Math  /  Calculus

Question4. It is possible to use the Squeeze Theorem to prove that limx0(xsin(1x))=0\lim _{x \rightarrow 0}\left(x \cdot \sin \left(\frac{1}{x}\right)\right)=0. Why couldn't we obtain the same result by writing limx0(xsin(1x))=limx0xlimx0(sin(1x))=0limx0(sin(1x))=0?\begin{aligned} \lim _{x \rightarrow 0}\left(x \cdot \sin \left(\frac{1}{x}\right)\right) & =\lim _{x \rightarrow 0} x \cdot \lim _{x \rightarrow 0}\left(\sin \left(\frac{1}{x}\right)\right) \\ & =0 \cdot \lim _{x \rightarrow 0}\left(\sin \left(\frac{1}{x}\right)\right)=0 ? \end{aligned}

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

1. The limit in question is limx0(xsin(1x))\lim_{x \to 0} \left(x \cdot \sin \left(\frac{1}{x}\right)\right).
2. The Squeeze Theorem is applicable when we can find two functions that "squeeze" the given function and have the same limit at a particular point.
3. The limit limx0x\lim_{x \to 0} x is straightforward and equals 00.
4. The function sin(1x)\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) oscillates between 1-1 and 11 as x0x \to 0.
5. The product of two limits limx0(f(x)g(x))\lim_{x \to 0} (f(x) \cdot g(x)) is generally limx0f(x)limx0g(x)\lim_{x \to 0} f(x) \cdot \lim_{x \to 0} g(x) provided both limits exist and are finite.

STEP 2

1. Analyze why the direct limit approach fails.
2. Use the Squeeze Theorem to find the limit.

STEP 3

Consider the expression limx0xsin(1x)\lim_{x \to 0} x \cdot \sin \left(\frac{1}{x}\right).
To directly split the limit into two parts: limx0(xsin(1x))=limx0xlimx0sin(1x)\lim_{x \to 0} \left(x \cdot \sin \left(\frac{1}{x}\right)\right) = \lim_{x \to 0} x \cdot \lim_{x \to 0} \sin \left(\frac{1}{x}\right)

STEP 4

Evaluate limx0sin(1x)\lim_{x \to 0} \sin \left(\frac{1}{x}\right).
Since sin(1x)\sin \left(\frac{1}{x}\right) oscillates between 1-1 and 11 without settling to a particular value as x0x \to 0, the limit does not exist.

STEP 5

Since limx0sin(1x)\lim_{x \to 0} \sin \left(\frac{1}{x}\right) does not exist, we cannot use the property limx0(f(x)g(x))=limx0f(x)limx0g(x)\lim_{x \to 0} (f(x) \cdot g(x)) = \lim_{x \to 0} f(x) \cdot \lim_{x \to 0} g(x).
Thus, the direct approach fails.

STEP 6

To use the Squeeze Theorem, identify functions that bound xsin(1x)x \cdot \sin \left(\frac{1}{x}\right).
Note that 1sin(1x)1-1 \leq \sin \left(\frac{1}{x}\right) \leq 1 for all x0x \neq 0.

STEP 7

Multiply this inequality by xx, giving:
xxsin(1x)x-x \leq x \cdot \sin \left(\frac{1}{x}\right) \leq x

STEP 8

Consider the limits of the bounding functions as x0x \to 0:
limx0(x)=0andlimx0x=0\lim_{x \to 0} (-x) = 0 \quad \text{and} \quad \lim_{x \to 0} x = 0

STEP 9

Apply the Squeeze Theorem:
Since xxsin(1x)x-x \leq x \cdot \sin \left(\frac{1}{x}\right) \leq x and both x-x and xx tend to 00 as x0x \to 0, it follows that:
limx0xsin(1x)=0\lim_{x \to 0} x \cdot \sin \left(\frac{1}{x}\right) = 0

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