1.

3 Infinite Limits
Consider a function f defined by f ( x ) =
1
. Let us investigate the behavior of some
x−1
of the values of f as x moves closer to 1.

x approaches 1 from the left x approaches 1 from the

right
X 0.8 0.9 0.99 0.999 1.001 1.01 1.1 1.2
f(x) -5 -10 -100 -1000 1000 100 10 5

f(x) decreases without bound f(x) increases without

bound
A limit in which f(x) increases or decreases without bound as x approaches c is
called an infinite limit.

DEFINITION OF INFINITE LIMITS:

Definition 1: Let f be a function defined at every number in some open interval I
containing c, except possibly at the number c itself. We say that f(x) increases without
bound as x approaches c, written
lim f ( x ) = +
x →c
if for every positive number M, there exists a   0 such that f ( x )  M whenever
0 x −c  .
Definition 2: Let f be a function defined at every number in some open interval I
containing c, except possibly at the number c itself. We say that f(x) decreases without
bound as x approaches c, written
lim f ( x ) = −
x →c
if for every negative number N, there exists a   0 such that f ( x )  N whenever
0 x −c  .
Note that lim f ( x ) = + or lim f ( x ) = − does not have the same meaning as
x →c x →c
lim f ( x ) = L , where L is a real number. When lim f ( x ) = + or lim f ( x ) = − , it
x →c x →c x →c
means that lim f ( x ) actually does not exist. The notations lim f ( x ) = + and
x →c x →c
lim f ( x ) = − are just used to indicate that the behavior of the function as x approaches
x →c
to c.
THEOREM: (Properties of Infinite Limits)
Let c and L be real numbers and let f and g be functions such that lim f ( x ) = +
x →c
and lim g( x ) = L .
x →c
1. Sum or Difference: lim  f ( x )  g ( x ) = +
x →c
2. Product: lim  f ( x )  g ( x ) = + , L>0
x →c
lim  f ( x )  g ( x ) = − , L<0
x →c
 g( x ) 
3. Quotient: lim  =0
x →c f (x) 
Note: Similar properties hold for one-sided limits and for functions for which
lim f ( x ) = − .
x →c

Definition: (VERTICAL ASYMPTOTE)

If f(x) approaches infinity (or negative infinity) as x approaches c from the right or
the left, then the line x = c is a vertical asymptote of the graph of f.

Example 1. Find the limit (if it exists).

4
1. lim +
x → 1 (t − 1)3
 4 x2 + 1 
2. lim   
x → 0 +  x 2 x 2 − 1 
−2 5− x
3. lim
x →0 x3
−

Example 2. Find the vertical asymptotes (if any) of the graph of the function.
x−2
1. f ( x ) = 2. g( x ) =
1
x2 x2 − x − 2
Try this!
I. Find the limit (if it exists).
1. − 5x  1 2 
lim
x →1 − 1 −x x2 − 4 lim  − 
3. x → −3  x + 3 x − 3 
2. lim −

x→2+ x−2

II. Find the vertical asymptotes (if any) of the graph of the function.
2t − 3
1. h(t ) = 2. T ( x ) =
x
t 2 − 25 x2 + 1