Solving for the Limit: lim x->0 (3/x^2 - 2/x^4)

[caesius]

Homework Statement

Find the limit: lim x->0 (3/x^2 - 2/x^4)

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I've tried manipulating it in a lot of ways, but nomatter what I do I've still either got the limit of the denominator = 0 or one of the terms in either the num. or den. being divided by x (which is tending to zero)

I've got as far as lim x->0 ( 9x^4 - 4 / 3x^6 + 2x^4 ) but this doesn't help as the den. = 0.

I've graphed this function and had a look - the limit should equal -(infinity).

Utterly confused.

 

[CompuChip]

Welcome to PF caesius.

Graphing the function was a good idea, at least now you know the answer

You have
\lim_{x\to0} \left( \frac{3}{x^2} - \frac{2}{x^4} \right)
Standard approach in these cases: write it as a single fraction. Though in principle you did this correctly, you could have done it much more easily by just multiplying the first term only by x^2 / x^2 and then adding the fractions. Of what you then get it is much easier to show that it tends to -infinity.

 

[caesius]

Ok, I get (3x^2 - 2) / x^4 but I don't see how this helps.

If x was tending to infinity I see how to solve it but for 0?

 

[CompuChip]

Divide numerator and denominator by x^4.

 

[caesius]

I've done that but I get 3x^-2 - 2x^-2 / 1

Which to me looks like: (undefined) - (undefined) / 1

How can that have a solution?

 

[HallsofIvy]

Isn't "the limit does not exist" a solution?

 

[caesius]

Ok I've just read how to format properly, for clarity I have:

\frac{\frac{3}{x^2} - \frac{2}{x^2}}{1}

which when taking the limit as x tends to zero will result in indefined operations no?

 

[caesius]

Isn't "the limit does not exist" a solution?

But I know the "limit" is -\infty, and I'm aware that this is not a limit by definition, surely I should be able to show this from the equation.

 

[HallsofIvy]

Okay, here's what I would have done: combine the two fractions to get
\frac{3}{x^2}- \frac{2}{x^4}= \frac{4x^2- 2}{x^4}
Since the numerator goes to -2 while the denominator goes to 0, the fraction itself goes to -\infty (i.e. the limit does not exist). What more do you want?