Finding the exact value of a limit

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the limit of the function arctan(-2x^3 + 3x - 4) as x approaches infinity. Participants explore the steps necessary to evaluate this limit, including analyzing the behavior of the polynomial inside the arctangent function.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in starting the limit problem involving arctan(-2x^3 + 3x - 4) as x approaches infinity.
  • Another participant suggests finding the limit of the polynomial -2x^3 + 3x - 4 as x approaches infinity and the behavior of arctan(x) at positive and negative infinity.
  • A later reply clarifies the expression and reiterates the need to evaluate the limit of the argument of the arctangent before determining the limit of the arctangent itself.
  • One participant performs a factorization of the polynomial and concludes that the limit of the argument approaches -∞, leading to a proposed limit of arctan(-2) as x approaches infinity.
  • Another participant questions the reasoning behind dividing the argument by x^3 and emphasizes the importance of finding the limit of the argument directly.
  • After a correction, one participant acknowledges that their revised conclusion about the limit being -π/2 is correct.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the approach of evaluating the limit of the argument of the arctangent first, but there is some contention regarding the method of substitution and the interpretation of the limit results.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved aspects regarding the manipulation of the polynomial and the implications of dividing by x^3, which may affect the clarity of the limit evaluation process.

NavalMonte
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I'm having a hard time starting this problem

lim of arctan(-2x^3+3x-4x) as x approaches infinity

Any help would be appreciated
 
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Start by finding the limits of $-2x^3+3x-4x$ when $x\to\infty$ (do you mean $-2x^3+3x^2-4x$?) and $\arctan(x)$ when $x\to\pm\infty$.
 
Evgeny.Makarov said:
Start by finding the limits of $-2x^3+3x-4x$ when $x\to\infty$ (do you mean $-2x^3+3x^2-4x$?) and $\arctan(x)$ when $x\to\pm\infty$.

I'm sorry, it's actually written as:

lim arctan($-2x^3+3x-4$)
x->∞
 
The advice is the same: see where the argument of the arctangent tends to and then see what values arctangent takes there.
 
Evgeny.Makarov said:
The advice is the same: see where the argument of the arctangent tends to and then see what values arctangent takes there.

I factored the largest factor of x from the polynomial and got:

lim $x^3$=∞
x->∞

and

lim $(-2+\dfrac{3}{x^2}-\dfrac{4}{x^2})$=-2
x->∞

Would that make the:
lim arctan (-2) =lim arctan($-2x^3+3x-4$)
x->∞...x->∞Edit: I just realized that:
lim $-2x^3+3x-4$ = -∞
x->∞

Therefore,
lim arctan($-2x^3+3x-4$)= -$\dfrac{\pi}{2}$
x->∞

Would that be correct or am I totally off base?
 
Last edited:
I can only repeat what I have said: find the limit of the arctangent's argument and then find what arctangent is like near that value. You, instead, found the limit of the arctangent's argument divided by $x^3$ and substituted it into arctangent. I don't understand why you divided the argument by $x^3$.

Edit: I just saw your edit, and it is correct. You may also see this discussion on StackExchange for a similar example.
 

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