Can't understand how to compute this limit where x tends to infinity

[DanB1993]

Homework Statement

This is a question from a past exam paper:

Compute the limit:

lim x→∞
(2x^{3} + x)/(3x^{2} − 4x^{3})

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I really had no idea how to approach this but the solution is:

lim x→∞
(2x^{3} + x)/(3x^{2} − 4x^{3})
= lim y→0+
(2 + y^{2})/(3y − 4)
=
2/−4
= −1/2

Hopefully someone can explain to me the method used to obtain this answer.

 

[HallsofIvy]

It's a fairly standard technique- "infinity" is hard to deal with while "0" is very easy- so they have made use of the fact if x goes to infinity, 1/x goes to 0.

Starting from (2x^3+ x)/(3x^2- 4x^3), they have divided both numerator and denominator by the highest power of x, x^3, to get (2+ 1/x^2)/(3/x- 4) and then replaced "1/x" with "y": (2+y^2)/(3y- 4). Then, as x goes to infinity, y goes to 0 so that the limit is just (2+ 0)/(0- 4)= 2/(-4)= -1/2.

 

[mtayab1994]

Or at infinity you take the highest power in the numerator over the highest power in the denominator. In your case it would be 2x^3/-4x^3 and then x^3 will cancel out leaving you with -2/4 which is -1/2.

 

[DanB1993]

It's a fairly standard technique- "infinity" is hard to deal with while "0" is very easy- so they have made use of the fact if x goes to infinity, 1/x goes to 0.

Starting from (2x^3+ x)/(3x^2- 4x^3), they have divided both numerator and denominator by the highest power of x, x^3, to get (2+ 1/x^2)/(3/x- 4) and then replaced "1/x" with "y": (2+y^2)/(3y- 4). Then, as x goes to infinity, y goes to 0 so that the limit is just (2+ 0)/(0- 4)= 2/(-4)= -1/2.

Thanks very much for that - very clear.

Or at infinity you take the highest power in the numerator over the highest power in the denominator. In your case it would be 2x^3/-4x^3 and then x^3 will cancel out leaving you with -2/4 which is -1/2.

Thank you