1.

2:Rates of Change & Limits

Learning Goals:
2009 Mark Pickering
Calculate average &
instantaneous speed
Define, calculate & apply
properties of limits
Use Sandwich Theorem
Important Ideas
Limits are what make
calculus different from
algebra and trigonometry
Limits are fundamental to
the study of calculus
Limits are related to rate of
change
Rate of change is important
in engineering & technology
Theorem 1
Limits have the following
properties:
lim ( )
x c
g x M

= lim ( )
x c
f x L

=
if &
then:
( )
lim ( ) ( )
x c
f x g x L M

+ = +
1.
Theorem 1
Limits have the following
properties:
lim ( )
x c
g x M

= lim ( )
x c
f x L

=
if &
then:
( )
lim ( ) ( )
x c
f x g x L M

=
2.
Theorem 1
Limits have the following
properties:
lim ( )
x c
g x M

= lim ( )
x c
f x L

=
if &
then:
( )
lim ( ) ( )
x c
f x g x L M

=
3.
Theorem 1
Limits have the following
properties:
lim ( )
x c
f x L

=
if
then:
( )
lim ( )
x c
k f x k L

=
4.
& k a constant
Theorem 1
Limits have the following
properties:
lim ( )
x c
g x M

= lim ( )
x c
f x L

=
if &
then:
( )
lim , 0
( )
x c
f x L
M
g x M

= =
5.
Theorem 1
Limits have the following
properties:
lim ( )
x c
f x L

=
if &
6.
r & s are
integers, then:
( )
lim ( )
x c
r
r
s
s
f x L

=
Theorem 1
Limits have the following
properties:
if
where k is a
7.
constant, then:
lim ( ) lim
x c x c
f x k k

= =
( ) f x k =
(not in your text as Th. 1)
Theorem 2
For polynomial and rational
functions:
lim ( ) ( )
x c
f x f c

=
( ) ( )
lim , ( ) 0
( ) ( )
x c
f x f c
g c
g x g c

= =
a.
b.
Limits may be found by
substitution
Example
Solve using limit properties
and substitution:
( )
2
3
lim 2 3 2
x
x x

+
Try This
Solve using limit properties
and substitution:
2
2
4
lim
3
x
x x
x

+ +
+
6
Example
Sometimes limits do not
exist. Consider:
3
2
3
lim
2
x
x
x

If substitution gives a
constant divided by 0, the
limit does not exist (DNE)
Example
Trig functions may have
limits.
2
lim(sin )
x
x
t

Try This
2
lim(cos )
x
x
t

2
lim(cos ) cos 0
2
x
x
t
t

= =
Example
Find the limit if it exists:
3
1
1
lim
1
x
x
x

+
+
Try
substitution
Example
Find the limit if it exists:
3
1
1
lim
1
x
x
x

+
+
Substitution
doesnt
workdoes
this mean the
limit doesnt
exist?
Important Idea
3 2
1 ( 1)( 1)
1 1
x x x x
x x
+ + +
=
+ +
2
1 x x +
and
are the same except at
x=-1
Important Idea
The functions have the
same limit as x-1
Procedure
1.Try substitution
2. Factor and cancel if
substitution doesnt work
3.Try substitution again
The factor & cancellation
technique
Try This
Find the limit if it exists:
2
3
6
lim
3
x
x x
x

5
Try This
Find the limit if it exists:
2
2
2
lim
4
x
x
x

1
4

Try This
Find the limit if it exists:
2
3
6
lim
3
x
x x
x


+
The limit doesnt exist
Confirm by graphing
Definition
When substitution results
in a 0/0 fraction, the result
is called an indeterminate
form.
Important Idea
The limit of an
indeterminate form exists,
but to find it you must use
a technique, such as factor
and cancel.
Try This
Find the limit if it exists:
2
1
2 3
lim
1
x
x x
x

+
-5
Try This
Graph and

3
1
1
1
x
Y
x

=

2
2
1 Y x x = + +
on the same
axes. What is the difference
between these graphs?
3
1
( )
1
x
f x
x

=

Why is
there a
hole in
the graph
at x=1?
Analysis
Example
Consider
3
1
( )
1
x
f x
x

=

for
( ,1) (1, )
and
( ) 4 f x =
for x=1
3
1
1
lim
1
x
x
x

=?
Try This
Find: if
1
lim ( )
x
f x

2
( ) 2, 1 f x x x = + =
( ) 1, 1 f x x = =
1
lim ( ) 3
x
f x

=
Important Idea
The existence or non-
existence of f(x) as x
approaches c has no bearing
on the existence of the limit
of f(x) as x approaches c.
Important Idea
What matters iswhat value
does f(x) get very, very
close to as x gets very,very
close to c. This value is the
limit.
Try This
Find:
f(0)is undefined; 2 is the
limit
2
( )
1 1
x
f x
x
=
+
0
lim ( )
x
f x

Find:
( ) 1, 0 f x x = =
Try This
( ) , 0
1 1
x
f x x
x
= =
+
f(0) is defined; 2 is the limit
2
1
0
lim ( )
x
f x

Try This
Find the limit of f(x) as x
approaches 3 where f is
defined by:
2 , 3
( )
3 , 3
x
f x
x
=
=

=

3
lim ( ) 2
x
f x

=
Try This
Graph and find the limit (if it
exists):
3
3
lim
3
x
x

DNE
Theorem 3: One-sided & Two
Sided limits
if
lim ( )
x c
f x L
+

=
(limit from right)
and
lim ( )
x c
f x L

=
(limit from left)
then
lim ( )
x c
f x L

=
(overall limit)
Theorem 3: One-sided & Two
Sided limits (Converse)
if
lim ( )
x c
f x L
+

=
(limit from right)
and
lim ( )
x c
f x M

=
(limit from left)
then
lim ( )
x c
f x

=
(DNE)
Example
Consider
3
1
( ) , 1
1
x
f x x
x

= =

What happens at x=1?

x
.75 .9 .99 .999
f(x)
Let x get close to 1 from the
left:
Try This
Consider
3
1
( ) , 1
1
x
f x x
x

= =

x
1.25 1.1 1.01 1.001
f(x)
Let x get close to 1 from the
right:
Try This
What number does f(x)
approach as x approaches
1 from the left and from
the right?
3
1
1
lim 3
1
x
x
x

Try This
Find the limit if it exists:
0
lim
x
x
x

DNE
Example
Find the limit if it exists:
0
1
lim sin
x
x

| |
|
\ .
Example
1.Graph using a
friendly window:
1
sin
x
| |
|
\ .
2. Zoom at x=0
3. Wassup at x=0?
Important Idea
If f(x) bounces from one
value to another (oscillates)
as x approaches c, the limit
of f(x) does not exist at c:
Theorem 4: Sandwich
(Squeeze) Theorem
Let f(x) be between g(x) &
h(x) in an interval containing
c. If
lim ( ) lim ( )
x c x c
g x h x L

= =
lim ( )
x c
f x L

=
then:
f(x) is squeezed to L
Example
Find the limit if it exists:
0
sin
lim
u
u
u

Where u is in radians and

in the interval
,
2 2
t t
| |

|
\ .
Example
Find the limit if it exists:
0
sin
lim
u
u
u

Substitution gives the

indeterminate form
Example
Find the limit if it exists:
0
sin
lim
u
u
u

Factor and cancel doesnt

work
Example
Find the limit if it exists:
0
sin
lim
u
u
u

Maybethe squeeze
theorem
Example
g(u)=1
h(u)=cosu
sin
( ) f
u
u
u
=
Example
0
lim1 1
u
=
0
limcos 1
u
u

=
&
therefore
0
sin
lim 1
u
u
u

=
Two Special Trig Limits
0
sin
lim 1
u
u
u

=
0
1 cos
lim 0
u
u
u

=
Example
Find the limit if it exists:
0
tan
lim
x
x
x

0 0
sin 1
lim lim 1 1 1
cos
x x
x
x x

- = - =
Example
Find the limit if it exists:
0
sin(5 )
lim
x
x
x

0 0
sin(5 ) sin(5 )
lim5 5lim 5 1 5
5 5
x x
x x
x x

( (
= = - =
( (

Try This
Find the limit if it exists:
0
3 3cos
lim
x
x
x

0
Lesson Close
Name 3 ways a limit may
fail to exist.
Practice
1. Sec 1.2 #1, 3, 8, 9-18,
28-38E (just find limit L),
39-42gc (graphing
calculator), 43-45