Why Does the Limit of Sine at Infinity Confuse Mathematicians?

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SUMMARY

The limit of the sine function as x approaches infinity, specifically lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} \sin(2\pi \sqrt{x^2+1}), does not exist when x is treated as a real number. However, if x is restricted to integer values, the limit evaluates to zero, as lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \sin(2\pi [\sqrt{n^2+1}]) = 0. The discussion highlights the importance of defining the domain of x when evaluating limits, as the behavior of the sine function is periodic and sensitive to the nature of its input.

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  • #31
Curious3141 said:
So you've changed your mind from this previous post ?



Then we're in agreement now. For x ranging only over the integers, the limit is zero. For real x, there is no limit.


NO,nonononono,the limit does not exist.I didn't change my mind.
\lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty} \sin(2\pi\sqrt{n^{2}+1})

does not exist...

However
\lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty} \sin(2\pi [\sqrt{n^{2}+1}]) =0

Do you see the difference?
What do those square paranthesis represent? :wink:

Daniel.
 
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  • #32
twoflower said:
I finally have it. I didn't become aware that if "n" goes over integers only, it really has the limit zero.

It doesn't... :-p I inserted the "[,]" function to make it work...Do you know this function??

Daniel.

PS.HINT:it's related with the function Hurkyl used.
 
  • #33
Is it a nearest integer function ? I'm familiar with the ceiling and floor notation, but not this one.

But still, isn't this equivalent to saying the limit exists (and is zero) as long as n is allowed to range over the integers only ?
 
  • #34
Yes,that's the function... :-p

It can't b zero,because the sqrt is never an integer,even for natural "n".I'm sure u know that the squares of natural numbers don't form a dense subset in N.

Daniel.
 
  • #35
\lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty} \sin(2\pi [\sqrt{n^{2}+1}]) =0
That's ofcourse a pretty lame limit, since [\sqrt{n^{2}+1}], and \lfloor \sqrt{n^{2}+1} \rfloor and \lceil \sqrt{n^{2}+1} \rceil are all integers and \sin(2m\pi)=0 \, \forall \, m \in \mathbb{N}. So the function is the constant zero function.
 
  • #36
dextercioby said:
NO,nonononono,the limit does not exist.I didn't change my mind.
\lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty} \sin(2\pi\sqrt{n^{2}+1})

does not exist...

Sorry, but the limit who doesn't exist is
\lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty} \sqrt{n^2+1}

Take a look:

\lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty} \sin(2\pi \sqrt{n^{2}+1}) =

\lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty} \sin(2\pi (int(\sqrt{n^{2}+1}) + frac(\sqrt{n^{2}+1})) ) =

\lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty} \sin(2\pi frac(\sqrt{n^{2}+1}) ) = 0

:smile:
 
  • #37
dextercioby said:
Yes,that's the function... :-p

It can't b zero,because the sqrt is never an integer,even for natural "n".I'm sure u know that the squares of natural numbers don't form a dense subset in N.

Daniel.

Now, I'm confused. :confused:

Hurkyl asserted this :

\lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} \mathrm{frac} \sqrt{x^2+1} = 0 provided x is allowed to range only over the integers.

I think you're in agreement with Hurkyl's statement above ?

But \lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} (\sin {(2\pi(\sqrt{x^2 + 1})} = \lim_{x \rightarrow \infty}(\sin{2\pi(\lfloor \sqrt{x^{2}+1} \rfloor + \mathrm{frac} ( \sqrt{x^{2}+1))}}

Since \lim_{x \rightarrow \infty}\mathrm{frac} ( \sqrt{x^{2}+1}) = 0, the original limit becomes :

\lim_{x \rightarrow \infty}(\sin{2\pi(\lfloor \sqrt{x^{2}+1} \rfloor)}

which is zero. (for all integral x)
 
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  • #38
Yes,i was wrong,for natural numbers,the limit is zero.See the proof above.2 posts above.

Daniel.

PS.Yes,from time to time i am wrong.I try to keep these moments as far apart as possible... :-p
 
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  • #39
Curious3141 said:
\lim_{x \rightarrow \infty}(\sin{2\pi(\lfloor \sqrt{x^{2}+1} \rfloor)}

which is zero. (for all integral x)

That is zero for every real,because the function selects the closest natural number in the vecinity of \sqrt{x^{2}+1}.

I would say that the initial limit being zero it's true for all integers,but not for all reals,because the fraction part would not approach zero from the positive part...

Daniel.

PS.Analyze this limit
\lim_{x\rightarrow +\infty} \{\sqrt{x^{2}+1}\}
for x real.It goes to zero but with alternating values.So limit of sine would not be defined.
 
  • #40
dextercioby said:
NO,nonononono,the limit does not exist.I didn't change my mind.
\lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty} \sin(2\pi\sqrt{n^{2}+1})

does not exist...

However
\lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty} \sin(2\pi [\sqrt{n^{2}+1}]) =0

Do you see the difference?
What do those square paranthesis represent? :wink:

Daniel.

WRONG!Don't mislead people. :mad: The limit exists. It is ZERO.
I advise u read some Calculus.

Rogerio.
 
  • #41
I repeat, the limit only exists when n is constrained to range over integers.
 
  • #42
Yes, of course.

However this assumption is obvius from the question. As you said some posts ago,

"-- the domain is left implicit. It's one of those things you're supposed to infer from context"

and,

"you'll usually see n or m as the dummy variable when it's supposed to range over integers."

:smile:
 
Last edited:
  • #43
dextercioby said:
Yes,that's the function... :-p

It can't b zero,because the sqrt is never an integer,even for natural "n".I'm sure u know that the squares of natural numbers don't form a dense subset in N.

Daniel.

What?!

It is WRONG AGAIN! Don't mislead people. :mad:

Take the advice and read some Calculus!

 

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