Formal Definition of a Limit at a Point

Key Questions

  • Answer:

    See below

    Explanation:

    The definition of limit of a sequence is:

    Given {a_n} a sequence of real numbers, we say that {a_n} has limit l if and only if

    AA epsilon>0, exists n_0 in NN // AAn>n_0 rArr abs(a_n-l))< epsilon

  • Before writing a proof, I would do some scratch work in order to find the expression for delta in terms of epsilon.

    According to the epsilon delta definition, we want to say:

    For all epsilon > 0, there exists delta > 0 such that
    0<|x-1|< delta Rightarrow |(x+2)-3| < epsilon.

    Start with the conclusion.

    |(x+2)-3| < epsilon Leftrightarrow |x-1| < epsilon

    So, it seems that we can set delta =epsilon.

    (Note: The above observation is just for finding the expression for delta, so you do not have to include it as a part of the proof.)

    Here is the actual proof:

    Proof

    For all epsilon > 0, there exists delta=epsilon > 0 such that
    0<|x-1| < delta Rightarrow |x-1|< epsilon Rightarrow |(x+2)-3| < epsilon

  • Precise Definitions

    Finite Limit
    lim_{x to a}f(x)=L if
    for all epsilon>0, there exists delta>0 such that
    0<|x-a|< delta Rightarrow |f(x)-L| < epsilon

    Infinite Limits
    lim_{x to a}f(x)=+infty if
    for all M>0, there exists delta>0 such that
    0<|x-a|< delta Rightarrow f(x)>M

    lim_{x to a}f(x)=-infty if
    for all N<0, there exists delta>0 such that
    0<|x-a|< delta Rightarrow f(x) < N

Questions