Finding the limit of an indeterminate using series, not lhopitals

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the limit of the expression \(\lim_{x\rightarrow 0} \frac{\sin(x)}{\sqrt{x}}\) using series expansion, as suggested by the original poster's calculus teacher. The problem falls under the subject area of calculus, specifically limits and series.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to create a series representation for the limit but expresses uncertainty about the next steps after simplification. Other participants suggest different forms of the series and question whether simply substituting \(x = 0\) would yield valid results for this and other similar problems. There is also a mention of an alternative approach that avoids both L'Hopital's rule and series.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring various methods to approach the problem. Some guidance has been offered regarding series manipulation and alternative methods, but there is no explicit consensus on the best approach to take for the series requirement.

Contextual Notes

The original poster notes that their professor specifically requested the solution to be done "by series," which adds a constraint to the discussion. There is also an implication that other problems may not yield the correct answers if approached in the same manner as this one.

proace360
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Homework Statement


My calc teacher says that we should do the problem "by series", even though it is in the section of the book where the teach L'Hopital's rule.

For example, one of the questions is:

<br /> <br /> \lim_{x\rightarrow 0} \frac{sin(x)}{\sqrt{x}}<br /> <br />


The Attempt at a Solution



Using L'Hopital's rule, you eventually get 0.

I managed to make a series for it...
\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{\frac{(-1)^n\*x^{2n+1}}{(2n+1)!}}{x^\frac{1}{2}}

but after that, i don't know what to do
 
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You can turn that into

\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{(-1)^n x^{2n+.5}}{(2n+1)!}

by canceling the x in the denominator
 
yeah, i just simplified it on my homework, but after that, would you simply just plug 0 into x? it may give 0 for this problem, but for the other problems (after find the power series for them) it wouldn't give the right answer... so what would i do?
 
Another way to do this that does not use "L'Hopital" nor "series" is to write
\frac{sin(x)}{\sqrt{x}}= \sqrt{x}\frac{sin(x)}{x}
and use the fact that
\lim_{x\to 0}\frac{sin(x)}{x}= 1[/itex]
 
it would work that way too, but i just don't know what to do, as the professor specifically asked for it to be done "by series". and i am at a loss as to knowing how it can be done that way.
 
still need some help lol
 

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