M53 Lec1.3 Limits at Infinity Formal Definition

Limits at Infinity
Formal Definition of a Limit

Mathematics 53
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)
Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit
Mathematics 53
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For today
Limits at Infinity
The Formal Definition
Proving using the Definition
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Illustration
Consider: f ( x ) =
1
. What happens as x increases or decreases without bound?
x
f (x)
f (x)
10
1000
0.1
0.001
1000000
0.000001
1000000000
0.000000001
1
100
10000
10000000
1000000000
1
0.01
0.0001
0.0000001
0.000000001
As x +, f ( x ) 0.
As x , f ( x ) 0.
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Illustration
f (x) =
1
x
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Intuitive Definition
We say that the limit of f ( x ) as x approaches positive infinity is L if the values
of f ( x ) get closer and closer to L as the values of x increase without bound.
Notation:
lim f ( x ) = L
x +
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Intuitive Definition
We say that the limit of f ( x ) as x approaches negative infinity is L if the values
of f ( x ) get closer and closer to L as the values of x decrease without bound.
Notation:
lim f ( x ) = L
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Example
Let f ( x ) =
1
x
x
f (x)
f (x)
1
10
1
0.1
1000
0.001
1
100
10000
10000000
1000000000
1
0.01
0.0001
0.0000001
0.000000001
1000000
0.000001
1000000000
0.000000001
We write:
lim
x +
1
= 0 and
x
lim
1
=0
x
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Horizontal Asymptotes
Definition
The line y = L is a horizontal asymptote of the graph of y = f ( x ) if
lim f ( x ) = L or
lim f ( x ) = L
x +
y=L
y=L
y=L
y=L
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Example
lim
x +
1
1
= 0 and lim
=0
x x
x
f (x) =
1
x
y=0
4
Mathematics 53
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Limit Theorems
Theorem
Suppose lim f ( x ) = L1 and lim g( x ) = L2 .
x
x
lim [ f ( x ) g( x )] = lim f ( x ) lim g( x ) = L1 L2

x
x

lim [ f ( x ) g( x )] =
lim f ( x )
lim g( x ) = L1 L2
x
x
lim [c f ( x )] = c lim f ( x ) = cL1
lim f ( x )
lim
L
f (x)
x
=
= 1 , provided L2 6= 0
g( x )
lim g( x )
L2
x
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Limit Theorems
Theorem
Suppose lim f ( x ) = L and n
x
N, n > 1.
n
lim ( f ( x )) =
lim f ( x )
= Ln
x
q
q
n
lim n f ( x ) = n lim f ( x ) = L, provided that L > 0 when n is even.
x
x
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Examples
lim x = +
lim x =
x +
2
lim x2 = +
x +
4
lim x2 = +
lim =
x
3
lim 6 = 6
x +
1
=0
x
1
lim
=0
x x
lim
x +
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Theorem
R, then x
lim c = c.
If c
If n is even, then lim x n = + .

x
If n is odd, then
1
2
lim x n = +
x +
lim x n =
1
=0
xn
Let c . Suppose lim f ( x ) = c and lim g( x ) = . Then
lim
x +
x +
lim
x +
f (x)
= 0.
g( x )
In item (5), x + may be replaced by x a, x a , x a+ , and

x .
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Example
lim ( x4 2x3 )
( )

2
= lim x4 1
(+)(1 0)
x +
x
x +
= +
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Example
lim (3x5 x4 + 2x 4)

1
2
4
5
= lim x 3 + 4 5
x
x
x
x
()(3 0 + 0 0)
In general, if f ( x ) is a polynomial function, then lim f ( x ) depends only on the

leading term.
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Examples
lim
x +

x
1
+
1
=0
x3 4x
lim
x +
lim
1
x3 4x
3x2 2x

lim
5
x2
5
(3x 2x ) 2
x
2
(+ 0)
= +
Mathematics 53
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Illustration
x1
x + 3x + 1
Evaluate: lim
Note:
x 1
3x +1
10
0.290323
0.332889
0.3333292
0.333333
103
105
lim ( x 1) = +
x +
107
lim (3x + 1) = +
x +
It seems that
f (x)
1
as x +
3
Mathematics 53
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Another Indeterminate Form
Definition
Suppose f ( x ) and g( x ) as x a. Then
f (x)
g( x )
lim
xa
is an indeterminate form of type

The expression x a may be replaced by x a+ , x a , x +, and

x .
Mathematics 53
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Example
Evaluate: lim
x +
x1
3x + 1
Solution:
x1
x + 3x + 1
lim
x1
x + 3x + 1
= lim
= lim
x +
1
3+
+
+
1
x
1
x
1
x
1
x
10
1
=
3
3+0
Technique: Multiply the numerator and denominator by x1n , where n is the

degree of the denominator.
Mathematics 53
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Example
x3 2x2 + 3
x + 4x4 x2 + x + 1
Evaluate: lim
Solution:

x3 2x2 + 3
x + 4x4 x2 + x + 1
lim
= lim
x +
= lim
x +
x3
2x2
+3
4x4 x2 + x + 1
1
x
2
x2
3
x4
1
x2
1
x3
1
x4
1
x4
1
x4
0
=0
4
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Recall
x2 = | x | =
x,
x0
x, x < 0
Note:
x2 = x as x +
x2 = x as x
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Example
Evaluate: lim
x +

x2 3
x+2
Solution:
lim
x +
x2 3
x2 3
= lim
x + x + 2
x+2
= lim
x +
= lim
x +
x2 3
x+2
q
x +
x2 = x as x +
x 2 3
x2
x +2
x
= lim
1
x2
1
x2
1
x2
1
x
1+
3
x2
2
x
10
=1
1+0
Mathematics 53
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Example

3x + 1
Evaluate: lim
x
+
4x2 1
Solution:
1
3x + 1
3x + 1
2
lim
= lim
1x
2
2
x
x
4x 1
4x 1
2
3x + 1
= lim
x
4x2 1
x2 = x as x
x
1
x
1
x2
3x +1
= lim q x
x
4x2 1
x2
3 1x
= lim q
x
4 x12
30
3
=
=
2
40
Mathematics 53
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Example
Evaluate: lim
p
Solution: lim
p
= lim
x
9x2 x + 3x
9x2
( )
x + 3x = lim
9x2 x 3x
1
x2
1
x2
p
9x2
9x2 x 3x
x + 3x
9x2 x 3x
x2 = x as x
1
x
1x
x
9x2 x 3x 2
x
1
= lim r
x
1
9 +3
x
= lim
1
6
Mathematics 53
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Recall:
Intuitive Notion of a Limit

lim f ( x ) = L
xa
f ( x ) gets closer and closer to L as x gets closer and

closer to a (but does not reach a)
Alternatively,
Intuitive Notion of a Limit

lim f ( x ) = L
xa
we could let f ( x ) be as close as we would like to L by taking

values of x sufficiently close but not equal to a
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Recall: If r, s
R, then |r s| = distance between the points on the number line
representing r and s.
|r s |
s
|r s |
r
Mathematics 53
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Definition
Let f be a function defined on
some open interval containing a
L+
except possibly at a. The limit
of f ( x ) as x approaches a is L,
written
L
lim f ( x ) = L
|{z}|{z}
xa
if for every > 0 (no matter how

small) there exists a > 0
)
a
such that if 0 < | x a| < ,
a+
then | f ( x ) L| < .
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e
e
e
e
e
e
Mathematics 53
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L?
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L?
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Proving using the Definition
Two steps in proving lim f ( x ) = L using the definition:

xa
I. Choose a suitable .
II. Verify that the chosen works.
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Example
Prove that lim (3x + 2) = 5.

x 1
Proof. Let > 0.

I. GOAL: Find > 0 such that
if 0 < | x 1| < , then
|(3x + 2) 5| <
|3x 3| <
3| x 1| <
| x 1| <
3
We choose =
.
3
Mathematics 53
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Example

x 1
II. Given > 0, choose =
. Then, if
3
0 < | x 1| < ,
we have
|(3x + 2) 5| = 3| x 1| < 3 = 3

3
= .
By definition, we have lim (3x + 2) = 5.

x 1
Mathematics 53
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Example

x 2
Proof. Let > 0.

if 0 < | x (2)| < , then
|(5x + 6) (4)| <

|5x + 10| <
5| x + 2| <
| x + 2| <
5
We choose =
.
5
Mathematics 53
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Example

x 2
. Then if
5
0 < | x (2)| < ,
we have
|(5x + 6) (4)| = 5| x + 2| < 5 = 5

5
= .
By definition, we have lim (5x + 6) = 4.

x 2
Mathematics 53
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Example
Prove that lim (4 3x ) = 4.

x 0
Proof. Let > 0.

if 0 < | x 0| < , then
|(4 3x ) 4| <
| 3x | <
3| x | <
|x| <
3
We choose =
.
3
Mathematics 53
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Example
Prove that lim (4 3x ) = 4.

x 0
. So if
3
0 < | x 0| <
then
|(4 3x ) 4| = 3| x | < 3 = 3

3
= .
By definition, we have lim (4 3x ) = 4.

x 0
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Remark
The value of is NOT unique!
If a given > 0 works such that
if 0 < | x a| < then | f ( x ) L| <
0
then any smaller 0 < will also work since

0
if 0 < | x a| <
then
| f ( x ) L| < .
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Exercise
Evaluate: lim
4x 3
x x2 + 2x
Use the formal definition of a limit to show lim (2x + 1) = 5.

x 2
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M53 Lec1.3 Limits at Infinity Formal Definition

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Limits at Infinity

Formal Definition of a Limit

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

The Formal Definition

Proving using the Definition

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

lim [ f ( x ) g( x )] = lim f ( x ) lim g( x ) = L1 L2

lim [c f ( x )] = c lim f ( x ) = cL1

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

If n is even, then lim x n = + .

In item (5), x + may be replaced by x a, x a , x a+ , and

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

In general, if f ( x ) is a polynomial function, then lim f ( x ) depends only on the

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Another Indeterminate Form

is an indeterminate form of type

The expression x a may be replaced by x a+ , x a , x +, and

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Technique: Multiply the numerator and denominator by x1n , where n is the

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Limits at Infinity, Formal Definition of a Limit

Intuitive Notion of a Limit

f ( x ) gets closer and closer to L as x gets closer and

Intuitive Notion of a Limit

we could let f ( x ) be as close as we would like to L by taking

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)