Solving tricky limit (involving defined integral and sine)

In summary: Look at post #11.)Then you should remember that the derivative formula is for a point x, not for a value of x. So if you want to know the derivative at x=0, you should calculate ##\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 0} \frac{f(x)-f(0)}{x-0}##, not ##\displaystyle \frac{f(0)-f(0)}{0-0}##.The limit you get (using L'Hopital) is ##\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 0} 2x \sin(1/x)-\cos(1/x)##.
  • #1
lep11
380
7

Homework Statement


Calculate ##\lim_{x\to 1} \frac{1}{x-1} \int_{1}^{f(x)} sin(\pi t^2) dt##. f is differentiable in the neighbourhood of point ##x=1## and ##f(1)=1##.

Homework Equations


If ##f## is continuous on a closed interval ##[a,b]##, then there exists ##ξ∈]a,b[## such that

##\int_{a}^{b} f(x)dx=f(ξ)(b-a)##.
( First Mean Value Theorem for Integrals)

The Attempt at a Solution


I think the trick is to use the First Mean Value Theorem for Integrals. Obviously ##\sin(\pi t^2)## is continuous everywhere and so for a fixed ##x≠1##; ##\frac{1}{x-1} \int_{1}^{x} sin(\pi t^2) dt=\frac{1}{x-1}(x-1)\sin(\pi ξ^2)=\sin(\pi ξ^2)##. Therefore ##\lim_{x\to 1} \frac{1}{x-1} \int_{1}^{x} sin(\pi t^2) dt=\lim_{x\to 1} sin(\pi ξ^2)=0 ##
 
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  • #2
lep11 said:

Homework Statement


Calculate ##\lim_{x\to 1} \frac{1}{x-1} \int_{1}^{f(x)} sin(\pi t^2) dt##. f is differentiable in the neighbourhood of point ##x=1## and ##f(1)=1##.

Homework Equations


If ##f## is continuous on a closed interval ##[a,b]##, then there exists ##ξ∈]a,b[## such that

##\int_{a}^{b} f(x)dx=f(ξ)(b-a)##.
( First Mean Value Theorem for Integrals)

The Attempt at a Solution


I am supposed to use the First Mean Value Theorem for Integrals. Obviously ##\sin(\pi t^2)## is continuous everywhere.
The hint is right there: "I am supposed to use the First Mean Value Theorem for Integrals".

Apply this to ##\displaystyle \frac{1}{x-1} \int_{1}^{f(x)} \sin(\pi t^2) dt## for a fixed ##x \neq 1##, and remember that ##ξ∈]1,f(x)[## (or ##ξ∈]f(x),1[## to be precise).

Then take the limit.
 
  • #3
Sounds simple, but not sure how to put it together. I edited my attempt at a solution in the 1st post.
 
  • #4
lep11 said:

Homework Statement


Calculate ##\lim_{x\to 1} \frac{1}{x-1} \int_{1}^{f(x)} sin(\pi t^2) dt##. f is differentiable in the neighbourhood of point ##x=1## and ##f(1)=1##.

Homework Equations


If ##f## is continuous on a closed interval ##[a,b]##, then there exists ##ξ∈]a,b[## such that

##\int_{a}^{b} f(x)dx=f(ξ)(b-a)##.
( First Mean Value Theorem for Integrals)

The Attempt at a Solution


I think the trick is to use the First Mean Value Theorem for Integrals. Obviously ##\sin(\pi t^2)## is continuous everywhere and so for a fixed ##x≠1##; ##\frac{1}{x-1} \int_{1}^{x} sin(\pi t^2) dt=\frac{1}{x-1}(x-1)\sin(\pi ξ^2)=\sin(\pi ξ^2)##. Therefore ##\lim_{x\to 1} \frac{1}{x-1} \int_{1}^{x} sin(\pi t^2) dt=\lim_{x\to 1} sin(\pi ξ^2)=0 ##
You lost the ##f(x)## in the upper integration limit.
What you get is ##\displaystyle \frac{1}{x-1} \int_{1}^{f(x)} sin(\pi t^2) dt=\frac{1}{x-1}(f(x)-1)\sin(\pi ξ^2)##.
Now take the limit for x→0.
 
  • #5
i applied LH Rule and applied Newton leibniz rule for differentiation under integral sign

and got :- ## \lim_{x \rightarrow 1} f'(x).sin( \pi (f(x))^2) ##

is f differentiable at x=1?
and how can solve further if we don't know ## f'(1) ##?? :sorry:
 
  • #6
Sahil Kukreja said:
i applied LH Rule and applied Newton leibniz rule for differentiation under integral sign

and got :- ## \lim_{x \rightarrow 1} f'(x).sin( \pi (f(x))^2) ##

is f differentiable at x=1?
and how can solve further if we don't know ## f'(1) ##?? :sorry:
That f is differentiable at x=1 is given, but nothing is stated about f' being continuous at x=1. So you can't just assume that ##\displaystyle \lim_{x \rightarrow 1} f'(x) =f'(1)## (whatever the value of ##f'(1)## is).
 
  • #7
Samy_A said:
That f is differentiable at x=1 is given, but nothing is stated about f' being continuous at x=1. So, you can't just assume that ##\displaystyle \lim_{x \rightarrow 1} f'(x) =f'(1)## (whatever the value of ##f'(1)## is).

yes, then how can we solve the question now?
 
  • #8
Sahil Kukreja said:
yes, then how can we solve the question now?
See post #4.

Notice that it is given that ##f(1) = 1## and that ##f'(1)## exists.
 
  • #9
what i think is that since f(x) is differentiable near x=1 then f'(1+) and f'(1-) should have finite values and that gives me answer =0 ??
 
  • #10
Sahil Kukreja said:
what i think is that since f(x) is differentiable near x=1 then f'(1+) and f'(1-) should have finite values and that gives me answer =0 ??
Not sure.
Take ##f: \mathbb R \to \mathbb R## defined by ##\forall x\neq 0: f(x)=x²\sin (1/x)##, ##f(0)=0##.
Then ##f## is differentiable everywhere, but f'(0+) and f'(0-) do not exist.

By the way, remember that we are not supposed to post solutions before OP has solved the exercise, just hints. :oldwink:
 
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  • #11
Samy_A said:
Not sure.
Take ##f: \mathbb R \to \mathbb R## defined by ##\forall x\neq 0: f(x)=x²\sin (1/x)##, ##f(0)=0##.
Then ##f## is differentiable everywhere, but f'(0+) and f'(0-) do not exist.

By the way, remember that we are not supposed to post solutions before OP has solved the exercise, just hints. :oldwink:

k, next time i will remember :smile:
 
  • #12
Samy_A said:
Not sure.
Take ##f: \mathbb R \to \mathbb R## defined by ##\forall x\neq 0: f(x)=x²\sin (1/x)##, ##f(0)=0##.
Then ##f## is differentiable everywhere, but f'(0+) and f'(0-) do not exist.

By the way, remember that we are not supposed to post solutions before OP has solved the exercise, just hints. :oldwink:

I think i have a problem,
i used first principle ( basic definition of LHD and RHD)
##f: \mathbb R \to \mathbb R## defined by ##\forall x\neq 0: f(x)=x²\sin (1/x)##, ##f(0)=0##.
i get f'(0+) = f'(0-)=0

but the derivative way fails here.??

## LHD~ at ~x=0 = \lim_{h \rightarrow 0+} \frac{(0-h)^2.sin(\frac{1}{0-h})-0}{-h} = \lim_{h \rightarrow 0+} h.sin(\frac {1}{h}) =0 ##

## RHD ~at ~x=0 = \lim_{h \rightarrow 0+} \frac{(0+h)^2.sin(\frac{1}{0+h})-0}{+h} = \lim_{h \rightarrow 0+} h.sin(\frac {1}{h}) =0 ##

## then~ f'(0+)=f'(0-)=0 ~hence,~ f~ is~ differentiable ~at x=0 ##
 
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  • #13
Ok, we were talking at cross purposes here.
I thought that by ##f'(1+)## you meant ##\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 1,x>1} f'(x)##.
 
  • #14
when i take derivative and directly put x=0 i get ## f'(0) = -cos(\infty) ## which is not defined , why does directly differentiation not work here but the basic definition does? o_O
 
  • #15
Sahil Kukreja said:
when i take derivative and directly put x=0 i get ## f'(0) = -cos(\infty) ## which is not defined , why does directly differentiation not work here but the basic definition does? o_O
Because the derivative is not continuous at x=0.
 
  • #16
Samy_A said:
Because the derivative is not continuous at x=0.
why is it not continuous at x=0, by post #12 it very much is continuous at x=0

here is the graph:-

img1.jpg

zooming in near x=0
img_2.jpg
 
  • #17
The derivative is not continuous at x=0.
For x≠0, ##f'(x)=2x\sin(1/x)-\cos(1/x)##.
If you take the limit for x→0, the fist term goes to 0, but the second term, ##\cos(1/x)##, oscillates between -1 and +1.

EDIT: we better end this digression.
 
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  • #18
Sahil Kukreja said:
i applied LH Rule and applied Newton leibniz rule for differentiation under integral sign

and got :- ## \lim_{x \rightarrow 1} f'(x).sin( \pi (f(x))^2) ##

is f differentiable at x=1?
and how can solve further if we don't know ## f'(1) ##?? :sorry:

L'hopital is not that helpful here as you don't know whether [itex]\lim_{x \to 1} f'(x)[/itex] even exists. But even so, it might be that [itex]\lim_{x \to 1} f'(x)\sin( \pi f(x)^2)[/itex] exists, although proving it may require rather more work than the OP's mean value theorem approach.

In the OP's initial post they applied the mean value theorem incorrectly, allowing them to simply cancel [itex](x-1)[/itex] from numerator and denominator. However applying the mean value theorem correctly as in post #4 requires one instead to show that [tex]\lim_{x \to 1} \frac{f(x) - 1}{x- 1}[/tex] exists.

Also the OP needs to give more justification for their conclusion that [itex]\lim_{x \to 0} \sin(\pi \xi(x)^2) = 0[/itex].
 
  • #19
pasmith said:
In the OP's initial post they applied the mean value theorem incorrectly, allowing them to simply cancel [itex](x-1)[/itex] from numerator and denominator. However applying the mean value theorem correctly as in post #4 requires one instead to show that [tex]\lim_{x \to 1} \frac{f(x) - 1}{x- 1}[/tex] exists.
That's the definition of ##f'(1)## because ##f(1)=1##. The limit [tex]\lim_{x \to 1} \frac{f(x) - 1}{x- 1}=\lim_{x \to 1} \frac{f(x) - f(1)}{x- 1}[/tex] exists since ##f## is known to be differentiable at ##x=1##.

edit: oops, in the neighbourhood of ##x=1##
 
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  • #20
Samy_A said:
The derivative is not continuous at x=0.
For x≠0, ##f'(x)=2x\sin(1/x)-\cos(1/x)##.
If you take the limit for x→0, the fist term goes to 0, but the second term, ##\cos(1/x)##, oscillates between -1 and +1.

EDIT: we better end this digression.
Yes,Thanks I realized that if f(x) is differentiable at x=a then it does not imply that f'(x) is continuous at x=a.
 

FAQ: Solving tricky limit (involving defined integral and sine)

1. What is a limit?

A limit is a mathematical concept that describes the behavior of a function as the input approaches a certain value, often denoted as x → a. It is used to determine the value that a function approaches as its input gets closer and closer to a specific point.

2. How is a limit solved for a tricky problem?

Solving a tricky limit often involves using various techniques such as algebraic manipulation, trigonometric identities, and L'Hopital's rule. It also requires a good understanding of the properties of limits and the ability to recognize patterns in the given function.

3. Can a defined integral be used to solve a limit?

Yes, a defined integral can be used to solve certain limits involving continuous functions. This is because the integral can be interpreted as the sum of infinitely small rectangles under the curve, which can help determine the behavior of the function near the limit point.

4. What role does sine play in solving tricky limits?

Sine, along with other trigonometric functions, is commonly used in solving tricky limits due to its periodic nature and the various identities associated with it. It can often be used to simplify a function or transform it into a form that is easier to evaluate.

5. Are there any common mistakes to avoid when solving tricky limits?

Yes, some common mistakes to avoid when solving tricky limits include not properly identifying the type of limit (e.g. infinity, zero), not applying the correct limit laws, and not using the appropriate techniques for the given problem. It is also important to check for any removable discontinuities or points of undefined behavior.

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