A Few Examples of Limit Proofs

Prove lim (7x 4) = 10

x2

SCRATCH WORK First, we need to nd a way of relating |x 2| < and |(7x 4) 10| < . We will use algebraic manipulation to get this relationship. Remember that the whole point of this manipulation is to nd a in terms of is true for some x then it forces |(7x 4) 10| < So we will start with the to be true for that x. so that if |x 2| <

term and manipulate it until we nd the delta term in there.

So |(7x 4) 10| < |7x 4 10| < |7x 14| < |7(x 2)| < |7| |x 2| < 7|x 2| < Now 7|x 2| < |x 2| <
7

Now with the above string of equivalences, we can see that if we let = 7 , then we have found a that will fulll the denition because if |x 2| < then |x 2| < So we have that for any
7

7|x 2| < |7x 14| < |7x 4 10| < |(7x 4) 10| <
7

given to us if we let =

and |x 2| < then this will force |(7x 4) 10| <

thus

showing that the denition is fullled. Now lets write the proof.

PROOF Let > 0 be given. Let = 7 .

7

So if 0 < |x 2| < then |x 2| <

x2

7|x 2| < |7x 14| < |7x 4 10| < |(7x 4) 10| <

Therefore we have shown that lim (7x 4) = 10. Done

By proving the limit, all we have really done is show that the denition is fullled.

Lets do a few more. This time I will leave out a lot of the work shown above.

Prove lim ( 2 x + 4) = 0 3
x6

SCRATCH WORK
2 Again we need a way to relate |x 6| < and |( 3 x + 4) 0| <

Lets start with the

term and see if we can manipulate it down to be something related to the term.
3 2

2 |( 2 x + 4) 0| < | 2 x + 4| < | 2 (x 6)| < | 3 | |x 6| < 2 |x 6| < |x 6| < 3 3 3 3

Therefore if we let =

3 2

then if |x 6| < then this forces |x 6| <

3 2

2 |x 6| < 3

2 | 3 | |x 6| <

2 2 2 | 3 (x 6)| < | 3 x + 4| < | 2 x + 4 0| < |( 3 x + 4) 0| < 3

So for our choice of we can show that the denition is fullled. Just a quick note on this one. You will be tempted to let = 3 which doesnt make sense because in the denition 2 both and must be positive and if is positive then if we let = 3 then would be negative - which is very bad. 2

Now, lets do the proof.

PROOF Let > 0 be given. Let =

3 2

.
3 2 2 2 2 |x 6| < | 3 ||x 6| < | 3 (x 6)| < | 2 x + 4| < 3 3

So if 0 < |x 6| < then |x 6| <

2 2 | 3 x + 4 0| < |( 3 x + 4) 0| <

Therefore we have shown that lim ( 2 x + 4) = 0. Done 3

x6

Make sure that you understand every implication () given in the above proof. Make sure you know why one statement leads to the next statement.

Now we will do a proof where we need to restrict .

Prove lim (x2 3x + 1) = 1

x2

SCRATCH WORK So we need a way of relating |x 2| < and |(x2 3x + 1) (1)| < Lets start with the term.

|(x2 3x + 1) (1)| < |x2 3x + 1 + 1| < |x2 3x + 2| < |(x 1)(x 2)| < |x 1||x 2| < Now we run into a slight problem because weve got the term just like before but its not multiplied by a constant,

its multiplied by some function of x. The problem is that we cant just divide by |x 1| to get that |x 2| <

|x1|

because cannot be a function of x, only of . So to x this, we will restrict and by restricting we will actually be restricting x because we are only concerned with when |x 2| < . Lets choose some initial value to use as a restriction for . We will start with the value of 1. So lets start by saying < 1. If < 1 then |x 2| < < 1 |x 2| < 1 1 < x 2 < 1 1 < x < 3. Now with this domain of values for x, what is the largest that |x 1| can be? We get an upper bound of 2 meaning that |x 1| < 2 if x is between 1 and 3. So lets look at where we left o with our term. We had gotten to |x 1||x 2| < . Now with our restriction on

(i.e. < 1) this gives us a restriction on x (i.e. 1 < x < 3) which in turn gives us an upper bound for |x 1| namely |x 1| < 2. Therefore if 2|x 2| < then |x 1||x 2| < because |x 1||x 2| < 2|x 2| < . So if we can get that 2|x 2| < then certainly |x 1||x 2| < . So with 2|x 2| < then |x 2| < Now lets do the proof.
2

which we will set equal to. So we will let = 2 .

PROOF Let > 0 be given. Let = min{ 2 , 1}.

Consider that if 0 < |x 2| < < 1 then 1 < x 2 < 1 1 < x < 3 |x 1| < 2. Now if 0 < |x 2| < |x 2| <
2

2|x 2| < |x 1||x 2| < 2|x 1| < (Make sure you know why this is

true.) |x 1||x 2| < |(x 1)(x 2)| < |x2 3x + 2| < |x2 3x + 1 + 1| < |(x2 3x + 1) (1)| < Therefore we have shown that lim (x2 3x + 1) = 1. Done
x2

A few tips and tricks.

95% of the time, you should start with your form |g(x)| |x c| <

term and algebraically manipulate it until you get something of the

where g(x) is some function of x.

Once you nd the function g(x) from the above hint, restrict (which forces a restriction on x) so that you can get an upper bound for |g(x)|.

Use this upper bound for |g(x)| to nd . So if we algebraically get to |g(x)||xc| < and |g(x)| < B for some number B then if we can make B|x c| < then this will force |g(x)||x c| to be less than because |g(x)||x c| < B|x c| <

Ive included a few more examples of some proofs. I havent put the scratch work in. Make sure that you can do the scratch work to get the proof that I have written down.

Prove lim (2x + 3) = 1

x1

PROOF Let > 0 be given. Let = 2 .

2

So 0 < |x(1)| < |x+1| <

2|x+1| < |2||x+1| < |2(x+1)| < |2x+2| < |(2x+3)1| < .

Therefore we have shown that lim (2x + 3) = 1. Done

x1

Prove lim (3x + 1) = 7

x2

PROOF Let > 0 be given. Let = 3 .

3

So 0 < |x (2)| < |x + 2| < |(3x + 1) 7| < .

3|x + 2| <

| 3||x + 2| <

| 3(x + 2)| <

| 3x 6| <

Therefore we have shown that lim (3x + 1) = 7. Done

x2

Prove lim (x2 3x + 2) = 6

x4

PROOF Let > 0 be given. Let = min{ 6 , 1}.

Consider that if 0 < |x 4| < < 1 then 1 < x 4 < 1 3 < x < 5 |x + 1| < 6. Now 0 < |x 4| < |x 4| <
6

6|x 4| <

|x + 1||x 4| < 6|x 4| <

|x + 1||x 4| <

|(x + 1)(x 4)| < |x2 3x 4| < |x2 3x + 2 6| < |(x2 3x + 2) 6| <

Therefore we have shown that lim (x2 3x + 2) = 6. Done

x4

Prove lim

4x = 4 x2 x 4

PROOF Let > 0 be given. Let = min{ 8 , 1}. 8 < 8. |x 4|

Consider that if 0 < |x 2| < < 1 then 1 < x 2 < 1 1 < x < 3 Now 0 < |x 2| < |x 2| < |8x 16| 8|x 2| < < |x 4| |x 4| 4x (4) < x4
8

8|x 2| <

8x 16 < x4

8 8 |x 2| < 8|x 2| < |x 2| < |x 4| |x 4| 4x + 4x 16 4x + 4(x 4) 4x < < +4 < x4 x4 x4

Therefore we have shown that lim

x2

4x = 4. Done x4