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Infinite Limits
Let 𝑓 be a function
defined by 𝑓 𝑥 =
1
2 and observe the
𝑥
values of 𝑓 as 𝑥
approaches 0.
Observe that the
values of 𝑓 become
larger and larger as
𝑥 takes the values
close to 0.
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Infinite Limits
Thus, we say that 𝑓
increases without
bound as 𝑥
approaches 0 and we
write it as

𝟏
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐 = +∞
𝒙→𝟎 𝒙

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Let’s try to observe the behavior of the function using
table of values….
0− (𝐿𝑒𝑓𝑡) 0+ (𝑅𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡)
𝒙 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒙 𝒇(𝒙)

−0.9 1.2345679 0.9 1.2345679

−0.5 4 0.5 4
−0.1 100 0.1 100
−0.01 10,000 0.01 10,000
−0.001 1,000,000 0.001 1,000,000
−0.0001 1,000,000,000 0.0001 1,000,000,000

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As 𝑥 approaches 0 from the left, the value of the
function increases without bound, so
𝟏
𝐥𝐢𝐦− 𝟐 = +∞
𝒙→𝟎 𝒙
And as 𝑥 approaches 0 from the right, the value
of the function increases without bound, so
𝟏
𝐥𝐢𝐦+ 𝟐 = +∞
𝒙→𝟎 𝒙

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 𝒙 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒙 𝒇(𝒙)
−0.9 1.2345679 0.9 1.2345679
−0.5 4 0.5 4
−0.1 100 0.1 100
−0.01 10,000 0.01 10,000
−0.001 1,000,000 0.001 1,000,000
−0.0001 1,000,000,000 0.0001 1,000,000,000

𝟏 𝟏
Since 𝐥𝐢𝐦− 𝟐= +∞ and 𝐥𝐢𝐦+ 𝟐 = +∞, we may
𝒙→𝟎 𝒙 𝒙→𝟎 𝒙
conclude that,
𝟏
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐 = +∞
𝒙→𝟎 𝒙
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Let us consider
1
𝑓 𝑥 = , the graph
𝑥
on the left suggests
that,
𝐥𝐢𝐦− 𝒇 𝒙 = −∞
𝒙→𝟎
While
𝐥𝐢𝐦+ 𝒇 𝒙 = +∞
𝒙→𝟎
Thus,
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 𝑫𝑵𝑬
𝒙→𝟎

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Remark 1. ∞ is NOT number. It holds no specific value.
So, lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞ or lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞ describes the
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
behavior of the function near 𝑥 = 𝑐, but it does not
exist as a real number.
Remark 2. Whenever 𝑙𝑖𝑚+ 𝑓 𝑥 = ±∞ or
𝑥→𝑐
𝑙𝑖𝑚− 𝑓 𝑥 = ±∞, we normally see the dashed vertical
𝑥→𝑐
lines 𝑥 = 𝑐. This is to indicate that the graph of
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is 𝒂𝒔𝒚𝒎𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒄 to 𝑥 = 𝑐, meaning, the graphs
of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑥 = 𝑐 are very close to each other
near 𝑐. In this case, we call 𝑥 = 𝑐 a
𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒔𝒚𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒆 of the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥).

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 Limits at Infinity
Let 𝑓 be a function defined on (𝑎, +∞) for some
number 𝑎. The limit of 𝑓 as 𝑥 increases without
bound is 𝐿., which is written as
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝑳
𝒙→+∞

Let 𝑓 be a function defined on (−∞, 𝑏) for some

number 𝑏. The limit of 𝑓 as 𝑥 decreases without
bound is 𝐿., which is written as
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝑳
𝒙→−∞

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 Theorem!
Let 𝑟 ∈ ℤ+ and 𝑐 ∈ ℝ. Then,
𝒄
i. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙𝒓 = 𝟎
𝒙→+∞

𝒄
ii. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒓 =𝟎
𝒙→−∞ 𝒙

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 Theorem!
𝒙
iii. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = +∞ where 𝑐 > 0
𝒙→+∞ 𝒄
𝒙
iv. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = −∞ where 𝑐 > 0
𝒙→−∞ 𝒄
𝒙
v. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = −∞ where 𝑐 < 0
𝒙→+∞ 𝒄
𝒙
vi. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = +∞ where 𝑐 < 0
𝒙→−∞ 𝒄

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 Halimbawa!
Evaluate each of the ff. limits, if it exists:
1. lim 2𝑥 4. lim (𝑥 2 +2𝑥 + 5)
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞

2
2. lim 2𝑥 5. lim (𝑥 +2𝑥 + 5)
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥→−∞

2
3. lim (−𝑥 +2𝑥 + 5) 6. lim 3
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→±∞

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 Halimbawa!
Evaluate each of the ff. limits, if it exists:
5 𝑥 4 +1
1. lim 3 3. lim 2
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥 𝑥→−∞ 𝑥 +3𝑥

2𝑥+3 𝑥
2. lim 4. lim
𝑥→+∞ 4−𝑥 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥 2 −1

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 Problem Set #4
Evaluate each of the ff. limits, if it exists:
3 3𝑡 4 +𝑡 3
1. lim 3. lim
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥+1 𝑡→+∞ −4𝑡 2 −4𝑡 3 +1

3+5𝑦 2 𝑠
2. lim 4. lim
𝑦→−∞ 1−2𝑦 2 𝑠→+∞ 𝑠 2 −7

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