Is 0^0 Truly Undefined When Approaching from the Positive Side?

  • Thread starter Thread starter transgalactic
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Limit
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the mathematical concept of 0^0, which is classified as an indeterminate form. The limit of the expression x^y as (x,y) approaches (0,0) does not exist, but when considering the single-variable limit of (sin x)^x as x approaches 0, it can be rewritten as exp(x log_e x). This transformation reveals that the limit approaches 1, despite the direct substitution yielding 0^0. The presence of the floor function complicates the limit further, but the foundational understanding remains that x^x approaches 1 as x approaches 0.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of limits in calculus
  • Familiarity with indeterminate forms
  • Knowledge of exponential and logarithmic functions
  • Basic understanding of the floor function
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the concept of indeterminate forms in calculus
  • Learn about the properties of limits involving exponential functions
  • Explore Taylor series expansions and their applications
  • Investigate the implications of the floor function in limit calculations
USEFUL FOR

Mathematicians, calculus students, educators, and anyone interested in advanced limit concepts and their applications in mathematical analysis.

transgalactic
Messages
1,386
Reaction score
0
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5461/63848612xp9.gif

when i go from the positive side
i get 0^0
which is undefined
??
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Before I start, I assume by "to take the lower integer part" you mean to use the floor function? ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floor_function )

Well, it is true that 0^0 is an indeterminate form as the 2 variable limit

[tex]\lim_{(x,y) \to (0,0)} x^y[/tex] does not exist, but in this case we have the single variable limit:

[tex]\lim_{x\to 0} \lfloor (\sin x)^x \rfloor[/tex].

So let's ignore the floor function for a bit, and note that since [tex]\lim_{x\to 0} \frac{\sin x}{x} = 1[/tex], we can deduce that

[tex]\lim_{x\to 0} (\sin x)^x = \lim_{x\to 0} x^x[/tex].

Now, it is true that by direct substitution we get 0^0, an indeterminate form. But for this limit, rewrite [tex]x^x = \exp(x \log_e x)[/tex]. You should know already that x "trumps" log x, ie has a greater influence in the limit, but if you don't we can see from its Taylor expansion that the function under exponentiation goes to 0. And so the limit is equal to 1.

But your limit is a bit more complicated with a floor function in it. Hopefully you can finish it off.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
4K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K