Some special consequences from the limits of e: need a little help

  • Thread starter Thread starter maxpayne_lhp
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Limits
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around limits involving exponential functions and logarithms, specifically focusing on the behavior of functions as they approach certain values. The original poster shares their attempts at calculating various limits, including those involving the expressions (1+2/x)^x, (1+3x)^(1/x), and ln(1+sinx)/x.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the use of substitutions and approximations to evaluate limits. The original poster questions their approach to the limit involving ln(1+sinx)/x and seeks suggestions for alternative methods. Others suggest using L'Hôpital's rule and approximations for small values of x.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing various insights and suggestions. Some participants have offered guidance on using approximations and have pointed out potential misunderstandings in the original poster's reasoning. There is a mix of interpretations and methods being explored without a clear consensus on the final approach.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention the lack of familiarity with certain mathematical concepts, such as derivatives and L'Hôpital's rule, which may impact their ability to solve the problem effectively. Additionally, there are references to the need for justifying approximations used in the calculations.

maxpayne_lhp
Messages
35
Reaction score
0
Well, hello!
I have difficuties solving a problem.
Well, the first 3 ones are done successfully:
a. Calculate out the lim (x -> inf) of (1+2/x)^x
But assuming that 2/x = 2/t, I got the result to be e^2
b. Do the same thing with the lim (x ->0) of (1+3x)^(1/x)
Well, yeah "do the same thing", I assumed that t = 3x; I got the result of e^3
c.lim (x->0) of [(e^3x)-1]/x . Well, t = 3x this time. I got it as 3
But the third: d
lim (x->0) of { ln(1+sinx)/x }
Well, I tried assuming that t = sinx , but I got stuck in solving this, so far. Please give me a suggestion! Thanks!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Did u study derivatives and L'Hôspital's law??

Daniel.

P.S.The first 3 are perfect.
 
There are 2 approximations which u can use:

For "x" very,very small
[tex]\sin x\sim x[/tex]
[tex]e^{x}\sim 1+x[/tex]

Use these 2 approximations for good purpose...

Daniel.
 
No I haven't learned about it yet. Any other way?
 
Use the approximations.The first one can be proven via intuitive geometrical resoning and the second,well,it's a bit difficult...

Daniel.

P.S.The final result is "+1".
 
maxpayne_lhp said:
Well, hello!
I have difficuties solving a problem.
Well, the first 3 ones are done successfully:
a. Calculate out the lim (x -> inf) of (1+2/x)^x
But assuming that 2/x = 2/t, I got the result to be e^2

Changing x to t (as in 2/x= 2/t) doesn't do anything! If you have learned that lim(t->infinity) (1+ 1/t)t= 2 then what you can do is let t= x/2. I'll bet that's what you actually did. Of course, then x= 2t and, clearly, as x-> inf, t-> inf. The limit becomes
lim(t->inf) (1+1/t)2t= lim(t->inf) ((1+ 1/t)[sup t[/sup])2 which, since x2 is continuous, (is lim(t->inf) (1+1/t)t)2= e2.
b. Do the same thing with the lim (x ->0) of (1+3x)^(1/x)
Well, yeah "do the same thing", I assumed that t = 3x; I got the result of e^3
I assume that "(1+3x)" was really (1+ 3/x). If so, yes, that's correct.
c.lim (x->0) of [(e^3x)-1]/x . Well, t = 3x this time. I got it as 3
Is that e2x or e3x? I assume the latter. Taking t= 3x, x= t/3 so this become lim(t->0)3(et-1)/t. (et-1)/t goes to 1 because it is the derivative of ex at x= 0?
But the third: d
lim (x->0) of { ln(1+sinx)/x }
Well, I tried assuming that t = sinx , but I got stuck in solving this, so far. Please give me a suggestion! Thanks!
How about using the fact that ln(1+ sin x)/x= ln{(1+ sin x)1/x}. Does that help? If we let y= ln{(1+sinx)1/x}, then
ey= (1+ sin x)1/x. Can you find the limit of that?
 
Ok, I got it! I was so stupid!
Thanks, Mr. Hallsofivy, thanks Mr. Dextercoby
 
Last edited:
Sorry, misters, but I got stuck while finding the lim of e^y.
 
Halls said that
[tex]\lim_{x\rigtarrow 0} \frac{1}{x}\ln(1+\sin x)=\lim_{x\rightarrow 0} [\ln(1+\sin x)]^{\frac{1}{x}}[/tex]

Denote the limit by "L" and exponentiate the previous relation.That's what Halls said.
[tex]e^{L}=\lim_{x\rightarrow 0}(1+\sin x)^{\frac{1}{x}}[/tex]

And now use the trick:
[tex]\lim_{x\rightarrow 0} (1+x)^{\frac{1}{x}}=\lim_{\frac{1}{x}\rightarrow +\infty}(1+\frac{1}{\frac{1}{x}})^{\frac{1}{x}}=e[/tex]

and the fact that
[tex]\lim_{x\rightarrow 0}\frac{\sin x}{x}=1[/tex]

to find your answer.

Daniel.
 
  • #10
Why [tex]e^{L}=\lim_{x\rightarrow 0}(1+\sin x)^{\frac{1}{x}}[/tex] ?
 
  • #11
Well,since:
[tex]L=\lim_{x\rightarrow 0} \ln(1+\sin x)^{\frac{1}{x}}[/tex]

,what do you get by exponentiating the equation?

Daniel.
 
  • #12
Well, I got it as lim (x->0) of [(1+sinx)^(1/x)]
 
  • #13
Okay now use the trick with the reversing fractions and the of sine ratio.

Daniel.
 
  • #14
Okay, thanks!
PS: Thanks for telling me about LaTex! It's cool! I'm learning it!
 
  • #15
Hmmm... So far, I've done it. But I think tis way is better:

[tex]\lim_{x\rightarrow0} \frac{ln(1+sinx)}{x}[/tex]

=[tex]\lim_{x\rightarrow0} \frac{ln(1+sinx)}{sinx} . \frac{sinx}{x}[/tex]

=[tex]1.1 = 1[/tex]

Is it right?
 
Last edited:
  • #16
Nope.Can u prove that the first limit is "+1"??I frankly doubt it.

BTW,[tex]\sin x[/tex]
The functions should not be italic...


Daniel.
 
  • #17
If you have two functions which are both tending to zero as x tends to zero then they can be both replaced by equivalent infinitesimals. The approximation, [itex]\sin x = x[/itex] near zero, would be useful here (though not without justification) if you do not know that [itex]\frac{ln(1+x)}{x}[/itex] tends to 1 as x tends to zero or you are precluded from using the first form L'Hopital's Theorem.
 
  • #18
Uhmm... alright!
Just imagine that [tex]sinx = \alpha[/tex]
Then the thing above is equal to:

[tex]\lim_{x\rightarrow0}\frac{ln(1+\alpha)}{\alpha}[/tex] (*)

Then, this limit is a consequence limit of e:

[tex]\lim_{x\rightarrow\infty}(1+\frac{1}{x})^x = e[/tex]

So. (*) =1
 
  • #19
Hmm... yeah, the basic consequence
[tex]\lim_{x\rightarrow0}\frac{ln(1+u)}{u}=1[/tex]
 

Similar threads

Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
1K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
2K
Replies
9
Views
3K
Replies
62
Views
7K
Replies
24
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
4K
Replies
28
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K