CHAPTER 10

Limit Formulas

10.1 Definition of Limit

LIMIT OF A FUNCTION (INFORMAL DEFINITION)

The notation
lim fx D L
x!c

is read ‘‘the limit of f(x) as x approaches c is L’’ and means

that the functional values f(x) can be made arbitrarily close
to L by choosing x sufficiently close to c.

LIMIT OF A FUNCTION (FORMAL DEFINITION)

The limit statement

lim fx D L
x!c

means that for each  > 0, there corresponds a number

υ > 0 with the property that

jfx  Lj <  whenever 0 < jx  cj < υ

A FUNCTION DIVERGES TO INFINITY (INFORMAL

DEFINITION)

A function f that increases or decreases without bound as

x approaches c is said to diverge to infinity 1 at c. We
indicate this behavior by writing
(continued)

184
 Chapter 10 185

lim fx D C1
x!c

if x increases without bound and by

lim fx D 1
x!c

if x decreases without bound.

INFINITE LIMIT (FORMAL DEFINITION)

We write limx!c fx D C1 if, for any number N > 0

(no matter how large), it is possible to find a number υ > 0
such that fx > N whenever 0 < jx  cj < υ.

LIMITS INVOLVING INFINITY

The limit statement limx!C1 fx D L means that for any

number  > 0, there exists a number N1 such that

jfx  Lj <  whenever x > N1

for x in the domain of f. Similarly limx!1 fx D M

means that for any  > 0, there exists a number N2 such
that
jfx  Mj <  whenever x < N2

LIMIT OF A FUNCTION OF TWO VARIABLES (INFORMAL

DEFINITION)

The notation

lim fx, y D L
x,y!x0 ,y0 

continued
186 Chapter 10

means that the functional values f(x, y) can be made

arbitrarily close to L by choosing the point (x, y) close to
the point x0 , y0 .

LIMIT OF A FUNCTION OF TWO VARIABLES (FORMAL

DEFINITION)

Suppose the point P0 x0 , y0  has the property that every

disk centered at P0 contains at least one point in the domain
of f other than P0 itself. Then the number L is the limit of f
at P if, for every  > 0, there exists a υ > 0 such that


jfx, y  Lj <  whenever 0 < x  x0 2 C y  y0 2 < υ

In this case, we write

lim fx, y D L
x,y!x0 ,y0 

10.2 Rules of Limits

BASIC RULES
For any real numbers a and c, suppose the functions f and g both
have limits at x D c. Suppose also that both limx!C1 fx and
limx!1 fx exist.

Limit of a lim k D k for any constant k

x!c
constant
Limit of x lim x D c
x!c
Scalar rule lim [afx] D a lim fx
x!c x!c
Sum rule lim [fx C gx] D
x!c
lim fx C lim gx
x!c x!c
Difference rule lim [fx  gx] D
x!c
lim fx  lim gx
x!c x!c
Linearity rule limx!C1 [afx C bgx] D
a limx!C1 fx C b limx!C1 gx
 Chapter 10 187

Product rules lim [fxgx] D [lim fx][lim gx]

x!c x!c x!c
limx!C1 [fxgx] D
[limx!C1 fx] [limx!C1 gx]
fx lim fx
Quotient rules lim D x!c if lim gx 6D 0
x!c gx lim gx x!c
x!c
fx
limx!C1 D
gx
limx!C1 fx
if limx!C1 gx 6D 0
limx!C1 gx n
Power rules lim [fx]n D lim fx n is a
x!c x!c
rational number
limx!C1 [fx]n D [limx!C1 fx]n
Limit limitation Suppose lim fx exists and fx ½ 0
x!c
theorem throughout an open interval
containing the number c, except
possibly at c itself. Then
lim fx ½ 0.
x!c
The squeeze rule If gx fx hx for all x in an
open interval containing c (except
possibly at c itself) and if
lim gx D lim hx D L
x!c x!c
then lim fx D L.
x!c
A A
Limits to infinity limx!C1 n D 0 and limx!1 n D 0
x x
Infinite-limit If lim fx D C1 and lim gx D
x!c x!c
theorem A, then
fx
lim [fxgx] D C1 and lim D
x!c x!c gx
C1 if A > 0
fx
lim [fxgx] D 1 and lim D
x!c x!c gx
1 if A < 0
l’HOopital’s rule Let f and g be differentiable functions
on an open interval containing c
(except possibly at c itself).
fx
If lim produces an indeterminate
x!c gx
0 1
form or , then
0 1
188 Chapter 10

fx f0 x
lim D lim 0
x!c gx x!c g x
provided that the limit on the right side
exists.

TRIGONOMETRIC LIMITS
lim cos x D cos c lim sec x D sec c
x!c x!c
lim sin x D sin c lim csc x D csc c
x!c x!c
lim tan x D tan c lim cot x D cot c
x!c x!c

sin x sin ax tan x 1  cos x

lim D 1 lim D a lim D 1 lim D0
x!0 x x!0 x x!0 x x!0 x

MISCELLANEOUS LIMITS
 
1 n
lim 1 C De lim 1 C n1/n D e
n!C1
 n n!0
 
k n 1 nt
lim 1 C D ek lim p 1 C D pet
n!C1 n n!C1 n
lim n1/n D 1
n!C1

10.3 Limits of a Function of Two Variables

BASIC FORMULAS AND RULES FOR LIMITS OF A
FUNCTION OF TWO VARIABLES
Suppose lim fx, y and lim gx, y both exist, with
x,y!x0 ,y0  x,y!x0 ,y0 
lim fx, y D L and lim gx, y D M.
x,y!x0 ,y0  x,y!x0 ,y0 
Then the following rules obtain:

Scalar rule lim [afx, y]

x,y!x0 ,y0 

Da lim fx, y D aL
x,y!x0 ,y0 

Sum rule lim [f C g]x, y

x,y!x0 ,y0 
   
D lim fx, y C lim gx, y
x,y!x0 ,y0  x,y!x0 ,y0 

DLCM
 Chapter 10 189

Product rule lim [fg]x, y

x,y!x0 ,y0 
  
D lim fx, y lim gx, y
x,y!x0 ,y0  x,y!x0 ,y0 

D LM
  lim fx, y
f x,y!x0 ,y0  L
Quotient rule lim x, y D D
x,y!x0 ,y0  g lim gx, y M
x,y!x0 ,y0 

if M 6D 0

Substitution rule
If f(x, y) is a polynomial or a rational function, limits may be found
by substituting for x and y (excluding values that cause division by
zero).