The limit operator is denoted using the abbreviation “”, where underneath is a variable that approaches a threshold and to the right is the expression we are interested in taking the limit of. Typically, limit notation is used in an expression like this:
In plain language, this means take the limit of the expression as the variable approaches the threshold value . To try and compute the result of a limit see this page.
The plus and minus symbols are used to indicate that the threshold value is approached from only one side. A superscript plus sign after the threshold value means that the limit is evaluated as the threshold is approached from a greater value or, on a graph, from the right.
A superscript negative sign after the threshold value means that the limit is evaluated as the threshold is approached from a smaller value, or on a graph, from the left.