Multivariable Limits assignment

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating multivariable limits as part of a web-based assignment. The original poster expresses difficulty in determining the correct limits and presents several limit problems, questioning their reasoning and results.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to evaluate limits by substituting values and analyzing different paths. They question their results when different paths yield different limits, particularly for the first and fourth limits presented.

Discussion Status

Participants are engaged in clarifying the concept of limits in multiple dimensions. Some suggest that the original poster may be misunderstanding how to approach finding limits along different paths. There is an ongoing exploration of the implications of obtaining different limits along various paths.

Contextual Notes

The original poster is under the constraint that all answers must be correct for credit in their assignment, which adds pressure to their evaluation process. They express confidence in some of their limits while being particularly troubled by the first two.

allllllll
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I can't get this problem right and it's part of a web-based assignment that I have to submit. In order to get credit for the problem, all of my answers need to be right; I've tried many different times and I can't seem to figure out what I am doing wrong. Here it is with my explanations as to why I think I'm right; please, can someone find my mistake?

Find the following limits. If a limit diverges to infinity, state your answer as "INF" (without the quotation marks). If it diverges to negative infinity, state your answer as "MINF".If it diverges without being infinity or negative infinity, state your answer as "DIV".

lim(x,y)->(0,0) (3x^2 + y^2)/(x^4 + 5 y^4)
= DIV
Limit does not exist because if I try to go through different paths, I get different limits.

lim(x,y)->(0,3) ysin(x)/x
= 3
by separating the two functions y & sin(x)/x and evaluating them separately

lim(x,y)->(5,0) (3x + ln(1+xy) ) / (1+x+y)
=15/6
just by plugging in the values (function is continuous everywhere)

lim(x,y)->(0,0) (x^2 * y^2) / (x^4 + 5y^4)
= DIV
Limit does not exist once again because of different paths I took = different limits

Thanks a lot =)
 
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You're confusing how to find different paths. Instead, what you're doing is finding the limits at different points. Think of the limit as this:

[tex]\lim_{\textbf{r}\rightarrow (0,0)}f(x,y)[/tex].

Here, [tex]\textbf{r}[/tex] just represents some arbitrary path along the surface to that point.
 
I understand what you mean but, for example, if I take the fourth limit:
lim(x,y)->(0,0) (x^2 * y^2) / (x^4 + 5y^4)

If I evaluate this when x=y then I end up with (x^4)/(6x^4) which gives a limit of 1/6.
However, if I evaluate this at (x,0) which should also work, I get a limit of 0/(x^4) = 0
Because both these limits (along different paths) are different, then the entire limit can not possibly converge.
 
from what I can see, you're correct. You sure you typed it in right?
 
yeah, I am sure.. but to get it right they all have to be right.. I am pretty confident about the last two limits.. its mainly the first two that are bugging me
 
Along which paths did you take the limits to evaluate the first one?
 

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