BASIC CALCULUS LESSON 3

LIMITS and INFINITY

Learning objectives:

 Evaluate one sided limits

 Determine the limits of rational functions as positive infinity + ∞ or
negative infinity —∞ when the limit does not exist.
 Evaluate the limits of functions at infinity

Infinite Limits

In module/lesson 1, you were given several examples wherein the limit

does not exist. Some of these occur when, after directly substituting the value of
c, f(c ) is undefined. Usually, in these cases, the limit does not exist. However, it is
sometimes more useful to write these limits as infinity or negative infinity, as they
provide information on how the graph of the function behaves. In this section you
will learn how to evaluate such limits.
1
Consider the basic rational function f ( x )= x with the graph shown in figure
2.7. What happens to the value of f as x approaches 0 from the left? What about
as x approaches 0 from the right?

To help you distinguish clearly the behavior of the graph, let us construct a
table of values for f with x getting arbitrarily close to 0.

Based on the figure 2.7 and table 2.2, as the value of x becomes sufficiently
close to 0 from the right, the value of the function gets larger and larger without
bound, going infinitely to the positive side. Similarly, as x becomes sufficiently
close to 0 from the left, the value of the function gets dramatically smaller
without bound, going infinitely to the negative side of the y-axis. Thus, the
lim ¿ lim ¿ lim ¿ 1
−¿
x→ 0
1
=−∞ ¿
and x→ 0 +¿ 1
=+∞ ¿
. Because x→ 0
−¿ 1
≠ lim ¿¿
x x →0 1 ¿
, then lim x does not exist.
❑
x x +¿ x→ 0
x
 1 lim ¿ lim ¿
Figure 2.8 shows the graph of f ( x )= 2 . Here, x→ 0 −¿ 1 and x→ 0 +¿ 1 . By
x x2
=−∞ ¿
x2
=∞ ¿

1
convention, you can write lim =∞ . But still, it means that the limit does not
x →0 x2
exist, because by definition, the limit function should be real numbers.

You may now define the concept of infinite limits based on the previous
examples.

Infinite Limits

If the value of f (x) arbitrarily increases positively for all x sufficiently close
to c from both sides, without letting x equal to c, then
lim f ( x )=+ ∞ Equation 3.1
x→ C

Likewise, if the value of f (x) arbitrarily increases negatively for all

sufficiently close to c from both sides without letting x equal to c, then
lim f ( x )=−∞ Equation 3.2
x →c

4
lim
Example 1. Evaluate the following limit: x→ 0
❑
x3

4 4
Solution: By direction substitution, you write lim 3 = 0 , which makes it
x→ 0 x
❑

undefined. This is a limit that the function approaches infinity. You just need to
reconcile whether it is positive or a negative infinity. To get the limit from the left,
x should be as close to 0 as possible, so you use —0.00001. Thus,
4 4
3 = = — 4x1015
x ¿¿

This means that from the left, the graph approaches —∞ as x approaches 0;
lim ¿
so x→ 0
−¿ 4
¿ = −∞ .
x3
 To get the limit from the right, let x = 0.00001, then
4
= 4 = 4x1015
x3 ¿ ¿

lim ¿ lim ¿ lim ¿ 4

Therefore, x→ 0 4 = + ∞. Finally, because x→ 0 4 ≠ x→ 0 4 , then lim
x3
+¿ −¿ +¿
¿ ¿ ¿ x →0
x3 x3 x3

4
does not exist. The graph f ( x )= is shown in figure 2.9
x3

−6 x 2
Example 2: Evaluate the limits lim 2
x→−1 x −1

Solution: By direct substitution, you have

−6
¿ = −6 ¿ ¿ = , thus, you have an infinite limit.
0

To get the specified limit, let x be sufficiently close to —1 from the left and
substitute it to the given function. Use x = —1.0001.

−6 x 2
= −6 ¿ ¿ = —30,004.5
x 2−1

lim ¿
Thus, x→−1 −¿ −6 x
2
2
¿ = −∞
x −1

Let x be equal to —0.9999. Substituting in the function,

−6 x 2
= −6 ¿ ¿ = 29,995.5
x 2−1

lim ¿
Thus, x→−1 +¿ −6 x
2
2
¿
=+∞
x −1

lim ¿ lim ¿ −6 x 2
Because x→−1 −6 x
2
≠ x→−1 −6 x
2
, then lim does not exist.
x ,2−1
−¿ +¿
¿ ¿
2
x −1
2
x , −1 x→−1

Limits of Infinity
 In this section, you will investigate the behavior of some functions as x
increases without bound in either the positive or the negative side; in symbols,

x→ ±∞ . Infinite limits give information on the existence of vertical asymptotes on

the graph of the function. Limits and infinity, on the other hand, are used to show
the existence of horizontal asymptotes on the graph. Horizontal asymptotes are
the horizontal lines that a curve approaches as it goes infinity. To understand the
1
idea of a limit at infinity consider again the graph of f ( x )= X in FIGURE 2.13 and its
corresponding table of values in table 3.
1 1
As x increases without bound, x gets sufficiently close to 0. Thus, lim x =0.
x→ ∞

1
In the same way, as x approaches infinity on the negative side, x also gets
1
sufficiently close to 0. Therefore, lim x =0. The following statement summarizes
x→ ∞

this observation.

1
The Limit of x at Infinity

1
As x approaches infinity from both sides, the value of f ( x )= x approaches
0. In symbols, you have
1
lim =0 Equation 3.3
x→ ±∞ x

Note the limit laws presented in module 1 still hold true when x→ ±∞ . Thus,
the previous statement, together with the other limit laws, can be used to
1
evaluate limits of rational functions other than ( x )= x . Study the following
examples.
3
Example 1. Evaluate lim x
x→ ∞
Solution: Apply the limit laws and equation 3.3.
3 lim ¿ ¿
lim = ] Factoring
x→ ∞ x x→ ∞

1
= 3· lim x constant multiple rule/Equation 3.3
x→ ∞

3·0 = 0 Multiplication

5
lim
Example 2: x→−∞
x2

Solution: Apply the limit laws and equation 3.3

5 1
lim 2
=¿ ( 5 · 2 ) Factoring
x→−∞ x x

1
lim
= 5 · x→−∞ Constant multiple rule
x2

1 1
= 5 · lim x · lim x Product rule”
x →−∞ x→−∞

=5·0·0=0 Multiplication
4
Example 3: Evaluate lim
x→ ∞ 5 x2

Solution: Apply the limit laws and equation 3.3

4 4 1
lim 2 = ( · ) Factoring
x→ ∞ 5x 5 x2

4 1 1
= 5 · lim x · lim x Product rule
x→ ∞ x→ ∞

4
= 5 ·0·0=0 Multiplication
 k
The Limit of at Infinity
xn

For all real numbers k and positive rational numbers n

k
lim =0 Equation 3.4
x→ ±∞ xn

x2 −2 x−3
Example 4: Evaluate lim
x→ ∞ x 2−4

Solution: To simplify the process of evaluating limits at infinity, you

k
should always get a term of the form xn
. To do this you need to divide
each term of the function by the highest power which is x 2. Thus,
x2 2 x 3
− −
x2 −2 x−3 x2 x2 x2
lim = lim Dividing all terms by x
2
x→ ∞ x 2−4 x→ ∞ x2 4
−
x2 x2

2 3
1− −
x❑ x 2
= lim
x→ ∞ 4 Simplifying using exponent laws
1− 2
x

2 3
lim x → ∞[¿ 1− ❑− 2 ]
x x
= 4
¿¿ Quotient rule Eq. 1.8
lim x → ∞ [¿1− 2 ]
x

2 3
lim 1− lim −lim 2
x →∞ x →∞ x x→∞ x
= 4
Difference Rule Eq.1.5
lim 1−¿ lim 2 ¿
x→ ∞ x →∞ x

1−0−0
= 1−0 =1 Constant rule & Eq. 3.4
 m 3−12
Example 5: Evaluate lim
m →−∞ 4 m3 +5

m3 12
−
m3−12 m3 m 3
lim 3
x→−∞ 4 m +5
= mlim
→−∞ 4 m
3
5
Divide each term by the highest power
3
+ 3
m m

12
1−
m3
= mlim
→−∞ 5
Simplification
4+ 3
m

12
lim 1− lim 3
m →−∞ m →−∞ m
= 5
Eqns. 1.4, 1.5 and 1.8
lim 4+ lim 3
m →−∞ m→−∞ m

1−0 1
= 4−0 = 4 Constant rule & Eq. 3.4

4 x 2−3
Example 6: Evaluate lim
x→ ∞ x +4

4 x2 3
−
4 x 2−3 x2 x 2
lim = lim
x→ ∞ x +4 x→ ∞ x 4
+
x 2 x2

3
4−
x2
= lim
x→ ∞ 1 4
+
x x2

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

4−0 4
= 0+ 0 = 0
 4
Because the value of 0 is undefined, the limit reaches infinity (∞ ¿

Example 7: lim (3 x 2 ¿−2 x)¿

x→ ∞

Solution: Rename the given function by dividing each term, including the
denominator, by the highest power.

3 x2 2 x
2
− 2
lim (3 x 2 ¿−2 x)¿ = lim x x
x→ ∞
x→ ∞ 1
2
x

2
3−
x
= lim
x→ ∞ 1
x2

2
lim 3− lim
x →∞ x →∞ x
= 1
lim
x →∞ x2

3−0 3
= 0 = 0 =∞

4 x 2+ 2 x−1
Example 8: Evaluate lim
x→ ∞ √ 9 x 2−x−3

Solution: Using the limit rule for roots, you have,

4 x 2+ 2 x−1 4 x 2 +2 x−1
lim
x→ ∞ √ 9 x 2−x−3
¿
√
lim ¿ x →∞ ⁡
9 x2 −x−3
¿

=
1

√ 2
lim ¿ x → ∞
4x 2x x2
lim ¿ x →∞ 2 + lim ¿ x →∞ 2 − ¿ ¿ ¿¿
x x 9 x2 x 3
lim ¿ x→ ∞ 2 −lim ¿x → ∞ 2 −lim ¿ x→ ∞ 2 ¿ ¿
x x x
 =
1

√
lim ¿ x→ ∞
2 x2
lim ¿ x →∞ 4+ lim ¿ x→ ∞ − ¿¿¿¿
x 1 3
lim ¿ x→ ∞ 9−lim ¿ x →∞ −lim ¿ x→ ∞ 2 ¿ ¿
x x

4+0−0 2
= √ 9−0−0
= 3

4 x +1
Example 9: Evaluate lim
x→ ∞ √ x−4

4 x +1 4 x +1
lim
x→ ∞ √ x−4
= √ lim ¿ x →∞
x−4
¿

4x 1

√
lim + lim
x→ ∞ x x→ ∞ x
=
x 4
lim −lim
x→ ∞ x x →∞ x

√
lim 4+ lim
x→ ∞ x
= x→ ∞
4
lim 1−lim
x→ ∞ x→∞ x

4+0
= √ 1−0
= √4 = 2

What have you learned so far?

Evaluate the following limits

2 x −1
lim
1. x→−∞ 3
3x

8
2. lim 2
x→ ∞ x −2 x
 lim (x6 ¿ + 2 x 4 −7)¿
3. x→−∞

4. lim 2 x 2−3
x→ ∞

5−4 x−6 x 2
5. lim 2
x→ ∞ x −2

6. lim (3 x 2 ¿−2 x)¿

x→ ∞

x +6
7. lim
x→ ∞ 4 x−1