Section 1.8 Limits Involving Infinity A. Infinite Limits We say that a limit is infinite if () as .

s . That is, the values of ( ) become larger and larger as gets closer and closer to the value . 0.1 0.01 0.001 () -0.1 -0.01 -0.001

Example: Consider the function ( ) = 1/ 2 . Use the graph and the table to determine lim0 ( )
()

To indicate this kind of behavior we use the following notation: lim

x 0

1 = x2

B. Vertical Asymptotes The line = is called a vertical asymptote of () if lim f ( x) =

xa

Algebraically, find vertical asymptotes of a rational function by finding values of the function that make the denominator zero but not the numerator. If a value makes both the numerator and denominator zero, then the graph will have a hole at the value and not an asymptote. Examples: Find the vertical asymptotes of each function 1. ( ) =
2 16 4

2. ( ) = tan

3. Use the graph to determine the following limits: a. limit as 5+ b. limit as 5 c. limit as 5

e. limit as 1+ f.
ACC, F12

d. limit as 1 limit as 1

Page 1 of 2

C. Limits at Infinity We describe the end behavior of functions by observing what happens to the values of () as gets larger and larger. That is, we consider the limit of ( ) as . Example: Consider the function ( ) = 5/. Use the graph and the table to determine lim () and lim ()
()

Thus, the limit as approaches infinity and the limit as approaches negative infinity is _________. D. Horizontal Asymptotes The line = is called a horizontal asymptote of ( ) if lim f ( x) = L
x

10000

1000

10 100

()

-10000

-1000

-10 -100

()

Algebraically, find the horizontal asymptote of a rational function by finding observing the degree of the numerator and denominator: o o o degree numerator > degree denominator no horizontal asymptote

degree numerator = degree denominator horizontal asymptote =

degree numerator < degree denominator horizontal asymptote = 0

lead coeff. of bottom

lead coeff. of top

Examples: Find the horizontal asymptote for each function 1. () =

2 +1 3

2. () =

5+3

42

3. ( ) = 2
()

ACC, F12

Page 2 of 2