What is the limit of [cot(\pi x)sin(x)]/2sec(x) as x approaches 0?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating the limit of the expression [cot(πx)sin(x)]/2sec(x) as x approaches 0. Participants explore different approaches to simplify the expression and analyze its behavior near the limit, including the use of trigonometric identities and Taylor series.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in evaluating the limit as x approaches 0.
  • Another participant suggests that the limit can be rewritten as lim_{x→0} (sin(x)/(2sin(πx))).
  • A question is raised regarding the derivation of the rewritten limit.
  • It is explained that cot(πx) can be expressed as cos(πx)/sin(πx), leading to a transformation of the original limit into a form involving sin(x) and sin(πx).
  • Further elaboration includes that as x approaches 0, cos(πx) and cos(x) both approach 1, which simplifies the limit to lim_{x→0} (sin(x)/sin(πx)).
  • Participants mention the possibility of applying L'Hôpital's rule or using Taylor series to evaluate the limit.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on the evaluation method, as different approaches and techniques are suggested without agreement on a single solution.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes various mathematical transformations and assumptions about the behavior of trigonometric functions near zero, but does not resolve the limit itself or confirm any specific method as definitive.

burge
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Stuck here too:

lim as x -> 0 of [cotPxsinx]/2secx
*P = pi

*Thanks for your help
 
Last edited:
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This is equivalent to

[tex]\lim_{x\rightarrow 0} = \frac{sinx}{2sin\pi x}[/tex]
 
Last edited:
How did you get to that?
 
cotpix=cospix/sinpix.
so therefore u have
[tex]\lim_{x\rightarrow 0} = \frac{sinx}{2sin\pi x}[/tex]
+ Using these
cosx->1 as x->0
 
In more detail:

[tex]cot(\pi x)= \frac{cos(\pi x)}{sin(\pi x)}[/tex] and
sec(x)= [tex]\frac{1}{cos(x)}[/tex]

so
[tex]\frac{cot(\pi x)sin(x)}{sec(x)}= \frac{cos(\pi x)sin(x)}{sin(\pi x)cos(x)}[/tex]
[tex]= \frac{cos(\pi x)}{cos(x)}\frac{sin(x)}{sin(\pi x)}[/tex]

Since both [tex]cos(\pi x)[/tex] and cos(x) have limit 1 as x-> 0, the limit of [tex]\frac{cos(\pi x)}{cos(x)}= 1[/tex] and we are left with
[tex]limit_{x->0}\frac{sin(x)}{sin(\pi x)}[/tex].

You could do that by L'hopital's rule or by considering the first few terms of the Taylor's series for sine.
 

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