# Homework Help: Prove that x[1/x] = 0 as x goes to infinity

1. Jul 1, 2011

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Prove that lim(x->infinity):x[1/x] = 0 by epsilon-delta defintion. (WITHOUT USING THE SQUEEZE THEOREM)

3. The attempt at a solution

well, It's easy to prove that x[1/x] approaches 0 as x goes to infinity using the squeeze theorem, but the question is to prove that without using the squeeze theorem. I wrote down the epsilon-delta definition and then I tried to use this property that [x]<= n <-> x<= n but I failed to show that for any arbitrary epsilon there exists a N>0 such that x>N -> |x[1/x] - 1| <epsilon.

2. Jul 1, 2011

### HallsofIvy

Are you using "[x]" to mean the floor of x? If so then the proof is trivial. For any x> 1, [1/x]= 0. Given any positive real number, $\epsilon$, if x> 1, $|f(x)- 0|< \epsilon$.

3. Jul 1, 2011

### estro

Square brackets stands for floor/roof function?

If square brackets are the floor function then x[1/x]=0 for every x>1 so the delta epsilon is trivial.

In all other scenarios the limit is not 0.

4. Jul 1, 2011

### estro

Oops didn't notice that HalloIvy already replied...

5. Jul 1, 2011

yup. right. [x] stands for the floor function. I noticed that after I had already sent it on the forum. well, let's solve this one instead which is the next part of the same problem: lim(x[1/x]) = 1 as x approaches 0.
I wrote down: for any epsilon>0 there exists delta>0 s.t. if |x-0|<delta -> |x[1/x] - 1|<epsilon.
well, for any x in real numbers we have: 1/x <= [1/x] < 1/x - 1 => 1 <= x[1/x] < 1-x.
0 <= x[1/x] - 1 < -x & -x<x => 0 <= x[1/x] - 1 < |x| => |x[1/x] - 1| < |x|. Now does that tell us anything good?

6. Jul 1, 2011

### estro

In these kind of problem you need to evaluate |f(x_0)-L| and show that it is small as you want it to be [you need to show that it is smaller then arbitrary epsilon] so:
$$|x[1/x]-1|\leq|$$think what you want to write here and don't forget that you have control over x, if x approaches 0 you can have x as small as you want... |

Last edited: Jul 1, 2011
7. Jul 1, 2011

so if I take epsilon to be >= |x| that definitely tells us that epsilon can be chosen to be as small as we want, but Don't I have to prove that for any epsilon that I choose there exists a delta that works in the definition above? I think the main problem here is not to show that the epsilon can get as small as I want, the main problem is to show that for any epsilon that I choose, I can choose delta s.t |x-0|<delta => |f(x) - L|< epsilon. correct me if I'm wrong please.

8. Jul 1, 2011

### estro

After this I stopped reading because here you miss the concept.
You CAN'T choose epsilon your proof should hold for every epsilon, you should show that for every epsilon there is an appropriate delta.

Think about this: the definition of a limit says that the limit exist at x_0 only and only if you can get as close as you want to f(x_0) now what can help you to get close to f(x_0)?

9. Jul 1, 2011

### estro

When you want to prove that something hold for every number, you say: ok let epsilon be some arbitrary numbeR and then you show that "this" holds for that arbitrary number what in turn means that you proved it for every number.

Read carefully the definition of a limit and pay attention to every little detail.

10. Jul 2, 2011

Actually I didn't miss the concept, my question was about the thing you said that because we have control on x we can make epsilon as small as we want which sounded absurd to me because we have no control over epsilon in the proof no matter what,we can't make it small or big but we should show that for any epsilon neighborhood of the Image of the function, there exists a delta neighborhood in the domain which is contained in the epsilon neighborhood of the range. read my post again. lol

well, I know what I want to have, I don't know how to get there and that's the real hardship in this problem. I need to isolate |x| in the right side and find an appropriate delta for that which is the hard part of the problem.

11. Jul 2, 2011

### estro

You said that (you should put more details how you get this) $$|x[1/x]-x|\leq|x|$$, now because $$|x-x_0|=|x-0|=|x|< \delta$$ what can you conclude?
*Remember that you have control over delta...
At this point it is trivial, show me that you understand the concept.

Last edited: Jul 2, 2011
12. Jul 2, 2011

### HallsofIvy

No, he didn't say that. He said "we an make x as small as we want"- that is governed by $\delta$, not $\$.

13. Jul 2, 2011

well, let me formally prove the part that I claimed |x[1/x] - 1| < |x| because actually I guessed that and I feel bad about guessing something without having proved it lol

well, for any real x we always have: 1/x <= [1/x] < 1/x + 1.
x can't be 0 because It's not in the domain, therefore x is either positive or negative.
if x is positive, multiplying both sides by x yields: 1 <= x[1/x] < 1+x. adding -1 to both sides yields: 0 <= x[1/x] - 1 < x. (I)
if x is negative, multiplying both sides by -x yields: -1 <= -x[1/x] < -1 -x. adding +1 to both sides yields: 0 <= 1 - x[1/x] < -x (II).
Now according to the definition of abs(x) we can conclude that 0 <= |x[1/x] - 1| < |x|, since 0<=|x| is a tautology we conclude that |x[1/x] - 1|<|x|.
I still can't see why It's trivial but let me guess. |x|< delta tells us that |x[1/x] - 1| < delta. which tells us that if we choose delta small enough, then for any arbitrarily given epsilon we can always conclude that |x[1/x] - 1| < epsilon. We can always do that because the domain inherits compactedness from the real line and is continuous around 0. am I right? It's not TRIVIAL to me, but I think It makes sense if we have some intuition about the set that x belongs to.

I see. then I misunderstood it.

14. Jul 2, 2011

### estro

Good, so what is the appropriate delta? [what delta should you use?]
Formulate you prove from the beginning to the end and keep attention to every word you say.

15. Jul 2, 2011

That's exactly my question. I don't know that part.

16. Jul 2, 2011

### estro

You almost understand, if I'll tell you the answer at this point I'll ruin everything.
Think about it, this is very important concept...

17. Jul 2, 2011

hmm, maybe I should factor out |x| from |x[1/x]-1| and then I try to find an upper bound for |[1/x] - 1/x| for a specific delta and then take min between that specific delta and the one that I get after defining an upper bound?

18. Jul 2, 2011

### estro

I don't understand what you talking about...=)

19. Jul 2, 2011

like what direction?

20. Jul 2, 2011

### estro

I'll give you an example and prove that $$\lim_{x\rightarrow 0}x=0$$

Let there be an arbitrary $$\epsilon>0.$$
I choose $$\delta=\epsilon/2$$ so for every x which satisfies this delta [$$|x-x_0|\leq\delta$$]the following happens: $$|x|\leq\epsilon/2$$
so
$$|f(x)-L|=|f(x)-0|=|f(x)|=|x|\leq |\delta| \leq |\epsilon/2|<| \epsilon |$$

And I'm done.

Last edited: Jul 2, 2011