ONE-SIDED LIMITS AND
INFINITE LIMITS
BASIC CALCULUS – LESSON 3
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, you shall be able to
1. determine the limits of functions using the theorems on infinite
limits; and
2. solve for the limits of functions in indeterminate forms.
Illustration:
𝒙 → 𝟎− 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒙 → 𝟎+ 𝒇(𝒙)
–1 1 1 1
–0.5 4 0.5 4
–0.1 100 0.1 100
–0.001 1,000,000 0.001 1,000,000
–0.00001 10,000,000,000 0.00001 10,000,000,000
Illustration:
𝑓(𝑥)
As 𝑥 → 0− , As 𝑥 → 0+ ,
𝑓 𝑥 increases 𝑓 𝑥 increases
without bound. indefinitely.
𝟏
What is 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐 ?
𝑥 𝒙→𝟎 𝒙
INTUITIVE NOTIONS OF INFINITE LIMITS
The limit of f(x) as x approaches c is POSITIVE INFINITY if the value of f(x)
INCREASES without bound whenever the values of x get closer and closer to c.
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 = +∞
𝒙→𝒄
The limit of f(x) as x approaches c is NEGATIVE INFINITY if the value of f(x)
DECREASES without bound whenever the values of x get closer and closer to c.
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 = −∞
𝒙→𝒄
Illustration:
𝑓(𝑥)
As 𝑥 → 0− , As 𝑥 → 0+ ,
𝑓 𝑥 increases 𝑓 𝑥 increases
without bound. Indefinitely.
𝟏
𝑥
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐 = +∞
𝒙→𝟎 𝒙
REMARKS
Note that ∞ is NOT a number. It holds no specific value.
So, lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞ and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞ describes the BEHAVIOR of the
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
function near x = c, but it does not exist as a real number.
3𝑥
Example 1: Determine the limit of 𝑓 𝑥 = as x approaches 1.
𝑥−1
Solution:
𝒙 → 𝟏− 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒙 → 𝟏+ 𝒇(𝒙)
0 0 2 6
0.5 –3 1.5 9
0.9 –27 1.1 33
0.99 –297 1.001 3,003
0.99999 –299,997 1.00001 300,003
3𝑥
Example 1: Determine the limit of 𝑓 𝑥 = as x approaches 1.
𝑥−1
3𝑥
lim+ = +∞
𝑥→1 𝑥 − 1
𝟑𝒙
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝐃𝐍𝐄
3𝑥 𝒙→𝟏 𝒙 − 𝟏
lim− = −∞
𝑥→1 𝑥 − 1
VERTICAL ASYMPTOTES
Whenever 𝑙𝑖𝑚+ 𝑓(𝑥) = ±∞ or 𝑙𝑖𝑚− 𝑓(𝑥) = ±∞, we normally see the
𝑥→0 𝑥→0
dashed vertical line x = c. This is to indicate that the graph of y = f(x) is
asymptotic to x = c, meaning, the graphs of y = f(x) and x = c are very close
to each other near c. In this case, we call x = c a vertical asymptote of the
graph of y = f(x).
VERTICAL ASYMPTOTES
The line with equation x = c is a vertical asymptote of the graph of f if at least
one of the following is true:
lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞ lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = −∞ lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = −∞
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
THEOREMS ON INFINITE LIMITS
Suppose lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑏 where 𝑏 ∈ ℝ\{0} and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 0.
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
1. If b > 0
𝑓 𝑥
• and 𝑔 𝑥 → 0+ as 𝑥 → 𝑐, then lim = +∞
𝑥→𝑐 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑓 𝑥
• and 𝑔 𝑥 → 0− as 𝑥 → 𝑐, then lim = −∞
𝑥→𝑐 𝑔(𝑥)
2. If b < 0
𝑓 𝑥
• and 𝑔 𝑥 → 0+ as 𝑥 → 𝑐, then lim = −∞
𝑥→𝑐 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑓 𝑥
• and 𝑔 𝑥 → 0− as 𝑥 → 𝑐, then lim = +∞
𝑥→𝑐 𝑔(𝑥)
5𝑥 5𝑥
Example 2: Evaluate lim − and lim +
𝑥→−2 4−𝑥 2 𝑥→−2 4−𝑥 2
Solution:
5𝑥 5(−2) −10 −10 5𝑥
lim − = = = lim − = +∞
𝑥→−2 4−𝑥 2 4−(−2)2 4−4 0− 𝑥→−2 4 − 𝑥 2
5𝑥 5(−2) −10 −10 5𝑥
lim + = = = lim + = −∞
𝑥→−2 4−𝑥 2 4−(−2)2 4−4 0+ 𝑥→−2 4 − 𝑥 2
5𝑥 5𝑥
What is lim ? lim 2
𝐃𝐍𝐄
𝑥→−2 4−𝑥 2 𝑥→−2 4 − 𝑥
THEOREMS ON INFINITE LIMITS
3. If lim 𝑓 𝑥 exists and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = ±∞, then lim [𝑓 𝑥 + 𝑔 𝑥 ] = ±∞
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
4. If lim 𝑓 𝑥 exists and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = ±∞, then lim [𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑔 𝑥 ] = ∓∞
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
5. If lim 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞ and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = +∞, then lim 𝑓 𝑥 + 𝑔 𝑥 = +∞
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
6. If lim 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞ and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = −∞, then lim 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑔 𝑥 = +∞
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
and lim 𝑔 𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥 = −∞
𝑥→𝑐
THEOREMS ON INFINITE LIMITS
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈 𝒙 𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇 𝒙 + 𝒈 𝒙 ] 𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇 𝒙 − 𝒈 𝒙 ]
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
ℝ +∞ +∞ −∞
ℝ −∞ −∞ +∞
+∞ +∞ +∞ indeterminate
+∞ −∞ indeterminate +∞
THEOREMS ON INFINITE LIMITS
7. Let b ∈ ℝ\{0}. Suppose lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑏 and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = ±∞ .
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
▪ If b > 0, then lim [𝑓 𝑥 • 𝑔 𝑥 ] = ±∞
𝑥→𝑐
▪ If b < 0, then lim [𝑓 𝑥 • 𝑔 𝑥 ] = ∓∞
𝑥→𝑐
8. If lim 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞ and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = +∞, then lim 𝑓 𝑥 • 𝑔 𝑥 = +∞
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
9. If lim 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞ and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = −∞, then lim 𝑓 𝑥 • 𝑔 𝑥 = −∞
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
THEOREMS ON INFINITE LIMITS
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈 𝒙 𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇 𝒙 • 𝒈 𝒙 ]
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
b>0 +∞ +∞
b>0 −∞ −∞
b<0 +∞ −∞
b<0 −∞ +∞
+∞ +∞ +∞
+∞ −∞ −∞
2
Example 3: Evaluate 𝑥→1
lim− 𝑥2 −
𝑥−1
Solution:
2 2
2
lim− 𝑥 − = lim− 𝑥2 − lim−
𝑥→1 𝑥−1 𝑥→1 𝑥→1 𝑥 − 1
2 2
= (1) −
1−1
2
=1−
0−
𝟐
= 1 − −∞ 𝐥𝐢𝐦− 𝒙𝟐 − =+∞
𝒙→𝟏 𝒙−𝟏
1 2𝑥
Example 4: Evaluate 𝑥→−3
lim − 2
+
𝑥 −9 𝑥+3
Solution:
1 2𝑥 1 2𝑥
lim − + = lim − + lim −
𝑥→−3 2
𝑥 −9 𝑥+3 𝑥→−3 (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3) 𝑥→−3 𝑥 + 3
1 2(−3) 1 −6 1 1 −6
= + = −
+ − = − + −
(−3 − 3)(−3 + 3) −3 + 3 (−6)(0 ) 0 6 0− 0
= +∞ + (+∞) 1 2𝑥
lim − 2
+ = +∞
𝑥→−3 𝑥 −9 𝑥+3
RECALL
𝒇(𝒙)
If 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟎 and 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝟎, then 𝒍𝒊𝒎
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒈(𝒙)
𝟎
is called an indeterminate form of type .
𝟎
The limits of indeterminate forms could be evaluated using FACTORING
and RATIONALIZATION.
OTHER INDETERMINATE FORMS
Suppose lim 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞ and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = +∞.
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
Then lim 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑔 𝑥 is called an indeterminate form of type ∞ − ∞.
𝑥→𝑐
Suppose lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 0 and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = ±∞.
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
Then lim 𝑓 𝑥 • 𝑔 𝑥 is called an indeterminate form of type 𝟎 • ∞.
𝑥→𝑐
1 3
Example 5: Evaluate lim − + 2
𝑥→−1 𝑥 + 1 2𝑥 + 𝑥 − 1
Solution:
1 3 1 3
lim − + 2 = lim − + lim −
𝑥→−1 𝑥 + 1 2𝑥 + 𝑥 − 1 𝑥→−1 𝑥 + 1 𝑥→−1 (2𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)
1 3 1 3
= + = − +
−1 + 1 [2(−1) − 1](−1 + 1) 0 (−3)(0− )
= −∞ + +∞ = (∞ −∞) indeterminate form
1 3
Example 5: Evaluate lim − + 2
𝑥→−1 𝑥 + 1 2𝑥 + 𝑥 − 1
Solution:
1 3 1 3
lim − + 2 = lim − +
𝑥→−1 𝑥 + 1 2𝑥 + 𝑥 − 1 𝑥→−1 𝑥 + 1 (2𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)
2𝑥 − 1 + 3 2𝑥 + 2
= lim − = lim −
𝑥→−1 (2𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1) 𝑥→−1 (2𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)
2(−1) + 2 0
= = indeterminate form
(2(−1) − 1)(−1 + 1) 0
1 3
Example 5: Evaluate lim − + 2
𝑥→−1 𝑥 + 1 2𝑥 + 𝑥 − 1
Solution:
2𝑥 + 2 2(𝑥 + 1)
lim − = lim −
𝑥→−1 (2𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1) 𝑥→−1 (2𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)
2 2 2
= lim − = =−
𝑥→−1 2𝑥 − 1 2(−1) − 1 3
1 3 𝟐
lim − + 2 =−
𝑥→−1 𝑥 + 1 2𝑥 + 𝑥 − 1 𝟑