Limit (mathematics) facts for kids

This is an overview of the idea of a limit in mathematics. For specific uses of a limit, see limit of a sequence and limit of a function.

In mathematics, a limit is a guess of the value of a function or sequence based on the points around it. Limits are used to define many topics in calculus, like continuity, derivatives, and integrals.

Limit are written like this:

$\lim_{x \to c}f(x)=L$

and read as "the limit of f of x, as x approaches c". Limit is shortened to lim.

Other pages

• Limit of a sequence
  • Rate of convergence: the rate at which a convergent sequence approaches its limit
• Cauchy sequence
  • complete metric space
• Limit of a function
  • One-sided limit: a real variable x has two limits, as x approaches a point from above or below. This refers to one of those limits.
  • List of limits: list of limits for common functions
  • Squeeze theorem: finds a limit of a function by comparing it with that of two other functions.
• Banach limit defined on the Banach space that extends the usual limits.
• Limit in category theory
  • Direct limit
  • Inverse limit
• Asymptotic analysis: a method of describing limiting behavior
  • Big O notation: used to describe the limiting behavior of a function when the argument tends towards a particular value or infinity
• Convergent matrix