Infinite Limits

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.

Here, the function has an infinite limit if the limit of the denominator is 0 and the limit of the numerator is
not zero.

Example:
Evaluate the following limits.
Construct the table of values:
2
a.) lim
𝑥→3− 𝑥−3 a.) -2 -1 0 1 2 2.5 2.7 2.9 2.99 2.999
2 -0.4 -0.5 -0.67 -1 -2 -4 -6.67 -20 -200 -2000
b.) lim
𝑥→3+ 𝑥−3
2 b.) 6 5 4 3.7 3.5 3.2 3.1 3.01 3.001 3.0001
c.) lim 0.67 1 2 2.86 4 10 20 200 2000 20000
𝑥→3 𝑥−3
2 2 2
c.) lim+ ≠ lim− ; Hence lim does not exist
𝑥→3 𝑥−3 𝑥→3 𝑥−3 𝑥→3 𝑥−3
THE BROKEN LINE THAT
THE GRAPH OF THE VERTICAL ASYMPTOTE
FUNCTION APPROACHES
BUT NEVER TOUCHES IS
CALLED THE VERTICAL
ASYMPTOTE.

TO FIND THE VERTICAL

ASYMPTOTE, SET THE
DENOMINATOR TO ZERO
AND SOLVE FOR X
 2
Consider the function defined by: 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−4 2

Evaluate:

2
𝑎. ) lim− 2
𝑥→4 𝑥 − 4

2
𝑏. ) lim+ 2
𝑥→4 𝑥 − 4

2
𝑐. )lim 2
𝑥→4 𝑥 − 4
Construct the table of values:

2
𝑎. ) lim− 2
𝑥→4 𝑥 − 4

x 1 2 3 3.3 3.6 3.9 3.99

f(x) 0.2222 0.5 2 4.0816 12.5 200 20,000

It appears that the limit of f(x) as x approaches 4 from the left side is +∞

2
lim− 2
= +∞
𝑥→4 𝑥 − 4
Construct the table of values:

2
𝑏. ) lim+ 2
𝑥→4 𝑥 − 4

x 6 5 4.7 4.4 4.1 4.01 4.001

f(x) 0.5 2 4.0816 12.5 200 20,000 2,000,000

It appears that the limit of f(x) as x approaches 4 from the right side is +∞

2
lim+ 2
= +∞
𝑥→4 𝑥 − 4

Hence:
2
𝑐. )lim 2
= +∞
𝑥→4 𝑥 − 4
Limits as “x” approaches zero
 1
Consider the function defined by 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥
Evaluate the following:
a.) lim+ 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→0

b.) lim− 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥→0

Solution:
𝑎. ) lim+ 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→0

5 4 3 2 1 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.001 0.0001

0.2 0.25 0.3333 0.5 1 2 3.3333 10 1000 10,000

lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞
𝑥→0
 1
Consider the function defined by 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥
Evaluate the following:
a.) lim+ 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→0

b.) lim− 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥→0

Solution:
𝑏. ) lim− 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→0

-10 -5 -3 -1 -0.5 -0.1 -0.01 -0.001

-0.1 -0.2 -0.33 -1 -2 -10 -100 -1000

lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = −∞
𝑥→0
 1
Consider the function defined by 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥2
If “r” is positive integer then:
1
1. ) lim+ 𝑟
= +∞
𝑥→0 𝑥
+∞
{ -∞
1 if “r” is even
2. ) lim− 𝑟
𝑥→0 𝑥 if “r” is odd
Types of Infinity
1. ) ∞ + 𝑎 = ∞ ; 𝑎 ≠ −∞
2. ) 𝑎 − ∞ = −∞; 𝑎 ≠ ∞
3. ) 𝑎 ∗ ∞ = ∞, 𝑖𝑓 𝑎 > 0
4. ) 𝑎 ∗ ∞ = −∞; 𝑖𝑓 𝑎 < 0
5. ) ∞ ∗ ∞ = ∞
6. ) − ∞ ∗ −∞ = ∞
7. ) − ∞ ∗ ∞ = −∞
∞
8. ) = ∞ ; 𝑖𝑓 𝑎 > 0, 𝑎 ≠ ∞
𝑎
−∞
9. ) = −∞; 𝑖𝑓 𝑎 > 0
𝑎
𝑎
10. ) =0
+∞
𝑎
11. ) =0
−∞
 5𝑥−4
Example: Given that 𝑓 𝑥 =
2𝑥+3

𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑: lim 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥→+∞

Solution: Factor out the largest power of x occurring either the numerator
and denominator.
 𝑥−2
Example: Given that 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥 2 −3

𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑: lim 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥→+∞
 7+4𝑥 2
Example: Given that 𝑓 𝑥 =
2𝑥+5

𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑: lim 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥→+∞
Limits at Infinity of Polynomials
If “r” is any positive integer, then

1. lim 𝑥 𝑟 = +∞
𝑥→+∞

{ −∞ if “r” is odd
+∞ if “r” is even
2. lim 𝑥 𝑟 =
𝑥→−∞
Evaluate:
lim (−6𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 2) lim (−6𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 2)
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→−∞

3
3 2
𝑥 −6 + − 3 = 𝑥 3 −6 = ∞ ∞ ∞ −6 = −∞
𝑥 𝑥

3
3 2
𝑥 −6 + − 3 = 𝑥 3 −6 = −∞ −∞ −∞ −6 = +∞
𝑥 𝑥
 7𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 15 7
lim 2
=
𝑥→+∞ 2𝑥 − 3𝑥 2

lim (3𝑥 4 − 15𝑥 3 − 9) = 𝑥 4 3 = +∞

𝑥→+∞

lim (3𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 − 15) = 𝑥 3 3 = −∞

𝑥→−∞
Reference:
Next Century Mathematics (Basic Calculus)
Jesus P. Mercado
https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/classes/calcI/typesofinfinity.aspx