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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Which function grows faster: $(n!)!$ or $((n-1)!)!(n-1)!^{n!}$?

Of course, I can use Stirling's approximation, but for me it is quite interesting, that, if we define $k = (n-1)!$, then the left function will be $(nk)!$, and the right one will be $k! k^{n!}$. I don't think that it is a coincidence. It seems, that…
Kos
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Does $\lim\limits_{x\to0}\operatorname{sgn} (x)$ exist?

I have a problem with this exercise Does this limit exist? $$\lim\limits_{x\to0} \operatorname{sgn} (x)$$ this limit should exist and its value is $0$ according to our textbook. It is also written, that we can prove it by using one-sided limits. And…
martina
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If $(1+\sqrt{2})^n=a_{n}+b_{n}\sqrt{2}\;,(\forall n\in \mathbb{N}).$Then $\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\frac{a_{n}}{b_{n}} = $

Let $a_{n},b_{n}\in \mathbb{Q}$ such that $(1+\sqrt{2})^n=a_{n}+b_{n}\sqrt{2}\;,(\forall n\in \mathbb{N}).$Then $\displaystyle \lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\frac{a_{n}}{b_{n}} = $ $\bf{My\; Try::}$ Using $$(1+\sqrt{2})^n =…
juantheron
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Infinite product limit

Suppose we have the infinite product $2(1/2)(2^4)(1/2^8)(2^{16})\dots$ I have a hunch that the infinite product is $0$ despite partial product being strictly positive. Am I correct? If so, then how? Thank you ahead of time!
user328442
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Intuition for $\lim_{x\to\infty}\sqrt{x^6 - 9x^3}-x^3$

Trying to get some intuition behind why: $$ \lim_{x\to\infty}\sqrt{x^6-9x^3}-x^3=-\frac{9}{2}. $$ First off, how would one calculate this? I tried maybe factoring out an $x^3$ from the inside of the square root, but the remainder is not factorable…
D. W.
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How can I show $\lim\limits_{x\to a}e^x=e^a$ just using limit ,without "continuous"

Effort: We know that $e^x=\lim\limits_{n\to \infty}\left(1+\dfrac{x}{n}\right)^n$ And if we can say $\lim\limits_{y\to b}\left[\lim\limits_{x\to a}f\right]=\lim\limits_{x\to a}\left[\lim\limits_{y\to b}f\right]$ for this problem; $\lim\limits_{x\to…
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limit exists or not

Consider the function $f$:R$\rightarrow $R defined by $$f(x) =\begin{cases}x-1, &\text{if $x$ is rational} \\5-x,&\text{if $x$ is irrational}\end{cases}$$ Then $\space\lim\limits_{x\to a}$$f(x)$, $a\in\ R-\{\ 3\}$, exists or not ? Solution: Let…
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Evaluate $\lim_{x\to 1^{+}}(\sqrt{x}-1)^{x^2+2x-3}$ using L'Hôpital

I have solved before problems with L’Hopital’s Rule but this one is giving me a headache... Here it is: $$\lim_{x\to 1^{+}}(\sqrt{x}-1)^{x^2+2x-3}$$ I know that first you need to $ \log$ it so you can get the $x^2+2x-3$ upfront and then you find the…
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Evaluate $\lim_{n \to \infty }\frac{(n!)^{1/n}}{n}$.

Possible Duplicate: Finding the limit of $\frac {n}{\sqrt[n]{n!}}$ Evaluate $$\lim_{n \to \infty }\frac{(n!)^{1/n}}{n}.$$ Can anyone help me with this? I have no idea how to start with. Thank you.
JSCB
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A limit involving $\cot$ that seemingly shouldn't exist

According to Wolfram Alpha, $$\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{x - \cot x}{x} =1.$$ But does the limit even exist? Isn't $\frac{x - \cot x}{x}$ unbounded near $x= n \pi$ for all $n \in \mathbb{N}$? Assuming that the limit doesn't actually exist, what might…
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Is the Epsilon-Delta definition of a limit not precise enough?

Consider the function $f: \{-1, +1\}\to \mathbb R$ defined by $f(x)= \arcsin (\frac{1+x^2}{2x})$. Due to the following two inequalities : (i) $1+x^2 \geq 2x$ (ii)$1+x^2 \geq -2x$ , the function can only be defined at $x=1$ and $x=-1$. I have learnt…
Newton
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Why did the author warn 'Don't do it!' on evaluating the limit of $\lim_{x\to 0} \frac{1-\cos(1-\cos x)}{\sin ^4 x}$ this way?

This is taken from Differential Calculus by Amit M Agarwal: Evaluate $$\lim_{x\to 0} \frac{1-\cos(1-\cos x)}{\sin ^4 x}$$ The question is quite easy using trigonometric identity viz. $1-\cos x = 2\sin^2\frac{x}{2}$ and then using $\lim_{x\to 0}…
user142971
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Show that $\lim\limits_{n\to\infty}\frac1{n}\sum\limits_{k=1}^{\infty}\left\lfloor\frac{n}{3^k}\right\rfloor=\frac{1}{2}$

Show that $$\lim_{n\to\infty}\frac1n\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\left\lfloor\dfrac{n}{3^k}\right\rfloor=\frac{1}{2}$$ I can do right hand. $$\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\left\lfloor\dfrac{n}{3^k}\right\rfloor\le…
user246688
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evaluate lim: $\lim _{x\to \infty }\left(2x\left(e-\left(1+\frac{1}{x}\right)^x\right)\right)$

I was trying to solve the above limit and it seems like I'm getting mixed results. I used the fact that: $\lim _{x\to \infty }\left(1+\frac{1}{x}\right)^x = e$ And after that trying with L'Hospital's rule but it didn't get me much further.
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Problem evaluating limits with the variable in the exponent

I have problem evaluating limits with the variable in power, like the following limits: $\lim_{x \to 0} (1+ \sin 2x)^{\frac{1}{x}}$ $\lim_{x \to \infty} \big(\frac{2x+5}{2x-1})^{2x}$ I asked the question like this to get the main idea behind…
Gigili
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