Trouble with the following limit

  • Thread starter Thread starter devious_
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Limit
Click For Summary
The limit in question is evaluated as \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} 2^n \arcsin \frac{k}{2^n u_{n}}. The solution involves recognizing that for small values of x, arcsin(x) approximates to x, allowing the use of the limit property \lim_{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{\sin(x)}{x} = 1. The book's answer of \frac{k}{u} is derived from applying L'Hôpital's rule and understanding the behavior of arcsin near zero. Higher-order terms of arcsine can also be considered for more precise calculations, but the basic approximation suffices for this limit. The discussion highlights the importance of clarity in understanding limits and series expansions.
devious_
Messages
312
Reaction score
3
I'm having trouble with the following limit:
\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} 2^n \arcsin \frac{k}{2^n u_{n}} \text{, where \emph{k} is constant.}

I'm given that \lim u_{n} = u, where u is constant.

Apparently the book says the answer is \frac{k}{u}, but I can't figure out why.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Le Hopital's rules works well.
so does the substitution k/(2^n un)=sin(x)
if you have
lim x->0 sin(x)/x=1 as a known limit
 
Ok:
1. We have that arcsin(x)\approx{x},|x|<<1,
that is, when x is close to 0, arcsine is practically equal to x.
If you are unsure about it, remember that the SINE function sin(x) is practically equal to x when x is close to 0 (measured in radians, that is).
But:
Since arcsine is the inverse of sine we have:
arcsin(\sin(x))=x
by definition of the inverse.
For SMALL x's, we may replace sin(x) with x, and gets:
arcsin(x)\approx{x}
which is what we claimed..

2. Now, you should be able to do the rest..
 
Last edited:
arildno said:
Ok:
1. We have that arcsin(x)\approx{x},|x|<<1,
that is, when x is close to 0, arcsine is practically equal to x.
If you are unsure about it, remember that the SINE function sin(x) is practically equal to x when x is close to 0 (measured in radians, that is).
But:
Since arcsine is the inverse of sine we have:
arcsin(\sin(x))=x
by definition of the inverse.
For SMALL x's, we may replace sin(x) with x, and gets:
arcsin(x)\approx{x}
which is what we claimed..

2. Now, you should be able to do the rest..

That works, but it is important to recall
Arcsin(x)=x+O(x^3)
lest one get confused when confronted with something like
\lim_{x\rightarrow 0}\frac{\sin^{-1}(x)-\sin(x)}{x^3}=\frac{1}{3}
 
lurflurf said:
That works, but it is important to recall
Arcsin(x)=x+O(x^3)
lest one get confused when confronted with something like
\lim_{x\rightarrow 0}\frac{\sin^{-1}(x)-\sin(x)}{x^3}=\frac{1}{3}
Since it worked (hooray! it worked!), I didn't see any reason why I should load upon OP more than he needed.

And, if we are in need of the higher-order terms of arcsine, we can readily find them by inverting the power series of sine by the method of successive substitutions (or compute that Taylor series of arcsine otherwise, or look it up in a ready-made formula book etc.).
 
Last edited:
Thanks guys. I was so determined that the book was wrong that I refused to think about this clearly. :)
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K