Calculus 1

Lia Vas

Infinite Limits and Limits at Infinity

Horizontal and vertical asymptotes

Example 1. Consider the function f (x) = x1 . This function is defined for every value of x except
x = 0. Although not defined at 0, it still may be relevant to know the behavior of this function near
zero. Thus, we consider limx→0 f (x).

Solution. Note that when x is taking smaller

and smaller positive values, the y-values increase
without bound. Thus

when x → 0+ , y → ∞.

This conclusion is supported by consideration of

the graph of f (x) as well. Similarly, when x is
taking negative values closer and closer to 0, the
y-values become larger and larger negative values.
Thus

when x → 0− , y → −∞.
1
Since the left limit is −∞ and the right limit is +∞, the limit limx→0 x
does not exist.
1
Example 2. Consider the function f (x) = x2
now, examine the behavior of this function at 0
and find limx→0 f (x).

Solution. Note that when x is taking smaller

and smaller values, both positive and negative,
the y-values become larger and larger positive val-
ues. Thus
y → ∞ both when x → 0+ and when x → 0− .
Support this conclusion by considering the graph
of f (x) too.
Since left and right limits are equal, the limit
limx→0 x12 exists (bot not as a finite number) and
it is equal to ∞.

Infinite limits. Consider the first example again, when x → 0+ , the function x1 takes large
positive values so the limit is ∞. We can write down this conclusion as 01+ = ∞. Similarly, when
x → 0− , x1 → −∞ which we can write as 01− = −∞. From these observations, we can conclude the
following.

1
 If the numerator is nonzero, the expressions 0− or 0+
in denominator cause a limit not to have a finite value.
If a > 0, 0a± = ±∞. If a < 0, 0a± = ∓∞

We illustrate the above observations by the following example.

x+2
Example 3. Determine limx→−3 f (x) and limx→2 f (x) for f (x) = (x+3)(x−2)2
.

Solution. Let us find the left and right

limits at -3 first. When x → −3− , f (x) →
−1
(−3− +3)(−3−2)2
= (0−−1
)(25)
. The sign of the answer
is positive since we are dividing a negative with a
negative number. Thus, the answer is ∞.
−1
When x → −3+ , f (x) → (−3+ +3)(−3−2) 2 =
−1
(0+ )(25)
. The sign of the answer is negative since
we are dividing a negative with a positive number.
Thus, the answer is −∞.
Consider the graph of f (x) too to validate your conclusions.
In examples 1 and 2, the y-values are approaching the vertical line x = 0 (y-axis) for x → 0. In
this case, we refer x = 0 as the vertical asymptote. Thus,

The vertical line x = a is a vertical asymptote of a function f (x) if

either limx→a+ f (x) or limx→a− f (x) are equal to ∞ or −∞.

Note that the function from example 3 has two vertical asymptotes x = −3 and x = 2.
To find the vertical asymptotes of a function, consider the x-values at which the function is not
defined as you and note that a function may not have a vertical asymptote at all such x-values.
2
−x−6
Example 4. Find vertical asymptotes of f (x) = xx2 −2x−3 .
Solution. To determine the points at which f (x) is not defined, factor the numerator and denom-
inator and obtain f (x) = (x−3)(x+2)
(x−3)(x+1)
. This tells you that there are two potential vertical asymptotes
x = 3 and x = −1. Determine limits at both values.

Note that when x 6= 3, the terms x − 3 cancel

and f (x) is equal to x+2
x+1
. So the limit limx→3 is
3+2 5
3+1
= 4 . Since this is a finite value, there is no
vertical asymptote at 3.
−1+2 1
When x → −1+ , f (x) → −1 + +1 = 0+ = ∞.

Since this is not a finite value, there is a vertical

asymptote at -1. The left limit is also not finite,
limx→−1− f (x) = 01− = −∞ indicating that f (x)
approaches the vertical asymptote x = −1 from
the left too.

2
 Consider the graph of f (x) to support your conclusions.
Limits at infinity. When x-values become arbitrarily large, we say that x approaches infinity
and write x → ∞. The limits limx→∞ f (x) are relevant for determining the long term behavior of
f (x).
When x-values become arbitrarily large negative value, we say that x approaches negative infinity
and write x → −∞.
1
Example 1 revisited. Find limits limx→∞ x
and limx→−∞ x1 .
Solution. Note that when x is a large posi-
tive number, x1 is a small (positive) number. Thus
limx→∞ x1 = ∞ 1
= 0. Similarly, when x is a large
negative number, x1 is a small (negative) number.
Thus limx→−∞ x1 = −∞ 1
= 0 as well.
Consider the graph of f (x) to support your
conclusions.

Example 3 revisited. Find limits limx→∞ f (x) and limx→−∞ f (x) for f (x) from example 3.
Solution. Considering the graph of function from example 3, you can conclude that limx→∞ f (x) =
0 and limx→−∞ f (x) = 0.
Limits at infinity of polynomials and rational functions. While it is easy to use the graph
to determine the limit at infinity of the function from example 3, it may note be as straightforward
to do the same for the function from example 4. From the graph alone (see the graph of function in
example 4), we can see that the limit of f (x) is a finite number, but it is not as obvious what this
number is as it was in example 3. For cases like this, we need the following analysis.
When x is a large number, the value of a polynomial function is impacted the most by the term
with the highest power of x, known also as the leading term. For example, consider the values of
each term of the polynomial x2 − 2x − 3 for x = 1000. The value of x2 is 1000000, the value of −2x is
−2000 while the last term -3 has the same value for any x. We can see that the value of the leading
term x2 impacts the total value of the polynomial the most.
This observation can help us simplify determination of limits at infinity of rational functions a
great deal. Recall that a rational function is a quotient of two polynomial functions. For example,
all functions from examples 1–4 are rational functions.

If p(x) and q(x) are polynomials with leading terms an xn and bm xm ,

n
then limx→∞ p(x)
q(x)
is equal to limx→∞ bamnxxm .

The same reasoning can be used for limits when x → −∞.

2
−x−6
Example 4 revisited. Find the limit of f (x) = xx2 −2x−3 when x → ±∞.
2 −x−6 2
Solution. Using the reasoning above limx→±∞ xx2 −2x−3 = limx→±∞ xx2 = 1.
In examples 1, 2, and 3, the y-values are approaching the horizontal line y = 0 (x-axis) for x → ∞.
In this case, we refer y = 0 as the horizontal asymptote.

3
 The horizontal line y = b is a horizontal asymptote of a function f (x) if
limx→∞ f (x) = b or limx→−∞ f (x) = b (possibly both).

For example, the function in example 4 has horizontal asymptote y = 1.

p(x)
Horizontal asymptotes of a rational function. Recall that for the rational function q(x)
where p(x) and q(x) are polynomials with leading terms an xn and bm xm , we have limx→±∞ p(x)
q(x)
=
n
limx→±∞ bamnxxm . Since this limit is
1. 0 if n < m,
an
2. bm
if m = n, and

3. ±∞ if n > m,
p(x)
the rational function q(x)
has a horizontal asymptote if n ≤ m.
Example 5. Determine the horizontal asymptotes of the following the rational functions.
57x3 − 4x2 + 9 57x5 − 4x2 + 9 57x3 − 4x2 + 9
(a) f (x) = (b) f (x) = (c) f (x) =
35x − 114x3 35x − 114x3 35x − 114x4
57x 57 3 −1
Solution. (a) limx→±∞ f (x) = limx→±∞ −114x 3 = −114 = 2 so f (x) has the horizontal asymptote

y = −1
2
.
57x5 57x2
(b) limx→±∞ f (x) = limx→±∞ −114x 3 = limx→±∞ −114 = −∞ so f (x) does not have a horizontal

asymptote.
57x3 57
(c) limx→±∞ f (x) = limx→±∞ −114x 4 = limx→±∞ −114x = 0 so f (x) has the horizontal asymptote

y = 0.

Practice problems.
1. Evaluate the following limits.
2 2 2
(a) limx→3− x−3 (b) limx→3 x−3 (c) limx→∞ x−3
2x x−1 2 −x−6
(d) limx→∞ x−3 (e) limx→∞ x2 −3x+2 (f) limx→∞ xx2 −2x−3
x+2 x+2 x+2
(g) limx→0+ x(x−2) (h) limx→2 x(x−2) (i) limx→∞ x(x−2)

2. Find the horizontal and vertical asymptotes (if any) of the following functions.

x2 − 2x − 8 x+5 x3 + 1
(a) f (x) = (b) f (x) = (c) f (x) =
x2 − x − 6 2
x −x−6 x(3 − x)

Solutions.
1. Graph all the functions and consider the graphs.
2 2
(a) limx→3− x−3
= 0−
= −∞
2 2
(b) By part (a), the left limit is −∞. The right limit is limx→3+ x−3
= 0+
= ∞. Since left and
right limits are different, the limit x → 3 does not exist.

4
 2 2
(c) limx→∞ x−3
=∞ = 0.
2x
(d) limx→∞ x−3 = limx→∞ 2x x
= 2.
x−1
(e) limx→∞ x2 −3x+2 = limx→∞ xx2 = limx→∞ 1
x
= 1
∞
= 0.
x2 −x−6 x2
(f) limx→∞ x2 −2x−3
= limx→∞ x2 = 1.
x+2 2
(g) limx→0+ x(x−2) = 0+ (−2) = −01+ = −∞.
x+2 4 x+2
(h) Compare the left and and right limits limx→2+ x(x−2)
= 2(0+ )
= ∞ and limx→2− x(x−2)
=
4 x+2
2(0− )
= −∞. Thus limx→2 x(x−2) does not exist.
x+2 x 1
(i) limx→∞ x(x−2)
= limx→∞ x2
= limx→∞ x
= 0.
2
(x−4)(x+2)
2. (a) To find the vertical asymptotes, simplify f (x) as xx2−2x−8
−x−6
= (x−3)(x+2) . Thus, f (x) is not
x−4
defined when x = 3 and x = −2. When x 6= −2, f (x) = x−3 and the limit limx→−2 f (x) =
−2−4
−2−3
= 65 . Since this is a finite value, f (x) does not have a vertical asymptote at x = −2.
limx→3+ f (x) = 3−4
0+
= −∞ and limx→3− f (x) = 3−4 0−
= ∞. Since these values are not finite, the
line x = 3 is a vertical asymptote of f (x).
x2 −2x−8 x2
To find the horizontal asymptote, consider limx→±∞ x2 −x−6
= limx→±∞ x2
= 1. Thus y = 1 is
a horizontal asymptote.
(b) To find the vertical asymptotes, simplify f (x) as = x2x+5 −x−6
x+5
= (x−3)(x+2) . Thus, f (x) is
−2+5 3
not defined when x = 3 and x = −2. limx→−2+ f (x) = (−2−3)(0+ ) = (−5)0+ = −∞ and
3
limx→−2− f (x) = (−5)0 − = ∞. Since these values are not finite, the line x = −2 is a verti-

cal asymptote of f (x). limx→3+ f (x) = (0+3+5

)(3+2)
= 0+8(5) = ∞ and limx→3− f (x) = 0−8(5) = −∞.
Since these values are not finite, the line x = 3 is a vertical asymptote of f (x).
x+5 x
To find the horizontal asymptote, consider limx→±∞ x2 −x−6
= limx→±∞ x2
= 0. Thus y = 0 is a
horizontal asymptote.
27+1 28
(c) f (x) is not defined when x = 3 and x = 0. limx→3+ f (x) = (3)(3−3 + ) = (3)0− = −∞ and
28
limx→3− f (x) = (3)0 + = ∞. Since these values are not finite, the line x = 3 is a vertical
asymptote of f (x). limx→0+ f (x) = (0+0+1)(3−0)
= 0+1(3) = ∞ and limx→0− f (x) = 0−1(3) = −∞.
Since these values are not finite, the line x = 0 is a vertical asymptote of f (x).
x +1 3 x3
To find the horizontal asymptote, consider limx→±∞ x(3−x) = limx→±∞ −x2
= −∞. Since this
value is not finite f (x) does not have a horizontal asymptote.