Please show us how the limit concept is rigorous

  • Thread starter Thread starter Organic
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Limits
Click For Summary
The discussion revolves around the rigorous definition of limits in mathematics, specifically in the context of sequences. A sequence converges to a limit if, for any positive epsilon, there exists a natural number such that all subsequent terms are within that epsilon of the limit. Divergence is also discussed, particularly how sequences can diverge to infinity without actually reaching it. The conversation touches on the application of Newton-Raphson methods and whether they can define limits without using epsilon-delta arguments. Ultimately, various definitions and interpretations of limits are explored, emphasizing the importance of understanding convergence and divergence in mathematical sequences.
  • #31
What do you mean by 'change direction of curvature'?
I mean that the tangent line stays in one and only ony side of the curve, when N-R is used.

I'll write it again:

In this case ( http://phys23p.sl.psu.edu/~mrg3/mathanim/calc_I/Newtons.html )

I am talking about a curve that has non-zero curvature at all points, and this non-zero curvature does not changes its direction or become zero curvature at or before the limit point.

Let me ask this:

Is the case of abs(x_n-x)=0 (which means that x_n=x) exists, according to the curve that was described by me?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
I don't know. It's your conjecture, why don't you try to prove it in the light of all your artificial hypotheses which are solely to exclude counter examples that you didn't exclude originally?

If I may rephrase your question so that it makes sense to others who haven't read your stuff before - is it possible that there is some curve satisfying various criteria which is differentiable, and such that the Newton Raphson method does not converge to the exact root in a finite number of steps. The criteria are that the curve is nowhere linear, and that "the tangent line always stays on the same side of the curve". Note, that although he hasn't excluded it, one must presume that Organic also means that we do not choose the root as the initial input.

I don't know the answer, nor do I care really - my geometric intuition tells me it is probably true as one isn't allowed to do something bizarre like 1-sided derivatives.

Does that answer your query?
 
  • #33
Matt,

What is "probably true"?

By your point of view x_n=x?

Please answer by yes or no.

Thank you.
 
  • #34
My view is that the conditions you've decided to impose on the type of curve probably imply that any non root initail choice for a N-R iteration will not reach the root in a finite number of steps. Probably means I can see how that proof would go (MVT or Rolle's theorem plus a little thinking).. I cannot answer yes or no because I have not proved it and have no proof in mind, only a possible proof. But it isn't my conjecture, it is yours, and I have no real desire to make it rigorous, try proving it yourself.
 
  • #35
Organic said:
Matt,


In this case ( http://phys23p.sl.psu.edu/~mrg3/mathanim/calc_I/Newtons.html )

I am talking about a curve that has non-zero curvature at all points, and this non-zero curvature does not changes its direction or become zero curvature at or before the limit point.

What?

You just said it was a curve with non-zero curvature at all points... therefore it is always changing its direction. How can anyone take you seriously when you make such obvious contradictions in your own argument?

Organic said:
I mean that the tangent line stays in one and only ony side of the curve, when N-R is used.

I'll write it again:

In this case ( http://phys23p.sl.psu.edu/~mrg3/mathanim/calc_I/Newtons.html )

I am talking about a curve that has non-zero curvature at all points, and this non-zero curvature does not changes its direction or become zero curvature at or before the limit point.
Well why don't you actually say what you mean rather than just writing nonsense. Half the problems with your posts is you say one thing and mean something else all together, another problem is you don't actually seem to be proving anything...
 
Last edited:
  • #36
Zurtex,

I gave this example:
http://phys23p.sl.psu.edu/~mrg3/mat..._I/Newtons.html
before I wrote something about it.

This kind of a curve has non-zero curvature at all points, and this non-zero curvature does not changes its direction or become zero curvature at or before the limit point.

By "does not change its direction" I mean that the tangent line stays in one and only one side of the curve, when N-R is used.

Shortly speaking, it is not switching sides.

If you can't understand all this by looking at the graphic example then it is your problem not mines.

another problem is you don't actually seem to be proving anything...
I do more than that, I make a paradigm shift in the infinity concept.

Please read this:
http://www.geocities.com/complementarytheory/NewDiagonalView.pdf
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #37
Organic, how on Earth can you expect people to know exactly what you mean just by posting one example without explanation. How can you not have realized yet that this is physicsforums.net not psychicforums.net. The confusion is entirely your causing by not explaining what you want. From one picture we are supposed to understand that you only want curves with THIS set of properties. Well, that curve in that link is also convex, should the curves only be convex? It only has one root if we carry it on in a naive smooth fashion, it cuts the x-axis at positive x, must the curve always do this? The tangent has positive slope at all points, must this be true as well?
 
  • #38
MVT or Rolle's theorem plus a little thinking
Examples of it can be found here:http://www.ies.co.jp/math/java/calc/rolhei/rolhei.html

But this is not the case that I show here:
http://phys23p.sl.psu.edu/~mrg3/mathanim/calc_I/Newtons.html

I gave this example, and by this I mean that I am talking only about this example.

If instead you want to speack about another types of curevs, then you are talking to yourself, not to me.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #39
Erm, thanks, Organic, I do know what the MVT and Rolle's theorem state, and, shockingly, I know how to prove them, amazing, someone might think I was a mathematician or something.

WHy didn't you say you only cared about that one example.
 
  • #40
If I am not mistake we are in a thread that dealing with the limit problem, where there are infinitely many steps that cannot reach the limit point.

I gave this N-R example as something which is another example that is different from the epsilon-deltha method.

Is it not understood?
 
Last edited:
  • #41
You are making a mistake. This thread didn't start about that. You hijacked it so that you could talk about your interests again. And I sadly came along too.

Different from? As you've not proven anything to do with convergence that's a little rich.
 
  • #42
If you look at the previous thread will see the you started this:
But is still makes no sense. x/0 is not a well-defined symbol in the real number system that one can manipulate like this.
 
  • #43
And what's that got to do with Newton-Raphson iteration? We explained what the more formal interpretation of your beloved Wolfram definition of infinity is.
 
  • #44
x/0 deeply connected to the limit problem.
 
  • #45
Organic said:
x/0 deeply connected to the limit problem.

Only in the minds of those who do not understand what a limit is.

"x/0" is "undefined" if x is a non-zero constant and "undetermined" if x is zero.

If you mean that x is a variable, then "x/0" makes no sense at all.

If you mean "lim as a-> 0 of x/a" then you should say that: the whole point of the theory of limits is that "x/0" will tell you nothing about the limit.
 
  • #46
1/0 is the same as 1*oo and in both cases we are no longer in a finite system.

The whole idea of the interesting point of view of the limit concept is that no infinitely many elements can reach the limit itself.

This unclosed gap which is > 0 cannot be closed by infinitely many elements.

therefore the sum of .999... or the intervals of N-R is undefined by definition.

For example, Cauchy method only forcing the impossible to be possible by "raping" infinitely many ... to have a sum.
 
Last edited:
  • #47
You're wrong and veering off topic again with you own personal incorrect view of mathematics. Please stay on topic.

Counter examples: let x_n=0 if n is even 1/n n odd. this sequence converges to zero, adn reaches 0 infinitely often. OR let x_n^{M} be the sequence define to be 1 for n<M 0 other wise - this sequence converges to zero and is zero for all n>M. Demonstrate a non-zero real number between 0.9999.. and 1. Hint: can't be done. The infinite sum os defined. It is the limit of the partial sums. (N-R, or Newton Raphson, has no need to be here). I presume Chausy is Cauchy. I don't think you understand enough of the mathematics to be able to form an opinion about completions wrt norms. So, this is mathematics, in the real numbers in decimal notation 0.9999.. is the same as 1. It has been proven many times. If you're going to tell us we're wrong then please don't do so in this thread. Start another one and attempt to understand the answers that will be given. Don't hijack this one please - I've answered your post and told you where you're wrong conceptually as well as physically. If you don't accept that then you aren't using the mathematics correctly and you aren't adding to this thread's worth. Start one in TD say, but this topic has been done to death and that you cannot accept the PROOF is a reflection on you not the mathematics.
 
  • #48
Another example:

PI exact plece in the real line is unknown, because in any representation method of it we have to use infinitely many elements to define it.
Demonstrate a non-zero real number between 0.9999.. and 1
Demonstrate a zero gap between 0.999... and 1
 
Last edited:
  • #49
Again? There are at least 2 proofs of this fact in this thread alone. Let x_n be the n'th partial sum 0f 0.9+.009+.0009...

|1-x_n|= 1/10^n

0.999.. =lim x_n

hence |1-0.999...| =0 as the difference with the limit tends to zero, ie can be made of arbitrarily small absolute value.

If you disagree with that then you are disagreeing with the definition of the real numbers. Got it? If you want to work in a different number system then start a different thread or something.

Just realized this isn't in the thread I thought it was in (new page carry error, bane of mathematics) so rant away in your own private language at will.
 
Last edited:
  • #50
Organic said:
Another example:

PI exact plece in the real line is unknown, because in any representation method of it we have to use infinitely many elements to define it.

Demonstrate a zero gap between 0.999... and 1
How do you mean it is unknown?

I'm fairly sure it is at \pi... If you let \pi be your base unit then it is really easy to mark it on.

Or do you just mean there is no given ratio between 1 and \pi in terms of decimals?
 
  • #51
Here's a little thing you need that you don't seem to know, Organic.

Suppose a and b are real numbers and for any e>0 we know |a-b|<e then a=b.

proof: if a is not b then a=b is nonzero. let d be the difference let e = d/2 then |a-b|=d and |a-b| <d/2, contradiction, hence d is zero.
 
  • #52
Suppose a and b are different real numbers and for any e>0 we know |a-b|<e then a not= b.

proof:

If a is not b then |a-b|>0.

Let d be the difference.

Let e = d/2 then |a-b|=d and |a-b| < d/2 > 0, hence d > 0
and also |a-b|/2 > 0.

therefore non-zero/2 > 0.
 
Last edited:
  • #53
But your hypothesis is false: if a and b are distinct real numbers then it is not true that for every e>0 |a-b|<e. You do understand what the quantifier for all means?
 
  • #54
Actually that 'proof' of yours should go down in history: you assume a and b are distinct numbers, make a false claim about them and use that false claim to prove that a and b a different, which is part of the hypothesis... fantastic
 
  • #55
What are you trying to prove there anyway, now you've edited it? cos looking at it you can't really tell.
 
  • #56
How do you mean it is unknown?

I'm fairly sure it is at ... If you let be your base unit then it is really easy to mark it on.

Or do you just mean there is no given ratio between 1 and in terms of decimals?
What I say is very simple: Pi is a notation an element, which its exact place in the real line is unknown.

More then thet, any element, that can be represented by infinitely many elements, its exact place in the real line is unknown, for example:

3/9 place is well-known 3/10 place is unknown.
 
  • #57
Why is 1/3's place known? How do you know where 1 is? Or zero? The real numbers aren't actually physically a line, Organic. You are confusing the representation of something with the something... Oh, no, you're going to talk about x and model(x) again aren't you?

Actually the statement above is trivially true because it is of the form A=>B whre A is false...
 
  • #58
if a and b are distinct real numbers then it is not true that for every e>0 |a-b|<e.

The two different a and b are both < e.

Therefore |a-b| = d < e, but both d and e > 0.
 
  • #59
Organic said:
What I say is very simple: Pi is a notation an element, which its exact place in the real line is unknown.

More then thet, any element, that can be represented by infinitely many elements, its exact place in the real line is unknown, for example:

3/9 place is well-known 3/10 place is unknown.
What are you on about?

Do you know what a number line is? It is not something physical...
 
  • #60
Organic said:
The two different a and b are both < e.

Therefore |a-b| = d < e, but both d and e > 0.


but that isn't deducible from your hypothesis: just because |a-b|<e does not state that a and b are both less than e. (take e=1 a=b=100,000,000). so it's a further pointless assumption.

Try writing out the statement of the lemma again, and its proof making sure all the hypotheses are written correctly and that it is not vacuous (which it was first time)

and seeing as the statement was for all e, then you've just shown a=b=0
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
11K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
12K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 37 ·
2
Replies
37
Views
5K
Replies
26
Views
6K
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K