One-Sided Limits

and
Limits at Infinity

Dr. Hina Dutt

SEECS-NUST
hina.dutt@seecs.edu.pk
 Objectives

In this section we will learn about

 One-sided limits
 Behavior of a function as 𝑥 → ±∞
 Functions that become arbitrarily large, as 𝑥 approaches
some finite number
 Thomas’ • Chapter: 2
Calculus (11th • Sections: 2.4, 2.5
Edition)

Calculus and • Chapter: 1

Analytical
Geometry • Sections: 1.4
(9th Edition)
One-Sided Limits
To have a limit 𝐿 as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐, a function ƒ must be defined
on both sides of 𝑐 and its values ƒ(𝑥) must approach 𝐿 as 𝑥
approaches 𝑐 from either side. Because of this, ordinary limits are
called two-sided limits.
If ƒ fails to have a two-sided limit at 𝑐, it may still have a one-sided
limit, that is, a limit if the approach is only from one side. If the
approach is from the right, the limit is a right-hand limit. From the
left, it is a left-hand limit.
Right-hand Limit
The right-hand limit,
lim f ( x)  L
x a

is read “the limit of f(x) as x approaches a from

the right is L.”

As x gets closer and closer to a from the right

(x > a), the values of f(x) get closer and closer to
L.
Left-hand Limit
The left-hand limit,
lim f ( x)  L
x a

is read “the limit of f(x) as x approaches a from

the left is L.”

As x gets closer and closer to a from the right

(x < a), the values of f(x) get closer and closer to
L.
Example 1

The function (Figure 2.21) has limit 1 as 𝑥

approaches 0 from the right, and limit as
𝑥 approaches 0 from the left. Since these
one-sided limit values are not the same,
there is no single number that ƒ(𝑥)
approaches as 𝑥 approaches 0. So ƒ(𝑥)
does not have a (two-sided) limit at 0.
Example 2
Find lim f ( x) and lim f ( x) where
x 2 x 2

 x  6 if x  2
5 if x  2
f ( x)  
 1 x 2 if x  2
 2
 Example 2
1 2
Solution: Since 𝑥 > 2 in lim f ( x) use the formula f ( x)  x
x 2 2
In the limit lim f ( x) where 𝑥 < 2, use f ( x)  x  6
x 2

lim f ( x)  lim x   2   2
1 2 1 2
x2 x2 2 2

lim f ( x)  lim ( x  6)  2  6  8
x2 x2
Example 3

The graph of a function is

shown. Find the limit of the
function.
Example 3
Solution:
Example 4
1
Show y = sin that has no limit as 𝑥 approaches zero from
𝑥
either side.
1
As 𝑥 approaches zero, its reciprocal , grows
𝑥
1
without bound and the values of sin cycle
𝑥
repeatedly from −1 to 1. There is no single
number 𝐿 that the function’s values stay
increasingly close to as 𝑥 approaches zero. This
is true even if we restrict x to positive values or
to negative values. The function has neither a
right-hand limit nor a left-hand limit at 𝑥 = 0.
Limit as 𝒙 → ∞
The notation,
lim f ( x)  L
x 

is read “the limit of 𝑓(𝑥) as x approaches infinity

is 𝐿.”

The values of 𝑓(𝑥) get closer and closer to L as 𝑥

gets larger and larger.
Limit as 𝒙 → −∞
The notation,
lim f ( x)  L
x 

is read “the limit of f(x) as x approaches

negative infinity is L.”

The values of f(x) get closer and closer to L as x

assumes negative values of larger and larger
magnitude.
Example 5
10
Find lim f ( x) and lim f ( x) where f ( x)  5  
.
x  x  1 e .25 x

Solution:
As x   the values of e-.25x get arbitrarily close to 0
so 10
lim f ( x)  5   15.
x 1 0

As x   the values of e-.25x get arbitrarily large so

lim f ( x)  5  0  5.
x
 𝟏
Limits at infinity of
𝒙𝒏

For any positive real number n,

1 1
lim n  0 and lim n  0.
x  x x x
Example 6
Find lim
5 x 2
 7x 1
.
x  2 x  x  5
2

Solution: Divide numerator and denominator by the highest

power of 𝑥 involved, 𝑥2.
7 1
5  2
5x  7 x  1
2
x x
lim  lim
x  2 x 2  x  5 x  1 5
2  2
x x
Example 6
7 1
5  2
5x  7 x  1
2
x x
lim  lim
x  2 x 2  x  5 x  1 5
2  2
x x

7 1
lim 5   2
x  x x

1 5
lim 2   2
x  x x
Example 6
1 1
lim 5  7  lim  lim
5 x  7 x  1 x 
2
x  x x  x2
lim 
x  2 x  x  5
2
1 1
lim 2  lim  5  lim
x  x  x x  x2

500 5
 
200 2
Infinite Limits
A function may increase without bound as 𝑥 gets closer
and closer to a from the right
Infinite Limit
The right-hand limit does not exist but the behavior is
described by writing
lim f ( x)  
x a

If the values of f(x) decrease without bound, write

lim f ( x)  
x a

The notation is similar for left-handed limits.

Infinite Limits
Example 7
1
Find lim f ( x) and lim f ( x) where f ( x)  .
x 2 x 2 x2

Solution: From the graph

lim f ( x)  
x 2

lim f ( x)   .
x 2
Example 8
Evaluate the following
𝑥−2 2
1. lim 2
𝑥→2 𝑥 −4

𝑥−2
2. lim
𝑥→2 𝑥 2 −4

𝑥−3
3. lim+ 2
𝑥→2 𝑥 −4

𝑥−3
4. lim− 𝑥 2 −4
𝑥→2

𝑥−3
5. lim
𝑥→2 𝑥 2 −4

2−𝑥
6. lim
𝑥→2 𝑥−2 3
Example 8
Solution:
 Practice Questions

• Chapter: 2
Thomas’ Calculus • Exercise: 2.4
• Questions: 1-62
(11th Edition)
• Exercise: 2.5
• Questions: 1-26