Limits of

Algebraic
Functions
Involving Infinity
By: JOAN A. GECALAO
Theorem: Limit Laws (for
Limits at Infinity)
Suppose 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿 and
𝑥→+∞
𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑀. Then
𝑥→+∞
1. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓 + 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝐿 + 𝑀
𝑥→+∞
2. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓 − 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝐿 − 𝑀
𝑥→+∞
3. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓𝑔 𝑥 = 𝐿𝑀
𝑥→+∞
𝑓 𝐿
4. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑥 = , if, in addition,
𝑥→+∞ 𝑔 𝑀
M≠0.
Theorem: Limit at Infinity of a
Composite Function

Let f and g be functions

such that 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝐿 and
𝑥→+∞
𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓 𝑢 = 𝑀 . Then
𝑢→𝐿

𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓°𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑀
𝑥→+∞
Theorem: Limit of a Positive Integral
Power and a Root of a Function
Let n be a positive integer
and 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿 . Then
𝑥→+∞
𝑛 𝑛
1. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓(𝑥) =𝐿 ;
𝑥→+∞
𝑛
2. If n is odd, 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑛
𝐿;
𝑥→+∞
3. If n is even and either 𝐿 > 0
of 𝑓(𝑥) approaches L=0
through positive values, then
𝑛 𝑛
𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿;
𝑥→+∞
Theorem: Limits at Infinity of the
Constant and Identity Functions

Let c be any constant.

Then
1. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑐 = 𝑐;
𝑥→±∞
2. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑥 = ±∞.
𝑥→±∞
Theorem: Limits at Infinity of a
Constant Multiple of a Function

Let c be a nonzero
constant and
𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓(𝑥) = ±∞. Then
𝑥→𝑎
1. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑐𝑓(𝑥) = ±∞ 𝑖𝑓 𝑐 > 0;
𝑥→𝑎
2. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑐𝑓(𝑥) = ∓∞ 𝑖𝑓 𝑐 < 0.
𝑥→𝑎
EXAMPLE

Evaluate

𝑙𝑖𝑚 − 5𝑥
𝑥→+∞
ANSWER

−∞
EXAMPLE

Evaluate

𝑙𝑖𝑚 8𝑥
𝑥→−∞
ANSWER

−∞
EXAMPLE

Evaluate

𝑙𝑖𝑚 − 4𝑥
𝑥→−∞
ANSWER

+∞
Theorem: The infinite Limit
Combinations ∞ + ∞ and ∞ ∙ ∞
Suppose 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓(𝑥) = ±∞.
𝑥→𝑎
1. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑔 𝑥 = ±∞, then
𝑥→𝑎
𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓 + 𝑔 (𝑥) = ±∞ and
𝑥→𝑎
𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓𝑔 𝑥 = +∞,
𝑥→𝑎
2. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑔 𝑥 = ±∞, then
𝑥→𝑎
𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓𝑔 𝑥 = −∞,
𝑥→𝑎
Theorem: The infinite Limit
Combinations ∞ + 𝐿 and L ∙ ∞

Suppose 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓(𝑥) = ±∞. If

𝑥→𝑎
𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝐿, then
𝑥→𝑎
1. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓 + 𝑔 (𝑥) = ±∞ 𝑖𝑓 𝐿 >
𝑥→𝑎
0;
2. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 (𝑓𝑔) 𝑥 = ±∞ 𝑖𝑓 𝐿 <
𝑥→𝑎
0.
Theorem: Limits of Negative-
Exponent/Index Power/Root Functions
at Infinity

Let n be a positive integer.

1
Then lim 𝑛 = 0
𝑥→±∞ 𝑥
and
1
1. If n is even lim 𝑛 = 0
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥
1
2. If n is odd lim 𝑛 = 0
𝑥→±∞ 𝑥
EXAMPLE

Evaluate

2
𝑙𝑖𝑚 (−10𝑥 + 5𝑥)
𝑥→+∞
ANSWER

−∞
EXAMPLE

Evaluate

2
𝑙𝑖𝑚 (9 − 𝑥 )
𝑥→−∞
ANSWER

−∞
Theorem: Limits of Power
Functions at Infinity

Let n be a positive integer. If

1. n is even, then
𝑛
lim 𝑥 = +∞
𝑥→±∞
2. n is odd, then
lim 𝑥 𝑛 = ±∞
𝑥→±∞
Theorem: Infinite Limits of Power
of Functions

Let n be a positive integer

and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = ±∞. If
𝑥→𝑎
1. n is even, then
lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑛 = +∞
𝑥→𝑎
2. n is odd, then
lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑛 = ±∞
𝑥→𝑎
Theorem: Infinite Limits of Root
of Functions
Let n be a positive integer. If
1. n is even and
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞, then
𝑥→𝑎
𝑛
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞
𝑥→𝑎
2. n is odd and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = ±∞
𝑥→𝑎
𝑛
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = ±∞
𝑥→𝑎
EXAMPLE

Evaluate

3 2
𝑙𝑖𝑚 23 − 𝑥 − 𝑥
𝑥→+∞
ANSWER

−∞
EXAMPLE

Evaluate

𝑙𝑖𝑚 9 + 𝑥4 − 𝑥3
𝑥→−∞
ANSWER

+∞
EXAMPLE

Evaluate

𝑙𝑖𝑚 (4𝑥 5 − 2𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 − 6)
𝑥→−∞
ANSWER

−∞
EXAMPLE

Evaluate

𝑙𝑖𝑚 (2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 4 + 6𝑥 6 − 3𝑥 8 )
𝑥→+∞
ANSWER

−∞
EXAMPLE

Evaluate

4𝑥 5 −2𝑥 3 +𝑥 2 −6
𝑙𝑖𝑚 8 4
𝑥→+∞ 3𝑥 −2𝑥 +13𝑥−9
ANSWER

0
 EXAMPLE

Evaluate

5𝑥 6 +7𝑥 5 −𝑥 3 +8𝑥−25
𝑙𝑖𝑚 6 4 3 2 +10
𝑥→−∞ 9𝑥 −6𝑥 −4𝑥 +12𝑥
ANSWER

5
9
 EXAMPLE

Evaluate

10−8𝑥
𝑙𝑖𝑚 2
𝑥→−∞ 4𝑥 +7𝑥−31
ANSWER

4
 EXAMPLE

Evaluate

2
12𝑥 −5𝑥+7
𝑙𝑖𝑚 2
𝑥→+∞ 9𝑥 −7𝑥+13
ANSWER

+∞
EVALUATE
1. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐 − 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏
𝒙→∞
𝒙+𝟓
2. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐𝒙𝟐 +𝟏
𝒙→∞
𝟑 𝒙−𝟑
3. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟓−𝒙
𝒙→−∞
𝒙𝟐 +𝟗
4. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟓𝒙+𝟐𝒙𝟐 −𝟑
𝒙→∞
𝟏𝟎𝒙𝟑 −𝟑𝒙𝟐 +𝟖
5. 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→−∞ 𝟐𝟓𝒙𝟔 +𝒙𝟒 +𝟐