Find Rate of Convergence for sin(h)/h

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on finding the rate of convergence for the limit \(\lim_{h \rightarrow 0}(\frac{\sin(h)}{h}) = 1\). Participants clarify that the correct rate of convergence is \(O(h^2)\), contrary to an initial misunderstanding of \(O(1/h)\). Key methods for determining this include using Taylor series expansions and L'Hôpital's rule. The conversation emphasizes the importance of bounding \(\left|\frac{\sin h}{h}-1\right|\) rather than \(\frac{\sin(h)}{h}\) directly.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of limits and convergence in calculus
  • Familiarity with Taylor series, specifically the Maclaurin series
  • Knowledge of L'Hôpital's rule for evaluating limits
  • Concepts of big O and little o notation in asymptotic analysis
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the Taylor series expansion of \(\sin(h)\) to derive \(O(h^2)\)
  • Learn how to apply L'Hôpital's rule in limit evaluations
  • Explore the definitions and applications of big O and little o notation
  • Investigate other methods for analyzing convergence rates in calculus
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Students in calculus or analysis courses, mathematicians exploring asymptotic behavior, and anyone interested in understanding the convergence properties of trigonometric functions.

stunner5000pt
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Find the rate of convergence of
\lim_{h \rightarrow 0}(\frac{\sin(h)}{h}) = 1

well I am not really sure on what to do
\sin(h) \leq 1
\frac{\sin(h)}{h} \leq \frac{1}{h}
so then sine converges with a rate of O(1/h) ?
but the answer in the book is O(h^2) how so?


please help! Thank you
 
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hi,

I'm doing some of the same stuff in my analysis class, and in my class notes the teacher wrote that sin(x) = O(x), not x^2.

Going back to the definitions of 'little o' and 'big O' might help.

f = O(g) means that the ratio of f/g is bounded by some constant, where f = o(g) means that f aproaches zero faster than g.

Sorry that's not a complete answer, but I'm still learning this stuff too.

Hope it helps :blushing:
 
You managed to show sin(h)/h=O(1/h) as h->0, but this isn't a very useful bound since 1/h is diverging. To get the rate of convergence of that limit, it's not sin(h)/h you are trying to bound, but

\left|\frac{\sin h}{h}-1\right|
 
The sequence 1/h converges to 0.

The series \Sigma 1/h is divergent.
 
HallsofIvy said:
The sequence 1/h converges to 0.

The series \Sigma 1/h is divergent.

We're looking at h approaching zero.
 
shmoe said:
You managed to show sin(h)/h=O(1/h) as h->0, but this isn't a very useful bound since 1/h is diverging. To get the rate of convergence of that limit, it's not sin(h)/h you are trying to bound, but
\left|\frac{\sin h}{h}-1\right|

ok i see what you mean ... that the stuff of the right must converge to same thing as the sequence does

now for playing around with \left|\frac{\sin h}{h}-1\right|
or is there a systematic method here?

\left|\frac{\sin h}{h}-1\right| \leq \frac{1}{h} -1 = \frac{1-h}{h} = not sure what to do here though...
 
Don't get rid of the sin(h), it's a key ingredient here. Again, it's no use bounding this thing by something that diverges as h->0, though I'd question how exactly you removed the absolute value sign.

How to proceed depends on what you're allowed to use, it's pretty trivial with taylor series say, or by looking at the limits with l'hospital's rule.
 
how would i use L'hopital's rule to find the rate of convergence here??

when using taylor series would i use Xo = 0 ?? i.e. Maclaurin series?

in which case i do get the O(h^2) term for the first taylor polynomial
so in other words for questions like this should i lawyas use the first taylor polynomial? What about the second or third ..?
 
Use the taylor polynomial up to whatever degree needed.

You can also look at

\lim_{h\rightarrow 0}\left|\frac{\sin h-h}{h^3}\right|
 

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