Rational Function Limit at Infinity

Rarely Tested

Rational Function Limit at Infinity

For:

$$f(x)=\frac{P(x)}{Q(x)}$$

compare the degrees of $$P(x)$$ and $$Q(x)$$.

If:

$$\deg P<\deg Q$$

then:

$$\lim_{x\to\infty}\frac{P(x)}{Q(x)}=0$$

If:

$$\deg P=\deg Q$$

then:

$$\lim_{x\to\infty}\frac{P(x)}{Q(x)}=\frac{\text{leading coefficient of }P}{\text{leading coefficient of }Q}$$

Usage

- Used to quickly evaluate rational-function limits at infinity.

Question 1

Let $$f(x)$$ be a polynomial function satisfying

$$\lim_{x \to \infty}\frac{x^2f(x)}{x^4+3x^2+1}=2.$$

If $$f(2)=5$$ and $$f(3)=10,$$ then the value of the limit $$\lim_{x\to 1}\frac{f(x)-f(1)}{\sin(x-1)}$$ is equal to:

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