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Limits Algebraically

Objective
 To evaluate limits using algebra.

TS: Explicitly assess information and draw


conclusions.
Video Clip from
Calculus-Help.com
How do you find a limit?
How do you find (evaluate) a limit?
 Key Point: Evaluate means you should give a
numerical answer.

 Techniques for Evaluating Limits


1) Substitution
2) Factoring
3) Conjugate Method
4) Table of Values
5) Graphing
When will direct substitution not work?

 Substitution will not work if it produces


zero in the denominator of a fraction.

 In this case, try factoring or the conjugate


method.
What is a conjugate?
 The first terms are the same and the
second terms are opposites.

expression: x 4
its conjugate: x 4
Direct Substitution
lim x  2 x  3  (2)  2(2)  3
2 2
x 2
 4 43
5
Factoring
x 1
3
( x  1)( x  x  1)
2
lim
x 1 x  1
 lim
x1 x 1
 lim x 2  x  1
x1

 (1)  (1)  1
2

3
Re member :
a3  b3   a  b   a 2  ab  b 2 
a3  b3   a  b   a 2  ab  b 2 
Factoring
x  x6
2
( x  3)( x  2)
lim  lim
x3 x3 x3 x3
 lim x  2
x3

 (3)  2
 5
Conjugate Method
7 x  7 7 x  7
lim  
x 0 x 7 x  7
70  7 0 7 x7
  lim
0 0 x0

x 7 x  7 
x
 lim
x0
x  7 x  7 
1 1 1
 lim 
x0 7 x  7 7 7 2 7
Limits Algebraically
( x  x)  3( x  x)  2  ( x  3 x  2)
2 2
lim 
x0 x
x  2 xx  (x)  3 x  3x  2  x  3 x  2
2 2 2
lim 
x0 x
2 xx  (x) 2  3x
lim 
x0 x
x(2 x  x  3)
lim 
x0 x
This
means Δx
lim 2 x  x  3  2 x  0  3
x0
NOT x is
going to 0 2x  3
Important Ideas About Limits
1) If a function approaches the same value
from both the left and right sides, then
that value is the limit of the function at
that point.

If a function approaches different values,


then the limit does not exist (DNE).
Important Ideas About Limits
2) The value of a function at a specific x has
no bearing on the existence or
nonexistence of the limit of the function.
Important Ideas About Limits
3) Rather than saying that a limit equals
infinity we should say that the limit does
not exist (DNE), because a limit should
be a real number.

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