Math 134
limits and Asymptotes
Week 3
Last Week
A sequence is a list of numbers written in a definite order
a1 , a2 , a3 , . . . , an , . . .
Explicit sequences: We have a formula for the nth term of the sequence.
Recursive sequences: (also known as difference equations): The nth term of the sequence
depends on some of the terms that precede it.
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 2 / 42
A recursive sequence also is called a difference equation.
Examples of first-order difference equations are
Nt+1 = RNt
bn+1 = c + rbn
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 3 / 42
This Week
limits of functions as x → ±∞.
limits of functions as x → a.
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 4 / 42
Limits of Functions
We extend the concept of a limit at infinity for sequences to functions, and ask: what
behaviour does a function f (x) exhibit for large x (in both positive and negative sense).
We then extend the concept of a limit at infinity to a limit at a given value of x, say
x = a, and ask: what happens to the values of f (x) as x approaches a?
Asking these sorts of questions gives a lot of insight about the graph of f (x), about how the
function f (x) ‘behaves’ in different regions of its domain.
Also, the concept of the limit lies at the heart of calculus, and allows us to define
instantaneous rates of change and derivatives. More on that later.
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 5 / 42
Limits at Infinity
Let f be a function defined on some interval (a, ∞). We write
lim f (x) = L1
x→∞
if L1 is a finite number such that the values of f (x) can be made arbitrarily close to L1 for
x sufficiently large positive.
Let f be a function defined on some interval (−∞, a). We write
lim f (x) = L2
x→−∞
if L2 is a finite number such that the values of f (x) can be made arbitrarily close to L for
x sufficiently large negative.
The lines y = L1 and y = L2 is called a horizontal asymptotes if they exist and
either lim f (x) = L1 or lim f (x) = L2 (or both)
x→∞ x→−∞
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 6 / 42
Limits at Infinity
If f (x) does not approach a finite number L as x gets large positive, then we say that the
limit does not exist (DNE), and we generally write
lim f (x) DNE.
x→∞
Similarly, If f (x) does not approach a finite number L as x gets large negative, then we
say that the limit does not exist (DNE), and we generally write
lim f (x) DNE.
x→−∞
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 7 / 42
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 8 / 42
Limits at Infinity
The notation
lim f (x) = ∞
x→∞
is used to indicate that the values of f (x) become large as x becomes large.
Similar notations are attached to the following symbols:
lim f (x) = ∞
x→−∞
lim f (x) = −∞
x→∞
lim f (x) = −∞
x→−∞
Please note that ∞ and −∞ are not numbers. Hence even if
lim f (x) = ∞,
x→∞
we keep in mind that the limit DNE (does not exist).
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 9 / 42
Three Starter Examples
5
1 lim
x→∞ x
2 lim cos(x)
x→∞
√
3 lim x
x→∞
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 10 / 42
Question 3.1: Finding the Limit
Find the limit.
√
t + t2
lim
t→∞ 2t − t 2
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 11 / 42
Question 3.1: Finding the Limit
Find the limit.
√
t + t2
lim
t→∞ 2t − t 2
(a) 1
2
(b) -1
(c) 1
(d) ∞
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 11 / 42
Question 3.2: Finding the Limit
Find the limit.
x 4 − 3x 2 + x
lim
x→∞ x 3 − x + 2
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 12 / 42
Question 3.2: Finding the Limit
Find the limit.
x 4 − 3x 2 + x
lim
x→∞ x 3 − x + 2
(a) 0
(b) 3
(c) 1
(d) ∞
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 12 / 42
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 13 / 42
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 14 / 42
Question 3.3: Finding the Limit
Find the limit.
p
lim 9x 2 + x − 3x
x→∞
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 15 / 42
Question 3.3: Finding the Limit
Find the limit.
p
lim 9x 2 + x − 3x
x→∞
(a)
1
3
(b)
1
6
(c) 1
(d) ∞
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 15 / 42
Question 3.4: Finding the Limit
What is the maximum number of horizontal asymptotes that a function can have?
(a) one
(b) two
(c) three
(d) as many as we want
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 16 / 42
Question 3.5: Finding the Limit
True or False
A function can cross its horizontal asymptote.
(a) True
(b) False
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 17 / 42
Limits of the exponential function
lim e x = ∞, lim e x = 0
x→∞ x→−∞
lim e −x = 0, lim e −x = ∞
x→∞ x→−∞
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 18 / 42
Question 3.6: Gauss’ logistic model
Gauss (1910-1986) used the following model to describe the growth Paramecium yeast in a
petri dish. If P(t) denotes the population size at time t then
64
P(t) =
1 + 31e −0.7944t
Find the initial population and the limiting population.
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 19 / 42
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 20 / 42
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 21 / 42
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 22 / 42
The function f (x) has a limit at a if
lim f (x) = lim+ f (x) = L.
x→a− x→a
In that case we write
lim f (x) = L
x→a
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 23 / 42
Question 3.7:
x + 3, for x ≤ 2,
f (x) = √ lim f (x) =? lim f (x) =?
x, for x > 2, x→2− x→2+
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 24 / 42
Assume lim f (x) and lim g (x) both exist, and c is a constant.
x→a x→a
1. lim [f (x) ± g (x)] = lim f (x) ± lim g (x)
x→a x→a x→a
2. lim cf (x) = c lim f (x)
x→a x→a
3. lim f (x)g (x) = lim f (x) lim g (x)
x→a x→a x→a
f (x) lim f (x)
4. lim = x→a , lim g (x) ̸= 0
x→a g (x) lim g (x) x→a
x→a
5. lim [f (x)]n = ( lim f (x))n
x→a x→a
6. lim c = c
x→a
7. lim x n = an , n = 1, 2, 3, 4,
x→a p q
8. lim n f (x) = n lim f (x),
x→a x→a
(If n is even, lim f (x) ≥ 0)
x→a
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 25 / 42
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 26 / 42
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 27 / 42
Question 3.8: Limits
Evaluate the limit, if it exists.
x 2 − 5x + 6
lim
x→3 x −3
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 28 / 42
Question 3.8: Limits
Evaluate the limit, if it exists.
x 2 − 5x + 6
lim
x→3 x −3
(a) ∞
(b) 1
(c) 0
(d) 2
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 28 / 42
Question 3.9: Limits
Evaluate the limit, if it exists.
(4 + h)2 − 16
lim
h→0 h
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 29 / 42
Question 3.9: Limits
Evaluate the limit, if it exists.
(4 + h)2 − 16
lim
h→0 h
(a) 1
(b) 8
(c) 4
(d) DNE
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 29 / 42
Question 3.10: Limits
Evaluate the limit, if it exists.
1
4+ x1
lim
x→−4 4+x
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 30 / 42
Question 3.10: Limits
Evaluate the limit, if it exists.
1
4+ x1
lim
x→−4 4+x
(a) 1
(b) 4
1
(c) −
16
(d) DNE
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 30 / 42
Question 3.11: Limits
Evaluate the limit, if it exists.
√
4− x
lim
x→16 16x − x 2
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 31 / 42
Question 3.11: Limits
Evaluate the limit, if it exists.
√
4− x
lim
x→16 16x − x 2
(a)
1
128
(b)
1
64
(c)
1
32
(d) DNE
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 31 / 42
Infinite Limits and Vertical Asymptotes
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 32 / 42
Vertical Asymptotes
Definitions
Let a be a point in the domain of f (x). Then
lim f (x) = ∞,
x→a
means that we can make f (x) arbitrarily large positive by taking x sufficiently close to a.
Corresponding definitions for one-handed limits and limits going to −∞.
The line x = a is called a vertical asymptote for the curve y = f (x) if one (or more) of
the following statements is true:
lim f (x) = ∞, lim f (x) = ∞, lim f (x) = ∞
x→a x→a− x→a+
lim f (x) = −∞, lim f (x) = −∞, lim f (x) = −∞
x→a x→a− x→a+
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 33 / 42
Question 3.12
1
limx→1− x−1
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 34 / 42
Question 3.13:
e x−1
lim
x→−1− x +1
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 35 / 42
Question 3.14:
x(1 − x 2 )
Find all horizontal and vertical asymptotes for f (x) = .
8 − x3
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 36 / 42
Question 3.14:
x(1 − x 2 )
Find all horizontal and vertical asymptotes for f (x) = .
8 − x3
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 36 / 42
The Squeeze Theorem
Let h(x) ≤ f (x) ≤ g (x) for all x in an open interval I containing a, and
lim h(x) = lim g (x) = l, then lim f (x) = l.
x→a x→a x→a
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 37 / 42
Question 3.15:
Evaluate the limit:
1
lim x 2 cos( )
x→0 x
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 38 / 42
Question 3.16:
Evaluate the limit:
1
lim (x + 2)2 sin( )
x→−2 x2 − 4
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 39 / 42
sin x
lim =1
x→0 x
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 40 / 42
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 41 / 42
cos x − 1
lim =0
x→0 x
Math 134 Week3, Lecture 3.1 42 / 42