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Finding Limits Algebraically - Classwork

We are going to now determine limits without benefit of looking at a graph, that is lim f ! x" . x !a There are three steps to remember: 1) plug in a 2) FactorAcancel and go back to step 1 3) !, -!, or CDE 2x " 6 Example 1) find lim x 2 " 4 x + 1 Example 2) find lim x !"2 x !"2 x " 2 Gou can do this by plugging in. Gou can also do this by plugging in.

Example 3) find lim

So attempt to factor and cancel

0 Plug in and you get 0 - no good

x2 " 2x " 8 x !"2 x2 " 4

Example 4) find lim

x2 " 2x + 1 x !1 x3 " 1 0 Plug in and you get 0 - no good So attempt to factor and cancel

If steps 1 and 2 do not work (you have a zero in the denominator, your answer is one of the following:

-!

Does Not Exist (DNE)


x !a x !a +

To determine which, you must split your limit into two separate limits.: lim f ! x " and lim f ! x " . Make a sign " chart by plugging in a number close to a on the left side and determining its sign. Gou will also plug in a number close to a on the right side and determine its sign. Each of these will be some form of !, either positive or negative. Rnly if they are the same will the limit be ! or -!. What this says is that in this case, lim" f ! x" = some form of # and lim f ! x" = some form of # Gou need to check whether they are the same. 2x + 5 Example 5) find lim x !2 x " 2 9 Step 1) Plug in - 0 - no good Step 2) - Do factoringAcancel
x !a x !a +

So your answer is !, -! or CDE

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Stu Schwartz

Example 6)

find lim
x !0

4 Step 1) Plug in - 0 - no good

4 x2

Step 2) - Do factoringAcancel

So your answer is !, -! or CDE

Example 7) find lim

x2 + 2x " 3 x !"3 x 2 + 6 x + 9

Example 8) find lim


x !2

2x " 4 x " 6 x 2 + 12 x " 8


3

% x 2 " 4, x $ 1 ' find lim f ! x" Example 9) f ! x" = & x !1 '"2 x " 1, x % 1 (

% x ' 'x "2 ,x $ 2 Example 10) f ! x" = & find lim f ! x" x !2 'x "3 'x "2 ,x % 2 (

Example 11) lim


x !0

x+2 " 2 x
x !&#

Finally, we are interested also in problems of the type: lim f ! x" . Were are the rules: Write f(x) as a fraction. 1) If the highest power of x appears in the denominator (bottom heavy), lim f ! x" = 0
x !&#

2) If the highest power of x appears in the numerator (top heavy), lim f ! x" = &# x !&# plug in very large or small numbers and determine the sign of the answer 3) If the highest power of x appears both in the numerator and denominator coefficient"of"numeratorYs"highest"power (powers equal), lim f ! x" = "coefficient"of"denominatorYs"highest"power x !&# Example 12) lim 4 x 2 + 50 x !# x 3 " 85 Example 13) lim 4 x 3 " 5x 2 + 3x " 1 x !# 5x 3 " 7 x " 25 Example 14) lim 3x 3 " 23 x !# 4 x " 1

Example 15)

4 x " 5x 2 + 3 x !"# 1 x lim

Example 16) lim

x !#

x 2 " 3x 2x + 1

Example 17) lim

x !"#

x 2 " 3x 2x + 1

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Stu Schwartz

Finding Limits Algebraically - Homework


1) lim 12
x !5

2) lim )
x !0

3)

lim 4 x
x !2

4)

lim 3x 2 " 4 x " 1


x !5

5)

x !0

lim" 5x 3 " 7 x 2 + 2 x " 2

6) lim 3 y 4 " 6 y 3 " 2 y


y !"1

2x " 4 7) lim x !4 x " 1

x2 + 4x + 4 8) lim x !"2 x2

9) lim
x !1

2x " 2 x "1

10) lim
x !4

x 2 " 16 x"4

11) lim

t3 + 8 t !"2 t + 2

12) lim
x !2

x2 " 4x + 4 x2 + x " 6

13) lim

x2 + 6x + 5 x !"1 x 2 " 3x " 4

14) lim
x !1

x 3 + x 2 " 5x + 3 x 3 " 3x + 2

15) lim
x !3

x x "3

16)

lim
x !5

x x " 25
2

17) lim
y !6

y+6 y 2 " 36

18) lim
x !4

3" x x " 2x " 8


2

19) lim
x !1

4 2 x " 2x + 1

20) lim
x !5

x x "5

21) lim
x !3

"x2 x2 " 6 x + 9

MasterMathMentor.com

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Stu Schwartz

% x " 1, x $ 3 22) f ! x" = & find lim f ! x" x !3 '2 x " 3, x % 3 (

% x 3 " 1, x $ "1 ' find lim f ! x" 23) f ! x" = & x !"1 '2 x , x % "1 (

%x "2 ' ' x "1 , x $ 1 24) f ! x" = & find lim f ! x" x !1 ' x ' x "1, x % 1 (

25) lim
x !0

x+4 "2 x

% x 2 " 2 x " 3, x * 2 ' 26) Let f ! x" = & 'k " 3, x = 2 ( find k such that lim f ! x" = f !2"
x !2

% x 2 " 49 ' ,x * 7 27) f ! x" = & x " 7 ' 2 (k " 2, x = 7 find k such that lim f ! x" = f !7"
x !7

28) lim 6
x !#

29) lim!"2 x + 11"


x !#

30)

x !"#

lim 3x 4 " 3x 3 + 5x 2 + 8 x " 3

"

2x " 3 31) lim x !# 4 x + 5

7 " 3x 3 32) lim 3 x !"# 2 x + 1

33) lim

x !#

2 5x " 3

2 x + 30 34) lim 12 x !"# 6 x " 5

35) lim

4x4 x !# 6 x 3 " 19

4 x 2 " 3x " 2 " 5x 3 36) lim x !"# 9x2 + 9x + 7

37) lim

x x2 + 4

x !#

38)

x !"#

lim

x x2 + 4

39)

x !"#

lim

3x 2 + x x2 " 1

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Stu Schwartz

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