AP Calculus Limits at Infinity and Asymptotes

Limits at Infinity

1) Graphically

2) Numerically

-∞ ... -100 -10 -1 0 1 10 100 ... ∞

3 <- 2.9997 2.97 1.5 0 1.5 2.97 2.9997 -> 3

Horizontal Asymptote If

then y=L is a horizontal asymptote.

Limits at Infinity
Example:

Numerator and Denominator both increase without bound as x

increases towards ∞. (Indeterminate Form)

CHANGE EQUATION Divide by largest power of x.

Determining Limits at
Infinity for Rational
Functions

Divide by x2 Divide by x2 Divide by x3

Largest power in Same power in Largest power in

denominator numerator and numerator
denominator

Lim = 0 Lim = ratio of Lim DNE (unbounded

leading coefficients behavior)

Horizontal Horizontal No horizontal

Asymptote at y=0 Asymptote at asymptote
y = 2/3

Example: (2 horizontal With rational functions the horizontal asymptote is the same to the
asymptotes) right and to the left. This is NOT true for other types of
functions, for example, RADICAL functions.
Trig Functions: (Squeeze
Theorem)

Finding Infinite Limits

and Slant Asymptotes