Prove that arctanx has to be less than x

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around proving inequalities involving the arctangent and arcsine functions, specifically focusing on the limits of their ratios as x approaches zero. The subject area includes calculus and limit evaluation.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the behavior of the functions arctan(x) and arcsin(x) near zero, questioning the validity of the original poster's claims about their limits. Some suggest using L'Hôpital's rule and comparing the functions directly, while others raise concerns about the correctness of the limits stated.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with multiple interpretations being explored regarding the limits of the functions involved. Some participants provide guidance on alternative approaches, while others challenge the assumptions made in the original post.

Contextual Notes

There are conflicting views on the correctness of the limits being discussed, with some participants asserting that the original claims are false. The conversation includes references to specific behaviors of the functions for positive and negative values of x.

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Homework Statement



Prove that :
$$\lim_{x\to 0}\frac{tan^{-1}x}{x}<1$$
And
$$\lim_{x\to 0}\frac{sin^{-1}x}{x}>1$$

Homework Equations



None

The Attempt at a Solution



I have to prove that arctanx has to be lesser than x.
It's derivative is 1 at x=0 and keeps decreasing as x increases. So it's slope decreases from 1.
Also, at x=0, arctanx=x. So the curve which initially touched y=x goes below it. So arctanx<x.
Is this correct?
 
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Why not think about tan(x) and sin(x)?
 
I know that sinx<x.
So x<arcsinx... By taking arcsin on LHs and RHS.
Thank you.
Is my method in post 0 correct?
 
It might be neater to consider the functions

f(x) = x - arcsin(x)

g(x) = x - arctan(x)

Shouldn't the limits be ##\le## and ##\ge##?

Why not use L'hopital to calculate them?
 
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AdityaDev said:

Homework Statement



Prove that :
$$\lim_{x\to 0}\frac{tan^{-1}x}{x}<1$$
And
$$\lim_{x\to 0}\frac{sin^{-1}x}{x}>1$$
You can't prove these because they're false. The limit is a single number, i.e.,
$$\lim_{x \to 0}\frac{\tan^{-1}x}{x} = 1.$$
 
AdityaDev said:

Homework Statement



Prove that :
$$\lim_{x\to 0}\frac{tan^{-1}x}{x}<1$$
And
$$\lim_{x\to 0}\frac{sin^{-1}x}{x}>1$$

Homework Equations



None

The Attempt at a Solution



I have to prove that arctanx has to be lesser than x.
It's derivative is 1 at x=0 and keeps decreasing as x increases. So it's slope decreases from 1.
Also, at x=0, arctanx=x. So the curve which initially touched y=x goes below it. So arctanx<x.
Is this correct?

The statements you are trying to show are both false. If you think ##\lim_{x \to 0} \arctan(x)/x < 1##, how much < 1 do you think it is? Is it < 0.9? Is it < 0.99?

Also: arctan(x) is not < x; in fact:
[tex]\arctan(x) \begin{cases} < x,& x > 0\\ > x, & x < 0<br /> \end{cases}[/tex]
Just plot the two functions to see that this is true.

You should likewise check ##\sin(x)## against ##x## for small ##x## of both signs, + and -.
 
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Ray Vickson said:
The statements you are trying to show are both false. If you think ##\lim_{x \to 0} \arctan(x)/x < 1##, how much < 1 do you think it is? Is it < 0.9? Is it < 0.99?

Also: arctan(x) is not < x; in fact:
[tex]\arctan(x) \begin{cases} < x,& x > 0\\ > x, & x < 0<br /> \end{cases}[/tex]
Just plot the two functions to see that this is true.

You should likewise check ##\sin(x)## against ##x## for small ##x## of both signs, + and -.
sorry... its x->0+
 
so you can prove it for x->0+ by using LH rule directly and substituting 0+.
 
AdityaDev said:
so you can prove it for x->0+ by using LH rule directly and substituting 0+.
Look at Post #5 from vela .

The limits you are referring to are all exactly equal to zero one .

(Thanks to RGV !)
 
Last edited:
  • #10
SammyS said:
Look at Post #5 from vela .

The limits you are referring to are all exactly equal to zero.

Actually, exactly equal to one.
 
  • #11
SammyS said:
Look at Post #5 from vela .

The limits you are referring to are all exactly equal to zero one .

(Thanks to RGV !)
No. its x->0+. Using graph, the arctanx curve starts coming below y=x.
 
  • #12
AdityaDev said:
No. its x->0+. Using graph, the arctanx curve starts coming below y=x.
Do you understand limits ?
 
  • #13
yes. its a homework question to prove that $$\lim_{x\to 0}\sqrt{\frac{tan^{-1}x}{x}-\frac{sin^{-1}x}{x}}$$ does not exist and its given in the solution that ##\frac{tan^{-1}x}{x}<1## while ##\frac{sin^{-1}x}{x}>1##, when x->0.
If it is wrong, even then ##\frac{tan^{-1}x}{x}<\frac{sin^{-1}x}{x}## when x->0 (actually 0+).
 
  • #14
AdityaDev said:
yes. its a homework question to prove that $$\lim_{x\to 0}\sqrt{\frac{tan^{-1}x}{x}-\frac{sin^{-1}x}{x}}$$ does not exist and its given in the solution that ##\frac{tan^{-1}x}{x}<1## while ##\frac{sin^{-1}x}{x}>1##, when x->0.
If it is wrong, even then ##\frac{tan^{-1}x}{x}<\frac{sin^{-1}x}{x}## when x->0 (actually 0+).
That's quite different from the original post.

For 0 < x ≤ 1 , ## \displaystyle\ \frac{\tan^{-1}x}{x}-\frac{\sin^{-1}x}{x} <0##

Taking the square root gives an imaginary result.
 

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