# Definition of Limits

The concept of a limit is essential to differential calculus. We will see that calculating limits is necessary for finding the gradient of a tangent to a curve at any point on the curve.
Consider the following table of values for $f(x)=x^2$ where $x$ is less than $3$ but increasing and getting closer and closer to $3$. \begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|} \hline x & 2 & 2.9 & 2.99 & 2.999 & 2.9999 \\ \hline f(x)=x^2 & 4 & 8.41 & 8.9401 & 8.99401 & 8.9994001 \\ \hline \end{array} We say that as $x$ approaches $3$ from the left , $f(x)$ approaches $9$ from below. \begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|} \hline x & 4 & 3.1 & 3.01 & 3.001 & 3.0001 \\ \hline f(x)=x^2 & 16 & 9.61 & 9.0601 & 9.006001 & 9.00060001 \\ \hline \end{array} In this case we say that as $x$ approaches $3$ from right, $f(x)$ approaches $9$ from above.
In summary, we can now say that as $x$ approaches $3$ from either direction, $f(x)$ approaches a limit of $9$, and write $$\lim_{x \rightarrow 3} x^2 = 9$$

## Definition of a Limit

If $f(x)$ can be made as close as we like to some real number $A$ by making $x$ sufficiently close to, but not equal to $a$, then we say that $f(x)$ has a limit of $A$ as $x$ approaches $a$, and we write $$\lim_{x \rightarrow a} f(x) = A$$ In this case, $f(x)$ is said to converge to $A$ as $x$ approaches $a$.

It is important to note that in defining the limit of $f$ as $x$ approaches $a$, $x$ does not reach $a$. The limit is defined for $x$ close to but not equal to $a$. Whether the function $f$ is defined or not at $x=a$ is not important to the limit of $f$ as $x$ approaches $a$. What is important is the behaviour of the function as $x$ gets very close to $a$.
For example, if $f(x)=\dfrac{x^2+x-2}{x-1}$ and we wish to find the limit as $x \rightarrow 0$, it is tempting for us to simply substitute $x=1$ into $f(x)$.
Not only do we get the meaningless value $\dfrac{0}{0}$, but also we destroy the basic limit method.
Observe that if $f(x)=\dfrac{x^2+x-2}{x-1} = \dfrac{(x-1)(x+2)}{x-1}$
then \begin{align} f(x)= \begin{cases} x+2 & \text{if } x \ne 1 \\ \text{undefined} & \text{if } x = 1 \\ \end{cases} \end{align} The graph of $y=f(x)$ is the straight line $y=x+2$ with the point $(1,3)$ missing, called a point of discontinuity of the function.
However, even though this point is missing, the limit of $f(x)$ as $x$ approaches $1$ does not exist. In particular, as $x\rightarrow 1$ from either direction, $y=f(x) \rightarrow 3$.
We write $\displaystyle \lim_{x \rightarrow 1} \dfrac{x^2+x-2}{x-1} = 3$ which reads:
the limit as $x$ approaches $1$, of $f(x)=\dfrac{x^2+x-2}{x-1}$, is $3$
Practically, we do not need to sketch the graph of the functions each time to determine limits, and most can be found algebraically.

### Example 1

Evaluate $\displaystyle \lim_{x \rightarrow 4} x^2$.

### Example 2

Evaluate $\displaystyle \lim_{x \rightarrow 0} \dfrac{x^2+4x}{x}$.

### Example 3

Evaluate $\displaystyle \lim_{x \rightarrow 4} \dfrac{x^2-16}{x-4}$.