Calculus: Early Transcendentals 8th Edition

Published by Cengage Learning
ISBN 10: 1285741552
ISBN 13: 978-1-28574-155-0

Chapter 2 - Section 2.6 - Limits at Infinity; Horizontal Asymptotes - 2.6 Exercises - Page 139: 66

Answer

(a) These two functions seem to have the same end behavior. (b) Since the ratio of $\frac{P(x)}{Q(x)}$ approaches 1 as $~~x \to \infty~~$, $P$ and $Q$ have the same end behavior.

Work Step by Step

(a) When we view the graphs in the viewing rectangle $[-2,2]$ by $[-2,2]$, the graphs have a general trend that is similar, but the details are somewhat different. When we view the graphs in the viewing rectangle $[-10,10]$ by $[-10,000,10,000]$, the graphs have a very similar shape. These two functions seem to have the same end behavior. (b) $\lim\limits_{x \to \infty}\frac{P(x)}{Q(x)}$ $=\lim\limits_{x \to \infty}\frac{3x^5-5x^3+2x}{3x^5}$ $=\lim\limits_{x \to \infty}\frac{3x^5/x^5-5x^3/x^5+2x/x^5}{3x^5/x^5}$ $= \frac{3}{3}$ $= 1$ Since the ratio of $\frac{P(x)}{Q(x)}$ approaches 1 as $~~x \to \infty,~~$ $P$ and $Q$ have the same end behavior.
Update this answer!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this answer.

Update this answer

After you claim an answer you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.