Can x*log(x) Be Approximated As x Approaches 0?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the feasibility of approximating the function x*log(x) as x approaches 0, specifically in the form x*log(x) = Ax^B + O(x^C) with the condition that 1 ≤ C. The consensus is that such constants A, B, and C do not exist under the specified conditions, as any valid approximation would contradict the behavior of the logarithmic function near zero. The conclusion emphasizes that if A, B, and C could be defined, it would imply that log(x) could also be approximated in a manner that is mathematically inconsistent.

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jostpuur
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Do there exist numbers [itex]A,B,C[/itex] such that

[tex] x\log(x) = Ax^B + O(x^C)\quad\quad\textrm{as}\; x\to 0^+[/tex]

and such that

[tex] 1\leq C[/tex]

?

The approximation is trivial if [itex]C < 1[/itex], because then [itex]x^{1-C}\log(x)[/itex] would approach zero, and [itex]A[/itex] and [itex]B[/itex] could be chosen to be almost anything (only [itex]C<B[/itex] needed). But if [itex]1\leq C[/itex], then the approximation could have some content. Obviously conditions

[tex] A < 0 < B < 1[/tex]

should hold, because [itex]x\log(x) < 0[/itex] when [itex]0<x<1[/itex], and [itex]D_x(x\log(x))\to \infty[/itex].

update:

I see these numbers do not exist, because if they did, then also [itex]\log(x)[/itex] could be approximated with some [itex]\alpha x^{\beta}[/itex] where [itex]\beta <0[/itex].
 
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I would work with series expansions. Taylor e.g. has a lot of approximations of the remainder.
 

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