How do you use the Squeeze Theorem to find lim(x-1)sin(pi/x-1) as x approaches one?

2 Answers
Oct 11, 2015

lim_(x rarr 1) (x-1)sin(pi/x - 1) = 0

Explanation:

Firstly, we don't need the squeeze theorem because the function is continuous at values close to x=1, so the limit is f(1), that being said, to use the squeeze theorem we must remember that

-1 <= sin(theta) <= 1

If we have theta = pi/x - 1, we have

-1 <= sin(pi/x - 1) <= 1

Multiplying both sides by x-1 we have

1 -x <= (x-1)sin(pi/x - 1) <= x - 1 for x >0

Since

lim_(x rarr 1) 1 - x = lim_(x rarr 1) x - 1 = 0

The squeeze theorem tells us that

lim_(x rarr 1) (x-1)sin(pi/x - 1) = 0

Oct 11, 2015

lim_(xrarr1)(x-1)sin(pi/(x-1)) = 0

Explanation:

-1 <= sin(pi/(x-1)) <= 1 for all x != 1

Limit from the right is 0

For x > 1, we have x-1 > 0 so we can multiply the inequality without changing the inequalities:

-(x-1) <= (x-1)sin(pi/(x-1)) <= x-1 for all x != 1

lim_(xrarr1^+) -(x-1) = 0 and lim_(xrarr1^+) (x-1) = 0

So lim_(xrarr1^+) (x-1)sin(pi/(x-1)) = 0

Limit from the left is 0

For x < 1, we have x-1 < 0 so when we multiply the inequality we must change the inequalities:

-(x-1) >= (x-1)sin(pi/(x-1)) >= x-1 for all x != 1

lim_(xrarr1^-) -(x-1) = 0 and lim_(xrarr1^-) (x-1) = 0

So lim_(xrarr1^-) (x-1)sin(pi/(x-1)) = 0

Therefore,

lim_(xrarr1) (x-1)sin(pi/(x-1)) = 0