Q.limx→0cx+1ax+b
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Limit Of Polynomial
What Happens to a Polynomial as x Approaches a Number?
A limit answers a simple question about a polynomial: as x gets closer and closer to some number a, what value does the polynomial settle near?
The Intuition
Take P(x)=3x2−2x+1. What happens as x gets really close to 2?
- At x=2, the polynomial gives 3(4)−4+1=9.
- At x=1.9, it gives about 8.63.
- At x=2.1, it gives about 9.43.
The closer x gets to 2, the closer P(x) gets to 9. There is no drama — the polynomial just slides smoothly to that value.
For any polynomial, limx→aP(x)=P(a). You can simply substitute the number.
The Precise Statement
Limit of a Polynomial at a Point
limx→aP(x)=P(a)
where P(x)=cnxn+cn−1xn−1+⋯+c1x+c0 is any polynomial.
Why this works. Using the algebra of limits, the limit of a sum is the sum of the limits, and the limit of a constant multiple is the constant times the limit. Since limx→ax=a and limx→ac=c, each term ckxk tends to ckak. Adding the terms back together gives exactly P(a).
A Concrete Example
Find limx→3(2x3−5x+4).
Step 1: Recognise it is a polynomial.
Step 2: Substitute x=3:
2(27)−5(3)+4=54−15+4=43
For polynomials, direct substitution is the only tool you need — no factoring, no rationalising. Just plug in and compute.
The One Trap: "But What If I Can't Plug In?" …
Idea: the denominator is non-zero at x=0, so we can substitute directly.
At x=0, cx+1=c(0)+1=1=0, so the function is continuous there. Substituting: …
The denominator cx+1 does not vanish at x=0 (it equals 1), so there is no indeterminate form — direct substitution gives the limit b.
Why direct substitution works here
A rational function Q(x)P(x) is continuous at every point where its denominator is non-zero. When the denominator does not vanish at the target point, we may simply substitute the value.
Step 1 — Check the denominator at x=0.
cx+1x=0=c(0)+1=1=0. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 49 on this concept.
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04184 marksMCQQ.The value of x→0lim3x36sin(x)−2sin(3x) is equal to (A) 3−8 (B) 38 (C) 9−8 (D) 98 (E) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
The numerator is a 0/0 form; expand each sine to third order — the x-terms cancel, leaving 8x3, and dividing by 3x3 gives 38.
Concept. Both numerator and denominator vanish as x→0, so we need the leading non-zero power. The cubic Maclaurin expansion sinu=u−6u3+O(u5) makes the cancellation explicit.
Step 1 — expand 6sinx.
6sinx=6(x−6x3+⋯)=6x−x3+⋯.
Step 2 — expand 2sin3x.
sin3x=3x−6(3x)3+⋯=3x−627x3+⋯=3x−29x3+⋯,
2sin3x=6x−9x3+⋯.
Step 3 — subtract. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04184 marksMCQQ.If limx→3x2−6x+9(2x−k)tan(x−3)=2, then the value of 'k' is equal to (A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 6 (E) 8
›Reveal solutionSolution
For the limit to be finite the numerator must vanish at x=3, forcing k=6; then the limit is 2.
Since x2−6x+9=(x−3)2 and tan(x−3)∼(x−3) as x→3:
(x−3)2(2x−k)tan(x−3)∼(x−3)2(2x−k)(x−3)=x−32x−k. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04194 marksMCQQ.The value of limx→01−cosxsin2x is equal to (A) 4 (B) 2 (C) 21 (D) 41 (E) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use sin2x=1−cos2x=(1−cosx)(1+cosx), cancel, giving limit 2.
Simplify.
1−cosxsin2x=1−cosx(1−cosx)(1+cosx)=1+cosx. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04194 marksMCQQ.The value of limx→13x−1x−1 is equal to (A) 3 (B) 31 (C) 2 (D) 21 (E) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
The denominator does not vanish at x=1 (it equals 2), so the limit is found by direct substitution: 0/2=0.
Concept. A limit is indeterminate only when both numerator and denominator approach 0 (or both ∞). If the denominator has a non-zero limit, the quotient limit is obtained by plugging in directly.
Step 1 — evaluate numerator and denominator at x=1.
Numerator: x−1 x→1 1−1=0.
Denominator: 3x−1 x→1 31−1=3−1=2. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04194 marksMCQQ.The value of limx→01−cosx1−cos(x2) is equal to (A) 21 (B) 2 (C) 221 (D) 22 (E) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Small-angle: 1−cosu≈u2/2. Numerator ∼x2/2, denominator ∼x2/2, ratio =2.
Numerator. 1−cos(x2)≈2(x2)2=2x4, so 1−cos(x2)≈2x2.
Denominator. 1−cosx≈2x2.
Limit. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04204 marksMCQQ.The value of limx→2π−(tanx−secx) is equal to (A) 21 (B) 41 (C) 0 (D) 2 (E) 1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Combine to cosxsinx−1 and apply L'Hôpital at x→2π−.
tanx−secx=cosxsinx−1, which is 00 as x→2π. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04214 marksMCQQ.The value of limx→5(4−x2−925−x2) is (A) 32 (B) 16 (C) 8 (D) 4 (E) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rationalizing the denominator cancels 25−x2, leaving 4+x2−9→8.
Multiply by the conjugate 4+x2−9: …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04214 marksMCQQ.The value of limx→0∣x∣1−cos2x is equal to (A) −2 (B) −2 (C) 2 (D) 1 (E) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using 1−cos2x=2sin2x, the expression becomes 2∣x∣∣sinx∣→2.
Since 1−cos2x=2sin2x:
∣x∣1−cos2x=∣x∣2sin2x=2∣x∣∣sinx∣. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04214 marksMCQQ.The positive integer n, such that limx→3x−3xn−3n=108 (A) 3 (B) 12 (C) 6 (D) 9 (E) 4
›Reveal solutionSolution
Apply the standard result limx→ax−axn−an=nan−1; solve n⋅3n−1=108 to get n=4.
The limit limx→3x−3xn−3n is exactly the derivative of xn at x=3, which equals nxn−1x=3=n⋅3n−1. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04214 marksMCQQ.Let limx→af(x)g(x)=16 and limx→ag(x)f(x)=4. If both limx→af(x) and limx→ag(x) exists, then limx→a[f(x)+g(x)]= (A) ±10 (B) −16 (C) ±2 (D) 16 (E) ±4
›Reveal solutionSolution
Multiply and divide the two given limits to isolate f and g: f=±8, g=±2 (same sign), so f+g=±10.
Let F=limf(x), G=limg(x). Given FG=16 and F/G=4.
Multiplying: F2=(FG)(F/G)=16⋅4=64⇒F=±8.
Dividing: G2=(FG)/(F/G)=16/4=4⇒G=±2. …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04234 marksMCQQ.x→0lim2−1+cosxx2 is equal to (A) 42 (B) 4 (C) 22 (D) 2 (E) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
The limit is 42.
Concept and Intuition
Rationalize the denominator, then use 1−cosx∼x2/2 as x→0.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Multiply by 2+1+cosx2+1+cosx: denominator becomes 2−(1+cosx)=1−cosx.
- Expression =1−cosxx2(2+1+cosx); as x→0, numerator factor →22 and 1−cosx∼x2/2. …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04234 marksMCQQ.x→0limxcos2x+3−cos2x+sinx+3= (A) 41 (B) 4−1 (C) 21 (D) 2−1 (E) −1
›Reveal solutionSolution
The limit is −41.
Concept and Intuition
Rationalize the numerator; the difference of the radicands is −sinx, and sinx/x→1.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Multiply by the conjugate: numerator →(cos2x+3)−(cos2x+sinx+3)=−sinx.
- Expression =x(cos2x+3+cos2x+sinx+3)−sinx.
- As x→0: x−sinx→−1 and denominator →4+4=4, so limit =−41.
Common Mistakes …
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