Limits at Innity

Lecture Notes

page 1

Sample Problems
1. Compute each of the following limits.
a) lim 3x4

b)

2x5

c) lim

x!1

x!1

lim 3x4

d)

x! 1

x!1

2x5

lim

x! 1

2 6
x
3

e) lim

f)

g) lim 4x3
x!1

2 6
x
3

lim

x! 1

lim 4x3

h)

x! 1

2. Compute each of the following limits.

a) lim 2x

c) lim

x!1

b)

x!1

lim 2x

d)

x! 1

2
3
2
3

lim

x! 1

2x+3
x!1 3x+1
2x+3
f) lim x+1
x! 1 3

22x+1
x!1 3x 1
22x+1
h) lim
x! 1 3x 1

e) lim
x

g) lim

3. Compute each of the following limits.

a)

1
x!1 x

b)

lim

lim

d)

1
1x

x!

lim

x! 1

x!1

5
x!1 2x3

f)

7+

2x3 + 1

e) lim

c) lim

5
2x3

3x

lim

x! 1

8
x

g) lim

5 12
+
x x4

h) lim

5x3

x!1

5x3

i)

2x + 4
x3

x!1

2x + 4
x2

5x3

lim

x!1

2x + 4
x4

4. Compute each of the following limits.

a)

lim

x! 1

b) lim

x!1

2x5
2x5

8x4 + 7x3
8x4 + 7x3

10

c)

10

2x5 + 8x6

lim

x! 1

d) lim

x!1

2x5 + 8x6

5. Compute each of the following limits.

a)

x + x2 6
1 6x + 5x2 + 2x3

x2 + 9
x!1 5x + 2x2
3

lim

x!

b) lim

c)

x3
1 3x2

lim

x!

9x + 1
2x 15

Practice Problems
1. Compute each of the following limits.
a) lim

x!1

b)

lim

x! 1

3 15
x
8
3 15
x
8

1 8
x
x!1 3

c) lim

d)

lim

x! 1

c copyright Hidegkuti, Powell, 2009

1 8
x
3

e) lim 4x9
x!1

f)

lim 4x9

x! 1

g) lim

x!1

h)

lim

x! 1

7x10
7x10

Last revised: November 27, 2013

Limits at Innity

Lecture Notes

page 2

2. Compute each of the following limits.

23x
x!1 5x

a) lim

b)

23x
1 5x

lim

x!

22x+3
1 5x 1

d)

lim

x!

f)

22x+3
1 4x 1

22x+3 3x
x!1
7x 2

lim

x!

g) lim

e) lim

c) lim

2x+3 3x
x!1
7x 2

22x+3
x!1 4x 1

22x+3
x!1 5x 1

h) lim

3. Compute each of the following limits.

3
x!1 x5

a) lim

b)

3
1 x5

x!

x!1

lim

x! 1

3+

5
x3

3+

x! 1

5x

j)

x!1

lim

x! 1

4x8 + x3
x4

x!1

p)

3x5 + 2x
x2

lim

o) lim

x! 1

l)

n)

5x

k) lim

7
6x

x!1

lim

3x5 + 2x
x2

m) lim

2
x+3

5x

x!1

7
6x

5
x3

lim

i) lim

2
5
+ 4
x 3x

x! 1

x!1

f)

2
5
+ 4
x 3x

lim

e) lim

h)

2
x+3

5x

x!1

lim

c) lim

d)

g) lim

lim

x! 1

x+7

4x8 + x3
x4

x+7

3x
2x
1

x! 1

3x
2x

4. Compute each of the following limits.

a)

lim

x! 1

b) lim

x!1

7x5 + x3

c)

7x5 + x3

lim

x! 1

d) lim

x!1

1 6
x
4

120x5

120x5

1 6
x
4

e)

f)

lim

x! 1

lim

x! 1

8x4
8x4

1
x+2
5

3x3

1
x+2
5

3x3

5. The graph of a polynomial function is shown on the picture below. What can we state about this polynomial
based on its end-behavior?
y

6. Compute each of the following limits.

a)
b)

1
1x

lim

x!

5
1 2x3

lim

x!

c)

lim

x! 1

d) lim

x!1

c copyright Hidegkuti, Powell, 2009

5
x3
2 11
+
x x4

2x2 + 3x + 1
x!1 3x2
5x + 2

e) lim
f)

lim

x! 1

3x3 + 2x + 1
5x 3

g)
h)

lim

x! 1

3x2
5x2

1
3x + 2

20x 2x2 42
1 5x3
20x2 105x

lim

x!

Last revised: November 27, 2013

Limits at Innity

Lecture Notes

page 3

Sample Problems - Answers

1. a) 1

b) 1

2. a) 1

b) 0

c)

c) 0

3. a) 0

b) 0

4. a) 1

b)

5. a) 0

b)

d) 1
d) 1

c) 0

d)

c)

e) 0
7

c) 1

1
2

e)

f)

f) 1
e)

g) 1

g) 1

f) 3

h)

h) 0
g)

h)

i) 0

d) 1

Practice Problems - Answers

1. a)

2. a) 1

b) 0

3. a) 0
m)

b) 1

b) 0
1

b)

c) 1

lim f (x) =

x! 1

coe cient.
6. a) 0

c) 0

n) 1

4. a) 1
5. Since

c) 1

b) 0

d) 1
d) 1

d) 1

o)

e) 32

e) 3

1
c)

e) 1

p)
1

f)

f) 32

f) 3

g) 1

e) 1

g)
g) 0

h)

h)

h) 1

i) 5

j) 5

k)

3
2

l)

3
2

1
d)

f) 1

1 and lim f (x) = 1, the polynomial is of odd degree and has a positive leading
x!1

c) 2

c copyright Hidegkuti, Powell, 2009

d) 3

e)

2
3

f)

g)

3
5

h) 0

Last revised: November 27, 2013

Limits at Innity

Lecture Notes

page 4

Sample Problems - Solutions

1. Compute each of the following limits.
a) lim 3x4
x!1

Solution: Since the limit we are asked for is as x approaches innity, we should think of x as a very large
positive number. Then 3x4 is very large, and also positive because it is the product of ve positive numbers.
3x4 =

positive

positive

positive

positive

positive

So the answer is 1. We state the answer: lim 3x4 = 1.

x!1

b)

lim 3x4

x! 1

Solution: Since the limit we are asked for is as x approaches negative innity, we should think of x as a very
large negative number. Then 3x4 is very large, and also positive because it is the product of one positive
and four negative numbers.
3x4 =

positive

x!1

negative

negative

negative

lim 3x4 = 1

So the answer is 1. We state the answer:

c) lim

negative

x! 1

2x5

Solution: Since the limit we are asked for is as x approaches innity, we should think of x as a very large
positive number. Then 2x5 is very large, and also negative because it is the product of one negative and
ve positive numbers.
2x5 =
2
x
x
x
x
x
positive

negative

So the answer is

d)

lim

x! 1

positive

positive

2x5 =

1. We state the answer: lim

x!1

positive

positive

2x5

Solution: Since the limit we are asked for is as x approaches negative innity, we should think of x as a very
large negative number. Then 2x5 is very large, and also positive because it is the product of six negative
numbers.
2x5 =
2
x
x
x
x
x
negative

negative

So the answer is 1. We state the answer:

e) lim

x!1

negative

negative

negative

negative

2x5 = 1

lim

x! 1

2 6
x
3

Solution: Since the limit we are asked for is as x approaches innity, we should think of x as a very large
2 6
positive number. Then
x is very large, and also negative because it is the product of one negative and
3
six positive numbers.
2 6
x =
3
c copyright Hidegkuti, Powell, 2009

2
3

positive

positive

positive

positive

positive

positive

negative

Last revised: November 27, 2013

Limits at Innity

Lecture Notes

So the answer is

1. We state the answer:

2 6
x
3

lim

x!1

page 5

2 6
x
x! 1
3
Solution: Since the limit we are asked for is as x approaches negative innity, we should think of x as a
2 6
x is very large, and also negative because it is the product of seven
very large negative number. Then
3
negative numbers.
2 6
2
x =
x
x
x
x
x
x
3
3 negative negative negative negative negative negative

f)

lim

negative

So the answer is

1. We state the answer:

2 6
x =
3

lim

x! 1

g) lim 4x3
x!1

Solution: Since the limit we are asked for is as x approaches innity, we should think of x as a very large
positive number. Then 4x3 is very large, and also positive because it is the product of four positive numbers.
4x3 =

positive

positive

positive

positive

So the answer is 1. We state the answer: lim 4x3 = 1

x!1

h)

lim 4x3

x! 1

Solution: Since the limit we are asked for is as x approaches negative innity, we should think of x as a very
large negative number. Then 4x3 is very large, and also negative because it is the product of one positive
and three negative numbers.
4x3 = 4
x
x
x
positive

So the answer is

1. We state the answer:

negative

lim

x! 1

4x3

negative

negative

2. Compute each of the following limits.

Let a > 0: Then the limit of the exponential function f (x) = ax is as follows.
lim ax = 1 and

Case 1.

If a > 1, then

Case 2.

If 0 < a < 1, then

lim ax = 0

x!1

x! 1

lim ax = 0 and

x!1

-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

lim ax = 1

x! 1

-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

a>1

c copyright Hidegkuti, Powell, 2009

5
x

0<a<1

Last revised: November 27, 2013

Limits at Innity

Lecture Notes
a) lim 2x

and

x!1

page 6

lim 2x

b)

x! 1

Solution: Since 2 > 1; these limits are 1 and 0; i.e. lim 2x = 1 and lim 2x = 0.
x!1

c) lim

x!1

2
3

and

Solution: Since

d)

lim

x! 1

x! 1

2
3

2
< 1; these limits are 0 and 1, i.e. lim
x!1
3

2
3

= 0 and lim

x! 1

2x+3
e) lim x+1
x!1 3
Solution: We start by re-writing the exponential expressions.
there is only one exponential expression involving x:

2
3

f)

2x+3
1 3x+1

2x+3
2x+3
8
=
lim
= lim
1 3x+1
x! 1 3x+1
x! 1 3

2
3

2x+3
8
= lim
x+1
x!1 3
x!1 3
lim

8
lim
3 x!1

= 1.

2
3

2
3

=0

since

2
<1
3

lim

x!

Solution:

lim

x!

8
lim
3 x! 1

22x+1
g) lim x 1
x!1 3
Solution: We start by re-writing the exponential expressions.
there is only one exponential expression involving x:

2
3

=1

The goal is to bring it into a form where

22
2
22x+1
4x 6
22x 21
=
=
=
=6
x
1
3
3x 1
3x
x
3
3
31
Thus

h)

The goal is to bring it into a form where

2x 23
2x 8
8
2x+3
=
=
=
3x+1
3x 31
3x 3
3
Thus

2
3

22x+1
= lim 6
x!1 3x 1
x!1
lim

22x+1
1 3x 1

4
3

= 6 lim

x!1

4
3

4
3

=1

since

4
>1
3

lim

x!

Solution:

22x+1
= lim 6
1 3x 1
x! 1

lim

x!

4
3

= 6 lim

x! 1

4
3

=0

3. Compute each of the following limits.

1
a) lim
x!1 x
Solution: This is a very important limit. Since the limit we are asked for is as x approaches innity, we
should think of x as a very large positive number. The reciprocal of a very large positive number is a very
small positive number. This limit is 0.
1
x
Solution: Since the limit we are asked for is as x approaches negative innity, we should think of x as a very
large negative number. The reciprocal of a very large negative number is a very small negative number.
This limit is 0.
b)

lim

x! 1

c copyright Hidegkuti, Powell, 2009

Last revised: November 27, 2013

Limits at Innity

Lecture Notes

page 7

5
2x3
Solution: Since the limit we are asked for is as x approaches innity, we should think of x as a very large
positive number. We divide 5 by a very large positive number. This limit is 0.
c) lim

x!1

d)

lim

x! 1

5
2x3

7+

8
x

Solution: This limit is 7 since the other two terms aproach zero as x approaches negative innity. Using
mathematical notation,
5
1 2x3

7+

lim

x!

x!1

7+0=

5 12
+
x x4

2x3 + 1

e) lim

8
5
8
= lim
+ lim
7 + lim
=0
3
x! 1
x! 1 x
x x! 1 2x

Solution: This limit is 1 since the rst term approaches negative innity, the second term approaches 1
and the other two terms aproach zero as x approaches innity. Using mathematical notation,
lim

x!1

f)

lim

5 12
+
x x4

2x3 + 1
3x

5
x

2x3 + lim 1 + lim

= lim

x!1

x!1

x!1

12
x4

+ lim

x!1

1+1+0+0=

x
Solution: This problem is similar to the previous problems after a bit of algebra. We simply divide by x
and then the limit becomes familiar.
x! 1

lim

3x

g) lim

5x3

2
x

x! 1

= lim

x! 1

3x
x

2
x

= lim

x! 1

2
x

=3

2x + 4
x2

x!1

Solution:
5x3

lim

x2

x!1

h) lim

2x + 4

5x3

5x3
2x
4
2
4
+ 2 + 2 = lim
5x
+ 2
2
x!1
x!1
x
x
x
x x
2
4
= lim ( 5x) + lim
+ lim
= 1+0+0=
x!1
x!1
x!1
x
x2

lim

2x + 4
x3

x!1

Solution:
5x3

lim

x3

x!1

i)

lim

x!1

5x3

2x + 4

= lim

2x
4
5x3
+ 3 + 3
3
x
x
x

= lim

= lim

2x
4
5x3
+ 4 + 4
4
x
x
x

= lim

5
x

x!1

x!1

4
2
+ 3
2
x
x

2x + 4
x4

Solution:
lim

x!1

5x3

2x + 4
x4

c copyright Hidegkuti, Powell, 2009

x!1

x!1

2
4
+ 4
3
x
x

=0

Last revised: November 27, 2013

Limits at Innity

Lecture Notes

page 8

4. Compute each of the following limits.

a)

lim

x! 1

2x5

8x4 + 7x3

10

Solution: The rst term, 2x5 approaches innity and the secomd term, 8x4 approaches negative innity.
This does not give us enough information about the entire polynomial. A limit like this is called an
indeterminate. We will bring this expression to a form that is not an indeterminate. In this case,
factoring out the rst term does the trick.
In case of a polynomial, the limits at innity and negative innity are
completely determined by its leading term. Recall that the leading term is the highest degree term.
2x5

lim

x! 1

8x4 + 7x3

2x5

10 = lim

x! 1

Here is the computation showing why this is true. We rst factor out the entire leading term.
lim

x! 1

2x5

8x4 + 7x3

10

=
=
=

lim

2x5

lim

2x5

lim

2x5

x! 1
x! 1
x! 1

4
x

1+
lim

x! 1

7
5
+ 5
2
x
x
4
7
5
1+
+
x x2 x5
2x5

1 = lim

x! 1

We can now easily determine that this limit is 1. (See problem number 1.)
b) lim

x!1

2x5

8x4 + 7x3

10

Solution: In case of a polynomial, the limits at innity and negative innity are
completely determined by its leading term. Recall that the leading term is the highest degree term.
2x5

lim

x!1

8x4 + 7x3

2x5

10 = lim

x!1

Here is the computation showing why this is true. We rst factor out the entire leading term.
lim

x!1

2x5

8x4 + 7x3

10

=
=
=

We can now easily determine that this limit is

c)

lim

x! 1

lim

2x5

lim

2x5

lim

2x5

x!1

x!1
x!1

4
x

1+
lim

x!1

7
5
+
2x2 x5
7
5
4
1+
+ 5
2
x 2x
x
2x5

1 = lim

x!1

1. (See problem number 1.)

2x5 + 8x6

Solution: In case of a polynomial, the limits at innity and negative innity are
completely determined by its leading term.
lim

2x5 + 8x6

lim

2x5 + 8x6

x! 1
x! 1

lim 8x6 = 1 because

x! 1

lim

8x6

lim

x! 1
x! 1

8x

2x5 = lim

x! 1

8x6

1
4x

= lim

x! 1

8x6

lim

x! 1

1
4x

1 = lim 8x
x! 1

We can now easily determine that this limit is 1. (See problem number 1.)
c copyright Hidegkuti, Powell, 2009

Last revised: November 27, 2013

Limits at Innity

Lecture Notes

page 9

2x5 + 8x6

d) lim

x!1

Solution: In case of a polynomial, the limits at innity and negative innity are
completely determined by its leading term.
lim

2x5 + 8x6

lim

2x5 + 8x6

x!1

x!1

lim 8x6 = 1 because

x!1

lim 8x6

2x5 = lim 8x6

lim 8x6

1=1

x!1

x!1

1
4x

x!1

= lim 8x6
x!1

lim

x!1

1
4x

We can now easily determine that this limit is 1. (See problem number 1.)
5. Compute each of the following limits.
x + x2 6
=0
x! 1 6x + 5x2 + 2x3
Solution: The numerator approaches innity and the denominator approaches negative innity. This does
not give us enough information about the quotient. A limit like this is called an indeterminate. We
will bring this expression to a form that is not an indeterminate. Let us rearrange the polynomials in the
rational function given. Then we will factor out the leading term in the numerator and denominator.

a)

lim

x2 + x 6
lim
= lim
x! 1 2x3 + 5x2 + 6x
x! 1

1
6
x x2
5
3
1+
+ 2
2x x

x2 1 +
2x3

We now express the limit of the product as the product of two limits
1
6
x x2
5
3
1+
+ 2
2x x

x2 1 +
lim

x! 1

2x3

= lim

x! 1

1
6
x x2
5
3
1+
+ 2
2x x
1+

x2
2x3

lim

x! 1

The rst expression can be simplied and thus has a limit we can easily determine its limit. The second
expression, although looks unfriendly, is always going to approach 1.
x2
lim
x! 1 2x3

6
1
x x2
5
3
1+
+ 2
2x x
1+

lim

x! 1

1
1=0 1=0
1 2x

= lim
x!

The entire computation should look like this:

x2 + x 6
1 2x3 + 5x2 + 6x

lim

x!

c copyright Hidegkuti, Powell, 2009

1
6
x x2
5
3
1+
+ 2
2x x

x2 1 +
lim

x! 1

2x3

1
1=0 1=0
1 2x

x2
1 2x3

= lim
x!

1
6
1
1+
B
x x2 C
lim @
5
3 A
x! 1
1+
+ 2
2x x
0

lim

x!

Last revised: November 27, 2013

Limits at Innity

Lecture Notes

page 10

x2 + 9
1
=
2
x!1 5x + 2x
3
2
Solution: Both numerator and denominator approach innity. This does not give us enough information
about the quotient. A limit like this is called an indeterminate. We will bring this expression to a form
that is not an indeterminate. Let us rearrange the polynomials in the rational function given. Then we will
factor out the leading term in the numerator and denominator.
b) lim

x2 1 +

x2 + 9
lim
x!1 2x2 + 5x
3

x3
x! 1 3x2
Solution:
c)

lim

lim

x! 1

9x + 1
=
2x 15

x3
3x2

9x + 1
2x 15

9
x2

1+

x2
= lim
x!1 2x2

lim
5
x!1
3
1+
2
2x
2x
9
1+ 2
1
1
1
x
= lim
lim
=
1=
5
3
x!1 2 x!1
2
2
1+
2x 2x2

lim

x!1

2x2

5
1+
2x

9
x2
3
2x2

x3 1
=

lim

x! 1

x3
1 3x2

lim

x!

3x2 1

9
+
x2
2
3x
1=

1
x3
5
x2

x3
= lim
x! 1 3x2
x
1 3

lim

x!

1=

1
lim

x! 1

1 1=

9
+
x2
2
3x

1
x3
5
x2

For more documents like this, visit our page at http://www.teaching.martahidegkuti.com and click on Lecture
Notes. E-mail questions or comments to mhidegkuti@ccc.edu.
c copyright Hidegkuti, Powell, 2009

Last revised: November 27, 2013