How To Solve Limit Problems

How To Solve Limit Problems

In my previous post on limits, We have discussed some basic as well as advanced concepts of limits. Here we shall discuss different methods to solve limit questions. Based on the type of function, we can divide all our work into sections-:

Algebraic Limits- Problems of limits that involve algebraic functions are called algebraic limits. They can be further divided into following sections:-

Direct Substitution Method –Suppose we have to find.  we can directly substitute the value of the limit of the variable (i.e replace x=a) in the expression.

► If f(a) is finite then L=f(a)

► If f(a) is undefined then L doesn’t exist

► If f(a) is indeterminate  then this method fails

Example-1:- Find value of  (x²-5x+6)

Ans:   (x²-5x+6)

=2²-5.2+6

=4-10+6

=0

Factorization Method – Suppose we need to find      where P(x) and Q(x) are polynomials, then we factorise both P(x) and Q(x) in their lowest form. Then we simplify the given expression as much as possible. After all this, we put the limit. We try to ensure that we don’t get zero in the denominator.

we can use these tricks-

►

where n can be even or odd positive integer

►

where n is an odd positive integer.This formula is not applicable when n is even

Sometimes, we can directly use  below formula to evaluate the limit

If the degree of the numerator is more than or equal to the degree of the denominator, then we should divide.

Example-2:- Evaluate

Ans:-

= 10

Rationalisation Method:- If we ever get 0/0 form in the problems involving square roots, then there must be a common factor in both numerator and denominator which must be cancelled out to get a meaningful form. To cancel this common factor, we rationalise the denominator or numerator or both.

Example-3:-Evaluate

Ans-

Rationalising the denominator and the numerator both

=

=

=

=  3.

= 3.

Solving of not-defined type problems- If we are given a problem with    we first of all note the highest st power of x in the whole question. After this we divide both numerator and denominator by that power. This will convert both numerator and denominator into 1/x form. After this, we can use following formula

we can use the below result to solve most problems of this category

► If m=n then our answer is

► If m<n then our answer is  0

► If m>n then our answer is  not defined

Limits Based On Logarithmic and Exponential Functions:- There are several short cut tricks that we can use to solve these types of problems. A few of them are as follows-

1.

2.

3.

4.

5. If  and     then

6.

7.

8.

Example-3:- Evaluate

Ans:-

=

=              (by rule viii)

=

=1

Limits Based on Series:-

(i)  ex =1+x/1!+x3/3!+x4/4!……

(ii)  ax=1+(xloga)/1!+ (xloga)2/2!+ (xloga)3/3!+ (xloga)4/4!+……….where a > 0

(iii)   ln(1-x)=x-x2/2+x3/3-x4/4……….    where -1 < x  1

(iv)  ln(1-x)=-x-x2/2-x3/3-x4/4……….     where  -1 x < 1

(v )

(vi)

(v)

(vi)

(vii

(viii)

Examples:-   Find Value of

Ans:-

=

=

=

=

=

Limits Based on Trigonometric Functions:-

The above concept is used to solve limit problems involving trigonometric functions. We also use substitution, factorization, rationalisation and other algebraic methods to evaluate these types of problems.

Example:-

Example 4: Evaluate.

Ans:-       Because sec x = 1/cos x, you find that

L’ Hospital Rule:- L’Hôpital’s rule or L’Hospital’s rule (French: [lopital] was first introduced by  French mathematician Guillaume de l’Hôpital in his 1696 treatise, tthis is supposed to be the first book on Differential calculus.But the rule was originally discovered in 1694 by  Johann Bernoulli who was a Swiss Mathematician.

If f(x) and g(x) be two functions in such a way that

(i)   or

(ii) both are continuous at x=a

(iii) both are differentiable at x=a

(iv) f'(x) and g'(x) are both continuous at x=a then

If the result is still in 0/0 or in  form we can again differentiate and write like this