Limits involving absolute values

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the mathematical limit involving absolute values in the context of physics, specifically the expression $$\lim_{\Delta t → 0} |\vec{v}_r (t + \Delta t)| \frac{\sin \Delta \theta}{\Delta t}$$ transitioning to $$v_r (t) \frac{d\theta}{dt}$$. Participants clarify that ##v_r## represents the scalar component of the vector ##\vec{v}_r##, which can be positive, negative, or zero, while its absolute value denotes the magnitude. The limit simplifies to $$|\vec{v}_r (t)| \frac{d\theta}{dt}$$, and the approximation $$\sin(u) \approx u$$ is utilized for small angles.

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PFuser1232
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This is actually a physics problem, but since my question is really about the math involved, I decided to post it in the calculus subforum.
I'm supposed to get from the term:
$$\lim_{\Delta t → 0} |\vec{v}_r (t + \Delta t)| \frac{\sin \Delta \theta}{\Delta t}$$
To:
$$v_r (t) \frac{d\theta}{dt}$$
##\theta## is a function of ##t## (so ##\Delta \theta## approaches zero as ##\Delta t## approaches zero), and ##v_r## is the scalar component (not the magnitude) of the vector ##\vec{v}_r##, in a particular direction.
Computing the limit as ##\Delta t## approaches zero:
$$\lim_{\Delta t → 0} |\vec{v}_r (t + \Delta t)| \frac{\sin \Delta \theta}{\Delta t} = |\vec{v}_r (t)| \frac{d\theta}{dt} = |v_r (t)| \frac{d\theta}{dt}$$
How do I get rid of those absolute value bars?
 
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MohammedRady97 said:
This is actually a physics problem, but since my question is really about the math involved, I decided to post it in the calculus subforum.
I'm supposed to get from the term:
$$\lim_{\Delta t → 0} |\vec{v}_r (t + \Delta t)| \frac{\sin \Delta \theta}{\Delta t}$$
To:
$$v_r (t) \frac{d\theta}{dt}$$
##\theta## is a function of ##t## (so ##\Delta \theta## approaches zero as ##\Delta t## approaches zero),
Then by this logic ##\lim_{\Delta t}\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta t} = \frac 0 0##, assuming as you did that y is a function of t.

What they're probably doing here is using the idea that, if u is close to zero, then ##\sin(u) \approx u##.
MohammedRady97 said:
and ##v_r## is the scalar component (not the magnitude) of the vector ##\vec{v}_r##, in a particular direction.
Computing the limit as ##\Delta t## approaches zero:
$$\lim_{\Delta t → 0} |\vec{v}_r (t + \Delta t)| \frac{\sin \Delta \theta}{\Delta t} = |\vec{v}_r (t)| \frac{d\theta}{dt} = |v_r (t)| \frac{d\theta}{dt}$$
How do I get rid of those absolute value bars?

Is ##v_r## the magnitude of ##\vec{v_r}##? If so ##v_r## would be a nonnegative scalar.
 
Mark44 said:
Then by this logic ##\lim_{\Delta t}\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta t} = \frac 0 0##, assuming as you did that y is a function of t.

What they're probably doing here is using the idea that, if u is close to zero, then ##\sin(u) \approx u##.Is ##v_r## the magnitude of ##\vec{v_r}##? If so ##v_r## would be a nonnegative scalar.

##v_r## is not the magnitude of ##\vec{v}_r##. It is the scalar component of ##\vec{v}_r## in a particular direction. It can be positive, negative, or zero.
Its absolute value is the magnitude of ##\vec{v}_r##.
 

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