Infinite Limits

EVALUATING INFINITE LIMITS

1
Evaluate: lim 𝑥 4
𝑥→0
1
Now, consider the function 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥2
. Note that the
function is not defined at x = 0 but we can check the
behavior of the function as x approaches 0 intuitively.
We first consider approaching 0 from the left.

Observe that as x
approaches 0 from the left, 1
Answer: lim 𝑥 4 = +∞
the value of the function 𝑥→0

increases without bound. As both the value from the left and from the
1 right approaches both positive values. That’s is why it
lim− = +∞ is equal to +∞
𝑥→0 𝑥2

____________________________________________ 1
Evaluate: lim
𝑥→0 𝑥 3
1
Now, consider the function 𝑓 (𝑥) = . Note that the
𝑥2
function is not defined at x = 0 but we can check the
behavior of the function as x approaches 0 intuitively.
We first consider approaching 0 from the left.

Observe that as x 1
Answer: lim 𝐷𝑁𝐸
approaches 0 from the 𝑥→0 𝑥 3
right, the value of the
function increases without
As both the value from the left and from the
bound. right approaches positive and negative values. That’s
1 is why the limit does not exist or DNE.
lim+ = +∞
𝑥→0 𝑥2

SUMMARY

GRAPH
 If the function approaches both positive
values from left and from right, then the
1 answer will be equal to positive infinity or +∞
lim− = +∞
𝑥→0 𝑥 2  If the function approaches both negative
1
lim 2 = +∞ values from left and from right, then the
𝑥→+ 𝑥
answer will be equal to positive infinity or -∞
The value of f(x) gets closer and  If the function approaches positive and
closer to as the value of gets negative values from left and from right, then
closer and closer to 0 either side.
the limit does not exist or DNE.
This can be written as:
1
lim = +∞
𝑥→0 𝑥 2