Floor of cos x \cos x

Calculus Level 1

lim x 0 cot 1 cos ( x ) = ? \large \lim_{x\to 0} \cot ^{-1} \lfloor \cos (x)\rfloor =\ ?


The answer is 1.57.

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2 solutions

As x 0 , cos x 1 x\rightarrow 0, \text{cos }x \rightarrow 1 but always less than 1 1 . So, cos x \lfloor \text{cos }x\rfloor = 0. Now we have

lim x 0 cot 1 0 = π 2 1.57 \displaystyle \lim_{x\to 0} \text{cot}^{-1} 0 = \frac{\pi}{2} \approx 1.57

Théo Leblanc
May 24, 2020

Edit : it depends on your definition of limits.

The right answer is : the limit does not exist

Proof : Let f ( x ) = cot 1 ( cos ( x ) ) f(x)=\cot^{-1} ( \lfloor \cos(x) \rfloor) .

Let x n = 1 n x_n = \dfrac{1}{n} and y n = 0 y_n=0 . x n , y n n + 0 x_n,\ y_n \underset{n\to+\infty}{\longrightarrow} 0

Therefore if the limit exists (call it L L ), then we should have f ( x n ) , f ( y n ) n + L f(x_n), \ f(y_n) \underset{n\to+\infty}{\longrightarrow} L

But f ( x n ) = π 2 f(x_n)=\dfrac{\pi}{2} and f ( y n ) = π 4 f(y_n)=\dfrac{\pi}{4} so the limit does not exist.

Your reasoning is flawed. You cannot consider cot 1 cos ( x ) \cot ^{-1} \lfloor \cos (x)\rfloor as equivalent to cot 1 x \cot ^{-1} \lfloor x\rfloor . And what do you mean by y n y_n ?

Wolfram computation

Adhiraj Dutta - 1 year ago

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Sorry I just forgot the cosine. But my reasoning is correct.

Théo Leblanc - 1 year ago

x n x_n and y n y_n are just to sequences with limit being 0. Look at the sequential criterion for limits.

Théo Leblanc - 1 year ago

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I didn't know this.

Adhiraj Dutta - 1 year ago

Ok I understand the problem, we haven't the same definition of limits !

In France the definition is the following :

ε δ , x a δ f ( x ) L ε \forall\varepsilon \ \exists \delta, \ |x-a|\leq \delta \Rightarrow |f(x)-L|\leq \varepsilon

And your definition is :

ε δ , 0 < x a δ f ( x ) L ε \forall\varepsilon \ \exists \delta, \ 0<|x-a|\leq \delta \Rightarrow |f(x)-L|\leq \varepsilon

Generally in France to refer to your definition we write lim x a \underset{\underset{\neq}{x\to a}}{\lim} .

Théo Leblanc - 1 year ago

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This is interesting. I didn't know this.

Adhiraj Dutta - 1 year ago

Can you delete your report now, as the confusion has been resolved?

Adhiraj Dutta - 1 year ago

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Yes sure !

Théo Leblanc - 1 year ago

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