Proving Limit Using Epsilon Criteria: n^2+1/n+3 → +∞ as n → ∞

  • Thread starter Thread starter squareroot
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Limit
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around proving the limit of the expression (n^2 + 1)/(n + 3) as n approaches infinity, specifically using the epsilon criteria. Participants are exploring the definitions and properties of limits in calculus, particularly in the context of limits approaching positive infinity.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the correct form of limit proofs, with some confusion about the use of epsilon versus other variables like M. There are attempts to manipulate the inequality and questions about the implications of certain mathematical properties.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with some participants providing guidance on how to approach the limit proof without directly solving it for others. There is a mix of interpretations regarding the use of epsilon and the structure of the proof, indicating a productive exploration of the topic.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about their understanding of the limit proof process, and there are references to the challenges of working with polynomial equations. The discussion also highlights the importance of foundational knowledge in calculus as participants navigate through their first experiences with such proofs.

squareroot
Messages
76
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Prove the limit by using the ε criteria
[itex]\stackrel{lim}{n→∞}[/itex][itex]\frac{n^2+1}{n+3}[/itex] = +∞


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


Hi guys.So I'm having trouble proving this limits(all limits that i need to prove that they equal +/- ∞) , all that I've learned in calculus so far at school is these e proprieties

limit when x→∞ from xn=L ⇔ [itex]\forall[/itex]ε>0 [itex]\exists[/itex]nε so that for [itex]\forall[/itex] n≥nε we have |xn-L|<ε

the second one is when limit whenx→∞ from xn= +∞ it's the same except the last part where you don't have |xn-L|<ε but we have xn≥ε

fot the third one limit when x→∞ from xn= -∞ when xn≤-ε

TY!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
squareroot said:

Homework Statement


Prove the limit by using the ε criteria
[itex]\stackrel{lim}{n→∞}[/itex][itex]\frac{n^2+1}{n+3}[/itex] = +∞


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


Hi guys.So I'm having trouble proving this limits(all limits that i need to prove that they equal +/- ∞) , all that I've learned in calculus so far at school is these e proprieties

limit when x→∞ from xn=L ⇔ [itex]\forall[/itex]ε>0 [itex]\exists[/itex]nε so that for [itex]\forall[/itex] n≥nε we have |xn-L|<ε

the second one is when limit whenx→∞ from xn= +∞ it's the same except the last part where you don't have |xn-L|<ε but we have xn≥ε

fot the third one limit when x→∞ from xn= -∞ when xn≤-ε

TY!
You're not using the correct form for this type of limit. This is the one you want.
$$ \forall M, \exists N \text{ such that } n \ge N \Rightarrow f(n) > M$$

The idea here is that M and N are large numbers. You don't use ##\epsilon## in this type of limit proof.
 
well what you said is the same with what i said "the second one is when limit whenx→∞ from xn= +∞ it's the same except the last part where you don't have |xn-L|<ε but we have xn≥ε
"
 
squareroot said:
well what you said is the same with what i said "the second one is when limit whenx→∞ from xn= +∞ it's the same except the last part where you don't have |xn-L|<ε but we have xn≥ε
"
Which means that it isn't the same. Also, ##\epsilon## is generally considered to be a small number (close to 0).
 
Well yes but i tried solving it like that and i get lost in all that math , i have a polynominal equation in n...can't you show me?
 
The way PF works is that we help you, but we don't do your work for you. The polynomial is a quadratic, and you should already know how to solve quadratic equations and inequalities. Show us where you got stuck.
 
Ok here we go , so starting backwards from the theorem we have (n2+1)/(n+3)≥ε after solving this and by arranging it you have

n2-nε+(1-3ε)≥0

from here

Δ=ε2-4(1-3ε)=ε2+12ε-4




so it from here where i m not certain what to do i tried to put the condition that Δ≥0 but by solving that i get really ugly results.I don't know what to do from here!
 
You want :

[itex]\forall M > 0, \exists N > 0 \space | \space n>N \Rightarrow a_n > M[/itex]

So start by massaging what you want into a suitable form :

[itex]\frac{n^2 + 1}{n + 3} > M[/itex]
 
You should not use ε for this type of limit, as it is almost universally used to represent numbers that are close to 0.

From the inequality $$\frac{n^2+1}{n + 3} > M$$
you get
##n^2 - Mn + 1 - 3M > 0##
The values of n that make the expression above equal to 0 are
$$n = \frac{M \pm \sqrt{M^2 + 12M - 4}}{2}$$

It is not necessary to get an exact value for n. All that is needed is to find a value that is large enough. ##\sqrt{M^2 + 12M - 4}## ≈ M, but the square root expression is always a little larger. I think we can say that the radical is smaller than 2M as long as M is not too small. For example, if M = 10 (which isn't very large), ##\sqrt{M^2 + 12M - 4}=\sqrt{216}≈11 < 20 = 2M##. For any larger value of M the radical will be smaller than 2M.

Can you carry on from here?
 
  • #10
Not really , the thing is i don't really have a solid understanding about what am I after to prove here.So we've proved that that radical will be smaller than 2M when M is a large number, but hor does that help me with my initial inequation ?I'm sorry i know I'm pretty much asking to solveit step by step to me , but it 's my first kind of this exercise from my first calculus homework ever , and i really want to have a solid foundation on calculus.
 
  • #11
squareroot said:
Not really , the thing is i don't really have a solid understanding about what am I after to prove here.So we've proved that that radical will be smaller than 2M when M is a large number, but hor does that help me with my initial inequation ?I'm sorry i know I'm pretty much asking to solveit step by step to me , but it 's my first kind of this exercise from my first calculus homework ever , and i really want to have a solid foundation on calculus.

You can make life a lot easier by simplifying the problem first. [itex]\frac{n^2 + 1}{n + 3} > \frac{n^2}{n + 3} > \frac{n^2}{n + n}[/itex] (for n>3). Simplifying the last expression and showing its limit is infinity shows the first one has that limit as well.
 
  • #12
Oh!I get it now! And it's obvious that n2/2n's limit is +∞ so from that i can conclude that the limit of my equation is also +∞.This is very very useful , and i can use it to solve all my exercises of this type.Thanks a lot! But is it a valid method? Seems more of an observation than a demonstration to me :smile:
 
  • #13
For example here is how i could solve another exercise which looks similar

Prove that limn→∞[itex]\frac{n<sup>3</sup>+2n}{n<sup>2</sup>+3n-1}[/itex]=+∞

So [itex]\frac{n<sup>3</sup>+2n}{n<sup>2</sup>+3n-1}[/itex] < [itex]\frac{n<sup>3</sup>+2n}{n<sup>2</sup>+3n}[/itex]
But [itex]\frac{n<sup>3</sup>+2n}{n<sup>2</sup>+3n}[/itex]=[itex]\frac{n(n<sup>2</sup>)+2}{n(n+3)}[/itex]=[itex]\frac{n<sup>2</sup>+2}{n+3}[/itex], now here 2 and 3 are pretty irrelevant when n→∞ so we could say [itex]\frac{n<sup>2</sup>}{n}[/itex]=n
limn→∞ n=+∞, that is obvious so from this i proved that limn→∞[itex]\frac{n<sup>3</sup>+2n}{n<sup>2</sup>+3n-1}[/itex]=+∞

What do you say?Is it ok?

P.S idk why the eq editor didn't work!
 
  • #14
squareroot said:
Oh!I get it now! And it's obvious that n2/2n's limit is +∞ so from that i can conclude that the limit of my equation is also +∞.This is very very useful , and i can use it to solve all my exercises of this type.Thanks a lot! But is it a valid method? Seems more of an observation than a demonstration to me :smile:

You can make it into a real proof. If n^2/(2n)>M then (n^2+1)/(n+3)>M. You can use the same bound for the simpler expession for the more complicated.
 
  • #15
squareroot said:
For example here is how i could solve another exercise which looks similar

Prove that limn→∞[itex]\frac{n<sup>3</sup>+2n}{n<sup>2</sup>+3n-1}[/itex]=+∞

So [itex]\frac{n<sup>3</sup>+2n}{n<sup>2</sup>+3n-1}[/itex] < [itex]\frac{n<sup>3</sup>+2n}{n<sup>2</sup>+3n}[/itex]
But [itex]\frac{n<sup>3</sup>+2n}{n<sup>2</sup>+3n}[/itex]=[itex]\frac{n(n<sup>2</sup>)+2}{n(n+3)}[/itex]=[itex]\frac{n<sup>2</sup>+2}{n+3}[/itex], now here 2 and 3 are pretty irrelevant when n→∞ so we could say [itex]\frac{n<sup>2</sup>}{n}[/itex]=n
limn→∞ n=+∞, that is obvious so from this i proved that limn→∞[itex]\frac{n<sup>3</sup>+2n}{n<sup>2</sup>+3n-1}[/itex]=+∞

What do you say?Is it ok?

P.S idk why the eq editor didn't work!

Do not use [NOPARSE][/NOPARSE] and [itеx][/itеx] together, if you want to write supscripts, then please write

Code:
[NOPARSE][itex]n^3+2n[/itex][/NOPARSE]

Also, limits can be written nicely as

Code:
[NOPARSE]
[itex]\lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty} n^2[/itex]
[/NOPARSE]

Here is a LaTeX guide:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=3977517&postcount=3
 

Similar threads

Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
12K
Replies
6
Views
7K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
4K
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 37 ·
2
Replies
37
Views
5K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
7K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
Replies
3
Views
1K