find_the_fun
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What does it mean for a limit to exist or not exist? I'm reviewing improper integrals and I forget what it means.
If there are other methods of determining whether a limit exists or not that means it's not actually the definition. What DOES it mean for a limit to exist (not just how to tell)? Thanks.Ackbach said:There are a number of ways a limit could fail to exist:
1. For the usual two-sided limit, if the limit from the left and the limit from the right do not agree, the two-sided limit just plain d.n.e. (does not exist).
2. Any infinite limit, whether positive or negative infinity, whether two-sided or one-sided, can also be said not to exist.
3. Sometimes a function starts oscillating wildly near a point and doesn't settle down to anyone value. $\sin(1/x)$ at the origin is one such example.
No doubt there are other ways, but these are some of the more common ways a limit can fail to exist.
find_the_fun said:If there are other methods of determining whether a limit exists or not that means it's not actually the definition. What DOES it mean for a limit to exist (not just how to tell)? Thanks.