Limits and Continuity

Casiano DC. Jaurigue

Infinite Limits
1.3 Infinite Limits
 2
› Consider the function 𝑓 defined by 𝑓 𝑥 = 2
𝑥
2
𝑓 𝑥 = 2
𝑥

› Investigate the behavior of the

function as 𝑥 approaches 0, from
the left and from the right
› Notice that 𝑓 𝑥 increases
without bound as 𝑥 approaches
0 through values greater than
and less than 0.

lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞ lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞

𝑥→0 𝑥→0
Infinite Limit
› Let a function 𝑓 be defined at every number
in some open interval containing 𝑎, except
possibly at the number 𝑎 itself.
› Then 𝑓(𝑥) increases without bound as 𝑥
approaches 𝑎, written
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞
𝑥→𝑎
if the values of 𝑓 get larger and larger as 𝑥
moves closer and closer to 𝑎.
› Consider the function 𝑓 defined by
2
𝑓 𝑥 =− 2
𝑥

› Investigate the behavior of the

function as 𝑥 approaches 0, from
the left and from the right
› Notice that 𝑓 𝑥 decreases
without bound as 𝑥 approaches 2
𝑓 𝑥 =− 2
0 through values greater than 𝑥
and less than 0.

lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞ lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞

𝑥→0 𝑥→0
Infinite Limit
› Let a function 𝑓 be defined at every number
in some open interval containing 𝑎, except
possibly at the number 𝑎 itself.
› Then 𝑓(𝑥) decreases without bound as 𝑥
approaches 𝑎, written
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −∞
𝑥→𝑎
if the values of 𝑓 get smaller and smaller as
𝑥 moves closer and closer to 𝑎.
› lim 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞ or lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −∞ does not have the
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
same meaning as lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿 where 𝐿 is a real
𝑥→𝑎
number
› lim 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞ or lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −∞ means that
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

lim 𝑓 𝑥 does not exist.

𝑥→𝑎

› lim 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞ and lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −∞ are used to

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
indicate the behavior of the function as x moves
closer and closer to a
Theorem
If r is any positive integer, then

1
a. lim+ r = +
x →0 x

1 −, if r is odd
b. lim− r = 
x →0 x
+, if r is even
Example 1. Evaluate the following limits

1 1
a. lim− 4 = +∞ lim+ r = +
x →0 x
𝑥→0 𝑥
1 −, if r is odd
lim− r = 
1 x →0 x
+, if r is even
b. 𝑥→0
lim+ 9 = +∞
𝑥

1
c. 𝑥→0
lim− 5
𝑥
= −∞
Theorem
If lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 0 and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑐 ≠ 0, then
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

› if 𝑐 > 0 and if 𝑓(𝑥) → 0 through positive values of

𝑓(𝑥), then
𝑔 𝑥
lim = +∞
𝑥→𝑎 𝑓 𝑥

› if 𝑐 > 0 and if 𝑓(𝑥) → 0 through negative values of

𝑓(𝑥), then 𝑔 𝑥
lim = −∞
𝑥→𝑎 𝑓 𝑥
Theorem
If lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 0 and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑐 ≠ 0, then
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

› if 𝑐 < 0 and if 𝑓(𝑥) → 0 through positive values of

𝑓(𝑥), then
𝑔 𝑥
lim = −∞
𝑥→𝑎 𝑓 𝑥

› if 𝑐 < 0 and if 𝑓(𝑥) → 0 through negative values of

𝑓(𝑥), then 𝑔 𝑥
lim = +∞
𝑥→𝑎 𝑓 𝑥
Example 2. Evaluate the following limits
2𝑥 + 1 1−𝑥
a. lim+ c. lim +
𝑥→3 𝑥 − 3 𝑥→−7 𝑥 + 7

2𝑥 + 1 1−𝑥
b. 𝑥→3
lim−
𝑥−3 d. lim −
𝑥→−7 𝑥 + 7
Example 2. Evaluate the following limits
2𝑥 + 1 2 3 + 1 7
a. lim+ = = =?
𝑥→3 𝑥 − 3 3−3 0

• To determine if 𝑥 − 3 approaches 0 through + or -

values, substitute a value for 𝑥 appropriately close
to 3 from the right, say 𝑥 = 3.01
• This would give 𝑥 − 3 = 3.01 − 3 = 0.01 which is +
Thus, 𝑥 − 3 → 0 through positive values.
• Hence,
2𝑥 + 1 7
lim+ = + = +∞
𝑥→3 𝑥 − 3 0
Example 2. Evaluate the following limits
2𝑥 + 1 2 3 + 1 7
b. lim− = = =?
𝑥→3 𝑥 − 3 3−3 0

• To determine if 𝑥 − 3 approaches 0 through + or –

values, substitute a value for 𝑥 appropriately close
to 3 from the left, say 𝑥 = 2.99
• This would give 𝑥 − 3 = 2.99 − 3 = −0.01 which is –
Thus, 𝑥 − 3 → 0 through negative values.
• Hence,
2𝑥 + 1 7
lim− = − = −∞
𝑥→3 𝑥 − 3 0
Example 2. Evaluate the following limits

1−𝑥 1 − (−7) 8 8
c. lim + = = = + = +∞
𝑥→−7 𝑥 + 7 −7 + 7 ? 0

• Let 𝑥 = −6.99, then 𝑥 + 7 = −6.99 + 7 is positive

1−𝑥 8
d. 𝑥→−7
lim −
𝑥+7
= − = −∞
0
• Let 𝑥 = −7.01, then 𝑥 + 7 = −7.01 + 7 is negative
 4𝑥 2 −81 4(9/2)2 −81 0
Example 3. Evaluate lim+ 2(9/2) − 9
=
0
9 2𝑥−9
𝑥→
2

4𝑥 2 − 81  0 
lim+  
𝑥→
9 2𝑥 − 9  0 
2
(2𝑥−9)(2𝑥+9) 2𝑥−9∙ 2𝑥+9
= lim+ = lim+
9 (2𝑥−9)2 9 2𝑥−9∙ 2𝑥−9
𝑥→ 𝑥→
2 2

2𝑥+9 2(9/2)+9 18 3 2
= lim+ = = ?
= + = +∞
9 2𝑥−9 2(9/2)−9 0 0
𝑥→
2
• Let 𝑥 = 4.51, then 2𝑥 − 9 = 2(4.51) − 9 is positive
Example 4. Consider the
graph of the function 𝑔 .
Determine

▪ lim− 𝑔(𝑥) = +∞
𝑥→2

▪ lim+ 𝑔(𝑥) = +∞ ▪ lim− 𝑔(𝑥) = −∞

𝑥→2 𝑥→4

▪ lim 𝑔(𝑥) = +∞ ▪ lim+ 𝑔(𝑥) = 10

𝑥→2 𝑥→4

▪ lim 𝑔(𝑥) does not exist

𝑥→4
 Example 5. Consider the graph
of the function 𝑓. Determine
▪ lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞
𝑥→1
▪ lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞
𝑥→1

▪ lim 𝑓(𝑥) does not exist

𝑥→1

▪ lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 ▪ lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞

𝑥→3 𝑥→4

▪ lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞ ▪ lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) = 2

𝑥→3 𝑥→4

▪ lim 𝑓(𝑥) does not exist ▪ lim 𝑓(𝑥) does not exist
𝑥→3 𝑥→4
1.3 Infinite Limits
Next:

Limits @ Infinity
Sir Choy