Chapter 2

Limits and Continuity

Section 2.2
Limits Involving Infinity

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 Quick Review

In Exercises 1 – 4, find f 1 and graph f , f 1 and y  x in the

same viewing window.
1. f  x  2x  3 2. f  x   ex

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 Quick Review

3. f  x   tan 1 x 4. f  x   cot 1 x

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 Quick Review

In Exercises 5 and 6, find the quotient q  x  and remainder r  x 

when f  x  is divided by g  x .
5. f  x   2 x 3  3 x 2  x  1, g  x   3x3  4 x  5

6. f  x   2 x 5  x 3  x  1, g  x   x3  x 2  1

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 Quick Review

1
In Exercises 7 –10, write a formula for a  f   x  and    .
b f
 x
Simplify where possible.
7. f  x   cos x 8. f  x   e x

ln x  1
9. f x 10. f  x    x   sin x
x  x

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 Quick Review Solutions

In Exercises 1 – 4, find f 1 and graph f , f 1 and y  x in the

same viewing window.
1. f  x  2x  3 2. f  x   ex
x3
f 1  x   f 1  x   ln x
2

[12,12] by [8,8] [6,6] by [4,4]

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 Quick Review Solutions

3. f  x   tan 1 x 4. f  x   cot 1 x
f 1  x   tan x f 1  x   cot x
 
  x 0  x 
2 2

      0,   by 1,  
  3 , 3  by   2 , 2 

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 Quick Review Solutions

In Exercises 5 and 6, find the quotient q  x  and remainder r  x 

when f  x  is divided by g  x  .
5. f  x   2 x 3  3 x 2  x  1, g  x   3x 3  4 x  5
2 5 7
q x , r  x    3x  x  2

3 3 3

6. f  x   2 x 5  x 3  x  1, g  x   x3  x 2 1
q  x   2 x 2  2 x  1, r  x    x2  x  2

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 Quick Review Solutions

1
In Exercises 7 –10, write a formula for a  f   x  and    .
b f
 x
Simplify where possible.
7. f  x   cos x 8. f  x   e x
1
1 1 1
f   x   cos x, f    cos f  x   e x , f    e x
 x x  x
ln x ln   x  1 1
9. f  x   f  x    , f     x ln
x x x x
 1  1 1  1 1
10. f  x    x   sin x f   x    x   sin x, f     x   sin
 x  x  x  x x

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 What you’ll learn about

 The Squeeze Theorem for limits at infinity

 Asymptotic and unbounded behavior of functions
 End behavior of functions

…and why
Limits can be used to describe the behavior of functions
for numbers large in absolute value.

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 Finite limits as x→±∞

The symbol for infinity (∞) does not represent a real

number. We use ∞ to describe the behavior of a function
when the values in its domain or range outgrow all finite
bounds.
For example, when we say “the limit of f as x approaches
infinity” we mean the limit of f as x moves increasingly far
to the right on the number line.
When we say “the limit of f as x approaches negative
infinity (–∞)” we mean the limit of f as x moves
increasingly far to the left on the number line.

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 Horizontal Asymptote

The line y  b is a horizontal asymptote of the graph of a function

y  f  x  if either
lim f  x   b or lim f  x   b
x  x 

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 Example Horizontal Asymptote

Use a graph and tables to find a  lim f  x  and  b  xlim f  x .

x  

c  Identify all horizontal asymptotes.

x 1
f x
x

[-6,6] by [-5,5]

a  lim f  x  1
x 

 b  xlim

f  x  1

c  Identify all horizontal asymptotes. y 1

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 Example Sandwich Theorem Revisited

The sandwich theorem also holds for limits as x  .

cos x
Find lim graphically and using a table of values.
x  x

The graph and table suggest that the function oscillates about the x-axis.
cos x
Thus y  0 is the horizontal asymptote and lim 0
x  x
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PropertiesProperties
of Limits of
asLimits
x→±∞as x→±∞

If L, M and k are real numbers and

lim f  x   L and lim g  x   M , then
x  x 

1. Sum Rule: lim  f  x   g  x   L  M

x 

The limit of the sum of two functions is the sum of their limits.
2. Difference Rule: lim  f  x   g  x   L  M
x 

The limit of the difference of two functions is the difference

of their limits

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 Properties of Limits as x→±∞

3. Product Rule: lim  f  x   g  x   L  M

x 

The limit of the product of two functions is the product of their limits.
4. Constant Multiple Rule: lim  k  f  x   k L
x 

The limit of a constant times a function is the constant times the limit
of the function.
f x L
5. Quotient Rule: lim  , M 0
x  g x M
The limit of the quotient of two functions is the quotient
of their limits, provided the limit of the denominator is not zero.

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 Properties of Limits as x→±∞

6. Power Rule: If r and s are integers, s  0, then

r r
lim  f  x   L s s
x 
r
provided that L is a real number.
s

The limit of a rational power of a function is that power of the

limit of the function, provided the latter is a real number.

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 Infinite Limits as x→a

If the values of a function f ( x) outgrow all positive bounds as x approaches

a finite number a, we say that lim f  x   . If the values of f become large
xa

and negative, exceeding all negative bounds as x approaches a finite number a,

we say that lim f  x    .
xa

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 Vertical Asymptote

The line x  a is a vertical asymptote of the graph of a function

y  f  x  if either
lim f  x     or lim f  x    
x a  x a

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 Example Vertical Asymptote

Find the vertical asymptotes of the graph of f ( x) and describe the behavior
of f ( x) to the right and left of each vertical asymptote.
8
f x
4  x2
The values of the function approach   to the left of x   2.
The values of the function approach + to the right of x   2.
The values of the function approach + to the left of x  2.
The values of the function approach   to the right of x  2.
8 8
lim  and lim 
x 2 4  x x 2 4  x
2 2

8 8
lim  and lim 
x  2 4  x x  2 4  x
2 2

So, the vertical asymptotes are x  2 and x  2

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 End Behavior Models

The function g is
f x
a  a right end behavior model for f if and only if lim 1.
x  g x
f x
 b  a left end behavior model for f if and only if lim 1.
x  g x

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 End Behavior Models

If one function provides both a left and right end behavior model, it is simply
called an end behavior model.
In general, g  x   an x n is an end behavior model for the polynomial function
f  x   an x n  an 1 x n 1  ...  a0 , an  0
Overall, all polynomials behave like monomials.

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 Example End Behavior Models

Find an end behavior model for

3x 2  2 x  5
f x
4x2  7

Notice that 3 x 2 is an end behavior model for the numerator of f , and

4 x 2 is one for the denominator. This makes
3x 2 3
= an end behavior model for f .
4x2 4

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 End Behavior Models

3
In this example, the end behavior model for f , y  is also a horizontal
4
asymptote of the graph of f . We can use the end behavior model of a
rational function to identify any horizontal asymptote.
A rational function always has a simple power function as
an end behavior model.

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 Example “Seeing” Limits as x→±∞

We can investigate the graph of y  f  x  as x   by investigating the

1
graph of y  f   as x  0.
x
1
Use the graph of y  f   to find lim f  x  and lim f  x 
 x x  x 

1
for f  x   x cos .
x
1 cos x
The graph of y  f   = is shown.
 x x
1
lim f  x   lim f     
x  x 0  x
1
lim f  x   lim f     
x  x 0 x
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 Quick Quiz Sections 2.1 and 2.2

You may use a graphing calculator to solve the following problems.

x2  x  6
1. Find lim if it exists
x 3 x3

A  1
B 1
C  2
D 5
 E  does not exist

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 Quick Quiz Sections 2.1 and 2.2

You may use a graphing calculator to solve the following problems.

x2  x  6
1. Find lim if it exists
x 3 x3

A  1
B 1
C  2
D 5
 E  does not exist

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 Quick Quiz Sections 2.1 and 2.2

3 x  1, x2

2. Find lim f  x  =  5 if it exists
x2
 x  1 , x2
5
A 
3
13
B
3
C  7
D 
 E  does not exist

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 Quick Quiz Sections 2.1 and 2.2

3 x  1, x2

2. Find lim f  x  =  5 if it exists
x2
 x  1 , x2
5
A 
3
13
B
3
C  7
D 
 E  does not exist

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 Quick Quiz Sections 2.1 and 2.2

3. Which of the following lines is a horizontal asymptote for

3x3  x 2  x  7
f x
2 x3  4 x  5
3
 
A y  x
2
B y  0
2
C  y 
3
7
D y 
5
3
 
E y 
2

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 Quick Quiz Sections 2.1 and 2.2

3. Which of the following lines is a horizontal asymptote for

3x3  x 2  x  7
f x
2 x3  4 x  5
3
 
A y  x
2
B y  0
2
C  y 
3
7
D y 
5
3
 
E y 
2

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