# 2 Limit questions

1. Jul 26, 2007

### uchihajeff

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Use Definition 2.4.1 to prove that the stated limit is correct.

Definition 2.4.1 in my book is:

lim as x->a of f(x) = L

if given any number e(epsilon)>0 we can find a number d(delta)>0 such that

|f(x)-L|<e if 0<|x-a|<d​

2. Relevant equations
Question 31. lim as x>-2 of 1/(x+1) = -1
Question 33. lim as x>4 of sqrt(x) = 2

3. The attempt at a solution
31. |1/(x+1) + 1|<e, 0<|x+2|<d
|(x+2)/(x+1)|<e
set d<=1
-1<x+2<1, -2<x+1<0
|x+1|<0
|x+2|< e * |x+1|
...then I get stuck

32. |sqrt(x)-2|<e, 0<x-4<d
sqrt(x)<e-2
x<(e-2)^2
x-4<(e-2)^2-4
...by here I'm probably already wrong
d=(e-2)^2-4

4. The answers in the back of the book
31) d=min(1,e/(1+e))
33) d=2e

P.S. Sorry, I don't know how to use Latex or whatever mathematical typing system you guys use here, so it's a little messy/unreadable.
Thanks in advance for the help!

2. Jul 26, 2007

### pardesi

well one of the best way and probably only way to prove limits using the absic definition is to do like thsi

suppose i need to prove

$$\lim _{x/to/a} f(x)= b$$
that means i have to prove for every positive real number $$\epsilon$$ there exists a positive $$delta$$ such that

$$|f(x)-b| < \epsilon$$ for all real x satisfying $$|x-a| < \delta$$

for a moment assume that there exists a x such that
$$|f(x)-b| < \epsilon$$
manipulate such that u reach a stage where $$k|x-a| < \epsilon$$
for some constant k then ur $$\delta$$ is
$$k\epsilon$$
here the best way i would prefer is u looking into the proof of the fact that
$$\lim_{x \to a} \frac{f}{g}=\frac{\lim_{ x \to a} f}{\lim_{x \to a} g}$$....
and similarly for the second part
$$\lim_{x \to a} f^{\frac{1}{n}}={\lim f }^{\frac{1}{n}}$$...

3. Jul 26, 2007

### VietDao29

This part is wrong, you are taking the absolute value of x + 1, and you have -2 < x + 1 < 0, you should have 0 < |x + 1| < 2, not |x + 1| < 0

Well, nope, x cannot be a, you should add '0 <' part in front of it, like this:
$$0 < |x - a| < \delta \Rightarrow |f(x) - b| < \epsilon$$. :)

Yup, as pardesi has pointed out, you should re-arrange the expression, so that you could obtain:
|f(x) - b| < ... < k |x - a| < epsilon (where k is any constant, this is the tricky part, you should find the appropriate k)
~~~> |x - a| < epsilon / k

So we can choose delta to be (epsilon / k), so, for:
$$x : 0 < |x - a| < \delta = \frac{\epsilon}{k} \Rightarrow |f(x) - b| < ... < k |x - a| < k \epsilon < k \times \frac{\epsilon}{k} = \epsilon$$ as required.

---------------------------------

I'll help you do the first problem, and give you some hints for the seconds one, they are pretty much the same. :)

Problem 1:
Prove:
$$\lim_{x \rightarrow -2} \frac{1}{x + 1} = -1$$

So, we'll start here:
$$\left| \frac{1}{x + 1} + 1 \right| = \left| \frac{x + 2}{x + 1} \right| = \textcolor{blue}{\left| \frac{1}{x + 1} \right|} \textcolor{red}{|x + 2|}$$.

Now, we will obtain the k from the blue part. We will find out the maximum value for |1 / (x+1)|, and assign k to be that value.

To find the maximum value for |1 / (x+1)|, we'll make the restriction:
$$\textcolor{green} {0 < |x + 2| < \delta \leq 0.5} \Rightarrow 0 < |x + 2| < 0.5 \Rightarrow -0.5 < x + 2 < 0.5$$

$$\Rightarrow -1.5 < x + 1 < -0.5 \Rightarrow 0.5 < |x + 1| < 1.5 \Rightarrow \frac{2}{3} < \frac{1}{|x + 1|} < 2$$.

Ok, so we have:
$$\left| \frac{1}{x + 1} + 1 \right| = \textcolor{blue}{\left| \frac{1}{x + 1} \right|} \textcolor{red}{|x + 2|} < \textcolor{blue}{2} \textcolor{red}{|x + 2|}$$, ok, so we choose:

$$\delta = \mbox{min} \left( 0.5 , \frac{\epsilon}{2} \right)$$.

I think your textbook's answer is, somehow, mistyped.

Ok, let's think about it, in the green part above (I mean, the restriction part), why didn't I choose: $$0 < |x + 2| < \delta \leq 1$$? I didn't choose 1, that's not appropriate in this case. Can you see why?

--------------------------------------

So, now, hint for second problem. :)

We must rearrange the expression to give k |x - a|, i.e, we must have |x - a| in our expression, so, multiply by its conjugate, we obtain.

$$|\sqrt{x} - 2| = \frac{\textcolor{red}{|x - 2|}}{\textcolor{blue}{| \sqrt{x} + 2 |}}$$

Can you go from here? :)

--------------------------------------

EDIT: I have corrected the last LaTeX code for like 3 times, but it still shows the wrong image. >"<

Ok, now, LaTeX seems to work normally again. ^.^

Last edited: Jul 27, 2007
4. Jul 27, 2007

### pardesi

well it is not necessary that x be b but there is no problem if it hiolds true for b infact then it becomes continious at that point