limit of function: $ \lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{[x]}{x}$

Question

This is my homework:

Limit of functions: ($[x]$ is the total part of $x$)

$\displaystyle \lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{[x]}{x}$

$\displaystyle \lim_{x \to -\infty} \frac{[x]}{x}$

$\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 0} \frac{[x]}{x}$

For the first one, I used the inequality $$x -1 \leq [x] \leq x.$$ So, $$\frac{1-\frac{1}{x}}{1}=\frac{x-1}{x} \leq \frac{[x]}{x} \leq \frac{x}{x}=1.$$ So my answer is $\displaystyle \lim _{x \to \infty} \frac{[x]}{x} = 1$. Is that good? I don't know what to use in other examples$\ldots$

As for the question, your solution is fine. Use the same idea for the second limit. As for the third limit here is a hint: what is the value of $[x]$ when $x$ is positive and very close to zero? And what about a negative $x$? — Mark, Jan 09 '19 at 17:30
You can just as easily squeeze your function as $x$ goes to $-\infty$ using the exact same formulation. As $x$ apporaches $0, \lfloor x\rfloor = 0$ when $x$ is near but greater than $0,$ and $-1$ when it is near but less than $0.$ — Doug M, Jan 09 '19 at 17:41
if it is near Zero on the right side is [x] = 0 and how on the left is -1? — mona1lisa, Jan 09 '19 at 17:42
Thank you for links I know what is [x] but I don't know how to use it in this particular task when x -> 0. This links show $ x-> \ infty $ — mona1lisa, Jan 09 '19 at 18:03
For $x \in (-1,1) \setminus {0}$ you have ${[x] \over x} = 0$, hence the limit as $x \to 0$ follows... (depending on how you define $[x]$, I am assuming $[x] = 0$ for $|x|<1$). — copper.hat, Jan 09 '19 at 19:13
@copper.hat: I would assume $[x]=-1$ for $1\le x<0$. Certainly the OP's inequality supports that interpretation. — TonyK, Mar 05 '19 at 09:42
It pays to be precise in these matters: although your inequality is correct, it can be improved to $x-1<[x]\le x$. — TonyK, Mar 05 '19 at 09:44

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited Mar 05 '19 at 11:19

One way I think about this problem is using a normal identity for floor function and fractional part function i.e $x = [x] + {x}$ using this the expression inside the limit can be changed to $1- (\frac{\{x\}}{x} )$ we know that $\{x\}$ is lying between $[0,1)$ and $x\to\infty$ hence $\frac{\{x\}}{x} \to 0$ hence the limit is $1$ . But I recommend that you stick to the sandwich theorem solution as it seems more cool to me.

For the last part you could start by saying as x tends to zero we calculate LHL and RHL separately . Now in for LHL the limit is same as the limit of $\frac{1}{x}$ as $x$ tends to zero which tends to infinity but the RHL is similar to limit of $\frac{0}{x} =0$ as RHL is not same as LHL hence limit doesn't exist.

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 05 '19 at 10:16

Your idea of using $x-1\le\lfloor x\rfloor<x$ (the notation $\lfloor x\rfloor$ instead of $[x]$ is more common nowadays) is good.

For $x>0$ this entails $$ \frac{x-1}{x}\le\frac{\lfloor x\rfloor}{x}<1 $$ and for $x<0$ we get instead $$ \frac{x-1}{x}\ge\frac{\lfloor x\rfloor}{x}>1 $$ Now squeeze both for $x\to\infty$ (first one) and for $x\to-\infty$ (second one).

Hint for the third limit: if $-1<x<0$, $\lfloor x\rfloor=-1$.

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 05 '19 at 10:40

Rewrite

$$\frac{\lfloor x\rfloor}{x}=1-\frac{\{x\}}x.$$

As the numerator of the fraction is bounded and the denominator unbounded, the expression tends to $1$ for both $-\infty$ and $\infty$.

For the limit to $0$, notice that $$x<0\implies\lfloor x\rfloor\le-1$$ and the limit on the left cannot exist.

limit of function: $ \lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{[x]}{x}$

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