CHAPTER

5 Limits of Functions

Limit (e) Power rule: If m and n are integers, then

Limit of a function f(x) is said to exist as x → a when,
lim [ f ( x )]
m/ n
= l m / n , provided l is a real number.
m/ n

x→a
lim f (a=
− h) + h) M some finite value M.
lim f (a=
x→a− x→a+
(Left hand limit) (Right hand limit)
(f) lim
=
x→a
f ( g ( x ) ) f=
lim g ( x ) ( x→a )
f ( m ) ; provided f(x) is

Indeterminate Forms continuous at x = m.

0 ∞ Limits Using Expansion

, , (∞) – (∞)
0 ∞
x xlna x 2 ln 2 a x3ln3 a
∞×0 , (1)∞ , (0)0 , (∞)0 (i) a = 1 + + + + …, a > 0
1! 2! 3!

Standard Limits x x x 2 x3 x 4
(ii) e =+
1 + + + +… , for −1 < x ≤ 1
sinx tanx tan −1 x sin −1 x 1! 2! 3! 4!
lim
= lim = lim= lim
x →0 x x →0 x x →0 x x →0 x x 2 x3 x 4
x
e −1 ln (1 + x ) (iii) ln (1 + x ) =x − + − +…. , for −1 < x ≤ 1
= lim= lim = 1, 2 3 4
x →0 x x →0 x
x x3 x5 x 7  π π
1/ x  1 ax −1 (iv) sinx= x − + − +…, x ∈  − , 
lim(1 + x) = lim 1 +  = e, lim = log e a, a > 0, 3! 5! 7!  2 2
x →0 x →∞ x x →0 x

xn − an x 2 x 4 x6  π π
lim = na n −1. (v) cosx = 1 − 2! + 4! − 6! +…, x ∈  − 2 , 2 
x→a x − a  

Note x3 2 x5  π π
(vi) tanx= x + + +…, x ∈  − , 
3 15  2 2
log a x <<< a x <<< x !
a >1 a >1 x∈N

−1 12 3 12 ⋅ 32 5 12 ⋅ 32 ⋅ 52 7
(vii) sin x= x + x + x + x +…
Fundamental Theorems on Limits 3! 5! 7!

Let lim f ( x) = l and lim g ( x) = m . If l and m exists finitely then: x3 x5 x 7

x→a x→a (viii) tan −1 x= x − + − +…
3 5 7
(a) Sum rule: lim [ f ( x ) + g ( x )] =
l+m
x→a
n n ( n –1)
(xi) For x < 1, n ∈ R, (1 + x) =1 + nx +
(b) Difference rule: lim [ f ( x ) – g ( x )]= l − m 1.2
x→a
n ( n –1)( n – 2 ) 3
(c) Product rule: lim [ f ( x ) ⋅ g ( x )] =
l.m x2 +
x +…∞
x→a 1.2.3
f ( x) l 1
(d) Quotient rule: lim = , provided m ≠ 0 1/ x
(xii) (1 + x ) = e x
ln (1+ x ) x 11 2 21 3 
x→a g ( x) m = e 1 − + x − x + ... + ∞ 
 2 24 48 
Limits of form 1∞, 0°, ∞°.
Also for (1)∞ type of problems we can use following rules.
1/ x
(a) lim (1 + x ) = e,
x →0

(b) lim [ f ( x )] g ( x ) , where f ( x ) → 1; g ( x ) → ∞ as x → a then

x→a

g( x) lim { f ( x ) −1} g ( x )
lim [ f ( x )] = e x→a
x→a

Sandwich Theorem or Squeeze Play Theorem

If f(x) ≤ g(x) ≤ h(x) ∀ x and lim f ( x )= l = lim h ( x ) , then lim g ( x ) = l

x→a x→a x→a

12 JEE (XII) Module-2 PW