Limit change of variable legality?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on evaluating the limit of a logarithmic expression involving Legendre Polynomials, specifically the expression \(\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to 1} \ln (1 - x)(P_{l - 1} (x) - xP_l (x)) - \mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to -1} \ln (1 + x)(P_{l - 1} (x) - xP_l (x))\). Participants debate the legality of substituting \(x\) with \(-x\) in the limit as \(x\) approaches 1. The consensus is that such a substitution is valid if it is continuous and potentially monotonic, allowing for simplification of the limit evaluation.

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Students and educators in mathematics, particularly those studying calculus and polynomial functions, as well as researchers working with Legendre Polynomials in applied mathematics or physics.

Pengwuino
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Homework Statement



[tex] \mathop {\lim }\limits_{x - > 1} \ln (1 - x)(P_{l - 1} (x) - xP_l (x)) - \mathop {\lim }\limits_{x - > - 1} \ln (1 + x)(P_{l - 1} (x) - xP_l (x))[/tex]

where [tex]P_{l}[/tex] are the Legendre Polynomials.

Homework Equations



Legendre polynomial recursion relations I suppose

The Attempt at a Solution



So in trying to determine this limit. L'Hospitals rule doesn't come up with anything useful seemingly. However, would it be mathematically legal to switch the limit of the right side to x-> 1 and switch out every x for -x? I can't seem to figure out this limit. If this were legal, I think I could determine this limit for l = 0 using this idea but for an arbitrary l I don't think this would work. Anyone got any tips? :)
 
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Basically you want to make the substitution u= -x. I think as long as the substitution is a continuous (perhaps monotonic as well?) function then the limit is still valid. In other words, yea it'll work.
 
Hmmm ok. I suppose the only problem now is making the substitution into the Legendre Polynomials which I think I can do to turn it all into 1 limit that subtracts away the logarithms that blow up on me.
 

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