ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS
Chapter 5 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
Sir Isaac Newton developed the concept known as limits. His work on the
concept of limits is being used today in developing the concept of calculus.
The limit L of a function f of x as x approaches a is denoted as
lim of f(x) = L
x→a
which is read as “ the limit of f(x) as x approaches a is equal to L.”
EVALUATING THE LIMITS OF A FUNCTION
Numerical Method
Ex.1. lim 2x + 3 = 2(2) + 3 = 4 + 3 = 7
x→ 2
2. Find the limit of the function g as x approaches 1
2
x +3 x−4
g(x) =
x−1
LIMIT THEOREMS
1. Limit of a constant
If k is a constant, then lim k = k
x→ c
2. For any positive integer lim x n=c n ex. x 3=23=8
x→ c x→ 2
3. For any constant k, lim [kf(x) ] = k lim f(x)
x→ c
3
ex. lim 4 x
x→ 2
4. Limit of a Sum
Lim [f(x) + g(x)] = lim f(x) + lim g(x)
x→ c x→ c
2
ex. lim (x + 2) =
x→3
5. Limit of a Difference
Lim [f(x) – g(x)] = lim f(x) – lim g(x)
x→c x→c
3
ex. lim (10 – 2x ) =
x → -1
6. Limit of a Product
Lim [ f(x) ∙g(x)] = lim f(x) ∙ lim g(x)
x→c x→c
2
ex. lim [ x (x + 1)]
x→2
7. Limit of a Quotient
If the limit of the denominator is not 0, the limit of the quotient of two functions is
equal to the quotient of their limits.
lim f ( x)
Lim f(x) =
lim g (x)
x→c
2
x + x−6
ex. lim
x +1
x →1
8. Limit of a Power of a Function
If n is a positive integer, lim [ f(x)] n
= [ lim f ( x )
x →c ] 2
x→c ,
3
ex. lim ( x – 5 ) =
x→c
9. Limit of a Root of a Function
If n is an integer greater than or equal to 2,
limit of √n f (x) = ¿
x→ c
ex. lim √ x 2−3
x→2
Limits of Polynomial Functions in x
The limit of a polynomial function P(x) as x approaches c is the value of the
function at x = c, that is
Lim P(x) = P(c)
x→c
ex.1. lim (3x2 – 2x + 1) 2. Lim (5x7 – x6 + 6x5 – 3x4 + 2x3 + 10
x →2 x→ -1
Limits of Rational Functions
A rational function is a quotient of two polynomial functions. Let P and Q be polynomial
P(x )
functions in x. R ( x )=
Q(x)
When evaluating the limit of rational function at x = c, evaluate the limit of the
denominator, If the limit of the denominator is not 0 then apply limit theorem 5.7
( See and copy examples 5.10 – 5.13 p. 172-175)
Limit of the Difference Quotient
f ( x+ h )−f (h)
The limit of the difference quotient lim
h
(Refer to page 174 - 175 copy examples 5.14 and 5.15)
Prepared by:
ROSALIE F. DE LEMON
