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.

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How to solve derivative/limit of $f(x)=x\sqrt{4-x^2}$

I'm trying to differentiate $x\sqrt{4-x^2}$ using the definition of derivative. So it would be something like $$\underset{h\to 0}{\text{lim}}\frac{(h+x) \sqrt{4-\left(h^2+2 h x+x^2\right)}-x \sqrt{4-x^2}}{h}$$ I was trying to solve and I just can…
Delayer
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$\frac{1}{n}\sum_{k=1}^n \cos^2(2^k) \to ?$ as $n \to \infty$

WolframAlpha claims that $\frac{1}{n}\sum_{k=1}^n \cos^2(2^k) \to 0$ as $n \to \infty$: https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=limit+%28sum%28%5Ccos%282%5Ek%29%5E2%2Ck%3D1%2Cn%29%29%2Fn+as+n-%3Einfinity I doubt: By…
Gerd
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Can you move a limit into an exponent?

I’m attempting to solve a limit problem, and my current solution requires moving a limit inside the exponent. Symbolically, I’m attempting the following: $$\lim_{x\rightarrow c}e^{\frac{f(x)}{g(x)}}=e^{\lim_{x\rightarrow c}\frac{f(x)}{g(x)}}$$ At…
DonielF
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Why is this limit $\lim_{x\to \infty}x^2-x^2\cdot \cos\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)$ not $0$?

I have this limit: $$ \lim_{x\to \infty}x^2-x^2\cdot \cos\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) $$ For me my initial answer would be zero as: $$ \lim_{x\to \infty}x^2-x^2\cdot \cos\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)=\lim_{x\to \infty}x^2-\lim_{x\to \infty}x^2\cdot\lim_{x\to…
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How to solve a limit that can be factored but doesn't help?

I saw examples that can be factored, eliminating the part that causes the indetermination, none of this type. The other option is by rationalize but dont know how to apply it here. $$\lim_{x \to 4} \frac{2x^2+7x+5}{x^2-16}$$ I tried by factoring,…
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Limit problem, how to show algebraically this limit doesn't exist?

I believe that the following limit does not exist: $$\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow \infty} \dfrac{\ln(1+\sin x)}{x} $$ A graphing tool suggests that there are vertical asymptotes at "multiples" of 3$\pi$/2. But I am not sure how to show this…
imranfat
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How do I evaluate this limit that seems to be indeterminate?

I've been trying to evaluate the below limit, which Mathematica claims is equals to $1$. $$\underset{n\to \infty }{\text{lim}}\frac{\frac{1}{2} (n+1) \sin \left(\frac{2 \pi }{n+1}\right)-\pi }{\frac{1}{2} n \sin \left(\frac{2 \pi }{n}\right)-\pi…
hylsis
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Can a continuous function be split into sum of continuous and discontinuous function?

Suppose $a$ and $b$ are functions of $x$. When $$ \lim_{x \to +\infty} a = c\quad\text{and}\quad \lim_{x \to +\infty} b\text{ does not exist ?} $$ Is it guaranteed that $$ \lim_{x \to +\infty} a + b\text{ does not exist} $$ Sequence version
crocs
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Show that: $\lim \limits_{n\to\infty}\frac{x_n-x_{n-1}}{n}=0 $

Here is an exercise: Suppose that $\{x_n\}$ is a sequence such that $\lim \limits_{n\to\infty}(x_n-x_{n-2})=0$. Show that: $$\lim \limits_{n\to\infty}\frac{x_n-x_{n-1}}{n}=0 $$ Thanks.
user65914
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Why $\lim\limits_{n \to +\infty} \bigg(\dfrac{n+1}{n+2}\bigg)^n = \frac{1}{e}$?

I tried to solve this limit: $\lim\limits_{n \to +\infty} \bigg(\dfrac{n+1}{n+2}\bigg)^n$. My approach was to re-write it as $\lim\limits_{n \to +\infty} \bigg(\dfrac{n}{n+2} + \dfrac{1}{n+2}\bigg)^n$, and since $\dfrac{n}{n+2}$ tends to 1 and…
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Evaluating $\lim\limits_{n\to\infty}(a_1^n+\dots+a_k^n)^{1\over n}$ where $a_1 \ge \cdots\ge a_k \ge 0$

Need to find $\lim\limits_{n\to\infty}(a_1^n+\dots+a_k^n)^{1\over n}$ Where $a_1\ge\dots\ge a_k\ge 0$ I thought about Cauchy Theorem on limit $\lim\limits_{n\to\infty}\dfrac{a_1+\dots+a_n}{n}=\lim a_n$ and something like what happen if all $a_i=0$…
Myshkin
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What is $\lim\limits_{x \to \infty}\dfrac{\sqrt{x^2+1}}{x+1}$?

This question is from Differential and Integral Calculus by Piskunov. I've to evaluate the following limit: $$\lim\limits_{x \to \infty}\dfrac{\sqrt{x^2+1}}{x+1}$$ This is how I tried solving it, Put $t=\frac{1}{x}$. Then the limit…
csmathhc
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Solution for the following limit problem

I want to solve the following limit problem $$\lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} \bigg[ (x + a)\log \big( \frac{x+a}{x+b} \big) \bigg] $$ A small simulation with a = 5 and b = 2 leads to a result of 3 which I think is correct and the right answer should be…
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Different answers after different methods in solving a limit

Evaluate $$L=\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{e^{\sin(x)}-(1+\sin(x))}{(\arctan(\sin(x)))^2}$$ Method $1$: $$\frac{h^2\left(\frac{e^{h}-1}{h^2}-\frac1{h}\right)}{(\arctan(h))^2}=1^2\left(\frac{1*1}{h}-\frac1{h}\right)=\frac1{h}-\frac1{h}=0$$ Therefore…
sato
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