Limits at Infinity and Continuity

Limits at
Infinity
Explore the End Behavior

of a Function
End Behavior
Observe the graph of the Rational
Function,
1/x
1
1
lim
lim
Another Example
lim tan x
x
2
1
lim tan x
x
2
1
Limits of Polynomials at
Infinity
If the leading coefficient of the polynomial
is positive:
lim x
n
lim x
n
, n 1,3,5,...
, n 2,4,6,...
Infinity
If the leading coefficient of the polynomial

is negative:
lim x
n
lim x
n
, n 1,3,5,...
, n 2,4,6,...
Infinity
The end behavior of a polynomial matches
the end behavior of its highest degree
term.
For example:
lim x 5
x
lim x 2 x 6 x 1
5
Limits of Rational Functions

at Infinity
We will have three different situations.
1.The degree of the numerator and the
denominator is the same.

at Infinity
2.The degree of the denominator is higher
than the degree of the numerator.

at Infinity
2.The degree of the denominator is higher
than the degree of the numerator.
3.The degree of the numerator is higher
than the degree of the denominator.
Digging deeper
Infinity is a very special idea.
We know we can't reach it,
but we can still try to work
out the value of functions
that have infinity in them.
Question: What is the value of

1/ ?
Answer: We don't know!
Maybe we could say that 1/ =
0, ... but if we divide 1 into
infinite pieces and they end up 0
each, what happened to the 1?
In fact 1/ is known to be
undefined.
But We Can Approach It!

x
1/x
1 1.00000
2 0.50000
4 0.25000
10 0.10000
100 0.01000
1,000 0.00100
10,000 0.00010
The limit of 1/x as x

approaches Infinity is 0
Furthermore:
1
lim n 0
x x
Limits at Infinity:
Definition
For all n > 0,
1
1
lim n lim n 0
x x
x x
1
provided that x n is defined.
Same Degree
Find:
3x 5
lim
x 6 x 8
Same Degree
Find:
3x 5
lim
x 6 x 8
We will divide the numerator and

denominator by the highest power of x in
the denominator.
5
3
x
lim
x
8
6
x
Same Degree
Find:
3x 5
lim
x 6 x 8
We will divide the numerator and

denominator by the highest power of x in
the denominator.
5
3
3 1
x
lim
lim
x
8 x 6 2
6
x
Same Degree
When the numerator and the denominator
are the same degree, your answer is a
number, and it is the quotient of the
leading coefficients.
Denominator has higher

power
We start the same way; divide the
numerator and denominator by the
highest power of x in the denominator.
Find:
4x x
lim
x 2 x 3 5
2

power
Find:
4x
x
3
2
3
4x x
x
x
lim
3
x 2 x 3 5
2x
5
3
3
x
x

power
Find:
4x
x
4 1
3
2
2
3
4x x
0
x
x
x
x
lim
3
0
3
x 2 x 5
5
2x
5
2
3 2 3
3
x
x
x

power
Conclusion: When the denominator has
the highest power of x, the answer is zero.
For fractions, if the denominator
accelerates faster than the numerator, the
limit is zero.
Numerator has higher

power
Find:
5x 2 x 1
lim
x
1 3x
3

power
Find:
3
5x 2x
1
3
2
5x 2x 1
x
x
lim
x
x
1 3x
1 3x
x x

power
Find:
3
5x 2 x
1
3
2
2
5x 2 x 1
5
x
2x
x
x
x
lim
x
1 3x
1 3x
3
x x


power
Conclusion: When the numerator is the
the answer is
higher power ofx,
.
In the past example, the function reacts
like a negative second degree equation, so
answer
.
the
is
5x 2 x
5x
lim

x
3
3
2
Limits at Infinity
Example
5 1
3
2
3x 5 x 1
x
x
lim
lim
2
2 4
x
x
2 4x
x2
lim 3 lim 5 lim 1 2
x x x
x
x
lim 2 2 lim 4
x
x
x
2
3 0 0
3
04
4
Divide
2
by x
More Examples
2 x3 3x 2 2
1. lim 3
2
x
x
100
x
2 x3 3x 2 2
3 3
3
x
x
x
x 3 x 2 100 x 1
3 3 3
3
x
x
x
x
lim
x
lim
x
3 2
2 3
x x
1 100 1
1 2 3
x x
x
2
2
1
2.
4 x 5 x 21
lim
x 7 x 3 5 x 2 10 x 1
4 x 2 5 x 21
3 3
3
x
x
x
7 x3 5 x 2 10 x 1
3 3 3
3
x
x
x
x
lim
x
lim
x
7
0
4 5
21
2 3
x x
x
5 10 1
7 2 3
x x
x
3.
x 2 2 x 4
lim
x
12
x
31
x 2 2 x 4
x x
lim x
x
12 x 31
x
x
4
x 2 x
lim
x
31
12
x
12
4.
lim
lim
x
x 1 x
2
x2 1 x
x 1 x
x 2 1 x
x2 1 x2
lim
x
x 1 x
lim
x
x 1 x
1
1
0

2
Limits involving radicals

Find:
lim
3x 5
6x 8

Find:
lim
3x 5
6x 8
3x 5
lim
x 6 x 8

Find:
lim
3x 5
6x 8
3x 5 3 1
lim
x 6 x 8
2

Find:
x2 2
lim
x 3 x 6

Find:
x2 2
lim
x 3 x 6
2
x
2
2
2
x
x
lim
x 3 x
6
| x| | x|
x 2 | x |

x2 2
lim
x 3 x 6
Find:
x 2 | x |
x
2
2
2
1 2
2
x
x
lim x
x 3 x
6
3x 6
|x| | x|
x x
If x is approaching positive infinity, the absolute

value of x is just x.

Find:
2
x2 2
lim
x 3 x 6
x
2
2
2
1 2
2
1
x
x
x
lim
x 3 x
6
6
3
3
|x| |x|
x
x 2 | x |

Find:
x2 2
lim
x 3 x 6
x 2 | x |

Find:
x2 2
lim
x 3 x 6
x2 2
2
2
x
x
lim
x 3 x
6
| x| | x|
x 2 | x |

Find:
x2 2
lim
x 3 x 6
x 2 | x |
x2 2
2
2
1 2
2
1
x
x
x
lim
x 3 x
6
3x
6
3
|x| |x| x x
If x is approaching negative infinity, the
absolute value of x is the opposite of x.

Find:
lim ( x 6 5 x 3 )

Find:
lim ( x 6 5 x 3 )
lim ( x 6 5 x 3 )
( x6 5 x3 )
( x6 5 x3 )
lim
5
x6 5 x3

Find:
lim ( x 6 5 x 3 )
lim ( x 6 5 x 3 )
lim
( x6 5 x3 )
( x6 5 x3 )
5
x3
x6
x6
5
x6
x3
x3
lim
5
x6 5 x3
0
1 0 1

Find: lim ( x 6 5 x 3 x 3 )
x

Find: lim ( x 6 5 x 3 x 3 )
x
lim ( x 6 5 x 3 x 3 )
( x6 5x3 x3 )
( x 5x x )
6
lim
5x3
x6 5x3 x3

Find: lim ( x 6 5 x 3 x 3 )
x
lim ( x 6 5 x 3 x 3 )
lim
( x6 5x3 x3 )
( x 5x x )
6
5 x3
x3
x6
x6
5 x3
x6
x3
x3
lim
5
5
1 0 1 2
5x3
x6 5x3 x3
Limits of exponential and

logarithmic functions
lim ln x
lim ln x
x 0

Lets look at ex.
lim e x
lim e x 0

Lets look at e-x
lim e x 0
lim e x
Infinite Limits: One-sided

20
For all n > 0,

lim
x a
15
10
5
x a
-8
-6
-4
-2
2
-5
-10
-15
-20
40
lim
x a
30
x a
if n is even
20
10
-2
-10
-20
20
15
10
lim
xa
x a
if n is odd
5
-8
-6
-4
-2
2
-5
-10
-15
-20
Examples
Find the limits
1.
2.
3 x 2 2 x 1
lim
2
x 0
2x
3 2 1 2
x
x
= lim
x 0
2
2 x 1
2x 1
lim
= lim
x 3 2 x 6
x 3 2( x 3)
40
20
-8
-6
-4
-2
2
-20
Asymptotes
The line y L is called a horizontal asymptote
of the curve y f ( x) if either
lim f ( x) L or lim f ( x) L.
x
The line x c is called a vertical asymptote

of the curve y f ( x) if either
lim f ( x) or lim f ( x) .
x c
x c
Examples
Find the asymptotes of the graphs of the functions
x 1
1. f ( x) 2
x 1
(i) lim f ( x)
2
x 1
Therefore the line x 1

is a vertical asymptote.
(ii) lim f ( x) .
x 1

(iii) lim f ( x) 1.
x
Therefore the line y 1

is a horizonatl asymptote.
10
7.5
5
2.5
-4
-2
2
-2.5
-5
-7.5
-10
x 1
2. f ( x) 2
x 1
x 1
(i) lim f ( x) lim 2
x 1
x 1
x 1
x 1
1
= lim
lim
x 1
x 1
(
x
1)(
x
1)
x
(iii) lim f ( x) 0.
x
Therefore the line y 0

1
. is a horizonatl asymptote.
2
10
7.5
is NOT a vertical asymptote.
(ii) lim f ( x) .
x 1

5
2.5
-4
-2
2
-2.5
-5
-7.5
-10
Continuity
A function f is continuous at the point x = a
if the following are true:
i ) f (a ) is defined
ii ) lim f ( x) exists
x a
f(a)
a
A function f is continuous at the point x = a

if the following are true:
i ) f (a ) is defined
ii ) lim f ( x) exists
x a
iii ) lim f ( x) f (a)

xa
f(a)
a
Exampl
es
At which value(s) of x is the given

function discontinuous?
2
x 9
1. f ( x) x 2
2.
g ( x)
x3
Continuous
Continuous everywhere
everywhere
lim( x 2) a 2
except atx 3
xa
g (3) is undefined
and so lim f ( x) f (a)

x a
6
-6
-4
-2
-2
2
-4
-4
-2
2
-2
-6
-8
-10
1, if x 0
4. F ( x)
1, if x 0
x 2, if x 1
3. h( x)
1, if x 1
lim h( x ) 1
x 1
and lim h( x)
x 1
and
lim F ( x) 1
x 0
Thus F is not cont. at
Thus h is not cont. at

x=1.
lim F ( x) 1
x 0
x 0.
F is continuous everywhere else
h is continuous everywhere else

5
3
2
-10
-2
-5
5
-1
-1
-2
-3
-2
-3
10
Continuous Functions
If f and g are continuous at x = a, then
f g , fg , and f
g (a) 0
are continuous
at x a
A polynomial function y = P(x) is continuous
at every point x.
A rational function R( x) p( x) q( x)
is
continuous at every point x in its domain.
Intermediate Value
Theorem
If f is a continuous function on a closed interval [a,
b] and L is any number between f (a) and f (b),
then there is at least one number c in [a, b] such
that f(c) = L.
y f ( x)
f (b)
f (c) = L
f (a)
a c
Example
2
Given f ( x) 3 x 2 x 5,
Show that f ( x) 0 has a solution on 1, 2 .
f (1) 4 0
f (2) 3 0
f (x) is continuous (polynomial) and since f (1)
< 0 and f (2) > 0, by the Intermediate Value
Theorem there exists a c on [1, 2] such that f
(c) = 0.
Limits and
Horizontal
Asymptotes:
Limits at Infinity
Revisited
62
Limits at Infinity
This is a topic that we already
covered, but we will look at it
from a different perspective.
When we determine limits at infinity,
we are generally trying to find a
functions end behavior
behavior
When we examine a functions end
behavior, we want to know if it has
horizontal or slant asymptotes.
asymptotes
1
Recall the following
an x n an 1 x nrules
... for
a1 x a afunction
0
f
(
x
)
of the form: m
m 1
bm x bm 1 x ... b1 x b0
Limits at Infinity
If you examine the degree of the numerator and denominator, theres one of
three possibilities:
1.
n > m: The degree of the numerator is bigger than the

denominator (top heavy)
a)
2.
L=0
The horizontal asymptote is y = 0
n = m: The degree of the numerator is equal to the

denominator
a)
4.
There is no horizontal asymptote
n < m: The degree of the numerator is smaller than the

denominator (bottom heavy)
a)
3.
L =
an
L = bm
an
The horizontal asymptote is y = b
m
n = m + 1: The degree of the numerator is exactly one

more than the denominator
a)
L = the quotient using long division
Not horizontal, but

a slant asymptote
Limits at Infinity
Example 1: Find all vertical, horizontal, and
slant asymptotes:
1
f ( x)
x
What is the vertical asymptote?

There is a vertical asymptote at x = 0
What is the horizontal asymptote?

There is a horizontal asymptote at y = 0
What is the slant asymptote?

There are no slant asymptotes
Limits at Infinity
Example 2: Find all vertical, horizontal, and

slant asymptotes: f ( x) 2 x
3x 2 1

There are no vertical asymptotes


Limits at Infinity
Example 3: Find all vertical, horizontal, and slant
asymptotes: f ( x) 2 x 1
x

There is a vertical asymptote at x = 0


Limits at Infinity
Example 4: Find all vertical, horizontal, and slant asymptotes:
2
4x2 7x 4
4x 7x 4
f ( x) 2
2 x 3x 1 (2 x 1)( x 1)
What are the vertical asymptote?

There are vertical asymptotes at x = - and -1


Limits at Infinity
3 x 2 27 3( x 3)( x 3)
f ( x) 2
x 4
( x 2)( x 2)

There are vertical asymptotes at x = -2 and 2


Limits at Infinity
x 2 x 12
( x 4)( x 3)
( x 3)
f ( x) 2
2 x 5 x 12 (2 x 3)( x 4) (2 x 3)

There is a vertical asymptotes at x = -3/2

There is a horizontal asymptote at y =

Limits at Infinity
3 x 3 11x 2 x 2 (3x 11) x(3 x 11)

f ( x) 2
x 4x
x( x 4)
x4

There is a vertical asymptotes at x = 4

There are no horizontal asymptotes

There is a slant asymptote at y = 3x + 1 by long division
Limits at Infinity
x 3 8 ( x 2)( x 2 2 x 4)
f ( x)
x2 2x 4
x2
x2

There are no vertical asymptotes

There are no horizontal asymptotes

Limits at Infinity
Example 9: Heres a tough one Evaluate:
2
2
x
3
x
x
x
3x
x
3
x
lim x x 3 x
lim
lim
x
x
x x 2 3 x x x x 2 3 x
x x 2 3x
3x
3x
3x
x
x
lim
lim
lim
x
2
x
x x 2 3 x x x x 2 3x
x x 3x
x
x
x
x2
2
Divide everything by x
lim
3
2
x 3x
1 2 2
x
x
lim
3
3
1 1
x
Note : since x , x 0;
thus, x x 2
Apply the limit
3
3
2
1 1 0

Limits at Infinity and Continuity

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Limits at Infinity and Continuity

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Limits at

Explore the End Behavior

If the leading coefficient of the polynomial

Limits of Rational Functions

Limits of Rational Functions

Limits of Rational Functions

Question: What is the value of

But We Can Approach It!

The limit of 1/x as x

We will divide the numerator and

We will divide the numerator and

Denominator has higher

Denominator has higher

Denominator has higher

Denominator has higher

Numerator has higher

Numerator has higher

Numerator has higher

Numerator has higher

Limits involving radicals

Limits involving radicals

Limits involving radicals

Limits involving radicals

Limits involving radicals

Limits involving radicals

If x is approaching positive infinity, the absolute

Limits involving radicals

Limits involving radicals

Limits involving radicals

Limits involving radicals

Limits involving radicals

Limits involving radicals

Limits involving radicals

Limits involving radicals

Limits involving radicals

Limits involving radicals

Limits of exponential and

Limits of exponential and

Limits of exponential and

Infinite Limits: One-sided

For all n > 0,

The line x c is called a vertical asymptote

Therefore the line x 1

Therefore the line x 1

Therefore the line y 1

Therefore the line y 0

Therefore the line x 1

is NOT a vertical asymptote.

Therefore the line x 1

A function f is continuous at the point x = a

iii ) lim f ( x) f (a)

At which value(s) of x is the given

and so lim f ( x) f (a)

Thus F is not cont. at

Thus h is not cont. at

F is continuous everywhere else

h is continuous everywhere else

n > m: The degree of the numerator is bigger than the

The horizontal asymptote is y = 0

n = m: The degree of the numerator is equal to the

There is no horizontal asymptote

n < m: The degree of the numerator is smaller than the

n = m + 1: The degree of the numerator is exactly one

L = the quotient using long division