exists if and only if the left-hand limit is equal to the

right-hand limit.
 ● lim

● x

● →

● a

● −

● 1

● f

● (

● x

● )

● =

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● +

● f

● (

● x

● )

● =

● L

● limx→a−1f(x)=limx→a+f(x)=L

Note: The limit of the function exists between any two consecutive integers.
Properties of Limits
Here are some properties of the limits of the function: If limits

lim

limx→a

f(x) and

lim

limx→a

g(x) exists, and n is an integer, then,

● Law of Addition:

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● [

● f

● (

● x
● )

● +

● g

● (

● x

● )

● ]

● =

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● f

● (

● x

● )

● +

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● g

● (

● x
● )

● limx→a[f(x)+g(x)]=limx→af(x)+limx→ag(x)

● Law of Subtraction:

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● [

● f

● (

● x

● )

● −

● g

● (

● x

● )

● ]

● =

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● f
● (

● x

● )

● −

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● g

● (

● x

● )

● limx→a[f(x)−g(x)]=limx→af(x)−limx→ag(x)

● Law of Multiplication:

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● [

● f

● (

● x

● )

● ⋅
● g

● (

● x

● )

● ]

● =

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● f

● (

● x

● )

● ⋅

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● g

● (

● x

● )

● limx→a[f(x)⋅g(x)]=limx→af(x)⋅limx→ag(x)
●

● Law of Division:

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● [

● f

● (

● x

● )

● g

● (

● x

● )

● ]

● =

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● f

● (

● x

● )

● lim
● x

● →

● a

● g

● (

● x

● )

● ,

● where

● lim

● x

● →

● a

● g

● (

● x

● )

● ≠

● 0

● limx→a[f(x)g(x)]=limx→af(x)limx→ag(x), where

limx→ag(x)≠0
●

● Law of Power:

● lim

● x
 ● →

● a

● c

● =

● c

● limx→ac=c

Special Rules:
1.

lim

a
(

limx→axn−anx−a=na(n−1)

, for all real values of n.

2.

lim

sin

limθ→0sin⁡θθ=1

3.

lim

→
0

tan

limθ→0tan⁡θθ=1

4.

lim

cos

limθ→01−cos⁡θθ=0

5.
lim

cos

limθ→0cos⁡θ=1

6.

lim

limx→0ex=1

7.
lim

limx→0ex−1x=1

8.

lim

x
)

limx→∞(1+1x)x=e

Limit of a Function of Two Variables

If we have a function f(x, y) which depends on two variables x and y, then

this given function has the limit, say, C as (x,y) → (a,b) provided that ϵ > 0,

there exists Δ > 0 such that |f(x, y)-C| < ϵ whenever 0 <

−
 b

(x−a)2+(y−b)2

< Δ . It defined as

lim

lim(x,y)→(a,b)

f(x,y) = C.

Limits of Functions and Continuity

Limits of the function and continuity of the function are closely related to each other.

Functions can be continuous or discontinuous. For a function to be continuous, if there

are small changes in the input of the function then must be small changes in the output.
In elementary calculus, the condition f(X) →λ as x → a means that the

number f(x) can be made to lie as close as we like to the number λ as long

we take the number unequal to the number a but close enough to a. Which

shows that f(a) might be very far from λ and there is no need for f(a) even to

be defined. The very important result we use for the derivation of function is:

f'(a) of a given function f at a number a can be thought of as,

f'(a) =

lim

limx→af(x)−f(a)x−a

Limits of Complex Functions

To differentiate functions of a complex variable follow the below formula:

The function

f(z)

is said to be differentiable at

z=z0

if

lim

(
z

limΔz→0f(z0+Δz)−f(z0)Δz

exists. Here

i
Δ

Δz=Δx+iΔy

Limits of Exponential Functions

x
For any real number x, the exponential function f with the base a is f(x) = a where a >0

and a not equal to zero. Below are some of the important laws of limits used while

dealing with limits of exponential functions.

For f(b) >1

● lim

● x

● →

● ∞

● b

● x

● =

● ∞

● limx→∞bx=∞

● lim

● x

● →

● −

● ∞
 ● b

● x

● =

● 0

● limx→−∞bx=0

For

<

<

0<b<1

● lim

● x

● →

● ∞

● b

● x

● =

● 0

● limx→∞bx=0

●
 ● lim

● x

● →

● −

● ∞

● b

● x

● =

● ∞

● limx→−∞bx=∞

☛ Also Check:

● Calculus

● Limit Formula

● Integration

● Derivative Formula

● Integration Formulas

Download FREE Study Materials

Limits Worksheet
Limits Worksheet
Worksheet on Calculus

Examples of Limits

● Example 1: Check for the limit,

● lim

● x

● →

● 0

● sin

● x

● x

● limx→0sin⁡xx

● Solution:

Since we have modulus function in the numerator, so let us evaluate right

 hand and left-hand limits first.

RHL=

● lim

● h

● →

● 0

● +

● |

● sin

● (

● h

● )

● |

● h

● =

● 1

● limh→0+|sin⁡(h)|h=1

● LHL=

● lim

● h

● →

● 0

● −

● |
● sin

● (

● −

● h

● )

● |

● −

● h

● =

● −

● 1

● limh→0−|sin⁡(−h)|−h=−1

● Answer: As RHL and LHL revert different values, therefore, the given

limit does not exist.

● Example 2: Find the limit of the function. lim_(x→0) (tan x)/(sin x)

Solution: lim

● x

● →

● 0

● x→0

● (tan x)/(sin x)

We know, tan x = sin x / cos x

= lim

● x
● →

● 0

● x→0

● (1/cos x)

=1

Answer: The limit lim

● x

● →

● 0

● x→0

● (tan x)/(sin x) =1

● Example 3: Evaluate lim

● x

● →

● 0

● x→0

● sin(2x)

Solution:

lim

● x

● →

● 0

● x→0

● sin(2x) = lim
 ● x

● →

● 0

● x→0

● [sin(2x)/2×(2)]

= 2 lim

● x

● →

● 0

● x→0

● sin(2x)/2

=2

Answer: The limit lim

● x

● →

● 0

● x→0

● sin(2x) = 2

Practice Questions on Limits

● Q. 1

● Using the limit formula, find the value of lim (x → 2)

● x

● 2

● +

● 5

● x2+5

● Responses

● 5

● 5

● 8

● 8

● 9

● 9

● Check Answer
● Q. 1

● Find the value of: lim(x→0) 3x

● 3

● 3

● +4x+5.

● Responses

● 5

● 5

● 3
● 3

● 1

● 1