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Lesson 4: Limits Involving Infinity (Worksheet Solutions)

This document provides solutions to limits problems from a worksheet on Section 2.5 involving limits involving infinity. It works through 9 problems step-by-step showing the limit calculations and manipulations used to evaluate each limit. For problem 9, it sketches the graph of a function based on evaluating its asymptotes from the limits. The solutions demonstrate various limit laws and manipulations like multiplying by conjugates, factoring, and applying the squeeze theorem to evaluate infinite limits.

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Matthew Leingang
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6K views

Lesson 4: Limits Involving Infinity (Worksheet Solutions)

This document provides solutions to limits problems from a worksheet on Section 2.5 involving limits involving infinity. It works through 9 problems step-by-step showing the limit calculations and manipulations used to evaluate each limit. For problem 9, it sketches the graph of a function based on evaluating its asymptotes from the limits. The solutions demonstrate various limit laws and manipulations like multiplying by conjugates, factoring, and applying the squeeze theorem to evaluate infinite limits.

Uploaded by

Matthew Leingang
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Solutions to Worksheet for Section 2.

5
Limits Involving Infinity
Math 1a
February 4, 2008

1. Sketch the graph of a function f that satisfies all of these:

• lim f (x) = −∞ • lim f (x) = 0 • lim− f (x) = −∞


x→2 x→−∞ x→0

• lim f (x) = ∞ • lim+ f (x) = ∞


x→∞ x→0

Solution. Here is one:


Find the limits.
2−x
2. lim
x→1 (x − 1)2

Solution. As x → 1, the numerator tends to 1, while the denominator tends to zero while
remaining positive. So the quotient consists of increasingly large positive numbers, hence
tends to ∞.

3. lim− cot x
x→π

cos x
Solution. Remember that cot x is . As x → π but x < π, then cos x → −1 while
sin x
sin x → 0, but remains positive. So the quotients are large and negative, hence tend to
−∞.

x3 + 5x
4. lim
x→∞ 2x3 − x2 + 4

Solution.
x3 + 5x 3
x
 (1 + 5/x)
lim = lim 3
x→∞ 2x3 2
− x + 4 x→∞ x(2 − 1/x + 4/x3 )
1
=
2

t2 + 2
5. lim
t→−∞ t3 + t2 − 1

Solution.
t2 + 2 t2 (1 + 2/t2 )
lim = lim
t→−∞ t3 + t2 − 1 t→∞ t3 (1 + 1/t − 1/t3

1 1 + 2/t2
= lim · lim
t→∞ t t→∞ 1 + 1/t − 1/t3

= 0 · 1 = 0.
p 
6. lim 9x2 + x − 3x
x→∞

Solution. Multiply by the conjugate radical:


p  √9x2 + x + 3x x
lim 9x + x − 3x · √
2 = lim √
x→∞ 2
9x + x + 3x x→∞ 2
9x + x + 3x
1
= lim p
x→∞ 9 + 1/x + 3
1 1
=√ =
9+3 6

√ 
7. lim x − x
x→∞

Solution. Same manipulation:


√
√  x+ x x2 − x
lim x − x · √ = lim √
x→∞ x + x x→∞ x + x
x2 (1 − x−1 )
= lim
x→∞ x(1 + x−1/2 )

1 − x−1
= lim x · lim =∞·1=∞
x→∞ x→∞ 1 + x−1/2

sin2 x
8. lim
x→∞ x2

Solution. We can use a version of the squeeze theorem. Notice that

sin2 x 1
0≤ 2
≤ 2
x x
1 sin2 x
for all x. Since → 0 as x → ∞, lim = 0.
x2 x→∞ x2
9. Consider the function √
2x2 + 1
f (x) =
3x − 5
Sketch the graph (without using your calculator) by finding all its asymptotes and filling it in.
Solution. We can show:
√
lim + f (x) = +∞ lim f (x) = 2/3
x→5/3 x→∞
√
lim − f (x) = −∞ lim f (x) = − 2/3
x→5/3 x→∞

So we can sketch in at lest this much of the graph:

It turns out the graph is a little√ bit more complicated; it makes a “hump” on the negative branch
and as x → ∞ it approaches − 2/3 from above. But we can see at least this much with the limits
alone.

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