Infinite Limits

Learn what it means when a function grows without bound near a point, how to find the sign with denominator analysis, and how infinite limits create vertical asymptotes.

Advanced30 min18 problems
Practice Problems

Definition

An infinite limit describes a function whose values grow without bound as xx approaches a number aa.
lim⁡x→af(x)=∞\lim_{x \to a} f(x) = \infty
means: as xx gets close to aa (from both sides), f(x)f(x) becomes larger than any number you can name. In the same way, lim⁡x→af(x)=−∞\lim_{x \to a} f(x) = -\infty means f(x)f(x) becomes more negative than any number you can name.
One-sided versions work the same way: lim⁡x→a−f(x)=∞\lim_{x \to a^-} f(x) = \infty looks only at x<ax < a, and lim⁡x→a+f(x)=−∞\lim_{x \to a^+} f(x) = -\infty looks only at x>ax > a.
Important: ∞\infty is not a number. Writing lim⁡x→af(x)=∞\lim_{x \to a} f(x) = \infty tells you *how* the limit fails to exist as a real number: the values blow up in the positive direction. The limit does not exist as a number.
Vertical asymptote: the line x=ax = a is a vertical asymptote of ff if at least one of the one-sided limits at aa is ∞\infty or −∞-\infty. For a rational function p(x)q(x)\frac{p(x)}{q(x)} this happens where q(a)=0q(a) = 0 but p(a)≠0p(a) \neq 0.
Sign analysis: when the numerator approaches a nonzero number and the denominator approaches 00, the quotient grows without bound. Its sign comes from the signs of the two parts:
  • positive divided by a small positive number: ∞\infty
  • positive divided by a small negative number: −∞-\infty
  • negative divided by a small positive number: −∞-\infty
  • negative divided by a small negative number: ∞\infty

Try it now

Find lim⁡x→01x2\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{1}{x^2}.

Worked Examples

Find lim⁡x→21(x−2)2\lim_{x \to 2} \frac{1}{(x-2)^2}.
1

Try direct substitution

1(2−2)2=10\frac{1}{(2-2)^2} = \frac{1}{0}: the numerator is 11, the denominator is 00 → Not a number: look closer
2

Make a table from the left

x=1.9x = 1.9: 10.01=100\frac{1}{0.01} = 100; x=1.99x = 1.99: 10.0001=10000\frac{1}{0.0001} = 10000 → Values grow without bound
3

Make a table from the right

x=2.1x = 2.1: 100100; x=2.01x = 2.01: 1000010000 → Values grow without bound
4

Use the sign

(x−2)2(x-2)^2 is a square, so it is positive on both sides of 22 → Both one-sided limits are ∞\infty

Common Mistakes

Saying "the limit exists and equals ∞\infty"

Why it's wrong: ∞\infty is not a real number. Writing =∞= \infty only describes the way the function grows; the limit does not exist as a number.

Correct: Say "f(x)f(x) grows without bound as x→ax \to a" or "the limit is ∞\infty", and remember that a limit equal to ∞\infty is not a limit that exists.

Writing lim⁡x→21x−2=∞\lim_{x \to 2} \frac{1}{x-2} = \infty

Why it's wrong: From the left the values go to −∞-\infty, from the right to ∞\infty. A two-sided limit can only be written as ∞\infty when both sides go to ∞\infty.

Correct: Give both one-sided limits (−∞-\infty and ∞\infty) and say that the two-sided limit does not exist.

Calling every zero of the denominator a vertical asymptote

Why it's wrong: If the numerator is also 00 there, the expression has the form 00\frac{0}{0} and may simplify. Then the limit can be a number and the graph only has a hole.

Correct: Check the numerator first: denominator 00 and numerator not 00 means a vertical asymptote; both 00 means simplify and look again.

Choosing the sign from the denominator only

Why it's wrong: A negative numerator flips the result: −5small positive\frac{-5}{\text{small positive}} goes to −∞-\infty, not ∞\infty.

Correct: Find the sign of the numerator and the sign of the denominator on the side you are looking at, then combine them like in division.

Interactive Visual

Function graph

-2-10123456-10-50510xyx = 2y = 0

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Asymptote

Table of values

x1.91.9922.012.1
1/(x - 2)-10-100undef.10010
1/(x - 2)²10010000undef.10000100

Function graph

-4-2024-505xyx = -1y = 0

Tap or hover over the graph to read off values.

y = (x - 2)/(x² - x - 2)Asymptote

Table of values

x-1.1-1.01-0.99-0.91.992.01
y-10-100100100.3344480.332226

Interactive Sandbox

Interactive Grapher

-10-50510-10-50510xy

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Try these examples:

y = 2x + 1

m=2, b=1

Expression Calculator

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Practice Problems

18 problems
Problem 1 of 18
Easy
Find lim⁡x→01x2\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{1}{x^2}.

Why It Matters

Infinite limits describe situations where a quantity explodes as you approach a critical value:
  • Physics: the force between two charges, F=kr2F = \frac{k}{r^2}, grows without bound as the distance rr approaches 00
  • Optics: when an object is placed close to the focal point of a lens, the image moves infinitely far away
  • Environmental science: the cost or time needed to remove the last few percent of a pollutant often grows without bound as you approach 100%
  • Graphing: infinite limits tell you exactly where the vertical asymptotes of a rational function are and which way the graph goes on each side
In calculus you will use infinite limits to sketch graphs, to describe discontinuities and to work with improper integrals.

Real World Applications

Electric Force at Short Distances

The force between two charged particles is inversely proportional to the square of their distance, so it grows without bound as the distance shrinks to zero.

Example:

With F(r)=100r2F(r) = \frac{100}{r^2} (in newtons, rr in meters), halving the distance makes the force four times larger, and lim⁡r→0+F(r)=∞\lim_{r \to 0^+} F(r) = \infty.

1Try It Yourself

Two charged particles push each other apart with a force of F(r)=100r2F(r) = \frac{100}{r^2} newtons, where rr is the distance in meters.

How large is the force, in newtons, at a distance of r=0.1r = 0.1 meters?

Step 1: Write the mathematical expression

Compute F(0.1)F(0.1):

Removing the Last Impurities

Water treatment gets harder and harder as you approach complete purity. Models of the effort often have a vertical asymptote at 100%.

Example:

If filtering pp percent of the impurities takes T(p)=50p100−pT(p) = \frac{50p}{100-p} minutes, then T(50)=50T(50) = 50 minutes, but T(90)=450T(90) = 450 minutes.

2Try It Yourself

A filter needs T(p)=50p100−pT(p) = \frac{50p}{100-p} minutes to remove pp percent of the impurities from a water tank.

What does T(p)T(p) approach as p→100−p \to 100^-?

Step 1: Choose the right answer

Choose the value of lim⁡p→100−T(p)\lim_{p \to 100^-} T(p):

Images Formed by a Lens

For a lens with focal length $f$, the image distance is $d_i = \frac{f \, d_o}{d_o - f}$. As the object moves toward the focal point, the image moves infinitely far away.

Example:

For f=10f = 10 cm: an object at do=20d_o = 20 cm gives an image at di=20010=20d_i = \frac{200}{10} = 20 cm, and lim⁡do→10+di=∞\lim_{d_o \to 10^+} d_i = \infty.

3Try It Yourself

A magnifying lens has focal length 1010 cm, so the image distance is di=10 dodo−10d_i = \frac{10 \, d_o}{d_o - 10} cm.

What is the image distance, in cm, when the object is at do=11d_o = 11 cm?

Step 1: Write the mathematical expression

Compute did_i for do=11d_o = 11:

Key Takeaways

  • 1lim⁡x→af(x)=∞\lim_{x \to a} f(x) = \infty means f(x)f(x) grows without bound as xx approaches aa; −∞-\infty means it decreases without bound
  • 2∞\infty is not a number: a limit equal to ∞\infty or −∞-\infty does not exist as a real number
  • 3If the numerator approaches a nonzero number and the denominator approaches 00, the limit is infinite; sign analysis decides between ∞\infty and −∞-\infty
  • 4Check each side separately: if the left and right sides go in different directions, the two-sided limit does not exist and is not written as ∞\infty
  • 5x=ax = a is a vertical asymptote when at least one one-sided limit at aa is ∞\infty or −∞-\infty
  • 6A zero of the denominator where the numerator is also 00 may be a hole, not an asymptote: simplify first

Frequently Asked Questions

No. A limit exists only when it is a real number. Writing lim⁡x→af(x)=∞\lim_{x \to a} f(x) = \infty is a more precise way of saying "the limit does not exist because the values grow without bound in the positive direction".
No. A limit exists only when it is a real number. Writing lim⁡x→af(x)=∞\lim_{x \to a} f(x) = \infty is a more precise way of saying "the limit does not exist because the values grow without bound in the positive direction".
In an infinite limit, xx approaches a number and f(x)f(x) blows up: lim⁡x→21(x−2)2=∞\lim_{x \to 2} \frac{1}{(x-2)^2} = \infty. In a limit at infinity, xx itself grows without bound: lim⁡x→∞1x=0\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{1}{x} = 0. The first gives vertical asymptotes, the second horizontal ones.
No. At a vertical asymptote x=ax = a the function values blow up near aa, and f(a)f(a) itself is usually not defined. (Horizontal asymptotes are different: a graph can cross those.)
A square (or any even power) is never negative. Near aa, (x−a)2(x-a)^2 is a small positive number on both sides, so the sign of the quotient depends only on the numerator.

Glossary

Infinite limit
A limit where f(x)f(x) grows (or decreases) without bound as x→ax \to a, written lim⁡x→af(x)=∞\lim_{x \to a} f(x) = \infty or −∞-\infty
Vertical asymptote
A vertical line x=ax = a that the graph approaches while its values go to ∞\infty or −∞-\infty on at least one side
Sign analysis
Finding whether the numerator and the denominator are positive or negative near aa to decide between ∞\infty and −∞-\infty
Grows without bound
Becomes larger than any number you can name; this is what →∞\to \infty means
Does not exist (DNE)
The limit is not a real number, for example because the values blow up or the two sides disagree

Formula Card

Infinite limit test

lim⁡x→a±p(x)q(x)=±∞ if p(a)≠0, q(a)=0\lim_{x \to a^{\pm}} \frac{p(x)}{q(x)} = \pm\infty \text{ if } p(a) \neq 0,\ q(a) = 0

Nonzero numerator over a denominator approaching $0$: each one-sided limit is $\infty$ or $-\infty$, the signs decide which; the two-sided limit is $\pm\infty$ only when both sides agree

Odd power

lim⁡x→a−1x−a=−∞,lim⁡x→a+1x−a=∞\lim_{x \to a^-} \frac{1}{x-a} = -\infty, \quad \lim_{x \to a^+} \frac{1}{x-a} = \infty

The two sides go in opposite directions, so the two-sided limit does not exist

Even power

lim⁡x→a1(x−a)2=∞\lim_{x \to a} \frac{1}{(x-a)^2} = \infty

A square is positive on both sides, so both sides go to $\infty$

Vertical asymptote

x=a if lim⁡x→a−f(x) or lim⁡x→a+f(x) is ±∞x = a \text{ if } \lim_{x \to a^-} f(x) \text{ or } \lim_{x \to a^+} f(x) \text{ is } \pm\infty

One infinite one-sided limit is enough

Today's challengeOne problem, three tries

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