<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="1; url=/nojavascript/"> Infinite Limits | CK-12 Foundation
You are reading an older version of this FlexBook® textbook: CK-12 Calculus Go to the latest version.

# 1.8: Infinite Limits

Created by: CK-12

## Learning Objectives

A student will be able to:

• Find infinite limits of functions.
• Analyze properties of infinite limits.
• Identify asymptotes of functions.
• Analyze end behavior of functions.

## Introduction

In this lesson we will discuss infinite limits. In our discussion the notion of infinity is discussed in two contexts. First, we can discuss infinite limits in terms of the value a function as we increase $x$ without bound. In this case we speak of the limit of $f(x)$ as $x$ approaches $\infty$ and write $\lim_{x \to \infty} f(x)$. We could similarly refer to the limit of $f(x)$ as $x$ approaches -$\infty$ and write $\lim_{x \to -\infty} f(x)$.

The second context in which we speak of infinite limits involves situations where the function values increase without bound. For example, in the case of a rational function such as $f(x) = (x + 1)/(x^2+1)$, a function we discussed in previous lessons:

At $x = 1$, we have the situation where the graph grows without bound in both a positive and a negative direction. We say that we have a vertical asymptote at $x = 1$, and this is indicated by the dotted line in the graph above.

In this example we note that $\lim_{x \to 1} f(x)$ does not exist. But we could compute both one-sided limits as follows.

$\lim_{x \to 1^-} f(x) = -\infty$ and $\lim_{x \to 1^-} f(x) = +\infty$.

More formally, we define these as follows:

Definition:

The right-hand limit of the function $f(x)$ at $x = a$ is infinite, and we write $\lim_{x \to a^+} f(x) = \infty$, if for every positive number $k$, there exists an open interval $(a, a + \delta)$ contained in the domain of $f(x)$, such that $f(x)$ is in $(k, \infty)$ for every $x$ in $(a, a + \delta)$.
The definition for negative infinite limits is similar.
Suppose we look at the function $f(x) = (x + 1)/(x^2 - 1)$ and determine the infinite limits $\lim_{x \to \infty} f(x)$ and $\lim_{x \to -\infty} f(x)$.
We observe that as $x$ increases in the positive direction, the function values tend to get smaller. The same is true if we decrease $x$ in the negative direction. Some of these extreme values are indicated in the following table.

$x && f(x) \\100 && .0101 \\200 && .0053 \\-100 && -.0099 \\-200 && -.005$

We observe that the values are getting closer to $f(x) = 0.$ Hence $\lim_{x \to \infty}f(x) = 0$ and $\lim_{x \to -\infty}f(x) = 0$.
Since our original function was roughly of the form $f(x)=\frac{1}{x}$, this enables us to determine limits for all other functions of the form $f(x)= \frac{1}{x^p}$ with $p > 0.$ Specifically, we are able to conclude that $\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{1} {x^p} = 0$. This shows how we can find infinite limits of functions by examining the end behavior of the function $f(x) = \frac{1}{x^p}, \; p > 0.$
The following example shows how we can use this fact in evaluating limits of rational functions.

Example 1:

Find $\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{2x^3 - x^2 + x - 1} {x^6 - x^5 + 3x^4 - 2x + 1}$.

Solution:

Note that we have the indeterminate form, so Limit Property #5 does not hold. However, if we first divide both numerator and denominator by the quantity $x^6$, we will then have a function of the form

$\frac{f(x)} {g(x)} = \frac{\frac{2x^3} {x^6} - \frac{x^2} {x^6} + \frac{x} {x^6} - \frac{1} {x^6}} {\frac{x^6} {x^6} - \frac{x^5} {x^6} + \frac{3x^4} {x^6} - \frac{2x} {x^6} + \frac{1} {x^6}} = \frac{\frac{2} {x^3} - \frac{1} {x^4} + \frac{1} {x^5} - \frac{1} {x^6}} {1 - \frac{1} {x} + \frac{3} {x^2} - \frac{2} {x^5} + \frac{1} {x^6}}.$

We observe that the limits $\lim_{x \to \infty}$ $f(x)$ and $\lim_{x \to \infty}g(x)$ both exist. In particular, $\lim_{x \to \infty} f(x) = 0$ and $\lim_{x \to \infty} g(x) = 1$. Hence Property #5 now applies and we have $\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{2x^3 - x^2 + x - 1} {x^6 - x^5 + 3x^4 - 2x + 1} = \frac{0} {1} = 0$.

## Lesson Summary

1. We learned to find infinite limits of functions.
2. We analyzed properties of infinite limits.
3. We identified asymptotes of functions.
4. We analyzed end behavior of functions.

For more examples of limits at infinity (1.0), see Math Video Tutorials by James Sousa, Limits at Infinity (9:42).

## Review Questions

In problems 1 - 7, find the limits if they exist.

1. $\lim_{x \to 3^+} \frac{(x + 2)^2} {(x - 2)^2 - 1}$
2. $\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{(x + 2)^2} {(x - 2)^2 - 1}$
3. $\lim_{x \to 1^+} \frac{(x + 2)^2} {(x - 2)^2 - 1}$
4. $\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{2x - 1} {x + 1}$
5. $\lim_{x \to -\infty} \frac{x^5 + 3x^4 + 1} {x^3 - 1}$
6. $\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{3x^4 - 2x^2 + 3x + 1} {2x^4 - 2x^2 + x - 3}$
7. $\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{2x^2 - x + 3} {x^5 - 2x^3 + 2x - 3}$

In problems 8 - 10, analyze the given function and identify all asymptotes and the end behavior of the graph.

1. $f(x) = \frac{(x + 4)^2} {(x - 4)^2 - 1}$
2. $f(x) = -3x^3 - x^2 + 2x + 2$
3. $f(x) = \frac{2x^2 - 8} {x + 2}$
4. Consider $f(x) = \frac{1} {x + 1}, g(x) = x^2$. We previously found $\lim_{x \to -1} (f \circ g) (x) = \frac{1} {2}$. Find $\lim_{x \to -1} (g \circ f)(x).$

1. $\lim_{x \to 3^+} \frac{(x + 2)^2} {(x - 2)^2 - 1} = +\infty$
2. $\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{(x + 2)^2} {(x - 2)^2 - 1}=1$
3. $\lim_{x \to 1^+} \frac{(x + 2)^2} {(x - 2)^2 - 1} = - \infty$
4. $\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{2x - 1} {x + 1} = 2$
5. $\lim_{x \to -\infty} \frac{x^5 + 3x^4 + 1} {x^3 - 1} = \infty$
6. $\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{3x^4 - 2x^2 + 3x + 1} {2x^4 - 2x^2 + x - 3} = \frac{3} {2}$
7. $\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{2x^2 - x + 3} {x^5 - 2x^3 + 2x - 3} = 0$
8. Zero at $x = -4$; vertical asymptotes at $x = 3, 5$; $f(x) \rightarrow 1$ as $x \rightarrow \pm \infty.$
9. Zero at $x = 1$; no vertical asymptotes; $f(x) \rightarrow -\infty$ as $x \rightarrow \infty$; $f(x) \rightarrow \infty$ as $x \rightarrow -\infty.$
10. Zero at $x = 2$; no vertical asymptotes but there is a discontinuity at $x = -2$; $f(x) \rightarrow -\infty$ as $x \rightarrow -\infty$; $f(x) \rightarrow \infty$ as $x \rightarrow \infty.$
11. $\lim_{x \to -1} (g \circ f)(x)= +\infty$

## Texas Instruments Resources

In the CK-12 Texas Instruments Calculus FlexBook, there are graphing calculator activities designed to supplement the objectives for some of the lessons in this chapter. See http://www.ck12.org/flexr/chapter/9726.

Feb 23, 2012

Dec 12, 2013