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Limits of Algebraic Functions

The document discusses limits of algebraic functions including: 1) The Limit Laws for finite limits of sums, differences, products, and quotients of functions. 2) Examples of evaluating limits of polynomials, rational functions, and roots of functions using the Limit Laws. 3) Conditions for when the limit of a root of a function exists, such as the root being even and the limit being positive.

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Michelle Casayuran - Regala
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32 views

Limits of Algebraic Functions

The document discusses limits of algebraic functions including: 1) The Limit Laws for finite limits of sums, differences, products, and quotients of functions. 2) Examples of evaluating limits of polynomials, rational functions, and roots of functions using the Limit Laws. 3) Conditions for when the limit of a root of a function exists, such as the root being even and the limit being positive.

Uploaded by

Michelle Casayuran - Regala
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS

Learning Objectives
1. illustrate the Limit Laws for finite limits
2. apply the Limit Laws in evaluating finite limits of algebraic
functions (polynomial, rational, and radical) as the
independent variable approaches a number
Function Operations, Algebraic Functions
Sum
𝑓 + 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑥 + 𝑔(𝑥)
Difference
𝑓 − 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑔(𝑥)
Product
𝑓𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑥 𝑔(𝑥)
Quotient
𝑓 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥 =
𝑔 𝑔(𝑥)
Composition
𝑓o𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥))
Limit Laws
Suppose lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑀
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

1. lim (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝐿 + 𝑀
𝑥→𝑎
2. lim (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝐿 − 𝑀
𝑥→𝑎
3. lim (𝑓𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝐿𝑀
𝑥→𝑎
𝑓 𝐿
4. lim (𝑥) = ,𝑀 ≠0
𝑥→𝑎 𝑔 𝑀
If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 2, we then have
𝑥→1 𝑥→1

1. lim (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 2 + 2 = 4
𝑥→𝑎
2. lim (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 2 − 2 = 0
𝑥→𝑎
3. lim (𝑓𝑔)(𝑥) = 2 2 = 4
𝑥→𝑎
𝑓 2
4. lim (𝑥) = = 1
𝑥→𝑎 𝑔 2
Limits of the Constant and Identity Functions
Let c be any constant. Then for any 𝑎 ∈ ℝ:
1. lim 𝑐 = 𝑐
𝑥→𝑎
2. lim 𝑥 = 𝑎
𝑥→𝑎

Limit of a Constant Multiple of a Function


Let c be any constant.
If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿, then lim 𝑐𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐𝐿
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
Limits of a Positive Integral Power of a Function
Let n be any positive integer and 𝑎 ∈ ℝ:
If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿, then lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑛 = 𝐿𝑛
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

Limit of a Composite Function


Let f and g be functions such that
lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐿 and lim 𝑓(𝑢) = 𝑀. Then,
𝑥→𝑎 𝑢→𝐿
If lim (𝑓o𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑀
𝑥→𝑎
Evaluate lim (5𝑥 𝑥 2 − 1 2
− 10)
𝑥→2

= 5 ∙ lim 𝑥 ∙ lim 𝑥 2 − 1 2 − lim 10


𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2
2
=5 2 lim 𝑥 2 − lim 1 − 10
𝑥→2 𝑥→2
= 10(22 − 1)2 −10
= 𝟖𝟎
Limit of a Polynomial Function
Let 𝑎 ∈ ℝ. If P(x) is a polynomial function,
If lim 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑃(𝑎)
𝑥→𝑎

Evaluate lim (𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 5)
𝑥→−2
lim (𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 5) = (−2)2 −2 −2 + 5 = 𝟏𝟑
𝑥→−2
Limit of a Rational Function
If R(x) is a rational function and 𝑎 ∈ dom R, then
If lim 𝑅(𝑥) = 𝑅(𝑎)
𝑥→𝑎

𝑥 2 −2𝑥+5
Evaluate lim
𝑥→−2 6𝑥−1
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 5 (−2)2 −2(−2) + 5 13
lim = = = −𝟏
𝑥→−2 6𝑥 − 1 6(−2) − 1 −13
Limit of a Root of a Function
Let 𝑛 ∈ ℕ. If lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿 and either n is even and
𝑥→𝑎
L > 0 or n is odd and L is any real number, then
𝑛 𝑛
If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑎

Evaluate lim 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 5
𝑥→−2

lim 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 5 = lim (𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 5) = 𝟏𝟑
𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2
Limit of a Root of a Function (Improved Version)
Let 𝑛 ∈ ℕ and lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿 , then
𝑥→𝑎
𝑛 𝑛
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑎

if one of the following is satisfied:


1. n is odd;
2. n is even and L > 0; or
3. n is even and f(x) approaches L = 0 through positive values
𝑥 2 −5𝑥+6
Evaluate if lim 2 exists.
𝑥→3 𝑥 −2𝑥−3

𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6 (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 2)
lim 2 = lim
𝑥→3 𝑥 − 2𝑥 − 3 𝑥→3 (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 1)

𝑥−2
= lim
𝑥→3 𝑥 + 1
3−2 𝟏
= =
3+1 𝟒
𝑥 2 −81
Evaluate if lim exists.
𝑥→9 𝑥−3

𝑥 2 − 81 𝑥 + 3 (𝑥 2 −81)( 𝑥 + 3)
= lim ∙ = lim
𝑥→9 𝑥 − 3 𝑥 + 3 𝑥→9 𝑥−9
(𝑥 + 9)(𝑥 − 9)( 𝑥 + 3)
= lim = lim (𝑥 + 9) ( 𝑥 + 3)
𝑥→9 𝑥−9 𝑥→9
= 18 6 = 𝟏𝟎𝟖
Exercises
Evaluate if the indicated limit exists:
1. lim (5𝑥 5 + 4𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 1)3
𝑥→0
𝑥 2 +2𝑥+5
2. lim
𝑥→−1 𝑥+1
𝑥 2 +𝑥−6
3. lim
𝑥→−3 𝑥+3

4. lim 16 − 𝑥 2
𝑥→−4
1 1
−
5. lim 𝑥+1 𝑥−2
𝑥→0 𝑥

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