Chapter 11: Problem 40
Find the limit of the sequence. $$\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} n^{\sin (\pi / n)}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The short answer is: \(\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} n^{\sin (\pi / n)} = \frac{1}{e}\).
Step by step solution
01
Rewrite expression with natural logarithm
To tackle this limit, rewrite the given expression in terms of natural logarithms as follows:
\[\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} \ln\left(n^{\sin (\pi / n)}\right)\]
02
Apply logarithm properties
Use the properties of logarithms to simplify the expression:
\[\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} \left[\sin (\pi / n) \cdot \ln (n)\right]\]
03
Apply L'Hopital's Rule
Now, consider the limit as a fraction so we can use L'Hopital's Rule. The expression can be re-written as:
\[\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} \frac{\ln (n)}{\frac{1}{\sin (\pi / n)}}\]
Let \(x = \frac{\pi}{n}\), then as \(n \rightarrow \infty\), \(x \rightarrow 0\). The limit becomes:
\[\lim _{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{\ln (\frac{\pi}{x})}{\frac{1}{\sin (x)}}\]
Next, recognize that this limit is of the indeterminate form \(\frac{0}{0}\) and apply L'Hopital's Rule on the fraction:
\[\lim _{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{\frac{-1}{x}}{\cos (x)}\]
Now we can directly evaluate this limit:
\[\lim _{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{\frac{-1}{x}}{\cos (x)} = \frac{-1}{1} = -1\]
04
Reverse the natural logarithm
Since we applied the natural logarithm in step 1, we need to reverse the natural logarithm by applying the exponentiation with base \(e\):
\[e^{-1} = \frac{1}{e}\]
05
State the result
The limit of the given sequence is:
\[\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} n^{\sin (\pi / n)} = \frac{1}{e}\]
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Natural Logarithms
The natural logarithm, denoted as \( \ln(x) \), is a special type of logarithm where the base is the constant \( e \), approximately equal to 2.71828. The natural logarithm is useful in calculus and is often used to transform expressions, making them easier to manipulate. In this exercise, the term \( n^{\sin(\pi/n)} \) involves a power with a complex exponent. To simplify, we apply the natural logarithm:
- Taking the logarithm of both sides allows us to apply the logarithm power rule: \( \ln(a^b) = b \cdot \ln(a) \).
- This transformation simplifies our expression to \( \sin(\pi/n) \cdot \ln(n) \). This simplification is key to applying further calculus techniques effectively.
L'Hopital's Rule
L'Hopital's Rule is a valuable method in calculus used to solve limits that result in indeterminate forms like \( \frac{0}{0} \) or \( \frac{\infty}{\infty} \). If a limit initially appears in one of these indeterminate forms, L'Hopital's Rule provides a way out by differentiating the numerator and denominator separately. Here’s how L'Hopital's Rule applies to our problem:
- We needed to rewrite our limit in a form suitable for L'Hopital's Rule by expressing it as a fraction, \( \frac{\ln(n)}{\frac{1}{\sin(\pi/n)}} \).
- As \( n \to \infty \) or equivalently, \( x \to 0 \) while we set \( x = \pi/n \), both numerator and denominator approach zero, forming a \( \frac{0}{0} \) indeterminate form.
Indeterminate Forms
Indeterminate forms occur in calculus when a limit yields an expression like \( \frac{0}{0} \), \( \frac{\infty}{\infty} \), \( 0 \cdot \infty \), \( \infty - \infty \), among others. These forms suggest limits that cannot be directly evaluated and require special techniques to resolve. In this exercise:
- The expression \( \lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\ln(\pi/x)}{\frac{1}{\sin(x)}} \) represents a \( \frac{0}{0} \) indeterminate form.
- Indeterminate forms are misleading; they do not imply the limit is zero or infinite without further analysis.
Exponential Functions
Exponential functions are characterized by expressions of the form \( a^x \), where \( a \) is a constant base and \( x \) is the exponent. They grow or decay rapidly and are pivotal in many areas of mathematics, including limits and calculus. In our sequence limit problem:
- The original expression \( n^{\sin(\pi/n)} \) can be considered as an exponential function with base \( n \) raised to a complex exponent).
- Complex exponents necessitate techniques such as natural logarithms for simplification, allowing for the transformation from an exponential to a linear equation.