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Limit at infinity of a combined trig/rational function

Consider the function g(x)=cos⁡(1x)+3xx−1g(x) = \cos\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) + \frac{3x}{x-1}

Evaluate lim⁡x→+∞[cos⁡(1x)+3xx−1]\lim_{x \to +\infty} \left[\cos\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) + \frac{3x}{x-1}\right] and use your result to state the horizontal asymptote of g(x)g(x) (if one exists) as x→+∞x \to +\infty.

Hint

Handle each term separately: think about what happens to 1/x1/x as x→+∞x \to +\infty and what cos⁡\cos of that approaches. For the rational term, compare the degrees of the numerator and denominator, or divide both by xx.

Step-by-step solution

As x→+∞x \to +\infty, 1x→0\frac{1}{x} \to 0, so cos⁡(1x)→cos⁡(0)=1\cos\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) \to \cos(0) = 1. This handles the first term.

For the second term, divide numerator and denominator by xx: 3xx−1=31−1/x→31−0=3\frac{3x}{x-1} = \frac{3}{1 - 1/x} \to \frac{3}{1-0} = 3 as x→+∞x \to +\infty. Adding the two results gives 1+3=41 + 3 = 4, so the limit is 44 and y=4y = 4 is a horizontal asymptote of g(x)g(x) as x→+∞x \to +\infty.

Value of the horizontal asymptote

Hint
Step-by-step solution

The limit computed in part a was four, since the cosine term approached one and the rational term approached three. Adding these gives four. Therefore g of x approaches the number four as x approaches positive infinity, matching the horizontal asymptote y equals four.

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