The Limit Study Guide
The limit tells us what 𝑦-value 𝑓 approaches as 𝑥 gets closer to some value 𝑥-value.
lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑐
𝑥 can get closer to 𝑐 from the left (𝑥 → 𝑐 − ) and from the right (𝑥 → 𝑐 + ). For a limit to exist, the
LEFT limit and Right limit must agree
If lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = lim+ 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
then
lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑐
Examples of limits that exist
lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 1 lim 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 0
𝑥→2 𝑥→𝜋
Notice the limit of 𝑔(𝑥) exists even though 𝑔(𝜋) is undefined. That’s because the graph gets
closer to 0 from the left side and right side
Limits that fail to exist or DNE have:
• Gaps
• Jumps
• Vertical Asymptotes
lim 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝐷𝑁𝐸 lim 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 𝐷𝑁𝐸 lim ℎ(𝑥 ) = 𝐷𝑁𝐸
𝑥→1 𝑥→0 𝑥→0
Given the graph of 𝑓, find the following limits
a. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = b. lim 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥→0 𝑥→2
c. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = d. lim− 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥→1+ 𝑥→1
e. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = f. lim 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥→1 𝑥→−1
Find the limit
The Graph of y=f(x) is shown above. What is the lim 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥→1
Numerically Evaluating limits
We can use a calculator or a table of values to estimate a limit
𝑥 -0.01 -0.001 -0.0001 0 0.0001 0.001 0.01
𝑓(𝑥) 1.99499 1.99950 1.99995 ? 2.00005 2.00050 2.00499
Notice as 𝑥 approaches 0 from both the right AND left, 𝑓(𝑥) approaches 2 from both sides. In
other words: lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 2
𝑥→0
Using the provided tables, find the limit (if they exist)
𝑥 0.75 0.9 0.999 1 1.001 1.01 1.1
𝑓(𝑥) 2.313 2.710 2.997 ? 3.003 3.030 3.310
𝑥 4.9 4.99 4.999 5 5.001 5.01 5.1
𝑓(𝑥) -17.345 -17.7899 -17.995 ? 9.00344 9.0124 9.405
Finding Limits Analytically
The main techniques are:
• Direct substitution
• Dividing out (factor and cancel)
• Rationalizing (radicals in the numerator OR denominator)
Direct substitution fails when you have indeterminate form
Indeterminate Form
0 ∞
, , ∞ − ∞, ∞ ∙ 0, ∞0 , 00 , 1∞
0 ∞
Evaluate the Following limits:
5𝑥 2 − 10
lim =
𝑥→3 2𝑥 − 5
𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 10
lim =
𝑥→−5 𝑥+5
𝑥−9
lim =
𝑥→9 √𝑥 −3
√𝑥 + 3 − 2
lim =
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
Trig Limits
The two important limits:
sin 𝑥 1 − cos 𝑥
lim =1 lim =0
𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→0 𝑥
The trick is to find these limits when dealing with trig limits. Evaluate the following limits
sin 6𝜃
lim =
𝜃→0 6𝜃
tan 3𝑡
lim =
𝑡→0 7𝑡
cos 𝑥 − 1
lim =
𝑥→0 4𝑥
cos 𝑥 − 1 + 3𝑥
lim =
𝑥→0 6𝑥
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥−1 3𝑥
Hint: Rewrite the function + simplify and evaluate the limit.
6𝑥 6𝑥
One-Sided Limits/Piecewise Limits
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿 if and only if lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿 = lim+ 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
Where 𝑥 → 𝑐 − means approaching 𝑐 from the left and,
𝑥 → 𝑐 + means approaching 𝑐 from the right
Find the limit of the following piecewise functions (if they exist).
𝑥, 𝑥 < −1
𝑓(𝑥 ) = { 2
−𝑥 + 2𝑥, 𝑥 ≥ −1
lim 𝑓(𝑥 ) =
𝑥→−1
𝑥 3 − 1, 𝑥≤3
𝑔(𝑥 ) = { 2
2𝑥 + 15, 𝑥>3
lim 𝑔(𝑥 ) =
𝑥→3
Continuity
A function is said to be continuous at point 𝑐 when:
1. 𝑓(𝑐) is defined
2. lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists
𝑥→𝑐
3. 𝑓(𝑐) = lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐
A function has a removable discontinuity at 𝑐 if 𝑓(𝑐) is undefined BUT the limit exists
A function has a non-removable discontinuity at 𝑐 if the limit does not exist at 𝑐
Here are examples of non-removable discontinuities
Jump Discontinuity Infinite Discontinuity
Determine if the following functions are continuous. Categorize the type of discontinuities if
any exist
5 − 5 cos 𝑥
𝑓(𝑥 ) = { , 𝑥<0
𝑥
−𝑥 2 𝑥≥0
𝑥, 𝑥 < −1
𝑔(𝑥 ) = {
−𝑥 2 + 2𝑥, 𝑥 ≥ −1
For absolute value functions, turn them into piecewise functions:
Given 𝑓(𝑥) find lim − 𝑓(𝑥) and lim + 𝑓(𝑥), is the function discontinuous? If it’s discontinuous
𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2
anywhere, state the type of discontinuity
|𝑥 + 2|
𝑓(𝑥 ) =
𝑥+2
Intermediate Value Theorem
Use IVT to determine if 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 − 4, has a zero in the interval [0,8]
Infinite Limits and Limits at Infinity
𝑘
If a limit yields 0, where 𝑘 is non-zero, that implies 𝑓(𝑥) → ±∞. It’s your job to figure out the
sign. If 𝑥 → 𝑐 where 𝑐 is NOT positive or negative infinity and 𝑓(𝑥) → ∞ 𝑜𝑟 𝑓(𝑥) → −∞, then
𝑓(𝑥) has a vertical asymptote at 𝑥 = 𝑐
REMEMBER: 𝑥-values that yield zero in the denominator are vertical asymptotes (Note
Numerator should not be equal to zero, if both numerator and denominator are zero at x=c
then x=c is not a vertical asymptote)
Evaluate the following one-sided limits:
𝑥
lim−
𝑥→3 𝑥−3
𝑥
lim+
𝑥→3 𝑥−3
Identify ALL vertical asymptotes of the following functions
𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 𝑔(𝑥 ) = csc 𝑥 ln(𝑥 2 − 36)
𝑓(𝑥 ) = 2 𝑓(𝑥 ) =
𝑥 − 𝑥 − 12 𝑥 − 10
When 𝑥 → ∞ or 𝑥 → −∞, that describes the End Behavior of a function. You can use direct
substitution for limits at infinity but beware of indeterminate form.
Strategy for evaluating limits at infinity:
• Divide by the greatest power
1 1
o When 𝑥 is positive, 𝑥 𝑛 = √𝑥 2𝑛
1 1
o When 𝑥 is negative, 𝑥 𝑛 = −√𝑥 2𝑛
o REMEMBER TO CHECK THE SIGN OF 𝑥
• Rationalizing numerator/denominator (use when radical functions are not explicitly
written as a fraction)
Evaluate the following limits:
2𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1
lim
𝑥→∞ 5𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 5