Questions tagged [limits]

Questions on the evaluation and properties of limits in the sense of analysis and related fields. For limits in the sense of category theory, use the tag “limits-colimits” instead.

In mathematics, a limit is the value that a function or sequence "approaches" as the input or index approaches some value. Limits are essential to (and mathematical analysis in general) and are used to define continuity, derivatives, and integrals.

The formal $\varepsilon$-$\delta$ definition of a finite limit at a point $a\in \mathbb{R}$ is:

$$\Big(\lim_{x\rightarrow a} f(x) = L \Big)\iff \Big(\forall \varepsilon >0\, \exists \delta > 0: \forall x\in D\quad 0<\vert x-a\vert <\delta \implies \vert f(x)-L\vert <\varepsilon \Big).$$

The concept of a limit of a sequence is further generalized to the concept of a limit of a topological net, and is closely related to the concepts of limit and direct limit in category theory.

43700 questions
6
votes
4 answers

Is this limit correct: $\lim_{x \to+\infty} \frac{\log_{2}(x-1)}{x} = 0$?

Find $\space\ \begin{align*} \lim_ {x \to+\infty} \left [ \frac{\log_{2}(x-1)}{x}\right] \end{align*}$. After some minutes around this limit I did it this way: $\log_{2}(x-1)=y \Leftrightarrow 2^y=x-1$ So,$\space x=2^y+1$. When $x \to…
user24047
6
votes
2 answers

Does L'hopital work for one sided limits?

Simple question, to which I don't know the answer. Does it work the same even if we are only interested in one-sided limits, and it won't cause problems that the actual limit doesn't exist?
6
votes
2 answers

$\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}(1+\frac{r}{n})^n$ is equal to ${e^{r}}$?

Since $$\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\left(1+\frac{1}{n}\right)^n={e}$$ My strong hunch is that the following statement must also be true $$\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\left(1+\frac{r}{n}\right)^n = {e^{r}}$$ for all $r>0$. But I can neither prove or…
Graviton
  • 2,292
6
votes
4 answers

Limit of $\frac{1}{\sqrt[n]{n!}}$ as $n$ approaches infinity

So i was trying to evalue this limit: $$\lim_{n \to \infty}\frac{1}{\sqrt[n]{n!}}, n \in \mathbb{N}$$ This, of course, by common sense is equal to zero (since factorial grows a lot faster). Is there a way to prove this limit without having to tackle…
6
votes
1 answer

Finding Limit $\lim_{x \to \infty} (2^x + 3^x + 5^x + 7 ^x + 11 ^x +13^x)^{\frac{1}{x}}$

Finding Limit $$\lim_{x \to \infty} (2^x + 3^x + 5^x + 7 ^x + 11 ^x +13^x)^{\frac{1}{x}}$$ So I let $$y = (2^x + 3^x + 5^x + 7 ^x + 11 ^x +13^x)^{\frac{1}{x}}$$ $\ln$ both sides: $$\ln{y} = \frac{1}{x} \ln {(2^x + 3^x + 5^x + 7 ^x + 11 ^x…
Jiew Meng
  • 4,593
6
votes
1 answer

General proof of limit composition theorem on continuous function

Let $A, B \subset \mathbb{R}$, $a, b, c \in \overline{\mathbb{R}}$, $a$ and $b$ be limit points of $A$ and $B$. Let $f: A \rightarrow B$ and $g : B \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$. I have to prove that if $b \in B$ and $g$ is cointinous in $b$ and $\lim…
alex
  • 121
6
votes
6 answers

How to evaluate $\lim_{x \to 0}\left(\frac{1}{x} - \frac{1}{x^2}\right)$

I have to find the limit of following $$\lim_{x \to 0}\left(\frac{1}{x} - \frac{1}{x^2}\right)$$ I have no idea how to start this one off. How would I do it? Do I just substitute the $0$? It doesn't look that easy and simple. The answer says it's…
didgocks
  • 1,239
6
votes
3 answers

$\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty} \sqrt{2^n+n^2}-\sqrt{2^n+1}$ - is there any other way to solve this?

Here's a problem that I think I've managed to solve: $$\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty} \sqrt{2^n+n^2}-\sqrt{2^n+1}$$ Here's how I did…
qiubit
  • 2,313
5
votes
4 answers

If $\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty} f(n+1) - f(n) = L$, prove that $\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty} f(n)/n = L$

Here's the problem in full. I've stared at it for hours and can't get anywhere, so a hint would be nice. Suppose that $f:\mathbb N\rightarrow\mathbb R$. If $$\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}f(n+1)-f(n) = L$$ prove that $\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}f(n)/n$…
wlyles
  • 239
5
votes
2 answers

Evaluating limit of $0/0$ form

I am given a quadric equation such that $ax^2 + bx +c=0$ whose roots are $\alpha$ and $\beta$ then what would be value $$\lim\limits_{x \to \alpha} \frac{1-\cos( ax^2 + bx +c) }{(x-\alpha)^2}$$ Now since $x$ is tending to root of input in $\cos$ so…
Tesla
  • 2,126
5
votes
4 answers

how is the signum function neither continuous nor discontinuous at $x=0$.

In my book, there is a sentence that says exactly this: "The function $\mathrm{sgn}(x)= \dfrac{x}{|x|}$ is neither continuous nor discontinuous at $x=0$. How is this possible?" It was easy for me to tell it is not continuous at $x=0$ as there is no…
5
votes
1 answer

Taking limits, legal move?

I'm reading the following article, but there was one line where I wasn't quite sure if it was allowed or not. It's where they took the limit as $n\rightarrow \infty$ Now, they got $\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty} \left [ (2n+1)\sin \frac{x}{2n+1} \right…
Trogdor
  • 10,331
5
votes
4 answers

How to solve this limits question

I have a problem with this limit question. $$\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{x^3-4x}{7-2x^3}$$ How can the answer become $-\frac12$?
jason
  • 91
5
votes
2 answers

Find $\lim\frac{1}{\sqrt{n}}\left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{1}+\sqrt{3}}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}+\sqrt{5}}+\ldots+\frac{1}{\sqrt{2n-1}+\sqrt{2n+1}}\right)$

Find $$\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}\frac{1}{\sqrt{n}}\left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{1}+\sqrt{3}}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}+\sqrt{5}}+\ldots+\frac{1}{\sqrt{2n-1}+\sqrt{2n+1}}\right)$$
David
  • 4,201
5
votes
2 answers

Limit of a sequence $a_1=1;a_{n+1}=(n+1)(1+a_n)$

Let a sequence be $a_1=1;a_{n+1}=(n+1)(1+a_n)$ If $P_n=\prod_1^n(1+a_i^{-1})$ then $$\lim_{n\to\infty}P_n $$is ? I…
RE60K
  • 17,716