Section 1.

4 Calculating Limits 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

Calculating Limits
LIMIT LAWS: Suppose that c is a constant and the limits
lim f (x) and lim g(x)
x→a x→a
exist. Then
1. lim [f (x) + g(x)] = lim f (x) + lim g(x)
x→a x→a x→a

2. lim [f (x) − g(x)] = lim f (x) − lim g(x)

x→a x→a x→a

3. lim [cf (x)] = c lim f (x)

x→a x→a

4. lim [f (x)g(x)] = lim f (x) · lim g(x)

x→a x→a x→a

f (x) lim f (x)

5. lim = x→a if lim g(x) 6= 0
x→a g(x) lim g(x) x→a
x→a
h in
6. lim [f (x)]n = lim f (x) where n is a positive integer
x→a x→a

7. lim c = c
x→a

8. lim x = a
x→a

9. lim xn = an where n is a positive integer

x→a
√ √
10. lim n x = n a where n is a positive integer (if n is even, we assume that a > 0)
x→a
p q
11. lim n f (x) = n lim f (x) where n is a positive integer (if n is even, we assume that
x→a x→a
lim f (x) > 0)
x→a

EXAMPLES:
(1),(2) (3)
1. lim (4x2 − 3x + 5) = lim (4x2 ) − lim (3x) + lim 5 = 4 lim x2 − 3 lim x + lim 5
x→3 x→3 x→3 x→3 x→3 x→3 x→3

(7),(8),(9)
= 4 · 32 − 3 · 3 + 5 = 32
lim (x2 − x + 1)
x2 − x + 1 (5) x→−1 lim x2 − lim x + lim 1
(1),(2) x→−1 x→−1 x→−1
2. lim = =
x→−1 2−x lim (2 − x) lim 2 − lim x
x→−1 x→−1 x→−1

(7),(8),(9) (−1)2 − (−1) + 1

= =1
2 − (−1)

DIRECT SUBSTITUTION PROPERTY: If f is a polynomial or a rational function and a is

in the domain of f, then
lim f (x) = f (a)
x→a

REMARK: The trigonometric functions also enjoy the Direct Substitution Property.

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Section 1.4 Calculating Limits 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

EXAMPLES:
DSP
1′ . lim (4x2 − 3x + 5) = 4 · 32 − 3 · 3 + 5 = 32
x→3

x2 − x + 1 DSP (−1)2 − (−1) + 1

2′ . lim = =1
x→−1 2−x 2 − (−1)
 
x−2 0 A x−2 A (x − 2) · 1 A 1 DSP 1 1
3. lim 2 = = lim 2 2
= lim = lim = =
x→2 x − 4 0 x→2 x − 2 x→2 (x − 2)(x + 2) x→2 x + 2 2+2 4
In short,
x−2 x−2 1 1
lim 2
= lim = lim =
x→2 x − 4 x→2 (x − 2)(x + 2) x→2 x + 2 4

x2 + 3x + 2
 
0 A (x + 1)(x + 2) A x + 2 DSP −1 + 2 1
4. lim 2 = = lim = lim = =
x→−1 x + 9x + 8 0 x→−1 (x + 1)(x + 8) x→−1 x + 8 −1 + 8 7

x2 + 3x + 2 DSP (−2)2 + 3 · (−2) + 2 0

5. lim 2
= 2
= =0
x→−2 x −1 (−2) − 1 3

x2 − 7x + 12
 
0 A (x − 3)(x − 4) A x−4
6. lim 2 = = lim 2
= lim DOES NOT EXIST
x→3 x − 6x + 9 0 x→3 (x − 3) x→3 x − 3

(5 + h)2 − 25 25 + 10h + h2 − 25 A 10h + h2

 
0 A
7. lim = = lim = lim
h→0 h 0 h→0 h h→0 h
A h(10 + h) A DSP
= lim = lim (10 + h) = 10
h→0 h h→0

(2 + h)−1 − 2−1
8. lim
h→0 h

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Section 1.4 Calculating Limits 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

 
1 1 1 1
  − (2 + h)2 · −
(2 + h)−1 − 2−1 0 A 2 + h 2 A 2+h 2
8. lim = = lim = lim
h→0 h 0 h→0 h h→0 (2 + h)2 · h
1 1
(2 + h)2 · − (2 + h)2 · 2 − (2 + h) A 2−2−h
A
= lim 2+h 2 =A
lim = lim
h→0 (2 + h)2 · h h→0 (2 + h)2 · h h→0 (2 + h)2 · h
 
A −h A (−1) · h A −1 DSP −1 −1 1
= lim = lim = lim = = =−
h→0 (2 + h)2 · h h→0 (2 + h)2 · h h→0 (2 + h)2 (2 + 0)2 2·2 4

In short,
 
1 1 1 1
− (2 + h)2 · −
(2 + h)−1 − 2−1 2 + h 2 2+h 2
lim = lim = lim
h→0 h h→0 h h→0 (2 + h)2 · h

2 − (2 + h) −h −1 1
= lim = lim = lim =−
h→0 (2 + h)2 · h h→0 (2 + h)2h h→0 (2 + h)2 4

We can evaluate this limit in a different way:

1·2 (2 + h) · 1 
 
1 1
  −

 − 
(2 + h)−1 − 2−1 0 A 2 + h 2 A

(2 + h) · 2 (2 + h) · 2

lim = = lim = lim
h→0 h 0 h→0 h 
h→0 h 

 

2 − (2 + h) 2−2−h −h −h
(2 + h)2 ·
A (2 + h)2 A (2 + h)2 A (2 + h)2 A (2 + h)2
= lim = lim = lim = lim
h→0 h h→0 h h→0 h h→0 (2 + h)2 · h
 
A −h A (−1) · h A −1 DSP −1 −1 1
= lim = lim = lim = = =−
h→0 (2 + h)2 · h h→0 (2 + h)2 · h h→0 (2 + h)2 (2 + 0)2 2·2 4

In short,

1 1 2 − (2 + h)
(2 + h) −1
−2 −1 −
(2 + h)2
lim = lim 2 + h 2 = lim
h→0 h h→0 h h→0 h
−h
(2 + h)2 −h −1 1
= lim = lim = lim =−
h→0 h h→0 (2 + h)2h h→0 (2 + h)2 4

 
1 3
9. lim −
x→1 1 − x 1 − x3

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Section 1.4 Calculating Limits 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

   
1 3 A 1 3
9. lim − = [∞ − ∞] = lim −
x→1 1 − x 1 − x3 x→1 1 − x (1 − x)(1 + x + x2 )

1 + x + x2 1 + x + x2 − 3
 
A 3 A
= lim − = lim
x→1 (1 − x)(1 + x + x ) (1 − x)(1 + x + x2 )
2 x→1 (1 − x)(1 + x + x2 )

x2 + x − 2
 
A 0 A (x + 2)(x − 1) A (x + 2)(x − 1)
= lim 2
= = lim 2
= lim
x→1 (1 − x)(1 + x + x ) 0 x→1 (1 − x)(1 + x + x ) x→1 −(x − 1)(1 + x + x2 )

A x+2 DSP 1+2

= lim 2
= = −1
x→1 −(1 + x + x ) −(1 + 1 + 12 )

x3 − 8 x3 − 23 A (x − 2)(x2 + 2x + 4)
 
0 A
10. lim = = lim = lim
x→2 x − 2 0 x→2 x − 2 x→2 x−2

A DSP
= lim (x2 + 2x + 4) = 22 + 2 · 2 + 4 = 12
x→2

x4 − 81 x4 − 34 A (x − 3)(x3 + 3x2 + 9x + 27)

 
0 A
11. lim = = lim = lim
x→3 x − 3 0 x→3 x − 3 x→3 x−3

A DSP
= lim (x3 + 3x2 + 9x + 27) = 33 + 3 · 32 + 9 · 3 + 27 = 108
x→3

or

x4 − 81 (x2 )2 − 92 A (x2 − 9)(x2 + 9) A (x2 − 32 )(x2 + 9)

 
0 A
lim = = lim = lim = lim
x→3 x − 3 0 x→3 x−3 x→3 x−3 x→3 x−3

A (x − 3)(x + 3)(x2 + 9) A DSP

= lim = lim (x + 3)(x2 + 9) = (3 + 3)(32 + 9) = 108
x→3 x−3 x→3

x2 − 7x + 10
 
0 A (x − 2)(x − 5) A (x − 2)(x − 5)
12. lim 3
= = lim 2
= lim
x→2 8−x 0 x→2 (2 − x)(4 + 2x + x ) x→2 −(x − 2)(4 + 2x + x2 )

A x−5 DSP 2−5 −3 1

= lim 2
= 2
= =
x→2 −(4 + 2x + x ) −(4 + 2 · 2 + 2 ) −12 4

√
x−2
13. lim
x→4 x−4

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Section 1.4 Calculating Limits 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

√   √ √
x−2 0 A x−2 A x−2 A 1 LL 1 1
13. lim = = lim √ 2 2
= lim √ √ = lim √ =√ =
x→4 x − 4 0 x→4 ( x) − 2 x→4 ( x − 2)( x + 2) x→4 x+2 4+2 4
or
√ √ √ √
( x)2 − 22 A
 
x−2 0 A ( x − 2)( x + 2) A x−4
lim = = lim √ = lim √ = lim √
x→4 x − 4 0 x→4 (x − 4)( x + 2) x→4 (x − 4)( x + 2) x→4 (x − 4)( x + 2)

1 LLA 1 1
= lim √
= √ =
x→4 x+2 4+2 4
√ √ √
x2 + 16 − 4 x2 + 16 − 4 A x2 + 16 − 4
 
0 A
14. lim = = lim = lim √
x→0 x2 0 x→0 x2 + 16 − 16 x→0 ( x2 + 16)2 − 42
√
A x2 + 16 − 4 A 1 LL 1 1
= lim √ √ = lim √ = √ =
x→0 ( x2 + 16 − 4)( x2 + 16 + 4) x→0 x2 + 16 + 4 02 + 16 + 4 8

or
√ √ √
x2 + 16 − 4 ( x2 + 16 − 4)( x2 + 16 + 4)
 
0 A
lim = = lim √
x→0 x2 0 x→0 x2 ( x2 + 16 + 4)
√
A ( x2 + 16)2 − 42 A (x2 + 16) − 16
= lim √ = lim √
x→0 x2 ( x2 + 16 + 4) x→0 x2 ( x2 + 16 + 4)

A x2 A 1 LL 1 1
= lim √ = lim √ = √ =
2 2
x→0 x ( x + 16 + 4) x→0 2
x + 16 + 4 2
0 + 16 + 4 8
√   √ √ √
x+7−3 0 A ( x + 7 − 3)( x + 7 + 3)( x + 2 + 2)
15. lim √ = = lim √ √ √
x→2 x+2−2 0 x→2 ( x + 2 − 2)( x + 7 + 3)( x + 2 + 2)
√ √ √
A (( x + 7)2 − 32 )( x + 2 + 2) A ((x + 7) − 9)( x + 2 + 2)
= lim √ √ = lim √
x→2 (( x + 2)2 − 22 )( x + 7 + 3) x→2 ((x + 2) − 4)( x + 7 + 3)
√ √ √
A (x − 2)( x + 2 + 2) A x + 2 + 2 LL 2 + 2 + 2 4 2
= lim √ = lim √ = √ = =
x→2 (x − 2)( x + 7 + 3) x→2 x+7+3 2+7+3 6 3

sin 3x  sin 3x sin 3x

· 3x A
  
sin 3x 0 A 3x 3x C 3x
16. lim = = lim sin 4x = lim sin3x4x · = lim 3x
· lim
x→0 sin 4x 0 x→0 · 4x x→0 4x x→0 sin 4x x→0 4x
4x 4x 4x
sin 3x sin 3x
lim 3x lim 3x

sin u

C x→0 3x C 3x→0 3x C 1 3x A 3 C 3
= sin 4x
· lim = · lim = lim = 1 = · lim = lim =
lim 4x
x→0 4x lim sin4x4x x→0 4x u→0 u 1 x→0 4x x→0 4 4
x→0 4x→0

In short,
sin 3x
sin 3x 3x
· 3x 1 · 3x 3 3
lim = lim sin 4x
= lim = lim =
x→0 sin 4x x→0 · 4x x→0 1 · 4x x→0 4 4
4x

tan 7x
17. lim
x→0 tan 2x

5
Section 1.4 Calculating Limits 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

  sin 7x sin 7x
tan 7x 0 T cos 7x
h i
C 1 A sin 7x
17. lim = = lim sin 2x
= lim cos u = 1 = lim = lim
x→0 tan 2x 0 x→0 u→0 x→0 sin 2x x→0 sin 2x
cos 2x 1

sin 7x
· 7x
   
0 A 7x sin u C 1 · 7x A 7 C 7
= = lim sin 2x = lim = 1 = lim = lim =
0 x→0
2x
· 2x u→0 u x→0 1 · 2x x→0 2 2

  h
cos 2x
T
i
C x
18. lim (x · cot 2x) = [0 · ∞] = lim x · = lim cos u = 1 = lim
x→0 x→0 sin 2x u→0 x→0 sin 2x

   
A 1 2x sin u u C 1 1
= lim · = lim = lim =1 = ·1=
x→0 2 sin 2x u→0 u u→0 sin u 2 2

sin(2(x − 1)) sin(2(x − 1))

  · 2(x − 1) ·2
sin(2(x − 1)) 0 A 2(x − 1) A 2(x − 1)
19. lim 2 = = lim = lim
x→1 x − 7x + 6 0 x→1 (x − 1)(x − 6) x→1 x−6
 
sin u C 1 · 2 DSP 1 · 2 2
= lim = 1 = lim = =−
u→0 u x→1 x − 6 1−6 5

1 − cos x
20. lim
x→0 x2

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Section 1.4 Calculating Limits 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

1 − cos2 x T sin2 x
 
1 − cos x 0 A (1 − cos x)(1 + cos x) A
20. lim = = lim = lim = lim
x→0 x2 0 x→0 x2 (1 + cos x) x→0 x2 (1 + cos x) x→0 x2 (1 + cos x)

sin2 x
   
A 1 sin u C 1 LL,DSP 1 1
= lim · = lim = 1 = lim = =
x→0 x2 1 + cos x u→0 u x→0 1 + cos x 1 + cos 0 2

1 − (cos2 3x − sin2 3x) A 1 − cos2 3x + sin2 3x

  
1 − cos 6x 0 T
21. lim = = lim = lim
x→0 x sin 3x 0 x→0 x sin 3x x→0 x sin 3x

sin2 3x + sin2 3x A 2 sin2 3x A

  
T 2 sin 3x A 6 sin 3x sin u C
= lim = lim = lim = lim = lim = 1 =6
x→0 x sin 3x x→0 x sin 3x x→0 x x→0 3x u→0 u

22. Let (
x2 if x ≤ 2
f (x) =
x + 1 if x > 2
Then
DSP DSP
lim− f (x) = lim− x2 = 22 = 4 and lim+ f (x) = lim+ (x + 1) = 2 + 1 = 3.
x→2 x→2 x→2 x→2

Since lim− f (x) 6= lim+ f (x), it follows that lim f (x) does not exist.
x→2 x→2 x→2

23. Let
x+2


 if x ≤ −1
 x−1


g(x) = x3 if − 1 < x ≤ 0




sin x if x > 0


Then
1 1
(a) lim − g(x) = − (b) lim + g(x) = −1 (c) lim g(x) D.N.E. (d) g(−1) = −
x→−1 2 x→−1 x→−1 2

(e) lim− g(x) = 0 (f) lim+ g(x) = 0 (g) lim g(x) = 0 (h) g(0) = 0
x→0 x→0 x→0

|x + 1|
24. We show that lim does not exist. In fact,
x→−1 x + 1

|x + 1| −(x + 1) |x + 1| x+1
lim − = lim − = −1 and lim + = lim + =1
x→−1 x+1 x→−1 x+1 x→−1 x+1 x→−1 x + 1

Since
|x + 1| |x + 1|
lim − 6= lim +
x→−1 x+1 x→−1 x+1
|x + 1|
it follows that lim does not exist.
x→−1 x + 1

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Section 1.4 Calculating Limits 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

THE SQUEEZE THEOREM: If f (x) ≤ g(x) ≤ h(x) when x is near a (except possibly at a)
and
lim f (x) = lim h(x) = L
x→a x→a

then
lim g(x) = L
x→a

 
1 2
EXAMPLE: Show that lim x sin = 0.
x→0 x
Solution: We first note that  
1
−1 ≤ sin ≤1
x
Multiplying all three parts of this inequality by x2 , we get
 
2 2 1
−x ≤ x sin ≤ x2
x

Since
lim (−x2 ) = 0 and lim x2 = 0
x→0 x→0

it follows that  
2 1
lim x sin =0
x→0 x
by the Squeeze Theorem.