Evaluating Limits by Substitution

  • By now, we have evaluated limits via tables, graphs, or using limit laws.
  • However, with polynomial, rational, or radical functions, we can use some simple insight that might allow us to easily evaluate limits.
  • Consider the following limit.
  • What this question really asks is that “what would this function equal to if we try to get close and closer to ?
    • Well, if we try to get really close, it would be the same as if we evaluated the function exactly at the point itself.