Math Problem Statement

Calculate the limit as x approaches infinity for the expression x^2 (1 - cos(1/x)).

Solution

The limit expression you provided is:

limx+x2(1cos(1x))\lim_{{x \to +\infty}} x^2 \left( 1 - \cos \left( \frac{1}{x} \right) \right)

Steps to solve the limit:

  1. Analyze the behavior of cos(1x)\cos\left( \frac{1}{x} \right) as xx \to \infty:

    As xx \to \infty, 1x0\frac{1}{x} \to 0. We know that: cos(0)=1\cos(0) = 1 Therefore, cos(1x)1\cos\left( \frac{1}{x} \right) \to 1 as xx \to \infty.

  2. Use the small angle approximation:

    For very small angles, we can use the approximation: 1cos(θ)θ22whenθ01 - \cos(\theta) \approx \frac{\theta^2}{2} \quad \text{when} \quad \theta \to 0 In this case, θ=1x\theta = \frac{1}{x}, so: 1cos(1x)(1x)22=12x21 - \cos\left( \frac{1}{x} \right) \approx \frac{\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)^2}{2} = \frac{1}{2x^2}

  3. Substitute the approximation into the limit expression: limx+x2(1cos(1x))limx+x212x2\lim_{{x \to +\infty}} x^2 \left( 1 - \cos\left( \frac{1}{x} \right) \right) \approx \lim_{{x \to +\infty}} x^2 \cdot \frac{1}{2x^2}

  4. Simplify the expression: limx+12=12\lim_{{x \to +\infty}} \frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{2}

Final Answer:

limx+x2(1cos(1x))=12\lim_{{x \to +\infty}} x^2 \left( 1 - \cos \left( \frac{1}{x} \right) \right) = \frac{1}{2}

Would you like further clarification or details on this?

Here are some related questions to explore:

  1. How do small angle approximations work in other trigonometric limits?
  2. What happens to the limit if we replace cos(1x)\cos\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) with sin(1x)\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)?
  3. Can L'Hopital's rule be applied to this limit? If so, how?
  4. How would the solution change if the limit was as x0x \to 0 instead of xx \to \infty?
  5. What role does Taylor series expansion play in solving limits involving trigonometric functions?

Tip: For limits involving trigonometric functions as their argument tends to zero, small angle approximations or Taylor series expansions can often simplify calculations.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Limits
Trigonometry
Small Angle Approximation

Formulas

Limit of a function
Cosine function
Small angle approximation: 1 - cos(theta) approx theta^2/2

Theorems

Small Angle Approximation

Suitable Grade Level

College