59

LESSON 8: Infinite Limits

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:

 define limits at infinity;
 illustrate the infinite limits;
 identify and illustrate horizontal and vertical asymptotes; and
 use the theorems to evaluate the limits of functions.

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES:

Discovery method is suggested to supplement class discussion.

PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT:

After the discussion, ask the students to evaluate limits of the given
functions. Determine the horizontal and vertical asymptotes if any, and show
them in the graphs of given functions.

DISCUSSION OF THE TOPICS:

Limits of Infinity

The limit of a function as its variable increases without bound illustrates

the limit at infinity.

The notation,

lim f ( x )
x ��

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

behavior of f(x) as x increases without bound.

If f(x) approaches a finite number L, then we write

lim f ( x ) = L .
x ��

If f(x) increases or decreases without bound, then we write

lim f ( x ) = � or lim f ( x ) = -�
x �� x ��
 60

Infinite Limits

Theorem 1

If r is any positive integer, then

1
a) lim+ = +�
x �0 xr

1 � -�if r is odd
b) lim- r
=�
x �0 x +�if r is even
�

Example 8.1: Evaluate

1 1
a. lim+ = +� b. lim+ = +�
x �0 x4 x �0 x5

1 1
c. lim- = +� d. lim- = -�
x �0 x4 x �0 x5

Theorem 2

If a is any real number and if lim f ( x ) = 0 and lim g ( x ) = c , where c is a

x �a x �a

constant �0, then

a) if c > 0 and if f(x) � 0 through (+) values of f(x),

g(x )
lim = +�
x �a f (x)

b) if c > 0 and if f(x) � 0 through (-) values of f(x),

g(x )
lim = -�
x �a f ( x )

c) if c < 0 and f(x) � 0 through (+) values of f(x),

g(x )
lim = -�
x �a f ( x )
 61

d) if c < 0 and if f(x) � 0 through (-) values of f(x),

g(x )
lim = +�
x �a f (x)

Note:

The above illustration is also valid if “x � a” is replaced by “x � a+” or “x �

a-”.

3x 3x 3x
Example 8.2. Evaluate: a) lim- b) lim+ c) lim =�
x �2 x-2 x �2 x - 2 x �2 x - 2

Solution:

3x
a) lim-
x �2 x - 2

independently, xlim 3 x = 6 and (+) ;

�2-

lim ( x - 2 ) = 0
x �2-

3x 6
\ lim- = = -�
x �2 x-2 0

Since x � 2-, take a value of x near 2 from left, say x = 1.8

3x 5.4
lim = = (-) 27 , therefore
x �1.8 x - 2 - 0.2

3x
lim- =-�
x �2 x-2

3x
b) lim+
x �2 x-2

3x 6
similarly, lim+ = + = +�
x �2 x-2 0
 62

Since x � 2+, take a value of x near 3 from right, say 2.2, so

3x 7.2
lim = = (+) 36, therefore
x �2.2 x - 2 0.2

3x
lim+ =+�
x �2 x - 2

3x 3x 3x
c) lim = � , since lim- = - � and lim+ = + � that is, the
x �2 x - 2 x �2 x - 2 x �2 x - 2

limit can be evaluated from both sides of x=2.

Theorem 3

a) If lim f ( x ) = +� , and lim g ( x ) = C , then

x �a x �a

lim [ f ( x ) + g ( x )] = +�
( +�) + c = +�
note:
x �a
( -�) + c = -�

b) If lim f ( x ) = -� , and lim g ( x ) = C , then

x �a x �a

lim [ f ( x ) + g ( x )] = -�
x �a

where C is any constant

2 2 1
Example 8.3. If lim+ = + � and lim+ = ,
x �3 x-3 x �3 x + 3 3

�2 2 �
then lim+ � + =+�
x �3 �x-3 x + 3�
�
 63

Theorem 4

From Theorem 3a, if C is any constant except 0, then

a) lim f ( x ) • g ( x ) = +� , if C > 0 and

x �a

f ( x ) • g ( x ) = -� , if C < 0.
( +�) ( +c ) = +�
b) lim note:
x �a
( -�) ( +c ) = -�

2x 2x
Example 8.4. If lim+ = + � and lim- = + 1,
x �1 x-1 x �1 x + 1

� 2x x - 3�
then lim
x �1 �
• �= +�
�x - 1 x + 1�

Theorem 5

From Theorem 3b, if C is any constant except 0, then

a) lim f ( x ) • g ( x ) = -� , if C > 0 and

x �a

f ( x ) • g ( x ) = +� , if C < 0.
( -�) ( +c ) = -�
b) lim note:
x �a
( -�) ( -c ) = +�

3x 2x - 6 1
Example 8.5. If lim- = - � and lim- =- ,
x �2 x-2 x �2 x + 4 2

� 3x 2x - 6 �
then lim- � • = +�
x �2 �x - 2 x + 4� �
 64

4x 2
Example 8.6. Evaluate lim-
x �3 9 - x
2

Solution:
4 ( 3)
2
4x2 36
lim = = + = +�
x �3- 9 - x 9-3
2 2
0

4x 2
Example 8.7. Evaluate lim+
x �3 9 - x2
Solution:
4x 2 36
lim- = - = -�
x �3 9-x 2
0

4x 2
Example 8.8 Evaluate lim
x �3 9 - x 2

Solution:

It was evaluated from the previous problems (see examples 8.1 and 8.2) that:
4x 2 4x 2
lim- = +� and lim = -�
x �3 9 - x x �3+ 9 - x
2 2

4x 2
\ lim = � or the two sided limit exists.
x �3 9 - x 2

Supplementary Table:

Two-Sided From the Left From the Right

� +� -�
� -� +�
+� +� +�
-� -� -�
 65

t +2
Example 8.9. Evaluate lim-
x �2 t2 - 4
Solution:
t +2 2+2 4
lim- = 2 = - = -�
x �2 t -4 2 -4 0
2

16 - x 2
Example 8.10. Evaluate lim-
x �4 x-4
Solution:
( )
2
16 - x 2 16 - 4- 0+
lim = = (indeterminate)
x �4 - x-4 4- - 4 0+

Rationalizing the numerator:

16 - x 2 16 - x 2 16 - x 2
lim � = lim-
x �4 - x-4 16 - x 2 x �4 ( x - 4 ) 16 - x 2

( 4 - x) ( 4 + x) - ( x - 4) ( 4 + x )
� lim- = lim-
x �4
( x - 4 ) 16 - x 2 x �4
( x - 4) 16 - x 2

� lim-
-( 4 + x)
=
(
- 4 + 4- ) =
-8
= -�
0+
16 - x 16 - ( 4 )
x �4 2 2
-

x2 + x + 2
Example 8.11 Evaluate lim
x �3 x 2 - 2 x - 3

Solution:
( 3 ) + 3 + 2 = 14 = �
2
x2 + x + 2
lim 2 =
x �3 x - 2 x - 3
( 3) - 2 ( 3) - 3 0
2

x2 + x + 2
The two-sided limit exists: lim =�
x �3 x 2 - 2x - 3
x2 + x + 2 x2 + x + 2
considering that the lim- = -� and lim = +�
x �3 x 2 - 2x - 3 x �3+ x - 2 x - 3
2
 66

Theorem 6

If r is any positive integer, then

1
a) lim r = 0
x � +� x

1
b) lim r = 0
x � -� x

5 x 3 - 12 x + 7
Example 8.12. Evaluate lim
x � -� 4x 2 - 1
Solution:
5 x 3 - 12 x + 7 -�+ �+ 7 �
lim = =
x �-� 4x 2 - 1 �- 1 �

Divide both the numerator and the denominator by x 3:

�1 �
( )
5 x 3 - 12 x + 7 � 3 � 12 7
5- 2 + 3
lim �x �= lim x x = 5 = ?�
�1 � 4 1
( ) 0
x � -� x �-�
4x 2 - 1 � 3 � - 3
�x � x x

� 12 7 �
5 - 2 + 3 �= 5 > 0
lim �
� x
x � -� x �

�4 1 �
lim � - 3 �= 0 but f ( x ) � 0 thru negative values of f(x)
x � -� x
� x �
12 7
5- +
5 x 3 - 12 x + 7 x 2 x 3 = 5 = -�
\ lim = lim
x �- � 4x 2 - 1 x �- � 4 1 0-
- 3
x x
 67

EXERCISES:

Evaluate the limits of the following analytically.

x+2
1. lim+
x �2 x2 - 4

3 + t2
2. lim-
t �0 t

2 - 4x3
3. lim+
x �0 5x 2 + 3x 3

x 3 + 9 x 2 + 20 x
4. lim-
x �3 x 2 + x - 12

2x + 1
5. lim3 +
x�2 2x 2 + x - 3

x2 - x - 6
6. lim-
x �3 x -3

2x 3 - 3 x 2 + 1
7. lim
x �� 5 x 3 - 4 x + 7

( 3 x - 2 ) ( 2x + 4 )
8. xlim
�� ( 2x + 1) ( x + 2 )