# Multivariable Limits

1. ### johndoe3344

29
I was presented with the two following questions:

$$\lim_{\substack{x\rightarrow 0\\y\rightarrow 0}} \sin\frac{xy}{xy}$$

and

$$\lim_{\substack{x\rightarrow 0\\y\rightarrow 0}} \sin(\frac{xyz}{xyz})$$

I figured I would do a simple substitution: let t = xy for the first one, and the limit becomes as t ->0, sin t /t would approach 1. The answer is right for the first one.

Why doesn't the same technique work for the second one? (The answer for the second one is 0).

Last edited: Sep 21, 2006
2. ### 0rthodontist

1,253
In the second one are you also meant to have the limit be as z goes to 0?

Whenever x, y, and z are all nonzero, then xyz/(xyz) = 1. So sin(xyz/(xyz)) = sin 1. This does not depend on the path that you approach (0, 0, 0) by, so the limit is sin 1.

3. ### HallsofIvy

40,367
Staff Emeritus
No, the way you've written it, the lilmit for the second one is not 0. It is, as Orthodontist said, sin 1, exactly like the first.

4. ### johndoe3344

29
Sorry. I'm very bad with using latex.

I actually meant [sin (xy )]/(xy)

and likewise for the second one. For the second one, there's also a z->0 which I omitted. Sorry again.

5. ### 0rthodontist

1,253
In that case your reasoning is correct and the limit is 1, not 0. Why did you think it is 0? (maybe you're using your calculator to check and you're using degrees instead of radians?)