A frustrating limit of a function f(x,y)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating the limit of the function \(\frac{x^2 + \sin^2 y}{x^2 + y^2}\) as \((x,y)\) approaches \((0,0)\). Participants explore various mathematical approaches and inequalities to demonstrate that this limit equals 1, focusing on the application of the Sandwich Theorem and bounding techniques.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using the Sandwich Theorem by bounding \(\frac{x^2 + \sin^2 y}{x^2 + y^2}\) from above by 1 and seeks a lower bound that approaches 1 as \((x,y) \to (0,0)\).
  • Another participant proposes an inequality involving \(\sin(y)\) and suggests that it may help in establishing a lower bound, noting that the higher-order terms vanish faster than the leading term as \((x,y)\) approaches \((0,0)\).
  • A third participant introduces a limit expression involving polar coordinates and suggests that it might provide insight, although they later correct a notation error.
  • Another approach is presented that rewrites the limit expression to show that the difference from 1 can be made arbitrarily small, depending on the behavior of \(\sin^2(y) - y^2\) as \((x,y)\) approaches \((0,0)\).

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants are exploring various methods to approach the limit, and while they share insights and techniques, there is no consensus on a single method or conclusion at this point in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note specific conditions under which their proposed inequalities hold, such as the range of \(y\) for the inequalities to be valid. There are also unresolved mathematical steps regarding the bounding techniques and the behavior of the expressions as \((x,y)\) approaches \((0,0)\).

AxiomOfChoice
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I'm trying to show the following:

<br /> \lim_{(x,y) \to (0,0)} \frac{x^2 + \sin^2 y}{x^2 + y^2} = 1.<br />

One can show that

<br /> \frac{x^2 + \sin^2 y}{x^2 + y^2} \leq 1<br />

for all x,y because \sin y \leq y. So, if you can bound this guy from below by something that goes to 1 as (x,y) \to (0,0), you should be in business by the Sandwich Theorem. But I have so far been unable to do that! Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to proceed?
 
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Maybe try this inequality, valid for ##|y| \leq \pi##. Plot the two functions to see why it's true.
$$\left|\frac{\sin(y)}{y}\right| \geq \left|1 - \frac{1}{\pi}y\right|$$
Squaring and rearranging gives
$$\sin^2(y) \geq y^2 - \frac{2}{\pi}y^3 + \frac{1}{\pi^2}y^4$$
which looks promising because the ##y^3## and ##y^4## terms go to 0 faster than the ##y^2## term.
 
\underset{(x,y)\rightarrow (0,0)}{\lim}=\frac{x^2\cdot \sin^2 y}{x^2+y^2}=\cos^2 \theta \sin ^2 (r\sin \theta)) where θ is the angle of (x,y). Does that help at all? Edit: I put a mult. sign where the + sign should be! o_O
 
Last edited:
Here's a more direct way:
$$\begin{align}
\left|\frac{x^2 + \sin^2(y)}{x^2 + y^2} - 1\right| &=
\left|\frac{x^2 + \sin^2(y)}{x^2 + y^2} - \frac{x^2 + y^2}{x^2 + y^2}\right| \\
&= \left|\frac{\sin^2(y) - y^2}{x^2 + y^2}\right| \\
\end{align}$$
The goal is to show that the last expression is arbitrarily small as ##(x,y) \rightarrow (0,0)##. If ##y = 0## then the expression equals zero. If ##y \neq 0##, then
$$\frac{1}{x^2 + y^2} \leq \frac{1}{y^2}$$
and the result follows easily.
 

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