Limits of f(x) & g(x) Do Not Equal Lim[f(x)g(x)]

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the limits of functions f(x) and g(x) as x approaches a specific value a, particularly focusing on the assertion that if both limits exist and are equal, then the limit of their product equals 1. Participants are exploring the validity of this statement and the implications of limits approaching infinity.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Some participants question the clarity of the original post and suggest that the statement may involve division rather than multiplication. Others express confusion about the implications of limits approaching infinity and the conditions under which limits are considered to exist.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing clarifications and questioning the assumptions made in the original statement. There is recognition of the need for clearer communication regarding the definitions and implications of limits, particularly in relation to one-sided and two-sided limits.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of standard notation for limits, including distinctions between left-hand and right-hand limits, which some participants acknowledge as important but may not have been clearly understood in the original context.

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Homework Statement


If Lim f(x) and Lim g(x) both exist and are equal
x→a x→a then Lim[f(x)g(x)]=1
x→a

Homework Equations


No relevant equations are required in this problem. To determine whether the statement is true or false [/B]

The Attempt at a Solution


The statement is false but the reason behind it is quite unclear to me. Is it because when the limit approaches a from left and right the limits are -∞ and +∞?? Would be very helpful if anyone of you could explain it.
 
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Hard to read your post. Something like

If ##\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a} f(x)## and ##\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a} g(x)## both exist and are equal ##\Rightarrow \displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a} f(x)g(x) = 1 ## ?

Could that be ##\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a} f(x)/g(x) = 1 ## ?

  • To me ##\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a}## means "x approaching from the left to a" so I wouldn't worry about "coming from the right"
  • To me ##\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a} f(x) = \pm \infty## means the limit does not exist, so I wouldn't worry about those either
  • But the division cause a problem in a particular case, that can serve as a counter-example that makes the general statement not true,
 
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BvU said:
Hard to read your post. Something like

If ##\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a} f(x)## and ##\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a} g(x)## both exist and are equal ##\Rightarrow \displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a} f(x)g(x) = 1 ## ?

Could that be ##\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a} f(x)/g(x) = 1 ## ?

  • To me ##\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a}## means "x approaching from the left to a" so I wouldn't worry about "coming from the right"
The notation ##\lim_{x \to a} f(x)## indicates a two-sided limit in which x can approach a from either side. If the two-sided limit exists, then both one-sided limits also exist. Maybe that's what you were trying to say, but what you actually said wasn't clear.
BvU said:
  • To me ##\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a} fx) = \pm \infty## means the limit does not exist, so I wouldn't worry about those either
  • But the division cause a problem in a particular case, that can serve as a counter-example that makes the general statement not true,
I agree that the first post was unclear, and that the OP meant division instead of multiplication.
 
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BvU said:
Hard to read your post. Something like

If ##\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a} f(x)## and ##\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a} g(x)## both exist and are equal ##\Rightarrow \displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a} f(x)g(x) = 1 ## ?

Could that be ##\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a} f(x)/g(x) = 1 ## ?

  • To me ##\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a}## means "x approaching from the left to a" so I wouldn't worry about "coming from the right"
  • To me ##\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow a} fx) = \pm \infty## means the limit does not exist, so I wouldn't worry about those either
  • But the division cause a problem in a particular case, that can serve as a counter-example that makes the general statement not true,

Standard usage is that ##x \to a## means a two-sided limit (##|x-a| \to 0##). Left-hand limits are typically denoted as ##x \to a\!-## or ##x \to a\!-\!0## or ##x \uparrow a##. Right-hand limits are typically denoted as ##x \to a\!+## or ##x \to a\!+\!0## or ##x \downarrow a##.
 
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Good thing you corrected me, gentlemen. Been too long ago, but I do recognize the ##x\downarrow a## and ##x\uparrow a\;.\ ## Never had much opportunity to make good use of the distinction. Apologies to professor D.
 

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