C4

Basic Calculus

ALWAYS FILL-OUT THIS PORTION ↓

Name: ______________________________ Grade level and Section: _______________
Lesson: Infinite Limits and Limits at Infinity Date: _______________________________

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate infinite limits.

General Directions: Copy and answer on a 1 whole sheet of yellow paper. Study the following
examples.

Concept Notes

INFINITE LIMITS
If the function values decrease or increase without bounds as the independent variable gets
closer and closer to a certain fixed number, then the function has an infinite limit.

Example 1. Evaluate each of the following limits.

2 2 2
a. lim+ 𝑥−3 b. lim− 𝑥−3 c. lim 𝑥−3
𝑥→3 𝑥→3 𝑥→3

SOLUTION:
2
a. lim+ 𝑥−3
𝑥→3
Construct the table of values.
𝑥 5 4 3.5 3.2 3.01 3.001 3.00001
𝑓(𝑥) 1 2 4 10 200 2,000 200,000

It appears that,
2
lim+ = +∞
𝑥→3 𝑥−3
2
b. lim
𝑥→3− 𝑥−3
Construct the table of values.
𝑥 -4 -2 0 1 2 2.99 2.9999
𝑓(𝑥) -0.2857 -0.4 -0.6667 -1 -2 -200 -20,000

It appears that,
2
lim = −∞
𝑥→3− 𝑥 −3
2 2
c. lim ≠ lim− 𝑥−3
𝑥→3+ 𝑥−3 𝑥→3
2
Hence, lim does not exist.
𝑥→3 𝑥−3
Graph:
The broken line that the graph of the function
approaches but never touches is called the vertical
asymptote. To find the vertical asymptote:

𝑥−3=0

𝑥=3
vertical
asymptote The vertical asymptote is 𝑥 = 3.

Prepared by: Ms. Rinalyn D. Saballe

 C4
Basic Calculus

LIMITS AT INFINITY
In infinite limits, the values of the function decrease or increase without bound as the
independent variable approaches a certain fixed number. This time, the independent variable either
decreases or increases without bound.

1
Example 2. Consider the function defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥
1 1
Evaluate a. lim b. lim
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥 𝑥→−∞ 𝑥

SOLUTION:
1
a. lim
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥

Construct the table of values.

𝑥 0.5 1 3 7 10 100 10,000
𝑓(𝑥) 2 1 0.33 0.1429 0.1 0.01 0.0001

Hence,
1
lim =0
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥

1
b. lim
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥

Construct the table of values.

𝑥 -0.5 -1 -3 -7 -10 -100 -10,000
𝑓(𝑥) -2 -1 -0.33 -0.1429 -0.1 -0.01 -0.0001

Hence,
1
lim =0
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥

Graph:

If n is a positive integer, then

1
a. lim =0
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥 𝑛
1
b. lim =0
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥 𝑛

𝟓𝒙−𝟒
Example 3. Find 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→+∞ 𝟐𝒙+𝟑
SOLUTION:

4
5𝑥 − 4 5−𝑥
lim
𝑥→+∞ 2𝑥 + 3
= lim
𝑥→+∞ 3 Thus,
2+𝑥
lim 5 − lim 𝑥
4
lim 5 − lim 4 ∙ lim
1 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟒 𝟓
= 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞
= 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞𝑥
=
5−4 ∙0
=𝟐
𝟓 𝐥𝐢𝐦 =
3 1
2 + 3 ∙0 𝒙→+∞ 𝟐𝒙 +𝟑 𝟐
lim 2 + lim 𝑥 lim 2 + lim 3 ∙ lim 𝑥
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞

Prepared by: Ms. Rinalyn D. Saballe

 C4
Basic Calculus

𝟒𝒙−𝟑
Example 4. Find the 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→+∞ √𝟑𝒙−𝟐
SOLUTION:

4𝑥 3
− 2
4𝑥 − 3 2
lim = lim √𝑥 √𝑥
𝑥→+∞ √3𝑥 − 2 𝑥→+∞ √3𝑥 2 − 2

√𝑥 2
4𝑥 3 1 1
− 4−3∙𝑥 lim 4 − lim 3 ∙ lim 𝑥 4−3∙0 4 √3 𝟒√𝟑
= lim 𝑥 𝑥
= lim = 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞
= = ∙ =
𝑥→+∞ √3𝑥2 −2 𝑥→+∞ √3−2 ∙ 1 1
√ lim 3− lim 2 ∙ lim 2 √3−2∙0 √3 √3 𝟑
𝑥2 𝑥2 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥

Thus,

𝟒𝒙 − 𝟑 𝟒√𝟑
𝐥𝐢𝐦 =
𝒙→+∞ √𝟑𝒙 −𝟐 𝟑

Example 5. Evaluate lim (−6𝑥 5 + 3𝑥 2 − 2)

Limits at Infinity of Polynomials 𝑥→−∞
SOLUTION:
If r is a positive integer, then
3 2
lim (−6𝑥 5 + 3𝑥 2 − 2) = [𝑥 5 (−6 + 𝑥3 − 𝑥5 )]
1. lim 𝑥 = +∞ 𝑟 𝑥→−∞
3 2
𝑥→+∞
+∞ 𝑖𝑓 𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 = [ lim 𝑥 5 ∙ lim (−6 + 𝑥3 − 𝑥5 )]
2. lim 𝑥 𝑟 = {−∞ 𝑖𝑓 𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑑𝑑
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥→−∞
𝑥→−∞ = −∞ (−6 + 0 − 0)
= −∞ (−6)
= +∞

Thus,

𝐥𝐢𝐦 (−𝟔𝒙𝟓 + 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐) = +∞

𝒙→−∞

ACE IT !

A. Construct the table of values , sketch the graph, and find the vertical asymptote.
3
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+1
3 3
𝑎. lim− b. lim+
𝑥→−1 𝑥+1 𝑥→−1 𝑥+1
3
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥−3)2
3 3
𝑎. lim− (𝑥−3)2 b. lim+ (𝑥−3)2
𝑥→3 𝑥→3

B. Evaluate the following limits.

5𝑥−2
3. lim
𝑥→+∞ 3𝑥+1
4𝑥 2 −5
4. lim
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥 2 +6
6𝑥−5
5. lim
𝑥→−∞ √4𝑥 2 −3

C. Evaluate lim (3𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 − 15)

𝑥→−∞

Prepared by: Ms. Rinalyn D. Saballe