Cagayan State University–Carig Campus

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

LECTURE MODULE 5
CALCULUS 1: CHAPTER 1

TOPIC 5
CALCULATING LIMITS USING THE LIMIT LAWS
From our introductory topic on limits, we used calculators and graphs to guess the values of limits. In this
topic, we will discuss techniques for computing limits of many functions – simple to complex. We will use the
following properties of limits, called the Limit Laws, to calculate limits.

At the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:

1. understand the basic laws in calculating limits;

2. analyze limits of simple to complex functions using limit laws;
3. examine limits of rational functions with zero denominator only;
4. analyze functions with infinite limits.

1.1 The Limit Laws

Our strategy for finding limits algebraically has two parts:

(1) First, we will obtain the limits of some simple functions.
(2) Then, we will develop a repertoire of theorems that will enable us to use the limits of those simple functions
as building blocks for finding limits of more complicated functions.

The following theorem will be our basic tool for finding limits algebraically.

Suppose that 𝒂 and 𝒄 are real numbers, and 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) and 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) exist, then
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

1. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒄 = 𝒄
𝒙→𝒂

2. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 = 𝒂
𝒙→𝒂

3. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒄𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒄 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) Constant Multiple Law

𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

4. 𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙) + 𝒈(𝒙)] = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) + 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) Sum Law

𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

5. 𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒈(𝒙)] = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) − 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) Difference Law

𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

6. 𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙)𝒈(𝒙)] = (𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)) (𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙)) Product Law

𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

7. 𝒇(𝒙) 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) Quotient Law

𝒙→𝒂
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙)
provided that lim 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0.
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂
𝑥→𝑎

8. 𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙)]𝒏 = [𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)]𝒏

𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

9. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒏
√𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒏√𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) provided that lim 𝑓(𝑥) > 0 if 𝑛 is even.
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂 𝑥→𝑎

Moreover, these statements are also true for the one-sided limits as 𝑥 → 𝑎+ or as 𝑥 → 𝑎− .

ENGR. ARISTON C. TALOSIG 1 | Page

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COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
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LECTURE MODULE 5
CALCULUS 1: CHAPTER 1

These theorems can be stated informally as follows:

1. The limit of a constant function is equal to the constant function itself.

2. The limit of the function 𝑥 is equal to the number it is approaching.
3. The limit of a constant times a function is the constant times the limit of the Constant Multiple Law
function.
4. The limit of a sum is the sum of the limits. Sum Law
5. The limit of a difference is the difference of the limits. Difference Law
6. The limit of a product is the product of the limits. Product Law
7. The limit of a quotient is the quotient of the limits (provided that the limit Quotient Law
of the denominator is not 0).
8. The limit of an nth power is the nth power of the limit.
9. The limit of an nth root is the nth root of the limit.

Note from the lecturer: The summary of the theorems would be as long as the function is defined over the number it approaches,
just substitute the value of 𝑥 to the function and evaluate. Except of course, for constant functions whose limit stays the same at any
𝑥.

Example 1:

Using the laws of limits, evaluate lim 5.

𝑥→2

Solution:

From our first theorem, the limit of a constant function is equal to the constant function itself. Since 5 is a constant,
then

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟓 = 𝟓
𝒙→𝟐

Example 2:

Evaluate lim 𝑥.
𝑥→2

Solution:

From theorem (2), the limit of the function 𝑥 is equal to the number it is approaching. Thus,

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 = 𝟐
𝒙→𝟐

Example 3:

Evaluate lim (𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 − 1).

𝑥→−2

Solution:

Applying the theorems of limits,

lim (𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 − 1) = lim 𝑥 3 + lim 4𝑥 − lim 1 Continuation: = (−2)3 + 4(−2) − 1

𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2
= lim 𝑥 3 + 4 lim 𝑥 − lim 1 = −17
𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2
= ( lim 𝑥)3 + 4 lim 𝑥 − lim 1 𝐥𝐢𝐦(𝒙𝟑 + 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟏) = −𝟏𝟕
𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2 𝒙→𝟐
3
= (−2) + 4(−2) − 1

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LECTURE MODULE 5
CALCULUS 1: CHAPTER 1

Example 4:

Evaluate lim (𝑥 2 − 7𝑥)4 .

𝑥→1

Solution:

lim (𝑥 2 − 7𝑥)4 = [lim (𝑥 2 − 7𝑥)]4

𝑥→1 𝑥→1
= [lim 𝑥 2 − lim 7𝑥]4
𝑥→1 𝑥→1
= [(lim 𝑥)2 − 7lim 𝑥]4
𝑥→1 𝑥→1
= [(1)2 − 7(1)]4
= (−6)4
= 1296

𝐥𝐢𝐦(𝒙𝟐 − 𝟕𝒙)𝟒 = 𝟏𝟐𝟗𝟔

𝒙→𝟏

Example 5:

Evaluate lim √𝑥 2 + 5.
𝑥→2

Solution:

lim √𝑥 2 + 5 = √ lim (𝑥 2 + 5)
𝑥→2 𝑥→2

= √ lim 𝑥 2 + lim 5
𝑥→2 𝑥→2

= √(lim 𝑥)2 + lim 5

𝑥→2 𝑥→2

= √(2)2 + 5
= √4 + 5
= √9
=3

𝐥𝐢𝐦 √𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓 = 𝟑
𝒙→𝟐

Example 6:

Evaluate lim (2𝑥 + 3)√𝑥 + 5.

𝑥→4

Solution:

lim (2𝑥 + 3)√𝑥 + 5 = lim (2𝑥 + 3)lim √𝑥 + 5

𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4

= (lim 2𝑥 + lim 3)√ lim (𝑥 + 5)

𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4

= (lim 2𝑥 + lim 3)√(lim 𝑥 + lim 5)

𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4

= (lim 2𝑥 + lim 3)√(lim 𝑥 + lim 5)

𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4

= (2 lim 𝑥 + lim 3)√(lim 𝑥 + lim 5)

𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4

= [2(4) + 3]√(4 + 5)

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LECTURE MODULE 5
CALCULUS 1: CHAPTER 1

𝐥𝐢𝐦(𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑)√𝒙 + 𝟓 = 𝟑𝟑
𝒙→𝟒

Example 8:

5𝑥 3 +4
Evaluate lim .
𝑥→0 𝑥−3

Solution:

5𝑥 3 +4 lim (5𝑥 3 +4)

lim = 𝑥→0
𝑥→0 𝑥−3 lim (𝑥−3)
𝑥→0
lim 5𝑥 3 +lim 4
= 𝑥→0 𝑥→0
lim 𝑥−lim 3
𝑥→0 𝑥→0
5 lim 𝑥 3 +lim 4
𝑥→0 𝑥→0
= lim 𝑥−lim 3
𝑥→0 𝑥→0
5(0)3 + 4
= 0−3
4
= −3

𝟓𝒙𝟑 +𝟒 𝟒
𝐥𝐢𝐦 = −𝟑
𝒙→𝟎 𝒙−𝟑

Recall that example (8) is a rational function – ratio of two polynomials. The theorem for limits of rational functions
(quotient law) will not work for functions in which the limit of the denominator is zero because it is not applicable.
There are two cases of this type to be considered:

(1) Limit where the denominator is zero but the numerator is not. >> LIMIT DOES NOT EXIST
(2) Limit where both numerator and denominator are zero. >> INDETERMINATE FORM

We will first tackle case (1) for functions where the denominator is zero but the numerator is not. Here, we are
dealing with a broader concept termed infinite limits.

1.2 Infinite Limits

1
From our video lecture on one-sided limits, we have described the behavior of the function 𝑥 3 as 𝑥 approaches 0 and
deduced the following observations,

left of 0 (𝑥 = −0.00001) 𝑓(𝑥) = −1𝑥1015

right of 0 (𝑥 = −0.00001) 𝑓(𝑥) = 1𝑥1015

From the concept of two-sided limits, the limit of the function “does not exist” where one-sided limits are not equal.
1
The assumed values of 𝑥 at either side of 𝑥 = 0 yielded to unequal results. Then, we could safely presume that lim 𝑥 3
𝑥→0
does not exist or

𝟏
𝐥𝐢𝐦 = 𝐃𝐍𝐄
𝒙→𝟎 𝒙𝟑

On a stricter logical sense, we cannot assume that the exact values of its one-sided limits are −1𝑥1015 and 1𝑥1015
from left and right of 0, respectively. Why? Because taking values even nearer to zero would result to even smaller
and larger values of 𝑓(𝑥). See the table below. Note that the values of 𝑓(𝑥) proceed −∞ (becoming smaller) as 𝑥
nears 0 from the left.

𝑥 -0.00001 -0.000001 -0.0000001 -0.00000001 …0

𝑓(𝑥) −𝟏𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟓 −𝟏𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟖 −𝟏𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟏 −𝟏𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟒 -∞

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LECTURE MODULE 5
CALCULUS 1: CHAPTER 1

The opposite happens from the right of 0. The function approaches +∞ (becomes larger) as 𝑥 nears 0.

0… 0.00000001 0.0000001 0.000001 0.00001 𝑥

+∞ 𝟏𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝟏𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝟏𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟖 𝟏𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟓 𝑓(𝑥)

Only then we can determine the one-sided limits of the function at 𝑥 = 0 by its behavior.
1 1
lim = −∞ and lim = +∞
𝑥→0− 𝑥 3 𝑥→0+ 𝑥 3

The expressions

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞ and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞

𝑥→𝑎 − 𝑥→𝑎 +

denote that 𝑓(𝑥) increases without bound as 𝑥 approaches 𝑎 from the left and right, respectively. If both are
true, then we right,

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = +∞
𝒙→𝒂

Similarly, the expressions

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞ and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞

𝑥→𝑎 − 𝑥→𝑎 +

denote that 𝑓(𝑥) decreases without bound as 𝑥 approaches 𝑎 from the left and right, respectively. If both are
true, then we right,

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = −∞
𝒙→𝒂

Example 9:
1
Evaluate lim 2.
𝑥→5 (𝑥−5)

Solution:

Since we do not see any superscript prescribing one-sided limit, we will take values on both sides of 5. Input the
function into your calculator and use CALC to get the values of the function at all assumed 𝑥-values.

Left of 5 Right of 5
𝑥 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)
4.999 1,000,000 5.001 1,000,000
4.9999 100,000,000 5.0001 100,000,000
4.99999 10,000,000,000 5.00001 10,000,000,000
4.999999 1,000,000,000,000 5.000001 1,000,000,000,000

From the left of 5, as 𝑥 goes nearer to 5, the values of the function become larger. Simply we can say that 𝑓(𝑥) is
increasing without bound (+∞) from the left of 5. Then we right,
1
lim− = +∞
𝑥→5 (𝑥 − 5)2

From the right of 5, as 𝑥 goes nearer to 5, the values of the function become larger. Again, we can say that 𝑓(𝑥) is
increasing without bound (+∞) from the right of 5.

1
lim+ = +∞
𝑥→5 (𝑥 − 5)2

ENGR. ARISTON C. TALOSIG 5 | Page

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COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
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LECTURE MODULE 5
CALCULUS 1: CHAPTER 1

With both one-sided limits equal to +∞. Then we can say,

𝟏
𝐥𝐢𝐦 = +∞
𝒙→𝟓 (𝒙 − 𝟓)𝟐

𝟏
But do you know that 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐 do not actually exists?
𝒙→𝟓 (𝒙−𝟓)

Important Note: Getting ±∞ as limits simply mean that the function’s limit does not exist. The symbols +∞ and -∞ are
not real numbers; they simply describe particular ways in which the limits fail to exist or the limits do not exist. +∞
and -∞ mean that the function is boundless or it goes limitless. Thus, you can not actually determine its limit.

Thereby we can say that,

𝟏
𝐥𝐢𝐦 = 𝐃𝐍𝐄
𝒙→𝟓 (𝒙 − 𝟓)𝟐

Conclusion for rational functions with zero denominator at 𝑥 = 𝑎:

If the limit of the denominator is zero but the limit of the numerator is not, then one can prove that the limit of
the rational function does not exist and that one of the following situations occurs:

• The limit may be −∞ from one side and +∞ from the other.
• The limit may be +∞.
• The limit may be −∞.

Example 10:

Evaluate the following limits:

𝑥+2 𝑥+2 𝑥+2
(a) lim− 𝑥−3 (b) lim+ 𝑥−3 (c) lim 𝑥−3
𝑥→3 𝑥→3 𝑥→3

Solution:
𝑥+2 𝑥+2
(a) lim− 𝑥−3 (b) lim+ 𝑥−3
𝑥→3 𝑥→3
Left of 3 Right of 3
𝑥 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)
2.999 -4999 3.001 5001
2.9999 -49999 3.0001 50001
2.99999 -499999 3.00001 500001
2.999999 -4999999 3.000001 5000001
Since 𝑓(𝑥) decreases without bound (−∞) as 𝑥 Since 𝑓(𝑥) increases without bound (+∞) as 𝑥
approaches 3 from the left, then approaches 3 from the right, then

𝒙+𝟐 𝒙+𝟐
𝐥𝐢𝐦− = −∞ 𝐥𝐢𝐦+ = +∞
𝒙→𝟑 𝒙−𝟑 𝒙→𝟑 𝒙−𝟑

(c) Since the one-sided limits of the function are unequal and approach infinity,

𝒙+𝟐
𝐥𝐢𝐦 = 𝐃𝐍𝐄
𝒙→𝟑 𝒙 − 𝟑

The simplest way of determining the limit of this function is to substitute 𝑥 = 3 directly. We can see that the function
becomes 5/0 when 𝑥 = 3. It is clear from the ruling that if the denominator of the function is 0 but the numerator is
not, the limit of the function does not exist (DNE).

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COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
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LECTURE MODULE 5
CALCULUS 1: CHAPTER 1

Example 11:
𝑥+4
Evaluate lim 𝑥 2 −25.
𝑥→5

Solution:

By simply substituting the value of 𝑥 in the function, 𝑓(𝑥) becomes

𝑥+4 5+4 9
2
= 2 =
𝑥 − 25 5 − 25 0

The denominator is zero, thus the limit of the function at 𝑥 = 5 does not exist. Or,

𝒙+𝟒
𝐥𝐢𝐦 = 𝐃𝐍𝐄
𝒙→𝟓 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝟓

Case (2) for rational functions in which both numerator and denominator are zero, will be discussed in the next
module.

Access the following online resources for additional instruction and practice with functions!

Introduction to Limits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riXcZT2ICjA

Introduction to Limits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfPqRMqP5kU
Infinite Limits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvFqomOpLrs
Infinite Limits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ446wKJnK8

Evaluate the domain and range of the following functions.

𝑥 𝑦+6
1. lim Ans. −∞ 3. lim+ Ans. +∞
𝑥→4 − 𝑥−4 𝑦→6 𝑦 2 − 36
𝑥 1
2. lim Ans. DNE 4. lim Ans. +∞
𝑥→4 𝑥 − 4 𝑦→2+ |2 − 𝑥|

𝑥 − 1, 𝑥 ≤ 3
Given the piecewise-defined function: 𝑓(𝑥) = { , evaluate
3𝑥 − 7, 𝑥 > 3

1. lim 𝑓(𝑥) 2. lim 𝑓(𝑥) 3. lim 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥→3− 𝑥→3+ 𝑥→3

Note: If the problem is a one-sided limit, indicate if it is approaching either +∞ or −∞. For two-sided limits, you may
immediately indicate DNE.

Anton, H., Bivens, I., & Davis, S. (2010). Calculus Early Transcendentals. John Wiley & Sons (Asia) Pte Ltd.
Canva. (n.d.). Retrieved from Canva: www.canva.com

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