What is a general definition of a limit?

  • #1
Lotto
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TL;DR Summary
I was given this definiton of a limit:

Let us have a function ##f: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{C}##. Let ##x_0 \in \mathbb{R}^*## and ##L \in \mathbb{R}^*##. We say ##L## is a limit of a function ##f## for ##x## goes to ##x_0## if

##\forall \varepsilon >0 \, \exists \delta >0 \, \forall x \in P_{\delta}(x_0): f(x) \in U_{\varepsilon}(L)##

(##P## and ##U## are neighborhoods)

Is this definition valid for every type of limit?
I suppose that it is because we are in extended real numbers. But the definition of a limit when ##x_0 = \infty## and let's say ##L=\infty## is different. Why are these definitions equivalent? Isn't the key that ##U_{\varepsilon}(\infty)=\left(\frac {1}{\varepsilon},\infty\right)##?
 
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  • #2
What does "I was given" mean?

That definition defines a continuous function ##f,## not a limit. What both connects them is
$$
\lim_{n \to \infty} f(x_n)=f(\lim_{n \to \infty}x_n)=f(x_0)
$$
so the limits both exist, i.e. are finite, and if ##\mathbf f## is continuous. This can be used as an equivalent definition of a at ##x_0## continuous function, but you need the definition of a limit first.

It doesn't make much sense for infinities since they have no neighborhoods. That's why converges to a finite number and grows beyond all finite numbers are treated differently.

A limit ##x_0## of a sequence ##(x_n)_{n\in\mathbb{N}}## is:
$$
\forall \, \varepsilon> 0\,\exists \,N(\varepsilon)\in \mathbb{N}\, \forall\, n>N(\varepsilon)\, : \, x_n\in U_\varepsilon(x_0).
$$
and in case ##x_0=\infty ##
$$
\forall\,M\in\mathbb{R}\,\exists\, N(M)\in \mathbb{N} \, \forall \, n>N(M)\,: \, x_n >M.
$$
and likewise for ##x_0=-\infty .##
 
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