University Calculus: Early Transcendentals (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321999584
ISBN 13: 978-0-32199-958-0

Chapter 2 - Section 2.6 - Limits Involving Infinity; Asymptotes of Graphs - Exercises - Page 109: 88

Answer

Prove that for $f(x)=k$, then $\lim_{x\to\infty}f(x)=k$, which means to prove for every $\epsilon\gt0$, there exists a corresponding $N\gt0$ such that for all $x$ $$x\lt N\Rightarrow |f(x)-k|\lt\epsilon$$

Work Step by Step

*The formal definition of limits as $x\to-\infty$: $\lim_{x\to-\infty}f(x)=L$ is for every number $\epsilon\gt0$, there exists a corresponding number $N\gt0$ such that for all $x$ $$x\lt N\Rightarrow |f(x)-L|\lt\epsilon$$ Here we need to prove for $f(x)=k$, then $\lim_{x\to\infty}f(x)=k$, which means to prove for every $\epsilon\gt0$, there exists a corresponding $N\gt0$ such that for all $x$ $$x\lt N\Rightarrow |f(x)-k|\lt\epsilon$$ Examine the inequality: $$|f(x)-k|\lt\epsilon$$ Since $f(x)=k$: $$|k-k|\lt\epsilon$$ $$|0|\lt\epsilon$$ $$0\lt\epsilon$$ which is always true for all $x$. In other words, $|f(x)-k|\lt\epsilon$ is always true no matter which $N$ we choose to limit the values of $x$. Therefore, $\lim_{x\to-\infty}f(x)=k$ as $f(x)=k$
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