Can someone explain mimits and how it relates to the formal limit definition?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the concept of limits in calculus, specifically the epsilon-delta definition and a variant referred to as "mimits." Participants are exploring the definitions, their applications, and the use of the triangle inequality in proofs related to limits.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested, Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express confusion about the delta definition of limits and its relationship to the epsilon definition.
  • There is mention of the triangle inequality being relevant to the delta definition, though its application is not universally agreed upon.
  • One participant clarifies that the standard definition of a limit involves both epsilon and delta, while another participant has not encountered these terms in the same way.
  • A participant requests a proving example of a limit using the delta method, indicating a desire for practical application of the definitions discussed.
  • Another participant emphasizes the distinction between definitions of limits and properties that may arise from them, suggesting that understanding the definitions is crucial before applying them.
  • There is a discussion about a specific quiz question involving "mimits," which reverses the roles of epsilon and delta, leading to confusion among participants regarding standard notation and definitions.
  • A participant provides a proof using the triangle inequality to illustrate a property of limits, indicating its usefulness in understanding limits.
  • Concerns are raised about the non-standard notation of "mimits" introduced by the professor, which may complicate understanding for those familiar with traditional definitions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the definitions and applications of limits and "mimits." There are competing views on the relevance and use of the triangle inequality, as well as confusion regarding the terminology introduced by the professor.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in understanding due to non-standard terminology and the need for clarity in definitions. Some participants express uncertainty about the application of the definitions in specific contexts, particularly in relation to the quiz question provided.

mfk_1868
Messages
21
Reaction score
0
i didnt understand delta definition anyone can explain?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Post it, and pinpoint what you don't understand.
 
i mean i didnt know it exactly but only thing i know it uses triangle inequality
 
You have a book, right?
In there is a definition of the limit.
Post that, and say what you didn't understand.
 
i have a book and at there there is epsilon definition. but teacher told a different method named delta using triangle inequality and i am asking this.i don't have any other info.
 
We say that a sequence of real numbers [tex](s_n)[/tex] converges to [tex]s[/tex] (a real number) if given an [tex]\epsilon > 0[/tex] there exists a natural number [tex]N[/tex] such that [tex]n \geq N[/tex] implies that [tex]|s_n - s| < \epsilon[/tex]. What don't you understand about this definition?
 
where did you used the triangle inequality i know the epsilon definition and understood it but there is a delta definition.
 
Do you mean the limit of a function? If [tex]f[/tex] is a real-valued function we say that [tex]\lim_{x \to a} f(x) = L[/tex], if given [tex]\epsilon > 0[/tex] there exists a [tex]\delta > 0[/tex] such that [tex]|x - a| < \delta[/tex] imply that [tex]|f(x) - L| < \epsilon[/tex].

Is that the definition you don't understand? Are talking about metric spaces?

?
 
I've never heard of an epsilon definition of a limit, nor have I heard of a delta definition of a limit. I have, however, heard of the epsilon-delta definition of a limit, which is the standard definition. This definition does not make use of the triangle equality.
 
  • #10
cogito² said:
Do you mean the limit of a function? If [tex]f[/tex] is a real-valued function we say that [tex]\lim_{x \to a} f(x) = L[/tex], if given [tex]\epsilon > 0[/tex] there exists a [tex]\delta > 0[/tex] such that [tex]|x - a| < \delta[/tex] imply that [tex]|f(x) - L| < \epsilon[/tex].

Is that the definition you don't understand? Are talking about metric spaces?

?
yes can you show me a proving example. for example lim x->3 x^2/5 how to proof this.
 
  • #11
What do you mean by "proving example"??
This is from the DEFINITION of a limit ; not some alleged proposition of properties limits may have!
Do you understand that difference?
 
  • #12
for example there is a question that it gives you a limit equation then says prove this using delta method. I meaned this.
 
  • #13
What Is A Definition?
 
  • #14
So, you've some function and want to show f(x) tends to some given value L, say, as x tends to w? (using the full epsilon delta argument)

well, sorry, we can't do that without knowing what the question is. there is no method that works always, it depends on the question, though they often have the same underlying idea.
 
  • #15
it was a quiz question and teacher posted it on internet link is here http://www.fen.bilkent.edu.tr/~otekman/calc/quiz101.pdf first question number is 6 at the top of page.(look at the solution he uses triangle inequality)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #16
he's perfectly entitled to use the triangle inequality. it's very useful.

i've not actually looked at the pdf but i can give you a proof of a property limits using the triangle inequality.

Suppose a(n) is a sequence tending to a, and b(n) tends to b, then a(n)+b(n) tends to a+b

proof:

consider

|a(n)+b(n)-a-b| = | a(n)-a + b(n)-b| <= |a(n)-a| + |b(n)-b| ***

by the triangle inequality.

Given e (epsilon) let N be chosen such that |a(n)-a| < e/2 and |b(n)-b| <e/2 for all n>N, which we may do since a(n) tends to a and b(n) tends to b.

then *** is less than or equal to e/2+e/2 =e, as we were required to show.

is that what you were thinking of?
 
  • #17
But look at problem 6 closely. It doesn't deal with "limits" at all.

The professor has defined a thing he calls "mimits" by reversing the roles of ε and δ

"The real number M is "mimit" of f at x0 if for every δ>0 there exist ε> 0 such that if 0<|x- x0|< δ then |f(x)- M|< ε"

Since in this case, you are given[\b] δ and asked to show that ε exists, finding ε is really just a matter of replacing x with x0+/- δ and calculating ε.

MFK 1868: We were having trouble understanding this because this is NOT a standard notation. Your professor was giving you a problem that requires you to look at the ideas from another point of view.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
5K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
5K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
5K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
3K