Math 180 Worksheets

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Keywords: limits, squeeze theorem, infinite limits, limits at infinity, asymptotes, graphing

2 Module 1 Content Sheet Part 2

2.3 Techniques for Computing Limits - Squeeze Theorem

2.4 Infinite Limits
2.5 Limits at Infinity

2.3 Techniques for computing Limits II

Question 81 Let’s explore how to find one sided limits for piece-wise defined functions.
< x3 + 2x + 1 if x < 0
f (x) = 1 if x = 0
: 2
x +2 if x > 0
Evaluate each limit.

lim f (x) lim f (x) lim f (x)

x!0 x!0+ x!0

Question 2 Recall when there is division by zero, we might be able to use an algebraic
manipulation to rewrite the expression to evaluate the limit. Evaluate:

x2 16
(a) lim
x!4 4 x

p
x 1
(b) lim
x!1 x 1

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Double check your answers. Q1 (a) 1 (b) 2 (c) does not exist, Q2 (a) -8, (b) 1/2
x2
Question 3 Suppose all you know about a function f is that 2  f (x)  2 for x near
6
0. What can you conclude about lim f (x)? Explain.
x!0

lim f (x) =
x!0

Question 4 Suppose all you know about a function f is that cos x  f (x)  1 for x near 0,
sin x
see graphs below. (By the way f (x) = has this property!)
x
h(x) = 1 f (x) = sin(x)/x
Explore lim f (x) =
1 x!0

3 2 1 1 2 3 4
1
g(x) = cos(x)

There is a name for this, namely the Squeeze/Sandwich Theorem:

Theorem 1 For f, g, and h with g(x)  f (x)  h(x) for x near a point a, then
lim g(x)  lim f (x)  lim g(x). In particular, if the two outer limits are equal, the
x!a x!a x!a
limit in the middle also takes this value.

� Watch the two Panopto Videos on the Squeeze Theorem

p 1 1
Question 5 Repeat the steps from the video to evaluate lim+ x sin ( p ).
x!0 x

1 1 p p
1  sin ( p )  +1, then multiply times x (note x is always positive for x > 0) which
Check your answers: Q3 2, Q4 1, Q5 Start with
x
p p 1 p p p 1 p
yields: x  x sin ( p )  + x Then by the squeeze theorem: 0 = lim x  lim x sin ( p )  lim + x = 0 and thus the whole
x x!0+ x!0+ x x!0+
limit is zero.

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2.4 Infinite Limits

� Watch the Video on Infinite Limits & Vertical Asymptotes

Question 6 (a) Sketch the graph of the func- (b) Evaluate the following limits:
1
tion f (x) = .
x
y
lim f (x)
x!0
2

1
lim f (x)
x!0+
x
-2 -1 1 2
-1
lim f (x)
x!0
-2

Question 7 (a) Sketch the graph of the func- (b) Evaluate the following limits:
2
tion f (x) = + 3:
x 1
y
lim f (x)
x!1
4

3 lim f (x)
x!1+
2

1 lim f (x)
x!1

x
-2 -1 1 2

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Double check your graphs from the previous problem by using any graphing software.
Answers: Q6 (a) 1, (b) 1, (c) does not exist. Q7 (a) 1, (b) 1, (c) does not exist.

2
Question 8 Evaluate the following limits for f (x) = .
(4 x)3

lim f (x)
x!4

lim f (x)
x!4+

Does f have a vertical asymptote?

2x2 + 10x
Question 9 Evaluate the following limits for f (x) = .
x2 25

lim f (x)
x!5+

lim f (x)
x!5

lim f (x)
x!5

lim f (x)
x! 5

Does f have any vertical asymptotes?

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2.5 Limits at Infinity Next, we are looking at end behavior of graphs, i.e., limits
x ! +1 or x ! 1, and asymptotes.

� Watch the Video on Limits at Infinity & Horizontal Asymptotes

Question 10 (a) Sketch the graph of the

2 (b) Evaluate the following limits:
function f (x) = + 3:
x 1 lim f (x)
x!1
y

4
lim f (x)
x! 1
3

2
(c) Does f have a horizontal asymp-
1 tote?
x
-2 -1 1 2

2x2 + 10x
Question 11 Given f (x) = , evaluate the following limits:
x2 25

(a) lim f (x)

x!1

(b) lim f (x)

x! 1

(c) Does f have a horizontal asymptote?

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Time to check your answers:
Q8 +1, 1, x = 4 Vertical Asymptote
Q9 +1, 1, DNE, 1, x = 5 Vertical Asymptote
Q10 (a) Use a graphing program to check the graph, (b) 3, 3, y = 3.
Q11 (a) 2, (b) 2, (c) y = 2 horizontal asymptote
Generally the end behavior of rational functions can be determined by looking at the
leading terms.

Theorem 2 Suppose f (x) = p(x)

q(x)
is a rational function, with p(x) = am xm + am 1 xm 1 + · · ·
a polynomial of degree m and q(x) = an xn + an 1 xn 1 + · · · a polynomial of degree n.
• If m < n (downstairs/denominator has larger degree) then limx!±1 f (x) = 0 and
y = 0 is a horizonal asymptote.

• If m = n, limx!±1 = am /bn , and y = am /bn is a horizontal asymptote.

• If m > n, (upstairs/numerator has larger degree) then limx!±1 f (x) = 1 or 1,

and there are no horizontal asymptotes.
2x + 1
Question 12 Evaluate lim
x!1 x3 27

x3 27
Question 13 Evaluate lim
x! 1 2x + 1

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Question 14 Assume we know the following
about a function g. Based on the given information, can
you locate any asymptotes of the function
(i) lim g(x) = 2 g?
x! 1

(ii) lim g(x) = 5

x!1

(iii) lim g(x) = 1

x!2

(iv) lim+ g(x) = 4

x!2

Can you sketch a possible graph? Double check that your graph is the graph of a function.
Does it pass a vertical line test?

Question 15 Complete the statements.

A function f has a horizontal asymp- A function f has a vertical asymptote

tote x = b if · · ·
y = a if · · ·

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Check your answers to Q 14: g has two horizontal asymptotes y = 2 and y = 5, and
one vertical asymptote x = 2. Check the book for your answers for horizontal and vertical
asymptotes in section 2.4 and 2.5 of the book. You can access the book from MyLab, either
check out the static e-book, or run the MyLab Browser Check to install a CDF player, this
allows you to see the interactive figures in the ebook.

Question 16 Use the graph to find the following limits (Credits to U of Colorado, Boulder).

lim f (x) lim f (x) lim f (x) lim f (x)

x! 1 x!+1 x! 5 x! 5+

lim f (x) lim f (x) lim f (x) lim f (x)

x! 5 x! 2 x! 2+ x! 2

f (0) lim f (x) lim f (x) lim f (x)

x!3 x!3+ x!3

f (3) f ( 5) lim f (x) lim f (x)

x!5 x!5+

f (5) lim f (x)

x!5

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 This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler

lim f (x) = 5 lim f (x) =2

x! 1 x!1

This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler
This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler

lim f (x) lim f (x)

x! 5 x! 5+
=1 =1

This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler
This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler

lim f (x) lim f (x) = 1

x! 5 x! 2
=1

This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler
This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler

lim f (x) = lim f (x) does not exist

x! 2+ x! 2
1

This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler
This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler

f ( 2) =3 lim f (x) =1
x!0

This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler
This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler

lim f (x) =1 lim f (x) =1

x!0+ x!0
Double check your solutions for the last problem.

This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler
This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler

f (0) =1 lim f (x) = 2

x!3

This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler
This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler

lim f (x) =4 lim f (x) does not exist

x!3+ x!3

This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler
This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler

f (3) = 2 f ( 5) is undefined

This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler
This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler

lim f (x) =0 lim f (x) =0

x!5 x!5+

This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler
This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler

lim f (x)

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f (5) = 3 x!5
=0

This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler This is invisible filler