31

Find lim and lim

→ →
32

Example 15: Evaluate the following infinite limits

𝑥+2
lim+
𝑥→−3 𝑥+3

𝑥+2
lim
𝑥→−3 𝑥 + 3

𝑥−1
lim
𝑥→0 𝑥2 (𝑥 + 2)

𝑥2 + 1
lim
𝑥→0 3𝑥 − 2𝑥2
33

Limits at infinity or Horizontal Asymptotes

A horizontal asymptote is the limit of a rational function as x approaches ∞ or -∞

Horizontal asymptotes occur when the degree of the numerator is less than or equal to the degree of
the denominator
𝑃(𝑥)
𝑓(𝑥) = {𝑋𝐸𝑅|𝑄(𝑥) ≠ 0}
𝑄(𝑥)

Example 16: Evaluate the following limits

2𝑥 + 6𝑥 − 1
lim
→ 𝑥 +𝑥+7

𝑥 +𝑥 +𝑥+1
lim
→ 𝑥 +𝑥+1
34

Example 17: Find the horizontal asymptotes of the following functions, if any
3𝑥 − 4
𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥

3𝑥 − 𝑥 − 2
𝑓(𝑥) =
5𝑥 + 4𝑥 + 1

√2𝑥 + 1
𝑓(𝑥) =
3𝑥 − 5
35

3𝑥 + 1
𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥 + √4𝑥 + 5
36

More Limits
Example 18: Evaluate Each Limit
√𝑥 − 2
lim
𝑥→4 𝑥−4

√2𝑥 + 22 − 4
lim
𝑥→−3 𝑥+3

√1 + ℎ − √1 − ℎ
lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

𝑥+1
lim
𝑥→−1 |𝑥 + 1|
37

√𝑥 − 4 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 > 4
lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑖𝑓 𝑓(𝑥) =
→ 8 − 2𝑥 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < 4

200
lim
𝑥→∞ 1 + 25𝑒−0.04𝑥

200
lim
𝑥→−∞ 1 + 25𝑒−0.04𝑥
38

𝑆𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑒𝑧𝑒 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚

If 𝑓(𝑥) ≤ 𝑔(𝑥) ≤ ℎ(𝑥) when x is near a (except possibly at a) and lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≤ lim ℎ(𝑥) = 𝐿
→ →

Then lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐿

→

Example 19: Show that lim 𝑥 sin = 0

→
39

Example 20: Prove the following using squeeze theorem

cos 𝑥
lim =0
→ 𝑥−1

5
lim 𝑥 sin + 1 = 1
→ 𝑥

Example 21: Find lim 𝑓(𝑥) using squeeze theorem

→
5 ≤ 𝑓(𝑥) ≤ 𝑥 + 6𝑥 − 2
40

Example 22: Evaluate the following limits

2 − cos 𝑥
lim
→ 𝑥+3

cos 2𝑥
lim
→ 3 − 2𝑥

𝑥 (sin 𝑥 + cos 𝑥)
lim
→ (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 3)
41

( )
Example 23: Find lim 𝑓(𝑥) if ≤ ≤
→
42

The Precise Definition of a Limit

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿
→

If for every number 𝜀 > 0 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝛿 > 0 𝑠𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑓 0 < |𝑥 − 𝑎| < 𝛿 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 |𝑓(𝑥) − 𝐿| < 𝜀

2𝑥 − 1, 𝑥 ≠ 3
Prove 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑓(𝑥) = 5 if 𝑓(𝑥) =
→ 6, 𝑥 = 3
43

Example 24: Prove each limit using the precise definition of a limit
2 + 4𝑥
lim =2
𝑥→1 3

lim √𝑥 = 0
𝑥→0+

lim(𝑥2 − 4𝑥 + 5) = 1
𝑥→2

lim(8 − 3𝑥) = 2
𝑥→2