6.

5 Limits of Rational functions at infinity

  
or or are all also known as indeterminate forms. When this form occurs when finding
  

limits at infinity (or negative infinity) with rational functions, divide every term in the numerator and

denominator by the highest power of x in the denominator to determine the limit.

If p(x) is a polynomial of degrees m leading coefficient p1 and

 (not exist), if m  n

 2 x  7
2
Example 1: Evaluate lim
x  6  3 x 2

2 x 2  7 lim 2 x2  7 
Solution lim  x 

x  6  3 x 2 lim 6  3x 2 
x 

Since x 2 is the highest power of x in the denominator of our function, we have

2 x 2  7 lim  2x2  7   x2
lim  x 
x  6  3 x 2 lim  6  3 x 2   x 2
x 

 7
lim  2  2 

x 
 x 
 6 
lim  2  3 

x  x

2  0 2
 
03 3
Example 2:
3x 2  3x  2
lim
x 2 x 2  5 x  6

3x 2  3x  2
2
 lim 2 x
x 2 x  5 x  6

x2
3 2
3  2
 lim x x
x 5 6
2  2
x x
30 0 3
 lim 
x 2  0  0 2

Example 3:
 3x  2
lim
x x  5 x  6
2

 3x  2
2
 lim 2 x
x x  5 x  6

x2
3 2
  2
 lim x x
x 5 6
1  2
x x
00
 lim
x1  0  0

0

1
0
Example 4:
x3  3x  2
lim
x  x 2  5 x  6

x3  3x  2
2
 lim 2 x
x  x  5 x  6

x2
3 2
x  2
 lim x x
x  5 6
1  2
x x
00
 lim
x  1  0  0



1

 not exist

Example 5:

a.

b.

c.
 x4
Example 11 Is f ( x)  continuous at x =1? At x =3?
x 3

Solution For both values of x, we must check each of the three items in the definition of continuity. If

one of the items fails, f(x) not continuous at that particular x-value.

x = 1:

1 4 5
First, check to see if a function value exists: f (1)  
1  3 2

x  4 lim x4 5
Next, check to see if a limit value exists: lim  x 1 
x 1 x  3 lim x  3 2
x 1

Last, check that the function value equals the limit value, which it does in this case. Therefore,

f(x) is continuous at x =1.

x = 3:

3 4 7
First, check to see if a function value exists: f (3)   is undefined
33 0

Therefore, since the first item of the definition is violated, f(x) is discontinuous at x = 3.

As previously stated, polynomial functions are continuous for all real values of x. This is also true for

exponential functions. Moreover, it is true that rational functions are continuous for all real values of

x that do not make the denominator zero and logarithmic functions are continuous for all x-values in

their domains.
Your Turn! Can you get each answer in less than 5 seconds?

Evaluate the following limits. Answers:

1
2x 1
2. lim
x x
2
4x  3
3. lim
x   3x  1

4
3
9x  5
4. lim
x   3x  2 x  5
2

0
x 2  2 x  x3
5. lim
x  3x 4  7
0

x 1
6. lim ln
x   x2
0

0.1x  x
7. lim
x x
1
0.5  3x
x 5
8. lim
x x5
3
2e 2 x  e x  3
9. lim
x   5e 2 x  4e x  9

2
5
7e x  3 x  5
10. lim
x   4e x  2 x  9

3

2