Mr.

Simonds MTH 251

Table 1: Rational Limit Forms

Form Example Course of Action The value of the limit is the number to which the limit form simplifies; for example,

real number non-zero real number

2 x + 16 lim x3 5x 4 22 (the form is ) 11

lim

2 x + 16 = 2. x 3 5 x 4

You can immediately begin applying limit laws if you are proving the limit value The limit value doesnt exist. The expression whose limit is being found is either increasing without bound or decreasing without bound (or possibly both if you have a two-sided limit). You may be able to communicate the non-existence of the limit using or . For example, if the value of x is a little less

non-zero real number zero

x+7 x7 7 x 14 (the form is ) 0 lim

x+7 is positive. Hence you 7x x+7 could write lim = . x7 7 x

than 7, the value of

This is an indeterminate form limit. You do not know the value of the limit (or even if it exists) nor can you begin to apply limit laws. You need to manipulate the expression whose limit is being found until the resultant limit no longer has indeterminate form. For example: zero zero
x 2

lim

x2 4 x2 + 3 x + 2

x 2

lim

( x 2 )( x + 2 ) x2 4 = lim 2 x + 3 x + 2 x 2 ( x + 1)( x + 2 )
= lim

( x 2) x 2 ( x + 1)

(The limit form is now

4 .) 1

real number infinity

1 4 ex lim x 0+ ln ( x )
(the form is

3 )

The limit value is zero and this is justified by Limit Law R3.

Rational Limit Forms|1

Mr. Simonds MTH 251

Table 1 (continued): Rational Limit Forms

Form Example Course of Action The limit value doesnt exist. The expression whose limit is being found is either increasing without bound or decreasing without bound (or possibly both if you have a two-sided limit). You may be able to communicate the non-existence of the limit using or

infinity real number

1 4 ex (the form is ) 3
x0

lim+

ln ( x )

. For example, you can write lim+

x0

ln ( x )

1 4 ex

=.

This is an indeterminate form limit. You do not know the value of the limit (or even if it exists) nor can you begin to apply limit laws. You need to manipulate the expression whose limit is being found until the resultant limit no longer has indeterminate form. For example:
infinity infinity

3 + ex lim x 1 + 3ex

1 x 3 + ex 3 + ex lim = lim e x 1 + 3 ex x 1 + 3 ex 1 x e 3 +1 x e = lim x 1 +3 ex

(The limit form is now

1 .) 3

There are other indeterminate limit forms, although the two mentioned in Table 1 are the only two rational indeterminate forms. The other indeterminate forms are discussed in MTH 252.

2|Rational Limit Forms