Chapter 1. Limits and Continuity 1.3. Limits Involving Infinity
Chapter 1. Limits and Continuity 1.3. Limits Involving Infinity
Denition. Formal Denition of Limits at Innity. (NOT IN 10TH EDITION!) 1. We say that f (x) has the limit L as x approaches innity and we write
x+
lim f (x) = L
x>M
|f (x) L| < .
2. We say that f (x) has the limit L as x approaches negative innity and we write
x
lim f (x) = L
x<N
|f (x) L| < .
Denition. Informal Denition of Limits Involving Innity. 1. We say that f (x) has the limit L as x approaches innity and write
x+
lim f (x) = L
if, as x moves increasingly far from the origin in the positive direction, f (x) gets arbitrarily close to L. 2. We say that f (x) has the limit L as x approaches negative innity and write
x
lim f (x) = L
if, as x moves increasingly far from the origin in the negative direction, f (x) gets arbitrarily close to L.
1 = 0. x
Solution. Let > 0 be given. We must nd a number M such that for all 1 1 < . 0 = x x The implication will hold if M = 1/ or any larger positive number (see 1 the gure below). This proves x = 0. We can similarly prove that lim x 1 = 0. QED lim x x x>M
2
lim f (x) = L
x
and
lim = M,
then
1. Sum Rule: lim (f (x) + g(x)) = L + M 2. Dierence Rule: lim (f (x) g(x)) = L M
x
f (x) L = ,M = 0 x g(x) M
Note. As in section 1.1, there is an error in the text with part 6 of 1 Theorem 7, as can be seen by considering lim which clearly does x x not exist (but would be 0 by the use of Theorem 7, part 6 as stated in the text, with f (x) = 1/x, r = 1 and s = 2). Example. Page 122 number 10.
Denition. Innite Limits 1. We say that f (x) approaches innity as x approaches x0, and we write
xx0
lim f (x) = ,
if for every positive real number B there exists a corresponding > 0 such that for all x 0 < |x x0| < f (x) > B.
2. We say that f (x) approaches negative innity as x approaches x0, and we write
xx0
lim f (x) = ,
if for every negative real number B there exists a corresponding > 0 such that for all x 0 < |x x0| < f (x) < B.
making x suciently close to x0 (and similarly for f approaching negative innity). We can also dene one-sided innite limits in an analogous manner.
Denition. Horizontal and Vertical Asymptotes. A line y = b is a horizontal asymptote of the graph of a function y = f (x) if either
x
lim f (x) = b
or
lim f (x) = b.
lim f (x) =
or
xa
lim f (x) = .
Example. Page 122 number 32. Denition. End Behavior Model The function g is (a) a right end behavior model for f if and only if lim x f (x) =1 g(x)
(b) a left end behavior model for f if and only if f (x) = 1. x g(x) lim Denition. If g(x) = mx + b where m = 0 is an end behavior model for f , then f is said to have an oblique (or slant) asymptote of y = mx + b. Example. Page 122 number 38.
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