Struggling with a Limit Question? Find a Solution with This Step-By-Step Guide!

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves evaluating the limit as x approaches 0 for the expression lim_{x\rightarrow0}x^2\frac{cos(cot(x))}{sin(x)}. The subject area pertains to calculus, specifically limits and trigonometric functions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to relate the expression to known limits, particularly \frac{sin(x)}{x}, but struggles to manipulate the terms effectively. They express uncertainty about how to handle cotangent and the behavior of cosine as x approaches zero. Some participants suggest factoring the expression into manageable limits and exploring the behavior of cotangent and cosine.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some providing guidance on breaking down the limit into parts that are more familiar. There is acknowledgment of the behavior of cosine and its bounded nature, as well as the potential application of the Squeeze Theorem. However, there is no explicit consensus on the final evaluation of the limit.

Contextual Notes

The original poster notes that they have not yet learned L'Hospital's rule or derivatives, which may limit their approach to the problem.

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Homework Statement


Hi, my question is
lim[itex]_{x\rightarrow0}[/itex]x2[itex]\frac{cos(cot(x))}{sinx}[/itex]

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I thought maybe I could make [itex]\frac{cos(cot(x))}{sinx}[/itex] similar to [itex]\frac{sinx}{x}[/itex], but couldn't find a proper way for it. Dividing sinx by cosx and multiplying does not take me anywhere, neither does trying to manipulate cotx. Is there something I need to see but cannot see?
L'Hospital and derivatives are not valid solutions since we haven't learned them yet.Could you please help me find a way? Thanks for any help.
 
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It will help if you factor the function's expression first to break this into limits you do know how to work with:

[tex]( \lim_{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{x}{\sin x} ) \cdot ( \lim_{x \rightarrow 0} x \cos (\cot x) )[/tex]

For the second limit, you will need to consider how cotangent behaves and what the cosine of that value is if it were treated as an angle. (Plot cos(cot x) to check on this.) As x approaches zero, it behaves in a crazy way, but one which you may have seen before. What happens when you multiply that by x ? What limit method do you know for dealing with something like that?
 
Thanks a lot dynamicsolo.

The first part of the limit goes to 1, right? As for lim[itex]_{x\rightarrow0}[/itex](cos(cot(x)), since cosx is always between -1 and 1, and since x goes to zero, when I multiply them, I get 0. Is it true?
 
^Yes that is true.
 
life is maths said:
Thanks a lot dynamicsolo.

The first part of the limit goes to 1, right? As for lim[itex]_{x\rightarrow0}[/itex](cos(cot(x)), since cosx is always between -1 and 1, and since x goes to zero, when I multiply them, I get 0. Is it true?

Yes, you get to use a trigonometric limit and the "Squeeze Theorem" in the same problem!
 

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