GUC

MATH103
For Engineering
Winter 2023

Lecture # 7
Chapter 2
Limits of functions
1
 Techniques of Limits
1. Direct Substitution.
0
2. If the limit = = " Undetermined" , then:
0
i. we must cancel the zero factor “i.e., we identify
common factors” by:
a. factorizing both numerator and denominator.
b. multiplying by the conjugate.
sin 
ii. lim =1 which is the same valid rule with “tan”.
 →0 
3. Squeezing “Sandwich” Theorem
4. Limits at infinity
5. L’Hopital’s rule “this technique will be covered after differentiation”2
3- The Sandwich theorem
We use it
with Bounded
functions ONLY

3
 Example
Illustrative
Example 1 : figure

x2 x2
If 1 −  u( x )  1 + ,
2 2
find, lim u( x )
x→ 0

Solution :
Since,
x2 x2
lim (1 − ) = 1 = lim (1 + )
x→ 0 2 x→ 0 2
Then (by the sandwich theorem)
lim u( x ) = 1
x→ 0
4
 Example
1 Illustrative
Prove that : lim x sin( ) = 0
2
figure
x →0 x

Notice that, 0.08

y
-1  sin(1/x)  1, 0.06

 -x2  x2 sin(1/x)  x2
0.04

0.02

as, lim x2 = lim (− x 2) = 0 0

x
x→ 0 x→ 0 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3
-0.02

Therefore, by the sandwich theorem: -0.04

-0.06
1
lim x s in( ) = 0
2
-0.08
x→ 0 x
6
 Challenging Problems
- 1  sin(?)  1 0  sin 2 (?)  1
Using : 
- 1  co s(?)  1 0  co s 2 (?)  1
Using the sandwich
theorem evaluate - 1  tanh(?)  1
the following limits  
-  tan -1 (?) 
2 2

sin x tanh x
(1 ) lim ( 2 ) lim 2
x→  x x→ −  x
2 −1
se c h x tan (ln x )
( 3 ) lim 3
( 4 ) lim
x→  x x→  x
7
 y → 2 as x → 
y → 2 as x → −

sin x sin x
(2 + )=2
lim
x → − x lim (2 +
x → x
)=2

Using the sandwich

theorem evaluate
the following limit
8
 2(ii) - Important rule
Find the limit of: f ( ) = sin()/ , as  → 0

 f()
0.1 0.99833417 sin
=1
Important
lim

result
0.01 0.99998333  →0
0.001 0.99999983

Geometrical Proof 9
in Tutorials “see last slide”
 examples
Solution :
sin x
Remember that : lim =1
Find the limit : x→0 x
sin 2 x sin 2 x x sin 2 x x
(1) lim = lim ( . ) = lim ( . )
sin 2 x x → 0 sin 3 x x→ 0 sin 3 x x x→0 x sin 3 x
(1) lim = lim
sin 2 x
. lim
x
x→0 sin 3 x x→ 0 x x → 0 sin 3 x

2 sin 2 x 3x 2
= lim . lim =
3 2x→ 0 2 x 3x → 0 sin 3 x 3
tan 2 x 2 tan 2 x 3 x
( 2) lim = lim ( . )
tan 2 x x → 0 sin 3 x 3 x→ 0 2 x sin 3 x
( 2) lim 2 tan 2 x 3x 2 tan 2 x
= lim = lim
x→0 sin 3 x
. lim
3 2x→ 0 2 x 3x → 0 sin 3 x 3 2x→ 0 2 x
2 sin 2 x 1 2
= lim . lim =
3 2x→ 0 2 x x → 0 cos 2 x 3
Homework
sin 2
3x 1 − cos x
( 3) lim 2
(4) lim 10
x→ 0 x x→ 0 x
 One sided limit (Motivation)
Consider the Heaviside (unit step) function defined as:

0 , x  0
y( x ) = 
1, x  0

From the graph we see that:

• As x→ 0 from left (x < 0), we can see that y(x) → 0. lim− y( x ) = 0

x →0

•
lim+ y( x ) = 1
As x→ 0 from right (x > 0), we can see that y(x) → 1. x →0

Therefore, there is no unique number that y(x) approaches, as x→ 0.

Thus,  lim y( x ) = DoesNotExist " DNE"
x →0 11
 Formal definition of one sided limit

We say that the limit of f (x) equals L as “x → a-” x

approaches a from left, if the values of f (x) are arbitrary
close to a unique number L, when the values of x are
sufficiently close to a, “x < a”, but not necessarily equal
to a. In this case we write:
lim− f ( x ) = L
x →a

We say that the limit of f (x) equals M as “x → a+” x

approaches a from right, if the values of f (x) are
arbitrary close to a unique number M, when the values
of x are sufficiently close to a, “x > a”, but not
necessarily equal to a. In this case we write:
lim+ f ( x ) = M
x →a 12
 Example
x
Find lim− y( x ) and lim+ y( x ), where, y(x) =
x →0 x →0 x
x 0
Solution  lim = " undetermined"
x →0 | x | 0

From the definition of the function

x
= 1, if x  0
x  x Notice that the
y( x ) = =  function is not
x  x
 − x = −1, if x  0 defined at x = 0.

it is clear that
lim− y( x ) = −1 and xlim +
y( x ) = 1
x→ 0 →0

x
 lim = DoesNotExist " DNE" 13
x →0 | x |
 Examples: When do need to
calculate left and right limits??? It The cases when
is necessary to
study left hand
Discuss all types of limits at the given and right
sided limits?
points, for the functions:
3 − x , if x  2 1- If f (x) is

(1) At x = 2, f ( x ) = 
defined differently
x “with different

 2 , if x  2 expressions” around
the limit study point.

sin x
(2) At x = 0, f ( x ) = 2- Whenever we
have a modulus, and
| x| its symmetric point is
the same as the limit
(3) At x = -2, f ( x ) = ( x + 3) x + 2 study point.
x+2
14
 solution :
(1) lim f ( x ) = lim ( 3 − x ) = 3 − 2 = 1
x → 2− x → 2−

lim f(x) = lim ( x/2) = 2/2 = 1

x → 2+ x → 2+

 lim f(x) = lim f(x) = 1  lim f(x) = 1

x → 2− x → 2+ x→2

 sin x
 , x0
sin x  − x
( 2) f ( x ) = =
| x |  sin x
 x , x0

− sin x sin x
 lim f ( x ) = lim = −1, lim f ( x ) = lim =1
x → 0− x →0− x x →0+ x → 0+ x
 lim f ( x ) = does not exist " DNE ".
x →0 15
  − ( x + 3)( x + 2)
 , x  −2
( x + 3) x + 2  x+2
( 3) f ( x ) = =
x+2  ( x + 3)( x + 2) ,
 x  −2
x+2
 − ( x + 3), x  −2
=
( x + 3), x  −2
 lim f ( x ) = lim − ( x + 3) = −1, lim f ( x ) = lim ( x + 3) = 1
x → −2 − x → −2− x → −2 + x → −2+

 lim f ( x ) = does not exist " DNE ".

x → −2

| x + 2|
NOTE : What can you do with : lim ?
x →5 x+2
Do not forget direct substitution . | x + 2|
& lim
x→ −2 x + 5
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 NOTE

Discuss the right and left

hand limits
for the shown function
at the points -2 and 2.
Χ Χ

Conclusion:
If the function is defined on a closed interval
[a, b], then at the point “a” we can only
calculate the right sided limit and at the point
“b” we can only calculate the left sided limit. 17
 Relation between (right sided limit, left
sided limit) and limit of a function

Graphical Example:
Discuss all types of limits
for the shown function at
the points 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4.

No limit from the left

Limit from the left is different Limit from the left equals 18
from limit from the right to limit from the right No limit from the right
 Infinity as a Limit
1 1
Example : Find lim = = ??? Case 1.
x →0 x 0
1
lim = 
x →0 x
+

1
 lim = DoesNotExist " DNE"
x →0 x

1
HW : lim =!
x→2 x − 2
1
lim = − 20
x →0 x
−
 Case 2.
1 1
lim− ( x + 3)2 = + = lim+ ( x + 3)2
1 1
Example : Find lim 2
= = ??? x → −3 x → −3

x →0 x 0

1 1
lim = + = lim+ x 2
x →0
− x2 x →0

21
 lim tan x =  lim sec x = 
 
x →( ) −
x →( )−
2 2

lim tan x = − lim sec x = −

 +

x →( ) x →( )
+

2 2 22
 4- Limit at infinity
What does it mean
From the figure we can see that x tends to infinity?

that when x increases without

bound (x → ∞) the values of
the function are very close to
zero. Hence, we say that
1
lim =0
x → x

Similarly, when x decreases

without bound (x → -∞) the y → 0 as x → 
values of the function are very
close to zero. Hence, we say
y → 0 as x → −
that 1
lim x = 0
x→−  23
 p( x )
Technique lim =?
x → q( x )
To find the limit of a rational function
as x→ “+ infinity” or “- infinity” :
“we divide both the numerator and
denominator by the highest order term in
the denominator then we evaluate the limit.
Divide by x 5
3x + 5 3+
= x =3=1
lim
x → 6 x − 8
lim 8 6 2
x →
6−
x
Divide by x3 4 1
− 2 0−0
4x − x
2
x x =
lim = lim =0
x → − 3 x 3
− 5 x → − 5
3− 3 3 − 0
x
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 More examples

1
− x + x+1 − x +1+
x = −  + 1 = −
2

lim = lim
x→  x+1 x→ 
1+
1 1
x
1
− x2 + x + 1 − x +1+
= x = +1 = 
lim x+1 lim 1 1
x→ −  x→ − 
1+
x

25
 Practical graphical technique
5
y→ as x → −
3

5
y → as x → 
3

5 x2 + 8 x − 3 5
5 x2 + 8 x − 3 5 lim =
lim = x → 3x + 2
2
3
x → − 3x + 2
2
3

26
 11 x + 2 11 x + 2
lim =0 lim =0
x → − 2 x − 1 x → 2 x − 1
3 3

y → 0 as x → 
y → 0 as x → −

27
 y →  as x → 

2 x2 − 3
lim =
y → − as x → − x → 7 x + 4

2 x2 − 3
lim = −
x → − 7 x + 4 28
 Examples

What are the limits of: tanh (x), coth (x), and sech (x);
when x tends to ±∞?

29
Basic rules on Limits at infinity

30
 Some Remarks you may need
 x, if x  0
1- x =| x |= 
2

− x, if x  0
2- u 2 =| u |, where u is a function of x , i .e ., u( x ).
 x − 5, if x  5
3 - | x − 5 |= 
 − ( x − 5), if x  5
 3
 2 x + 3, if x  −
 2
4 - | 2 x + 3 |= 
 − ( 2 x + 3), 3
 if x  −
 2
x −1
5 − f ( x) = can be simplified as :
x+2
x+ 2−3 x+2 3 3
f ( x) = = − = 1−
x+2 x+2 x+2 x+2
31
 Some Remarks you may need
p( x )
6 - In case we study lim , but p( x ) or q( x ) are NOT polynomial s, we divide
x→  q( x )
1
up and down by : the highest value term " producing + " in the Denominator : = 0.
highest
e x − e−x 0 −  
Ex : lim x −x
= = − , we divide up and down by " e − x "
x→−  e + e 0+ 
e2x − 1 0 − 1
= lim 2 x = = −1
x→−  e + 1 0 + 1
7 - We know : x 2 =| x | NOTE : | x |= x as x → + & | x |= − x as x → −.

(i) if we study lim and we need to divide by x , here " x 2 =| x |= x as x → +".

x→+ 

(ii) if we study lim and we need to divide by x , here " x 2 =| x |= - x as x → −".

x→− 

3x2 + x
Ex : lim , take " x 2 " common factor out the root " x 2 =| x |= − x as x → −"
x→−  x
1 1 1
| x|. 3+ ( − x ). 3 + 3+
= lim x = x = x =− 3
x→−  x lim
x→−  x lim
x→−  −1 32
 sin( )
Using Sandwich Theorem Prove that : lim = 1?
 →0 
In the shown circle with radius "1": It is clear
that : The area of the triangle AOB is smaller
than the area of the circular sector AOB which
is smaller than the area of the triangle COB :

ˆ
 ( AOB )  AOB  (CO ˆ B)
1 1 1
 .(1).(1).(sin  )  (  )(12 )  .(1).( BC ) − −  (1)
2 2 2
In the triangle COB, tan( ) = BC − −−  ( 2)
(2) in (1)  sin( )    tan( )
 1 Geometrical Proof
 sin( )  1   in Tutorials
sin( ) cos( )
sin( ) sin( )
1  cos( )  lim 1  lim  lim cos( )
  →0  →0   →0

sin( ) sin( )
 1  lim  1  lim = 1.
 →0   →0  33
Thank you

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