1.6: Properties of Limit
- Page ID
- 5677
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)You're familiar with the idea of a limit of a function, and that some limits are computed using numerical and graphical methods. Limits can also be evaluated using the properties of limits. How would you find
without using a graph or using a table of values?
Properties of Limits
Let’s begin with some observations about limits of some simple functions. Consider the following limit problems:
We note that each of these functions is defined for all real numbers. If we apply our intuition for finding the limits we conclude correctly that:
The above results can be encapsulated in the following limit properties:
Basic Limit Properties:
Many functions can be expressed as the sums, differences, products, quotients, powers and roots of other more simple functions. The following properties are also useful in evaluating limits:
More Basic Limit Properties:
Knowing these properties, allows evaluation of the limits of a wide range of functions.
Take the problem:
Based on the properties above, the limit can be evaluated in the following steps:
Therefore:
Note that the application of the basic limit properties results, in this case, in a limit value that is the same as direct substitution of x=2 in the function.
Now, evaluate
Based on the properties of limits, the limit can be evaluated in the following steps:
Therefore:
Again, note that the application of the basic limit properties results, in this case, in a limit value that is the same as direct substitution of x=2 in the function.
Examples
Example 1
Earlier, you were asked to find
without using a graph or a table of values. This is a case where direct substitution to evaluate the limit gives the indeterminate form 0/0. But, reducing the fraction and then applying the basic limit properties above, we can evaluate the limit:
Example 2
Evaluate
where f(x) is the rational function
Example 3
Find the following limit if it exists:
Let’s apply the basic quotient rule to evaluate this limit.
Therefore:
Again, the limit result is the same as using direct substitution of x=−4 in the function.
Review
Vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| indeterminate | In mathematics, an expression is indeterminate if it is not precisely defined. There are seven indeterminate forms: 0/0,0⋅∞,∞∞,∞−∞,00,∞0, and 1∞. |
| limit | A limit is the value that the output of a function approaches as the input of the function approaches a given value. |
Additional Resources
Practice: Properties of Limits