Chapter 1: Problem 26
Apply the result if needed to find the limits. $$\lim _{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{\tan ^{-1} x}{x}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The limit is 1.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Problem
We need to find the limit \( \lim _{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{\tan ^{-1} x}{x} \). As \( x \to 0 \), both the numerator \( \tan^{-1} x \) and the denominator \( x \) approach 0, creating an indeterminate form \( \frac{0}{0} \). We need to resolve this indeterminacy to find the limit.
02
Recall Taylor Series Expansion
Recall the Taylor series expansion for \( \tan^{-1} x \) around \( x = 0 \):\[ \tan^{-1} x = x - \frac{x^3}{3} + \frac{x^5}{5} - \cdots \].For small \( x \), the dominant term is \( x \), allowing us to approximate \( \tan^{-1} x \approx x \).
03
Simplify the Expression Using a Series
Using the series expansion, replace \( \tan^{-1} x \) with its first term \( x \), giving us:\[ \frac{\tan ^{-1} x}{x} \approx \frac{x}{x} = 1 \].As \( x \to 0 \), higher-order terms become negligible, making the approximation more accurate.
04
Evaluate the Limit
Thus, the limit evaluates to:\[ \lim _{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{\tan ^{-1} x}{x} = 1 \].
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Indeterminate Forms
In calculus, an indeterminate form arises when evaluating a limit produces an undefined expression, often looking like \( \frac{0}{0} \) or \( \frac{\infty}{\infty} \). Such forms are initially ambiguous, because they do not directly give us the limit's value.
When we see \( \frac{0}{0} \), we must apply some algebraic or calculus techniques to resolve the indeterminacy and find the actual limit.
When we see \( \frac{0}{0} \), we must apply some algebraic or calculus techniques to resolve the indeterminacy and find the actual limit.
- L'Hôpital's Rule: For certain cases, if both the numerator and the denominator approach zero, this rule allows us to take derivatives of the numerator and denominator to find the limit.
- Series Expansion: We can also use Taylor series to re-express functions near the point of interest, thus simplifying the evaluation of limits.
Taylor Series
Taylor series is a powerful tool in calculus used to approximate functions. It expands a function into an infinite sum of terms calculated from the function's derivatives at a single point.
This becomes invaluable for evaluating limits when direct substitution results in an indeterminate form.
This becomes invaluable for evaluating limits when direct substitution results in an indeterminate form.
- For example, the Taylor series expansion of \( \tan^{-1} x \) around \( x = 0 \) is given by: \[ \tan^{-1} x = x - \frac{x^3}{3} + \frac{x^5}{5} - \cdots \]
- In our exercise, using the series allowed us to approximate \( \tan^{-1} x \approx x \) for small values of \( x \), where higher-order terms become negligible.
- This approximation simplifies the limit calculation by essentially turning it into calculable terms, avoiding direct indeterminate form.
Trigonometric Functions
Trigonometric functions, like \( \tan^{-1} x \), play a prominent role in calculus, particularly when dealing with angles and periodic phenomena.
Inverse trigonometric functions, such as the arctan (or \( \tan^{-1} \)), help find angles given the trigonometric ratio.
Inverse trigonometric functions, such as the arctan (or \( \tan^{-1} \)), help find angles given the trigonometric ratio.
- As \( x \) approaches zero, \( \tan^{-1} x \) approaches zero as well, but the way it does so can lead to an indeterminate form.
- This is why the Taylor series becomes necessary to break down \( \tan^{-1} x \) into more calculable terms when evaluating limits.