What is the Limit of a Floor Function at an Arbitrary Point?

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The discussion focuses on finding the limit of the function f(x) = floor(x^2)/x^2 at points of discontinuity. The user successfully determined the limits for continuous parts and right-sided limits at positive discontinuities, concluding that they equal 1. However, they struggle with the left-sided limit at positive discontinuities, specifically at points like x0 = √n for positive integers. A suggestion is made to simplify the problem by using properties of limits, emphasizing that the limit of a product is the product of the limits where they exist. The conversation highlights the importance of recognizing simpler approaches in limit calculations.
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Homework Statement


The function f is defined f(x)=floor(x^2)/x^2 I need to find the limit of the function at an arbitrary point.

For the continuous parts it was fine, and also for right sided limit at positive points of discontinuity (and left sided for negatives, for all of which the lim is 1), and now I'm left with left sided limit of the function at positive points of discontinuity (and vice versa for the negative part).

I know the answer from intuition: (x2-1)/x2, but I can't find the key to the proof.

Homework Equations


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The Attempt at a Solution


Letting the point of discontinuity be x0>0)

First, I restrict δ such that f(x)=(x02-1)/x2

Then, if x0=1 then f(x)-L=0<ε

Otherwise, I restrict my neighborhood again to 1<x<x0

x<x0 ... ->1/x2 - 1/x02>0

and therefore f(x)-L=...=(x02-1)(1/x2 - 1/x02)

And now I'm stuck... I can't seem to find the right combo to make the delta-epsilon magic to work.

Thanks for any help!
 
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Yoni V said:

Homework Statement


The function f is defined f(x)=floor(x^2)/x^2 I need to find the limit of the function at an arbitrary point.

For the continuous parts it was fine, and also for right sided limit at positive points of discontinuity (and left sided for negatives, for all of which the lim is 1), and now I'm left with left sided limit of the function at positive points of discontinuity (and vice versa for the negative part).

I know the answer from intuition: (x2-1)/x2, but I can't find the key to the proof.

Homework Equations


---

The Attempt at a Solution


Letting the point of discontinuity be x0>0)

Or, more meaningfully, let the point of discontinuity be \sqrt{n} for strictly positive integer n.

First, I restrict δ such that f(x)=(x02-1)/x2

Don't use epsilons and deltas unless you have to. Here you do not: it is much easier to use the result that the limit of a product is the product of the limits where the limits exist.

Let n be a strictly positive integer. Then \lfloor x^2 \rfloor is constant on the interval [\sqrt{n-1},\sqrt{n}), and 1/x^2 is continuous at \sqrt{n}. What then is \lim_{x \to \sqrt{n}^{-}} \frac{\lfloor x^2 \rfloor}{x^2}?
 
Oh my god... It's so simple... Thanks!
I don't know why it didn't come to mind to use simple arithmetic of limits...
Thanks again
 
Question: A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand has length 3. What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?(Putnam Exam Question) Answer: Making assumption that both the hands moves at constant angular velocities, the answer is ## \sqrt{7} .## But don't you think this assumption is somewhat doubtful and wrong?

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