LIMITS at INFINITY

Basic Calculus
Grade 12
• If the values of variable x increase without
bound, then we write x->∞.

• If the values of variable x decrease without

bound, then we write x-> -∞.
 Example

x 1/x
1 1
10 0.1
100 0.01
1000 0.001
10000 0.0001
100000 0.00001
1000000 0.000001
Limits at Infinity
 Example

x 1/x
-1 -1
-10 -0.1
-100 -0.01
-1000 -0.001
-10000 -0.0001
-100000 -0.00001
-1000000 -0.000001
 Limits at Infinity

• If the values of f(x) eventually get as close as we like to

a number L as x increases without bound, then we write

or

as x -> + ∞
 Similarly

• If the values of f(x) eventually get as close as we like to

a number L as x decreases without bound, then we write

or

as x -> - ∞
 Infinity Limits at Infinity

• If the values of f(x) eventually get as close as we like to

a number L as x increases without bound, then we write

or
 Infinity Limits at Infinity

• If the values of f(x) eventually get as close as we like to

a number L as x decreases without bound, then we write

or
 Example

∞ ∞

∞ -∞
 Example

∞ -∞

-∞ -∞
The end behavior of a polynomial matches the
end behavior of its highest degree term.

∞
-∞
A quick method for finding limits of
rational functions

-∞
 Explanation

The highest degree of the numerator is one (‘x’) and the highest degree
of the denominator is also one (‘x’). The behavior of the highest degree
of the polynomials determines the behavior of the limit.

If the degrees of the numerator and the denominator are equal (in this
case, one), then the divide the coefficients of these variables and that is
the limit.
 Example

If the degrees of the numerator and the denominator are equal (in this
case, three), then the divide the coefficients of these variables and that is
the limit.
 Example

If the degrees of the numerator and the denominator are equal (in this
case, seven), then the divide the coefficients of these variables and that is
the limit.
 Explanation

If the degree of the numerator is LESS THAN the degree of the

denominator, then the limit always equals 0.
 Explanation

-∞

If the highest degree of the numerator (in this case, 3) is GREATER

THAN the highest degree of the denominator (in this case 1), then the
limit is +∞ or -∞.
Example