EVALUATING LIMITS

An important application of determining the limit of a function is to understand the behavior of the graph of that function. You can answer the questions, "What happens at very large values of x?" "What happens at very small values of x?" and "Where are the horizontal or slant asymptotes?" The idea of a limit might have been introduced first to you in a college algebra class when talking about horizontal asymptotes. You may have been given the three cases for a horizontal asymptotes: a ( x) f ( x) = b( x) CASE 1: If degree a ( x ) > degree b ( x ) then there is no horizontal asymptote. Ex. f ( x ) = 4 x3 4 x 2 + 5 6x2 7 x + 2

The degree of the numerator a ( x ) is 3 and the degree of the denominator b ( x ) is 2. There is no horizontal asymptote. CASE 2: If degree a ( x ) < degree b ( x ) then the horizontal asymptote is y = 0 . 2 x3 4 x 2 + 5 Ex. f ( x ) = 5 6 x 7 x3 + 2 x 2 4 x + 1 The degree of the numerator a ( x ) is 3 and the degree of the denominator b ( x ) is 5. The horizontal asymptote is y = 0 .

CASE 3: If degree a ( x ) = degree b ( x ) then the horizontal asymptote is the ratio of the coefficients. Ex. f ( x ) =

4 x3 3x 2 + 2 7 x3 + 5 x 2 x + 6

The degree of the numerator a ( x ) is 3 and the degree of the denominator b ( x ) is 3. The horizontal asymptote is y = degree terms.

4 , the ratio of the coefficients of the highest 7

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In each of these cases what is really being asked is "What does the graph approach at very large magnitudes of x?" Or in more technical terms: What is lim f ( x ) or lim f ( x ) ?
x x

(the limit of the function as x approaches positive infinity or as x approaches negative infinity) Instead of memorizing the three cases, we need only take the limit of the function as x approaches positive or negative infinity. Let's look at the three cases again using limits.

CASE 1: If degree a ( x ) > degree b ( x ) then there is no horizontal asymptote. Ex. f ( x ) =

4 x3 4 x 2 + 5 6x2 7 x + 2

This time we will take the limit as x approaches infinity.

x +

lim f ( x ) = lim

4 x3 4 x 2 + 5 x + 6 x 2 7 x + 2

When you are evaluating infinite limits first determine the highest power of x in the function. In this case, the highest power of x is to the third power. Using a crafty form of multiplication by one, we can divide both the numerator and the denominator by that power.

4x 4x + 5 lim f ( x ) = lim x + x + 6 x 2 7 x + 2
3 2

1 x3 1 x3

4 x3 4 x2 5 3 + 3 3 x x = lim x 2 x + 6 x 7x 2 3 + 3 x3 x x 4 5 + 3 1 x x = lim x + 6 7 2 2 + 3 1 x x x 4
We now must use the fact that as x gets very large

1 gets closer and closer to 0. x

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x +

lim f ( x ) = lim

x +

40+0 4 = = + 00+0 0

(limit does not exist)

The limit is undefined. So there is no horizontal asymptote.

CASE 2: If degree a ( x ) < degree b ( x ) then the horizontal asymptote is y = 0 .

2 x3 4 x 2 + 5 Ex. f ( x ) = 5 6 x 7 x3 + 2 x 2 4 x + 1
We can take the limit as x approaches infinity for this one as well.

x +

lim f ( x ) =

2 x3 4 x 2 + 5 6 x5 7 x3 + 2 x 2 4 x + 1

This time the highest power of x is 5 so we must divide by x5 .

2x 4x + 5 lim f ( x ) = lim 5 x + x + 6 x 7 x 3 + 2 x 2 4 x + 1
3 2

1 x5 1 x5

2 x3 4 x 2 5 5 + 5 x5 x x = lim 5 3 2 x + 6 x 7 x 2x 4x 1 5 + 5 5+ 5 5 x x x x x 2 4 5 + x 2 x3 x5 = lim x + 7 2 4 1 6 2 + 3 4 + 5 x x x x = 00+0 0 = =0 60+00+0 6

The limit is 0 which means our graph approaches y = 0 for extreme values of x. So y = 0 is the horizontal asymptote.

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CASE 3: If degree a ( x ) = degree b ( x ) then the horizontal asymptote is the ratio of the coefficients. Ex. f ( x ) =

4 x3 3x 2 + 2 7 x3 + 5 x 2 x + 6

Let's take the limit as x approaches negative infinity.

lim f ( x ) = lim

4 x3 3x 2 + 2 x 7 x 3 + 5 x 2 x + 6

The highest power of x is to the third power so we will divide by x 3 .

4 x3 3x 2 + 2 lim f ( x ) = lim 3 x x 7 x + 5 x 2 x + 6

1 x3 1 x3

4 x3 3x 2 2 3 + 3 x3 x x = lim x 7 x 3 5x2 x 6 + 3 3+ 3 x3 x x x 3 2 + x1 x 3 = lim x 5 1 6 7+ 1 2 + 3 x x x 4

As x approaches negative infinity

1 approaches 0. x

40+0 4 = 7+00+0 7

(Notice that the same argument will work as x approaches positive infinity.) The horizontal asymptote for this function is y =

4 . 7

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We have confirmed the three cases. Now let's try evaluating limits near particular x values. FIRST: When solving limits, first try simply to substitute the number into the function and evaluate. Sometimes this is all you need to do. 1. lim

x4 x2 x + 6 x4 24 2 1 1 so the answer is = = = x2 x + 6 2+6 8 4 4

x6

lim

2. lim x 2 + 3 x 5

lim x 2 + 3x 5 = ( 6 ) + 3 ( 6 ) 5 = 36 + 18 5 = 49 so the answer is 49.

2 x 6

3. lim x 3 + 5 = ( ) + 5 = ( ) + 5 = + 5 = , the limit does not exist.

3 x

SECOND: Sometimes it is not possible to just evaluate the function because the function is not defined for that value. If this happens then try to simplify (factor or divide) the function before evaluating.

x2 + 4 x 5 4. lim x 1 x 1 = lim
x 1

( x 1)( x + 5) = lim x + 5
x 1
x 1

= lim x + 5 = 1 + 5 = 6 so the answer is 6.

x 1

5. lim
0

tan 2

sin 2 sin sin = lim = lim 0 cos 2 0 cos 2 = lim

0

sin

lim

sin 0 = 1 = 1 0 = 0 2 0 cos 1

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THIRD: Whenever you are dealing with positive or negative infinity and a rational function (fractional), if you are unable to factor, then divide each piece by the highest power of x in the function. 6. lim

2 x3 3x + 6 x 3 x 5 + 4 x 3 6 x 1
1 x5 1 x5

2 x3 3x + 6 = lim 5 3 x 3 x + 4 x 6 x 1

2 x3 3x 6 2 3 6 5+ 5 4+ 5 5 2 x x x = 0=0 = lim 5 x 3x = lim x x 3 x 4 x 6 x 1 x 3 + 4 6 1 3 + 5 5 5 5 x 2 x 4 x5 x x x x

FOURTH: When all else fails, graph the function. 7. lim

x 3

x3 x3

In this function the absolute value sign may throw us off. Is the limit 1? Graphing the function makes the answer more clear.
1.5 1 0.5 -1 -0.5 -1 -1.5 1 2 3 4 5

The limit from the left is -1.

x 3

lim

x3 x3

= 1 x3 x3

The limit from the right is +1.

x 3

lim +

=1

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Since the two limits are not equal lim

x 3

x3 x3

does not exist.

8. lim

2 x x 1 x + 1
3 2 1 -4 -2 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 2 4

The limit from the left is

x 1

lim

2 x = x +1 2 x = + x +1

The limit from the right is +

x 1

lim+

Since the two limits are not equal lim

2 x does not exist. x 1 x + 1

9. lim
x2

( x 2)

The limit from the left is .

x2

lim

( x 2)

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The limit from the right is . Thus lim

x2

x2

lim+

( x 2)

( x 2)

= , the limit does not exist.

10. lim
0

1 cos

-2.3

2.3

The limit from the left is 0.

lim

1 cos

lim

=0

The limit from the right is 0.

1 cos

0+

=0

Thus lim
0

1 cos

= 0.

These are basic guidelines to follow when evaluating limits. For a more in-depth study of limits, talk with your professor, TA, or a UT Learning Center tutor about specific examples that reveal the nature of limits. When you are ready for a challenge, ask about the delta-epsilon definition of a limit!

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