Limit of Functions

1. Limit of a function f(x) is said to exist as,

x a when,
Limit f (a
h 0
h) = Limit f (a + h) = some finite value M.
h 0
(Left hand limit) (Right hand limit)
Note that we are not interested in knowing about what happens at x = a. Also note that if L.H.L. &
R.H.L. are both tending towards ' ' or then it is said to be infinite limit.

x a x a
Remember, Limit
Solved Example # 1

Find xLimit
/ 2 f(x)

Solution.
.in
ps
Here Limit f(x) = 1
x / 2

Solved Example # 2
te
yS
ud

Find Limit
x1 f(x)
St

Solution.
Left handed limit = 1 Right handed limit = 2

Hence Limit
x1 f(x) = does not exist.
Solved Example # 3
(i) Find lim it f(x)
x 0
(ii) Find lim it f(x)
x 1
(iii) Find lim it f(x)
x 3

Solution.
(i) lim it f(x) = does not exists
x 0
because left handed limit right handed limit

Page 1 of 14 www.StudySteps.in
 (ii) lim it f(x) = 0 (iii) lim it f(x) = 1
x 1 x 3

2. Indeterminant Forms:
0
, , 0 , , 0,and 1.
0
Solved Example # 4
Which of the following limits are forming indeterminant from also indicate the form

lim 1 lim 1 x
(i) x 0
(ii) x 0
x 1 x2
1 1
(iii) lim x n x (iv) lim
x 0 x 0 x x2
(v) lim (sin x)x (vi) lim (n x)x
x 0 x 0
1

x 0 1 sin x
(vii) lim x
(viii) lim (1)1/x
x 0

Solution
0
(i) No (ii) Yes from
0
(iii) Yes 0 form (iv) Yes ( ) form

.in
(v) Yes, (0) form (vi) Yes () form
(vii) Yes (1) form (viii)
NOTE :
ps
(i) ' 0 ' doesn't means exact zero but represent a value approaching towards zero similary to ' 1 ' and
infinity.
+=
te

(ii)
(iii) x =
yS

(iv) (a/) = 0 if a is finite

a
(v) is not defined for any a R.
0
ud

(vi) a b = 0, if & only if a = 0 or b = 0 and a & b are finite.

3. Method of Removing Indeterminancy

St

To evaluate a limit, we must always put the value where ' x ' is approaching to in the function. If we get
a determinate form, then that value becomes the limit otherwise if an indeterminant form comes. Then
apply one of the following methods:
(i) Factorisation (ii) Rationalisation or double rationalisation
(iii) Substitution (iv) Using standard limits
(v) Expansions of functions.

1. Factorization method :-
We can cancel out the factors which are leading to indeterminancy and find the limit of the remaing
expression.

Solved Example # 5

lim it x 24 x 16
6

x 2
x 3 2x 12
Solution.

Page 2 of 14 www.StudySteps.in
 ( x 2)( x 5 2x 4 4 x 3 8 x 2 16 x 8)
lim it x 24 x 16 = lim it
6

x 2
x 3 2x 12 x 2 ( x 2 2x 6)( x 2)

168
= = 12
14

2. Rationalization /Double Rationalization.

We can rationalize the irrational expression by multiplying with their conjugates to remove the
indeterminancy.

Solved Example # 6

4 5x 1
lim it .
x 1 2 3x 1
Solution.

4 5x 1
lim it
x 1 2 3x 1

( 4 5 x 1)(2 3 x 1)( 4 5 x 1)
= lim it
x 1 (2 3 x 1)( 4 5 x 1)(2 3 x 1)

(15 5 x ) 2 3x 1
= lim

.in
it
x 1 (3 3 x ) 4 5x 1
ps
5
=
6
Solved Example # 7
te

Evaluate :
yS

1 2 (2x 3) 1 x 1 x
(i) lim 3 (ii) lim
x 2 x 2 x 3 x 2 2x x 0
x

ud

(iii) lim (2x 3) x 1

x 1
2x 2 x 3
Solution
St

(i) We have
1 2 (2x 3) 1 2 (2x 3)
lim 3 = xlim
x 2 x 2 x 3 x 2 2x 2
x 2 x( x 1)( x 2)

x( x 1) 2(2x 3)
= xlim
2
x( x 1)( x 2)

x 2 5x 6
= x 2 x( x 1)( x 2)
lim

( x 2)( x 3)
= xlim
2
x( x 1)( x 2)

x3 1
= xlim =
2
x ( x 1) 2
0
(ii) The given limit taken the form when x 0. Rationalising the numerator, we get
0

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 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x
lim 1 x 1 x
= xlim
x 0
x 0
x 1 x 1 x

(1 x ) (1 x )
= xlim
0 x

1 x 1 x

2x
= xlim
0 x

1 x 1 x
2 2
= xlim = =1
0
1 x 1 x 2
(iii) We have

lim

(2x 3) x 1
= lim
(2x 3) x 1

x 1 ( 2x 3)( x 1)
2x x 3
x 1 2

( 2x 3) x 1
= xlim
1 ( 2x 3)

x 1 x 1
2x 3
= xlim
1 ( 2x 3)

x 1
=
1
=
1
.in
ps
(5)(2) 10

4. Fundamental Theorems on Limits:

te

Let Limit Limit

x a f (x) = & x a g (x) = m. If & m exists then:
yS

(i) Limit { f (x) g (x) } = m

x a
ud

(ii) Limit { f(x). g(x) } = . m

x a

Limit f ( x) = , provided m 0
St

(iii) x a
g ( x) m

(iv) Limit k f(x) = k Limit f(x) ; where k is a constant.

x a x a

Limit f [g(x)] = f Limit g ( x ) = f (m); provided f is continuous at g (x) = m.
(v) x a x a

Solved Example # 8

Evaluate
(i) lim (x + 2) (ii) lim x(x 1)
x 2 x 2

lim x 4
2
(iii) (iv) lim cos (sin x)
x 2 x 0
x2

lim x 3 x 2 lim x 3 x 2
2 2
(v) x 1
(vi) x 1
x2 1 x2 1
Solution
(i) x + 2 being a polynomial in x, its limit as x 2 is given by xlim
2
(x + 2) = 2 + 2 = 4

Page 4 of 14 www.StudySteps.in
 (ii) Again x(x 1) being a polynomial in x, its limit as x 2 is given by
lim x(x 1) = 2 (2 1) = 2
x 2

lim x 4 = (2) 4 = 2
2 2
(iii) By (II) above, we have x 2
x2 22

(iv) lim cos (sin x) = cos lim sin x = cos 0 = 1

x 0 x 0
(v) Note that for x = 1 both the numerator and the denominator of the given fraction vanish. Therefore
x 2 3x 2 ( x 1)( x 2) x2 1
by (III) above, we have xlim
1
= xlim
1 ( x 1)( x 1)
= xlim
1 x 1
=
x 1
2 2
(vi) Note that for x = 1, the numerator of the given expression is a non-zero constant 6 and the
6
denominator is zero. Therefore, the given limit is of the form . Hence, by (IV) above, we
0

lim x 3 x 2 does not exist

2
conclude that x 1
x2 1

5. Standard Limits:
Limit sinx = 1 = Limit tanx = Limit tan 1x Limit sin 1x
(a) x 0 = x 0

.in
x 0 x 0
x x x x
[ Where x is measured in radians ]
ps
x

(b) Limit (1 + x) 1/x = e ; Limit 1 1 = e

x 0 x
x
te

Limit e 1 = 1; Limit a 1 = log a, a > 0

x x
(c) x 0 x 0 e
x x
yS

Limit n(1 x ) = 1 Limit x a = nan 1.

n n
(d) x 0 (e) x a
x xa
ud

Solved Example # 9
St

sin 2x
Find Limit
x 0
x
Solution.

Limit sin 2x Limit sin 2x . 2 =2

x 0 x 0
x 2x

Solved Example # 10

Limit e 1
3x

x 0
x/2
Solution.

Limit e 1
3x

x 0
x/2

Limit 2 3 e 1
3x

x 0
3x
= 6.

Solved Example # 11

Limit tan x sin x

x 0
x3

Page 5 of 14 www.StudySteps.in
 Solution.

Limit tan x sin x

x 0
x3
tan x(1 cos x )
= Limit
x 0
x3
x
tan x . 2 sin2
= Limit
x 0
2
x3
2
x
sin
tan x 2
= Limit
x 0 . x = 1.
x
2
Solved Example # 12
sin 2x
Compute xlim
0 sin 3 x

Solution
We have
sin 2x 2x 3x
lim sin 2x = xlim . .
x 0sin 3 x 0
2x 3 x sin 3 x

= 2lim
x 0
sin 2x 2
2 x . . 3lim
3 x 0 sin .in
3x
2x
,x0
ps
2 sin 3 x 2 2
=1. + 3lim = 1=
3x
te

3 x 0 3 3

Solved Example # 13
yS

x
2
Evaluate xlim 1

x
ud

Solution
x 2
lim 1 2 = e xlim
x
.x
St

x
= e 2.
x

Solved Example # 14

lim e e lim x(e 1)

x 3 x
Compute (i) x 3
(ii) x 0 1 cos x
x3
Solution

(i) Put y = x 3. So, as x 3, y 0. Thus

e3 y e3
lim e e
x 3

x 3
= ylim
0
x3 y

e3 . e y e3
= ylim
0 y

lim ey 1
3
= e y 0 = e3 . 1 = e3
y
(ii) We have

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 lim x(e 1)
x
x(e x 1)
(ii) x 0 1 cos x
= xlim
0 x
2 sin 2
2

ex 1 x2
. lim x
1 .
= x = 2.
2 x0 sin2
2
Solved Example # 15
x3 8
Evaluate xlim
2
x2 4
Solution
(First Method)
The given expression is of the form

x 3 ( 2) 3 x 3 ( 2) 3 x 2 ( 2) 2
=
x ( 2)
2 2
x2 x2

lim x 8
3
x 3 ( 2) 3 x 2 ( 2) 2
x 2
= xlim
2
xlim
2
x 4
2
x2 x2

x n an
= 3(22) 2(21) (using xlim
a
= nan1 )
xa

(Second Method)
= 12 4 = 3

.in
ps
The numerator and denominator have a common factor (x 2). Cancelling this factor, we obtain
x3 8 x 2 2x 4
=
x 4 x2
te

lim x 8
3
x 2 2x 4
yS

x 2
= xlim
2
x 4
2
x2

(2)2 2(2) 4 12
ud

= = =3
22 4
Note : Since x 2, x 2 is not zero, so the cancellation of the factor x 2 in the above example is
St

carried out.

6. Use of Subsitution in Solving Limit Problems

Sometimes in solving limit problem we convert xlim
a
f(x) by subtituting x = a + h or x = a h as

lim f(a + h) or lim f(a h) according as need of the problem.

h0 h0

Solved Example # 16
1 tan x
lim it
x / 4 1 2 sin x

Solution. Put x= +h
4

x h0
4

1 tan h
4
lim it
h0 1 2 sin
h
4

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 1 tan h
1
1 tan h
= lim it =
h0 1 sin h cos h

2 tan h
1 tan h
= lim
h0
it
h h h
2 sin2 2 sin cos
2 2 2

2 tan h 1
= lim it
h0 h h h (1 tanh)
2 sin 2 2 sin cos
2 2 2

tanh
2
h 1
= lim it
h0
sin
h (1 tanh)
2 sin h cos h
h 2 2
2

2
= = 2.
1

7. Limit When x
1 .in
ps
Since x 0 hence in this type of problem we express most of the part of expression
x
1 1
te

in terms of and apply 0. We can see this approch in the given solve examples.
x x
yS

Solved Example # 17

lim it x sin 1
ud

x
x
Solution.

lim it x sin 1
St

x
x

= lim it sin1/ x
x
1/ x
=1

Solved Example # 18

lim it x2
x 2x 3
Solution.

lim it x2
x 2x 3

lim it 1 2 / x
x 2 3 / x

1
= .
2

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 Solved Example # 19

lim it x 2 4x 5
x
3x 2 x 3 2
Solution.

lim it x 2 4x 5
x
3x 2 x 3 2

1 4 5

x x2 x3
= lim
x
it 3 2
1 3
x x
=0
Solved Example # 20

lim 3x 2 2
x
x2
Solution.

lim 3x 2 2
x
x2
1
Put x = x t 0+

.in
t

1
3 2t 2 .
ps
t2
= xlim
0 1 2t
t
te

3 2t 2 t
yS

= xlim
0
(1 2t ) | t |

3
ud

= = 3.
1

8. Limits Using Expansion

St

x ln a x 2 ln 2 a x 3 ln3 a x x2 x3
(i) ax 1 .........a 0 (ii) e x 1 ......
1! 2! 3! 1! 2! 3!

x2 x3 x 4 x3 x5 x7
(iii) ln (1+x) = x .........for 1 x 1 (iv) sin x x .....
2 3 4 3! 5! 7!

x2 x4 x6 x 3 2x 5
(v) cosx 1 ..... (vi) tan x = x ......
2! 4! 6! 3 15

x3 x5 x7 12 3 12.3 2 5 12.3 2.5 2 7

(vii) tan-1x = x .... (viii) sin-1x = x x x x .....
3 5 7 3! 5! 7!

x 2 5 x 4 61x 6
(ix) sec -1x = 1 ......
2! 4! 6!
n(n 1) n(n 1)(n 2)
(x) for |x| < 1, n R (1 + x) n = 1 + nx + 1. 2 x +
2
1. 2 . 3 x 3 + ............

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 Solved Example # 21

lim ex 1 x
x0
x2
Solution.

lim ex 1 x
x0
x2

2
1 x x ....... 1 x
2!
= xlim
0 2
x

1
=
2
Solved Example # 22

lim tan x sin x

x0
x3
Solution.

lim tan x sin x

x0
x3

3 3

.in
x x ........ x x .......

= xlim
0 3 3!
x3
ps
1 1 1
= + = .
3 6 2
te

Solved Example # 23
yS

lim 7 x )1/ 3 2
x0
x 1
ud

Solution.
Put x 1 + h
St

lim (8 h)1/ 3 2
h0
h
1/ 3
h
2 . 1 2
lim 8
h0
h

1 1 h
2
1
1 h 3 3 8
2 1 . ....... 1
3 8 1. 2

= hlim
0
h

1 1
= hlim
0 2 =
24 12

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 Solved Example # 24

x2
n(1 x ) sin x
lim 2
x0
x tan x sin x

x2
n(1 x ) sin x
lim 2
x0
x tan x sin x

2 3 3 5 2
x x x ..... x x x ..... x
2 3 3! 5! 2

= xlim
0 tan x sin x
x3 . .
x x

1 1 1
= + =
3 6 2

9. Limits of form 1 , 0 0 , 0

.in
0
All these forms can be convered into form in the following ways
0
(i) If x 1, y , then z = (x) y
ps
n z = yn x
nx
te

n z = (1/ y )
yS

1
Since y hence y 0 and x 1 hence nx 0

(ii) If x 0, y 0, then z = x y
ud

n z = yn x
y 0
n z = 1/ ny
St

= form
0
(iii) If x , y 0, then z = x y
n z = yn x
y 0
n z = = form
1/ nx 0

a l s o f o r ( 1 ) type of problems we can use following rules.
(i) lim (1 + x) 1/x = e
x 0

(ii) lim [f(x)]g(x)

x a
where f(x) 1 ; g(x) as x a
1
{ f ( x ) 1} . g( x )

a 1 f ( x ) 1
f ( x ) 1
= xlim
[ f ( x ) 1] g( x )
= e xlim
a

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 Solved Example # 25
4x 2
2
lim 2x 1
x 2x 3
2

Solution.
Since it is in the form of 1
4x 2
2
lim 2x 1
x 2x 2 3

2x 2 1 2x 2 3

= e xlim
(4x + 2)
2
= e8
2 x 2
3

Solved Example # 26
lim
(tan x) tan 2x
x
4
Solution
lim (tan x 1) tan 2 x

x
= e 4

2 tan x
lim (tan x 1)
x
1 tan 2 x

.in
= e 4

tan / 4
2
1(1 tan / 4 )
ps
= e
1
= e1 =
te

Solved Example # 27
yS

x
tan
a 2a
Evaluate xlim
a
2 .
x
ud

Solution.
x
tan
St

lim 2 a
2a
x a
x
put x=a+h
h
tan
lim 1 h 2 2a
h0
( a h)
h
cot
lim 1 h 2a
h0
ah
h h
lim cot . 1 1
h0 2a a h
e
h 2a

lim 2a .
h0 h a h
tan
e 2a = e2/

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 Solved Example # 28
lim x x
x 0
Solution.
y = xlim
0
xx

n y = xlim
0
x n x

1
n 1
= xlim x =0
0 1 x
x
y=1

1 0 . Sandwich Theorem or Squeeze Play Theorem:

If f(x) g(x) h(x) x & Limit Limit Limit
x a f(x) = = x a h(x) then x a g(x) = .

.in
ps
Solved Example # 29
te

[ x ] [2x ] [3 x ] .... [nx ]

Evaluate nlim

n2
yS

Where [ ] denotes the greatest integer function.

Solution.
We know that, x 1 < |x| x
ud

2x 1 < [2x] 2x
3x 1 < [3x] 3x
....................
St

....................
nx 1 < [nx] nx
(x + 2x + 3x + .... + nx) n < [x] + [2x] + ..... +[nx] (x + 2x + .... + nx)

xn(n 1) n
x.n(n 1)

2
n< [r x]
r 1
2

Thus, lim [ x ] [2x ] .... [nx ]

n
n2

x 1 1 1 [ x ] [2x ] .... [nx ] x 1 1

lim < nlim nlim
n 2 n n 2 2 n
n

x [ x ] [2x ] .... [nx ] x

< nlim


2 n2 2

lim [ x ] [2x ] .... [nx ] = x

n
n2 2

Page 13 of 14 www.StudySteps.in
 Aliter
We know that [x] = x {x}
n

r x
r 1
= [x] + [2x] + .... + nx [nx]
= (x + 2x + 3x + ... + nx) ({x} + {2x} + .... + {nx})
xn(n 1)
= ({x} + {2x} + .. + {nx})
2
n

n
1
2
[r x] =
r 1
x 1 1

2 n


{ x } {2x } .... {nx }
n2
n

Since, 0 {rx} < 1, 0 [r x] < n

r 1

lim
[rx]
n
r 1 =0
n2
n n

lim
[rx]
x 1 1
lim
{rx}
n
r 1 = nlim
2 n
r 1
n
n2 n2

.in
n

lim
[rx]
r 1
x
n
=
2
ps
n2
Solved Example # 30
te

lim it x sin 1
x 0 x
yS

Solution.
lim it x sin 1
x 0 x
ud

= 0 (some value in [ 1, 1]) = 0

1 1 . Some Important Notes :

St

lim nx = 0
x
(i) (ii) lim =0
x x x ex
As x , n x increnes much slower than any (+ve) power of x where e x increases much faster than
(+ve) power of x

(iii) Limit (1 h)n = 0 & Limit (1 + h) n where h > 0.

n n

(iv) If Limit Limit

x a f(x) = A > 0 & x a (x) = B (a finite quantity) then;
Limit [f(x)](x) = ez where z = Limit (x). ln[f(x)] = e BlnA = AB
x a x a

Solved Example # 31
1000
lim x
x ex
Solution.
1000
lim x =0
x
ex

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