Another Limits Question (1 Viewer)

frenzal_dude

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Find the limit as x--> infinity

(3x^2)/(x-1)

I worked it out to be infinity, but the answer is 3x, which you get when you divide everything by the highest power of the denominator. And 1/x is considered 0 so you get 3x/1 = 3x.
But how is the answer 3x? As x approaches infinity, you have 3 x infinity = infinity (even though you can't really multiply 3 by infinity).
 

cutemouse

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The oblique asymptote is y=3x.

Basically when you divide it out using long division the remainder part approaches zero as x approaches infinity. Thus it will approach the other part.

The question is badly worded I think though...
 

nonsenseTM

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when you divide 3x^2 by x-1, you get expression=3x+3+3/x-1, therefore, it approaches 3x+3 as x approaches infinity. the answer is 3x , maybe they think 3 is negligilble when it's added to infinity
 

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