Oh my god I forgot how to do limits

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding limits in calculus, particularly in the context of vector calculus homework. The original poster expresses confusion regarding the application of limits, specifically when encountering cases like 3/0 as x approaches 0.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the implications of limits involving constants over zero, with some suggesting that a limit does not exist in such cases. Others question the understanding of limits and propose a deeper exploration of their meaning rather than just procedural learning.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with various perspectives being shared. Some participants offer insights into the nature of limits and the importance of understanding them conceptually, while others focus on specific procedural aspects. There is no explicit consensus, but the dialogue appears to be productive.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of L'Hospital's rule and its applicability in certain limit scenarios, indicating that participants are navigating both procedural and conceptual aspects of limits. The discussion also hints at the foundational role of limits in calculus and related fields.

Pengwuino
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So here I am doing vector calculus homework and BOOM, 1st semester calculus limits slap me in the face. Now I re-read up on L'Hospitals rule for when you have 0/0 but I can't remember what you are suppose to do when you have say, 3/0 as the limit x-->0

What is the procedure for that.
 
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Whats the function? Usually if you get constant over constant then you can filter out a multiplicative factor from the equation before taking the limit
 
If the numerator of a fraction goes to a non-zero constant while the denominator goes to zero- there is NO limit!
 
instead of relearning "how to do them", why not learn for once and all what they mean?
 
mathwonk said:
instead of relearning "how to do them", why not learn for once and all what they mean?

yeah, this is true. Limits are a topic where if you understand them (and if you don't understand limits then you don't really understand anything in calculus, but you might THINK you do, and if you don't understand anything in calculus then you don't understand most things in engineering and physics.) then you will probably know how to find them forever. If you understnad limits then all you need to find them are some algebra skills and maybe a very short list of theorems under your belt, such as L'Hospital's rule.
 
Don't go too hard on him, he's a nice penguin.
 
arildno said:
Don't go too hard on him, he's a nice penguin.


lol indeed so
 

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