# Big brains LOOK UP this small limit problem

1. Jun 15, 2005

### lwrthy

Big brains.... LOOK UP this small limit problm

hi,

Lt (exp)x/x I couldnt solve this in any way;neither my friends could.
x->0

So it is a need for me to ask help. Helllp...

2. Jun 15, 2005

### Galileo

Do you mean:

$$\lim_{x\to 0}\frac{e^x}{x}$$
?

If you just look where the numerator and denominator tend to, that'll give you enough info.

3. Jun 15, 2005

### James R

Another way to look at it is like this:

$$e^x = 1 + x + \frac{x^2}{2!} + \frac{x^3}{3!} + \frac{x^4}{4!} + \frac{x^5}{5!} + ...$$

So

$$\frac{e^x}{x} = \frac{1}{x} + 1 + \frac{x}{2!} + \frac{x^2}{3!} + \frac{x^3}{4!} + \frac{x^4}{5!} + ...$$

What is the limit of this as x goes to zero?

All of the terms go to zero except the 1 and the 1/x. What happens to the 1/x?

4. Jun 15, 2005

### lwrthy

"All of the terms go to zero except the 1 and the 1/x. What happens to the 1/x?"

That was my problem.Solving in any ways gave me the answer infinity. What to do now?Any other ideas to solve this very simple problm???

BACK-WORD:I am on a bet with my friends that i will do it...Help me else I will lose money

5. Jun 15, 2005

### wisredz

It doesn't have a limit as x goes to zero. One sided limits exist of course. Anuyway you could think about this equation as if it were a k/x equation. Of course This is not the same but, the graphs are similar. Like, as x goes to zero e^x goes to one, and x goes to zero. What happens then?.

Like I told you there's no limit as x goes to zero. You could find the right hand side or the left hand side limit but the two are different. So no limit at 0. The best way to see this graph. As soon as you graph this, everything will be cristal clear.

6. Jun 15, 2005

### steven187

hello there

well you could make a substitution make
$$x=\frac{1}{u}}$$
$$\lim_{x\to 0}\frac{e^x}{x}=\lim_{u\to\infty}ue^{\frac{1}{u}}=\infty$$
now that should be pretty obvious since
$$\lim_{u\to\infty}e^{\frac{1}{u}}=1$$
good luck with the bet

Steven

7. Jun 15, 2005

### HallsofIvy

So what's wrong with infinity? This limit does not exist. The function ex/x diverges to infinity as x goes to 0.

8. Jun 15, 2005

### cronxeh

$$\lim_{x\to 0}\frac{e^x}{x}=\frac{(e^x)'}{(x)'}=\frac{e^x}{1}= 1$$

Nah probably cant be right, should be infinity though

Aaaahh I see my mistake there.

$$e^0$$ != $$0$$

Last edited: Jun 15, 2005
9. Jun 15, 2005

### steven187

hello there

the e^x does no satisfy the conditions to use L' hospital

steven

10. Jun 15, 2005

### wisredz

I still cannot understand, a function cannot have two limits at a point, and this one has. As you approach to zero from left f(x) goes to minus infinity, from the other side, it goes to infinity. In the first quadrant as soon as you are past 1, the graph is just like k/x.

11. Jun 15, 2005

### steven187

well you make a substitution make
$$x=\frac{1}{u}}$$
$$\lim_{x\to 0^+}\frac{e^x}{x}=\lim_{u\to\infty}ue^{\frac{1}{u}}=\infty$$

hello there

well a function can have 2 limits at a point either approaching a limit from the left or the right, such sanarios arise when you have a discontinuity at a point as for the above from my 2nd last post, I showed how the limit approaches it from the right hand side now i will show how the limit approaches from the left hand side

well you make a substitution make
$$x=\frac{1}{u}}$$
$$\lim_{x\to 0^-}\frac{e^x}{x}=\lim_{u\to-\infty}ue^{\frac{1}{u}}=-\infty$$

steven

12. Jun 15, 2005

### HallsofIvy

If a function has a limit then it must be unique. The point is that $$\lim_{x\rightarrow0}\frac{e^x}{x}$$ does not exist!

13. Jun 15, 2005

### emotionalmachine

I think your friends set you up dude

14. Jun 15, 2005

### whozum

Just graph it, I bet it will be obvious where it approaches.

As x goes to 0, $e^x$ goes to 1, and the denominator goes to 0, so

$$\lim_{x\rightarrow 0^+} \frac{e^x}{x} = \infty$$.

I dont see where the problem is.

15. Jun 15, 2005

### WhirlwindMonk

No, you are right. There is no limit. the limit as x->0 of e^x/x is undefined.

16. Jun 15, 2005

### steven187

hello there

$$\lim_{x\to 0^+}\frac{e^x}{x}\not=\lim_{x\to 0^-}\frac{e^x}{x}$$
hence
$$\lim_{x\to 0}\frac{e^x}{x}$$
does not exist since left and right limits do not give a unique limit

steven

17. Jun 15, 2005

### whozum

I agree, I thought he was looking at only a right-handed limit.

18. Jun 15, 2005

### lwrthy

thanks everybody.
so i should understand that the limit does not exist.is it?

19. Jun 16, 2005

### steven187

hello there
yes you are right the limit does not exist at the point and so there is a discontinuity for that function at x=0
good luck

steven

20. Jun 16, 2005

### cronxeh

Here is the graph for you to see that when you approach 0 from left you go into $$-\infty$$ and from right you get $$+\infty$$

A unique limit doesnt exist. There is a limit when you approach from a specific side - either from positive or negative infinity, but you must specify that that is the limit you want! But a unique limit as x->0 doesnt exist because the graph diverges

Last edited: Oct 8, 2005