MATHS 101/121: Calculus I
1
Section 2.6: Limits at Infinity; Horizontal Asymptotes
Dr. Jasim Ismaeel
University of Bahrain
First Semester 2023-2024
1
Based on the textbook by Stewart, Clegg, and Watson: Single Variable Calculus,
Early Transcendentals (Metric Version), 2020, 9th Edition, Cengage Learning.
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Example
x2 1
Consider the function f (x) = 2 and its graph below.
x +1
Notice that as x grows larger and larger, the values of f (x) get closer and
closer to 1. We express this by saying
x2 1
lim =1
x!1 x 2 + 1
and we call the horizontal line y = 1 a horizontal asymptote.
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Definition
Let f be a function defined on some interval (a, 1). Then
lim f (x) = L or [f (x) ! L as x ! 1]
x!1
means that the values of f (x) can be made arbitrarily close to L by
requiring x to be sufficiently large.
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Definition
Let f be a function defined on some interval ( 1, a). Then
lim f (x) = L or [f (x) ! L as x ! 1]
x! 1
means that the values of f (x) can be made arbitrarily close to L by
requiring x to be sufficiently large negative.
Example 1
Example 2
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Ex 3 Page 137
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Ex 4 Page 137
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To evaluate the limit at infinity of a rational function:
Method 1: divide both the numerator and the denominator by the highest
power of x that occurs in the denominator, simplify, and use the theorem
above.
Theorem
If r > 0 is a rational number such that x r is defined for all x, then
1 1
lim r = 0 or lim r = 0
x!1 x x! 1 x
Method 2: keep the leading terms of both polynomials and use the
following fact: 8
>
> 0 if n < m
ax n < a
lim m
= if n = m
x!±1 bx >
> b
:±1 if n > m
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Example
Evaluate the following limit
3x 2 x 2
lim
x!1 5x 2 + 4x + 1
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Example
Evaluate the following limits
x2 + 4 x 3 + 2x
1 lim 2 lim
x!1 x 3 + x 1 x! 1 x 6
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Example
p
2x 2 + 1
Evaluate the following limit: lim .
x!1 3x 5
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Example
p
1 + 4x 6
Evaluate the following limit: lim 3
.
x! 1 2 x
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Example
Evaluate the following limit
p
lim ( x 2 + 1 x)
x!1
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Infinite Limits at Infinity
The values of f (x) become large as x becomes
lim f (x) = 1
x!1 large
The values of f (x) become large as x becomes
lim f (x) = 1
x! 1 large negative
The values of f (x) become large negative as x
lim f (x) = 1
x!1 becomes large
The values of f (x) become large negative as x
lim f (x) = 1
x! 1 becomes large negative
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Example
Evaluate the following limits:
1 lim x 3
x!1
2 lim x 3
x! 1
3 lim (x 2 x)
x!1
x2 + x
4 lim
x!1 3 x
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Exercise 21 Page 138
p
4 x
Evaluate lim p .
x!1 2 + x
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