JMJ Marist Brothers

NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY

Integrated Basic Education Department
Senior High School

Limit of a Function
and
Evaluation of Limits

Prepared by:
RACEL N. PILLOSES, MSc
Mathematics Teacher
Welcome!
For us to be guided, the objectives are…
At the end of the lesson, the students
should be able to:
a) illustrate the limit of a function using a
table of values;
b) distinguish between lim 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑓(𝑐) ;
!→#
c)illustrate the limit laws; and
d)apply the limit laws in evaluating the
limit of algebraic functions (polynomial,
rational and radical).
REVIEW
Evaluate the following functions:

Answer key: 1) 𝑓 −2 = 𝑥 ! − 3𝑥 + 7
1. 17 "
!
2. − " 2) 𝑔 = 𝑥! − 1
#
##
3. $ $ ! %&
4. −2 3) 𝑞 4 = $%"
5. −15
4) 𝑡 −1 = 2𝑥 ! + 3𝑥 − 1

5) 𝑠 9 = 𝑥 − 2𝑥
 Limit of a Function
An introduction…
The concept of limit allows us to study
continuous change. This is basically the idea of
calculus, which is commonly described as the
study of such change.
The basic question in the study of limits is
this: what happens to the values of the function
𝒇 as 𝒙 takes the values close to a specific value
𝒂.
TABULAR APPROACH EXAMPLE 1
(𝑥 − 1)(5 − 2𝑥)
𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−1
Determine the limit of 𝑓(𝑥) as 𝑥 approaches 1.
To verify our answer, let us assign some values
of 𝑥 that are closer to 1.

0.5 4 1.5 2
0.9 3.2 1.1 2.8
0.99 3.02 1.01 2.98
0.999 3.002 1.001 2.998
0.9999 3.0002 1.0001 2.9998
Left of 1 Right of 1
SUMMARY
(&'#)()'*&)
The results of the investigation for 𝑓 𝑥 =
&'#
,
we have the following conclusions:
q As 𝑥 approaches 1 from the left, 𝑓 approaches 3.
q As 𝑥 approaches 1 from the right, 𝑓 also
approaches 3.
We call 3 as the limit of 𝑓 as 𝑥 approaches 1, which can be
written as
(𝑥 − 1)(5 − 2𝑥)
𝑙𝑖𝑚!→$ =3
𝑥−1
($%")(&%!$)
This notation is read as “the limit of as 𝑥
$%"
approaches 1 is 3.”
 EXAMPLE 1
(𝑥 − 1)(5 − 2𝑥)
𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−1

0.5 4 1.5 2
0.9 3.2 1.1 2.8
0.99 3.02 1.01 2.98
0.999 3.002 1.001 2.998
0.9999 3.0002 1.0001 2.9998

(𝑥 − 1)(5 − 2𝑥)
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 3 𝑜𝑟 lim =3
$→" $→" 𝑥−1
Therefore, limit exists
 DEFINITION: LIMIT OF A FUNCTION
Let 𝑓 be a function defined on some open
interval containing the number 𝑎 except possibly at 𝑎
itself. Then the limit of 𝑓 as 𝑥 approaches 𝑎 is 𝐿, which
is written as
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿,
!→%
if the values of 𝑓 gets closer and closer to one
and only one number 𝐿 as 𝑥 takes values that are closer
and closer to 𝑎.

Note: The limit of a function as 𝑥

approaches 𝑎 is not necessarily equal to
the value of the function at 𝑎.
 EXAMPLE 2
"
𝑓 𝑥 = as 𝑥 close to 1
$%"

Left of 1 Right of 1

0.5 -2 1.5 2
0.9 -10 1.1 10
0.99 -100 1.01 100
0.999 -1000 1.001 1000
0.9999 -10000 1.0001 10000

1
lim
$→" 𝑥 − 1

Therefore, limit does not exist

EXERCISE (5 minutes)
Use tabular approach to evaluate the following limits:
1) 𝑙𝑖𝑚$→# 𝑥 !

2) 𝑙𝑖𝑚$→%" 2𝑥 − 5

3) 𝑙𝑖𝑚$→! (𝑥 ! +2𝑥 + 2)
 Evaluation of Limits
The 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒙→𝒄 𝒇(𝒙)and 𝒇 𝒄
Given a function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), the value of the function when
𝑥 = 𝑐 is denoted by 𝑓 𝑐 . If c is in the domain of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), then the
𝑓 𝑐 exists and is reflected in the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 as the point
having the coordinated 𝑐, 𝑓 𝑐 . However, if c is not in the domain
of f(x), then f(c) does not exist.

On the other hand, the limit of 𝑓(𝑥) as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐 is

the number that 𝑓(𝑥) tends to approach as 𝑥 comes closer and
closer to 𝑐. It corresponds to a 𝑦-coordinate, not necessarily on
the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 that 𝑓 assumes when 𝑥 is very close to 𝑐.
As compared to 𝑓(𝑐), the number 𝑐 does not have to be in the
domain of 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 for 𝑙𝑖𝑚&→, 𝑓(𝑥) to exist.
 Evaluation of Limits

The 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒙→𝒄 𝒇(𝒙)and 𝒇 𝒄 (continuation…)

Hence, it may be noted that the value of the function 𝑓 at
𝑥 = 𝑐 does not dictate the value of the limit of 𝑓 as 𝑥 approaches
the number 𝑐.
 Limit Laws
Evaluating limits can also be done analytically
using theorems or limit laws.

i. lim 𝑥 = 𝑎
$→*
ii. lim 𝑐 = 𝑐, 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑐 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
$→*
Suppose lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿 and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑀, the
$→* $→*
iii. lim 𝑓(𝑥) ± 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐿 ± 𝑀
$→*
iv. lim 𝑓 𝑥 . 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐿(𝑀)
$→*
 Limit Laws

v. lim 𝑘. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑘𝐿 , 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑘 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡

$→*
+($) -
vi. lim ,($) = . , 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑀 ≠ 0
$→*
/
vii. lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿/
$→* $→*
Let’s try these! HOME

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9
 ülimit exists
$
𝑥 −1
lim %
!→# 𝑥 − 1

HOME
Solution:

𝑥0 − 1 0
lim ! = 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒
$→" 𝑥 − 1 0
($ ! %")($ ! 1")
Simplify by factoring the numerator and cancel 𝑥 ! −1.
$ ! %"

𝑥 ! +1 The new function

lim 𝑥 ! + 1 = (1)! +1 = 𝟐 , ∴ 𝐿𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑠

$→"
 ülimit exists
𝑥% + 3 − 2
lim
!→#$ 𝑥+1

HOME
Solution:

𝑥! + 3 − 2 0
lim = 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒
$→%" 𝑥+1 0
$ ! 1#%! $ ! 1#1!
. Simplify by multiplying to its conjugate.
$1" $ ! 1#1!
$ ! 1#%0 $ ! %" ($1")($%")
= =
($1") $ ! 1#1! ($1") $ ! 1#1! ($1") $ ! 1#1!

𝑥−1 2 𝟏
lim = − = − , ∴ 𝐿𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑠
$→%" 𝑥! + 3 + 2 4 𝟐
 ülimit exists
%
𝑥 −𝑥−6
lim
!→& 𝑥−3

HOME
Solution:

𝑥! − 𝑥 − 6 0
lim = 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒
$→# 𝑥−3 0
($1!)($%#)
Simplify by factoring the numerator and cancel 𝑥 − 3.
$%#

𝑥+2 The new function

lim 𝑥 + 2 = 3 + 2 = 𝟓 , ∴ 𝐿𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑠

$→#
 ülimit exists
! 𝑥$ + 𝑥 − 1
lim
!→#$ 4 − 2𝑥

HOME
Solution:

" 𝑥! + 𝑥 − 1
lim
$→%! 4 − 2𝑥

! (−2)& +(−2) − 1 ! 4−2−1 ! 1 𝟏

= = =
4 − 2(−2) 4+4 8 𝟐

∴ 𝐿𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑠
 ülimit exists
%
𝑥 +1
lim
!→#$ 𝑥 + 1

HOME
Solution:

𝑥# + 1 0
lim = 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒
$→%" 𝑥 + 1 0
$ " 1"
Simplify by dividing the polynomials. Use the synthetic
$1"
division process.

𝑥! − 𝑥 + 1 The new function

lim 𝑥 ! − 𝑥 + 1 = (−1)! −(−1) + 1 = 𝟑 ,

$→%"
∴ 𝐿𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑠
 ülimit exists
%
𝑥 −1
lim
!→#$ 4

HOME
Solution:

𝑥# − 1
lim
$→%! 4

𝑥 ' − 1 (−2)' −1 −8 − 1 𝟗
= = =−
4 4 4 𝟒

∴ 𝐿𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑠
 ülimit exists
&
𝑥 −4
lim &
!→& 𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 6

HOME
Solution:

𝑥! − 4 0
lim ! = 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒
$→! 𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 6 0
($1!)($%!)
Simplify by factoring the numerator and denominator
($%#)($%!)
and then cancel 𝑥 − 2.
$1!
The new simplified function
$%#

𝑥+2 2+2 4
lim = = = −𝟒 , ∴ 𝐿𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑠
$→! 𝑥 − 3 2 − 3 −1
 ülimit exists

lim 𝑥
!→#$

HOME
Solution:

lim 𝑥
$→%"

𝑥 = −1 = 𝟏

∴ 𝐿𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑠
 limit does not exist

1+𝑥
lim %
!→& 𝑥

HOME
Solution:

1+𝑥
lim #
$→2 𝑥

1+𝑥 1+0 𝟏
'
= '
= (𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅)
𝑥 (0) 𝟎

∴ 𝐿𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡