University Calculus: Early Transcendentals (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321999584
ISBN 13: 978-0-32199-958-0

Chapter 2 - Section 2.2 - Limit of a Function and Limit Laws - Exercises - Page 69: 84

Answer

$$\lim_{x\to0}h(x)=0$$

Work Step by Step

$$h(x)=x^2\cos\Big(\frac{1}{x^3}\Big)$$ (a) The graph is shown below. We see from the graph that as $x\to0$, the value of $h(x)$, though still oscillates, gets closer and closer to a single value $y$ of $0$. This means we can estimate here that $\lim_{x\to0}h(x)=0$ (b) To prove our estimation, we cannot use normal methods or manipulate limit laws. We need to take advantage of the Sandwich Theorem. We know that $-1\le\cos\Big(\frac{1}{x^3}\Big)\le1$ So, $-x^2\le x^2\cos\Big(\frac{1}{x^3}\Big)\le x^2$ ($x^2\ge0$ for all $x$) In other words, $-x^2\le h(x)\le x^2$ We have $\lim_{x\to0}x^2=\lim_{x\to0}(-x^2)=0$ Therefore, according to Sandwich Theorem, $\lim_{x\to0}h(x)=0$
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