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DeadOriginal
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Homework Statement
Determine the limit l for a given a and prove that it is the limit by showing how to find δ such that |f(x)-l|<ε for all x satisfying 0<|x-a|<δ.
[itex]f(x)=x^{2}[/itex], arbitrary a.
Homework Equations
I will incorporate the triangle inequality in this proof.
The Attempt at a Solution
We want to be able to find a δ such that if 0<|x-a|<δ then |x^4-a^4|<ε. Working backwards we see that [itex]|x^{4}-a^{4}|=|x^{2}-a^{2}||x^{2}+a^{2}|=|x-a||x+a||x^{2}+a^{2}|<\epsilon[/itex] so then [itex]|x-a|<\frac{\epsilon}{|x+a||x^{2}+a^{2}|}[/itex]. Now set [itex]|x-a|<1[/itex]. Then from the triangle inequality we know that [itex]|x|-|a|\leq|x-a|<1[/itex] so [itex]|x|-|a|<1[/itex] and it follows that [itex]|x|<1+|a|[/itex]. Thus we have [itex]|x-a|\leq|x|+|a|<1+2|a|[/itex]. Note that [itex](|x|)^{2}=|x^{2}|[/itex] so [itex]|x^{2}|<(1+|a|)^{2}=1+2|a|+a^{2}[/itex]. Thus we have [itex]|x^{2}+a^{2}|<1+2|a|+a^{2}+|a^{2}|=1+2|a|+2a^{2}[/itex]. In conclusion, we have [itex]|x+a||x^{2}+a^{2}|<(1+2|a|)(1+2|a|+2a^{2})[/itex] so then [itex]\frac{\epsilon}{(1+2|a|)(1+2|a|+2a^{2})}[/itex]. Now for the proof.
Proof: Suppose we are given ε>0. Then choose δ=min(1,[itex]\frac{\epsilon}{(1+2|a|)(1+2|a|+2a^{2})}[/itex]). Then [itex]0<|x-a|<\delta\Rightarrow|x-a|<\frac{\epsilon}{(1+2|a|)(1+2|a|+2a^{2})} \Rightarrow|x-a||x+a||x^{2}+a^{2}|<\frac{\epsilon(1+2|a|)(1+2|a|+2a^{2})}{(1+2|a|)(1+2|a|+2a^{2})}\Rightarrow|x^{2}-a^{2}||x^{2}+a^{2}|<\epsilon\Rightarrow|x^{4}-a^{4}|<\epsilon[/itex]. This completes the proof.
Could someone take a look at this for me? I feel like something isn't right with it.