Evaluating Limits

Analytically
Infinite Limits and Limits at Infinity
 Infinite Limits
Definition of Infinite Limits
 Infinite Limits
Theorems −∞, 𝐿 > 0
lim 𝑓 𝑥 𝑔 𝑥 =ቊ
• If 𝑛 is any positive integer, then 𝑥→𝑐 +∞, 𝐿 < 0
1 𝑓 𝑥
o lim+ 𝑛 = +∞ ➢lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 0, thenlim = +∞ if
𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑔 𝑥
1 +∞, 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝐿 > 0 and 𝑔 𝑥 > 0 as 𝑥 → 𝑐
o lim− 𝑛 =ቊ 𝑓 𝑥
𝑥→0 𝑥 −∞, 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑑𝑑 ➢lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 0, thenlim = −∞ if
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑔 𝑥
• If lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿, 𝐿 is any constant, and 𝐿 > 0 and 𝑔 𝑥 < 0 as 𝑥 → 𝑐
𝑥→𝑐 𝑓 𝑥
lim 𝑔 𝑥 = ±∞, then lim 𝑓 𝑥 + 𝑔 𝑥 = ➢lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 0, thenlim = −∞ if
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑔 𝑥
±∞ 𝐿 < 0 and 𝑔 𝑥 > 0 as 𝑥 → 𝑐
𝑓 𝑥
• If lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿, 𝐿 is any constant, and ➢lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 0, thenlim = +∞ if
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑔 𝑥
➢lim 𝑔 𝑥 = +∞, then 𝐿 < 0 and 𝑔 𝑥 < 0 as 𝑥 → 𝑐
𝑥→𝑐
+∞, 𝐿 > 0
lim 𝑓 𝑥 𝑔 𝑥 = ቊ
𝑥→𝑐 −∞, 𝐿 < 0
➢lim 𝑔 𝑥 = −∞, then
𝑥→𝑐
 Infinite Limits
Evaluate the following limits:
1
1. lim+ 3 + 𝑥2
𝑥→0
𝑥+1
2. lim−
𝑥→1 𝑥−1 2
2−𝑥
3. lim+ 8
𝑥→0 𝑥
5
4. lim− 2
𝑥→0 𝑥
2
5. lim+
𝑥→0 −2𝑥 2
−2
6. lim−
𝑥→0 −2𝑥 2
𝑥−2
7. lim+
𝑥→1 𝑥−1 2
 Vertical Asymptotes
Definition: Vertical Asymptotes 1. 𝑓 𝑥 =
3
𝑥−3
• The line 𝑥 = 𝑎 is a vertical 𝑥 2 −3𝑥
asymptote of the graph of the 2. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥−1
function 𝑓 if at least one of the 3. 𝑓 𝑥 =
1

ff. statements is true: 2 𝑥+1

𝑥 2 +1
✓ lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞ 4. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 −1
𝑥→𝑐 −1
✓ lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = −∞ 5. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥−1
𝑥→𝑐
✓ lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞
𝑥→𝑐
✓ lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = −∞
𝑥→𝑐

Find the vertical asymptotes of

the graphs of the following
functions:
 Limits at Infinity
Definition: Limits at Infinity Find each limit, if it exists
2
1. lim 5 − 𝑥2
𝑥→∞
2𝑥−1
2. lim
𝑥→∞ 𝑥+1
3𝑥 2
3. lim 2
𝑥→∞ 𝑥 +1
Theorem: Limits at Infinity 2𝑥+5
4. lim 2
𝑥→∞ 3𝑥 +1
3𝑥−2
5. lim
𝑥→∞ 2𝑥 2 +1
 Infinite Limits at Infinity
• If the values of 𝑓 𝑥 increase polynomial matches the end
without bound as 𝑥 → +∞ or as behavior of its highest degree
𝑥 → −∞, then lim 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞ or term. More precisely, if 𝐶𝑛 ≠ 0,
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞
𝑥→+∞ then
𝑥→−∞ ➢ lim 𝐶0 + 𝐶1 𝑥 + ⋯ + 𝐶𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 =
• If the values of 𝑓 𝑥 decrease 𝑥→+∞
lim 𝐶𝑛 𝑥 𝑛
without bound as 𝑥 → +∞ or as 𝑥→+∞
𝑥 → −∞, then lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −∞ or ➢ lim 𝐶0 + 𝐶1 𝑥 + ⋯ + 𝐶𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 =
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→−∞
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −∞ lim 𝐶𝑛 𝑥 𝑛
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥→−∞
• Given a polynomial function 𝑥 𝑛
where 𝑛 ∈ ℕ, then
➢ lim 𝑥 𝑛 = +∞
𝑥→+∞
𝑛 +∞, 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛
➢ lim 𝑥 = ቊ
𝑥→−∞ −∞, 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑑𝑑
• The end behavior of a
 Infinite Limits at Infinity
Find each limit
1. lim 4𝑥 5
𝑥→+∞
2. lim 4𝑥 5
𝑥→−∞
3. lim 7𝑥 5 − 4𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 − 9
𝑥→+∞
4. lim −2𝑥 6
𝑥→+∞
5. lim −2𝑥 6
𝑥→−∞
6. lim −4𝑥 8 − 25𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 + 1
𝑥→−∞
 Horizontal Asymptotes
Definition: Horizontal Asymptote Find the horizontal asymptotes of
• The line 𝑦 = 𝑏 is a horizontal the graph of the following
asymptote of the function 𝑓 if at functions:
least one of the following 1. 𝑓 𝑥 =
2𝑥 2
statements is true: 𝑥 2 +1
𝑥+1
✓ lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑏 and for some 𝑁 2. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 −1
𝑥→+∞
if 𝑥 > 𝑁 then 𝑓 𝑥 ≠ 𝑏 𝑥4
3. 𝑓 𝑥 =
✓ lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑏 and for some 𝑁 𝑥 2 +2
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥−1
if 𝑥 < 𝑁 then 𝑓 𝑥 ≠ 𝑏 4. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 −𝑥
𝑥−4
5. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥+2
𝑥 3 −1
6. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 −4
 Homework: 1 whole sheet of paper
Find each limit, if it 7.
𝑥 2 +2
lim 2 Find the vertical and
exists 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥 −1 horizontal asymptotes
3𝑥−5 8. lim
𝑥 2 +2 of the graphs of the
1. lim+ 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥−1 following functions
𝑥→4 𝑥−4
3
2. lim− 2
𝑥+5 5−2𝑥 2 applying limits
𝑥→3 𝑥 −𝑥−6 9. lim 𝑥 2 +3
𝑥→+∞ 3𝑥 2 −4
−𝑥 3 1. 𝑓 𝑥 =
3. lim+ 5−2𝑥 2
𝑥−1
𝑥→2 𝑥−2 2 10. lim 𝑥
1 𝑥+1
3
𝑥→+∞ 3𝑥 2 −4 2. 𝑓 𝑥 = 1−𝑥
4. lim− 𝑥5 𝑥−4 𝑥2
𝑥→0
3. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 +16
1 𝑥−5
5. lim− 𝑥2
𝑥+1
𝑥→4 𝑥−4 4. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 −4
𝑥 2 +2
6. lim 3 2𝑥 2
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥 −1 5. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 −4