What is being Done in This proof of Limits?

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    Limits Proof
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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding the proof of limits in calculus, specifically how to demonstrate that the limit of a function approaches a certain value as the input approaches a specific point. Participants are exploring the steps involved in the proof and the underlying reasoning behind them.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to clarify the steps taken in the proof, including the manipulation of inequalities and the relationship between epsilon and delta. Questions about the logic and reasoning behind these steps are raised, particularly in the context of convincing someone of the limit's validity.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights into the algebraic manipulations involved in the proof and the challenge-response nature of establishing limits. There appears to be an ongoing exploration of the concepts without a definitive consensus on all aspects of the proof.

Contextual Notes

Participants express confusion about proving limits and seek additional resources for better understanding. The original poster and others reference a specific tutorial as a source for the proof being discussed.

adelin
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I have been trying to learn calculus by my own, but when it comes to proving limits I get very confuse.

Could somebody explain me what is being done here?

eq0054MP.gif


eq0060MP.gif


eq0061MP.gif


If you know any resources that could help me with this task let me know.

here is the source:
http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcI/DefnOfLimit.aspx
 
Last edited:
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The first line is the statement you want to show.
The second line is a clever guess for delta (as function of epsilon), and the remaining steps are just simplifications, showing that |(5x-4)-6| is indeed < epsilon if |x-2|<delta.
 
adelin said:
I have been trying to learn calculus by my own, but when it comes to proving limits I get very confuse.

Could somebody explain me what is being done here?

eq0054MP.gif


eq0060MP.gif


eq0061MP.gif


If you know any resources that could help me with this task let me know.

here is the source:
http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcI/DefnOfLimit.aspx

They're starting with this inequality:
##|(5x - 4) - 6| < \epsilon##
In a few algebra operations, they arrive at this:
##5|x - 2| < \epsilon ##
or
##|x - 2| < \epsilon/5 ##
If you let ##\delta = \epsilon/5##, then by reversing the steps above, you'll get back to the first inequality.

The whole idea is sort of a challenge-response. If you're trying to convince someone that ##\lim_{x \to 2}5x -4 = 6##, they might ask you get a function value within 0.1 (that's the ##\epsilon##). You say, take any x within 0.1/5 = 0.02 of 2.

If the challenger isn't satisfied, he might ask if you can get the function value within 0.001. You tell him to take any x within 0.0002 of 2 (i.e., between 1.9998 and 2.0002).

And so on. Eventually, he'll give up and accept that the limit is indeed 2.
 
Last edited:
Mark44 said:
They're starting with this inequality:
##|(5x - 4) - 6| < \epsilon##
In a few algebra operations, they arrive at this:
##5|x - 2| < \epsilon ##
or
##|x - 2| < \epsilon/5 ##
If you let ##\delta = \epsilon/5##, then by reversing the steps above, you'll get back to the first inequality.

The whole idea is sort of a challenge-response. If you're trying to convince someone that ##\lim_{x \to 2}5x -4 = 6##, they might ask you get a function value within 0.1 (that's the ##\epsilon##). You say, take any x within 0.1/5 = 0.02 of 2.

If the challenger isn't satisfied, he might ask if you can get the function value within 0.001. You tell him to take any x within 0.0002 of 2 (i.e., between 1.9998 and 2.0002).

And so on. Eventually, he'll give up and accept that the limit is indeed 2.
thanks
 
Last edited by a moderator:

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