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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Showing $\lim_{x\rightarrow1}\frac{\frac{4x^3-2x}{\sqrt{x^2-1}}\ln(x+\sqrt{x^2-1})-2x^2}{x^4-1}=\frac43$

I'm looking for a solution to the following limit from above: \begin{equation} \lim_{x\rightarrow1}\frac{\frac{4x^3-2x}{\sqrt{x^2-1}}\ln(x+\sqrt{x^2-1})-2x^2}{x^4-1} \end{equation} By plotting it, I know it approaches $4/3$. L'hopital becomes…
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Why I cannot solve this limit problem this way?

$\lim_{x\to -1} \ \, \frac{1}{{1+x}} \left( \frac{1}{{x+5}}+ \frac{1}{{3x-1}} \right) $ As, the limit is not of the form$\ \frac{0}{{0}} $ so, put $\ x $ as $\ -1 $ we get Answer $\ 0$ . What is wrong in this?
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limit, quotient of roots

How can I find $$ \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{\sqrt[3]{n + 2} - \sqrt[3]{n + 1}}{\sqrt{n + 2} - \sqrt{n + 1}} \sqrt[6]{n - 3}? $$ If I multiply by $\sqrt{n + 2} + \sqrt{n + 1}$ I could get no divisor, but I cannot get any result on this way. On the…
joseabp91
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What is the limit of $f(\frac{(x,y)}{\vert (x,y) \vert})$?

I want to show that $f(x) = \vert x\vert g(\frac{x}{\vert x\vert})$ is not differentiable at $(0,0)$, where $f:\mathbb{R}^2\to\mathbb{R}$, $f(0,0)=0$ and g is a continuous function on a unit circle. I've proved that $f' = 0$ so if for $f$ to be…
Mina
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How is the distance between the n-th term of a converging sequence and its' limit not zero?

I'm confused as to what $|a_n-a|<\epsilon$ really means. The reason for that is the following proof regarding the assertion that a converging sequence $(a_n)$ has one and only one limit. This is the proof my professor gave: Assume the opposite, that…
downmath
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Limits: How to evaluate $\lim_{x\to 0}\frac{\sqrt[n]{1+x}-1}{x},n\in\Bbb Z$

What methods can be used to evaluate the limit: $$\lim_{x\to 0} \frac{\sqrt[n]{1+x}-1}{x}, n \in \Bbb Z$$ By the way, as a rule, I use method with conjugate expression for removing problem like this $$ \sqrt[]a - \sqrt[]b = \frac{(\sqrt[]a -…
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I bogged down with $~\lim_{x\to\infty}\frac{x^{4}}{2}\left(\frac{1}{x^{2}}-\sin^{}\left(\frac{1}{x^{2}}\right)\right)~$

$$A:=\lim_{x\to\infty}\frac{x^{4}}{2}\left(\frac{1}{x^{2}}-\sin^{}\left(\frac{1}{x^{2}}\right)\right)\tag{1}$$ $$=\frac{1}{2}\lim_{x\to\infty}x^{4}\left(\frac{1}{x^{2}}-\sin^{}\left(\frac{1}{x^{2}}\right)\right)$$ $$=\frac{1}{2}\lim_{x\to\infty}\left…
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Failure of L’Hospital’s rule to $\lim_{x\rightarrow\infty} x\left(\arctan\left(\frac{x+1}{x+2}\right)-\frac\pi 4\right)$?

I rewrote the limit $$\lim_{x\rightarrow\infty} x\left(\arctan\left(\frac{x+1}{x+2}\right)-\frac\pi 4\right) =\lim_{x\rightarrow\infty} \frac{\left(\arctan\left(\frac{x+1}{x+2}\right)-\frac\pi 4\right)}{\frac 1x},$$ noting that both the numerator…
Rodrigo
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Transitive property of asymptotic equivalence

Show If $a_n\sim b_n$ and $c_n \sim d_n$ then $a_n+c_n\sim b_n+d_n$. $a_n\sim b_n$ means $a_n/b_n \rightarrow 1$. I set up the definition, but the addition in the denominator causes problems. $\big|a_n/(b_n+d_n)+c_n/(b_n+d_n)-1\big|<\epsilon$
Vons
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Is $\lim_{x\to a} \frac{\tan{f(x)}}{f(x)}$ always 1? [And other generalization of related limits]

I've just discovered something really interesting (Or to be precise, it's been discovered for ages but I've just realized it now.) We know these: $$\lim_{x\to 0} \frac{\tan{x}}{x} = 1$$, $$\lim_{x\to 0} \frac{\sin{x}}{x} = 1$$, and $$\lim_{x\to 0}…
user516076
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Why does the limit of $ f(x) = \int_{0}^{x} e^{-t^2/2} dt$ exist?

For a function $$ f(x) = \int_{0}^{x} e^{-t^2/2} dt$$ for $x \ge 0$ one has to argue whether $ \lim_{x \to \infty} f(x) $ exists or not. I thought about the following: $$ f'(x) = e ^ {-x^2/2} $$ $$ f''(x) = -x\ e ^ {-x^2/2} $$ Given $x \ge 0$, it's…
bonifaz
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Limit of a function in terms of exponents

Let $f(n)$ denote the $n$th term of the sequence $2, 5, 10, 17, 26,\cdots$ and $g(n)$ denote the $n$th term of the sequence $2, 6, 12, 20,30,\cdots$. Let $F(n)$ and $G(n)$ denote respectively the sum of n terms of the above…
imposter
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limit of sums of integer parts

Find the limit of $$\lim _{n\to \infty }\left(\sum _{k=1}^n\:\frac{\left[C^k_n\cdot a\right]}{C^k_{2n}}\right)$$ where $a$ is a real number, and [] denotes the integer part. Solution: I used the integer part inequility: $x-1< [x]\le x$. Then we have…
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Limit series $(a^n-b^n)^{1/n}$

I have problem with calculate limit of $(a^n-b^n)^{1/n}$ where $b>a$ When $a>b$ it's easier. Is true that $\lim_{n \to\infty} (-1)^{1/n}=1$? If so how prove it. I think that need to take the proof in complex number.
aiki93
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Showing $\lim_{x \to \infty}\left(\;\cosh \sqrt{x+1}-\cosh{\sqrt{x}}\;\right)^{1/\sqrt{x}}=e$

Trying to compute $$\lim_{x \to \infty}\left(\;\cosh \sqrt{x+1}-\cosh{\sqrt{x}}\;\right)^{1/\sqrt{x}}=e$$ I arrived to the equivalent expression $$\lim_{x \to \infty}\frac{1}{\sqrt{x}}\log\left(\cosh \sqrt{x+1}-\cosh{\sqrt{x}} \right)$$but…
Tavasanis
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