Pieces of a Limit

Calculus Level 2

If the limit

lim x 0 ( sin 2 x x 3 + a + b x 2 ) = 0 \lim _{ x\rightarrow 0 }{ \left( \frac { \sin { 2x } }{ { x }^{ 3 } } +a+\frac { b }{ { { x }^{ 2 } } } \right) } =0

is true for constants a a and b b , then what is the value of 3 a + b ? 3a+b?


The answer is 2.

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3 solutions

lim x 0 ( sin 2 x x 3 + a + b x 2 ) = a + lim x 0 ( sin 2 x + b x x 3 ) = a + lim x 0 ( 2 cos 2 x + b 3 x 2 ) = a + ( b + 2 ) = 0 \lim _{ x\rightarrow 0 }{ \left( \frac { \sin { 2x } }{ { x }^{ 3 } } +a+\frac { b }{ { x }^{ 2 } } \right) } =a+\lim _{ x\rightarrow 0 }{ \left( \frac { \sin { 2x } +bx }{ { x }^{ 3 } } \right) } =a+\lim _{ x\rightarrow 0 }{ \left( \frac { 2\cos { 2x } +b }{ 3{ x }^{ 2 } } \right) } =a+\left( b+2 \right) \infty =0

So, b + 2 = 0 b = 2 b+2=0\Rightarrow b=-2

Then, a + lim x 0 ( 2 cos 2 x 2 3 x 2 ) = a + lim x 0 ( 4 sin 2 x 6 x ) = a + 4 3 = 0 a = 4 3 a+\lim _{ x\rightarrow 0 }{ \left( \frac { 2\cos { 2x } -2 }{ 3{ x }^{ 2 } } \right) } =a+\lim _{ x\rightarrow 0 }{ \left( \frac { -4\sin { 2x } }{ 6x } \right) } =a+\frac { -4 }{ 3 } =0\Rightarrow a=\frac { 4 }{ 3 }

To conclude, 3 a + b = 3 4 3 + ( 2 ) = 2 3a+b=3·\frac { 4 }{ 3 } +\left( -2 \right) =2

Isn't 0*infinity indeterminate?

Ronan Mandra - 5 years, 1 month ago

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U r right..

Rekha Maheshwari - 4 years, 9 months ago

Nice solution , Thanks

Utkarsh Bansal - 6 years, 2 months ago

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can somebody explain to me what happened to (b+2)(infinity)? why does he automatically say that b+2=0? thanks a lot.

Kevin Go - 5 years, 9 months ago

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The problem statement establishes that the limit exists. If b+2 was not 0 then we would not have the indeterminate form 0/0; which would mean the limit does not exist (contradicting the fact that the limit does exist).

Matt O - 5 years, 7 months ago

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@Matt O i didnt get what u explained here.Pls can u exaplain more clearly why (b+2 ) is set to zero

rishabh dubey - 5 years, 2 months ago

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@Rishabh Dubey You can expand cos2x as 1-2sin²x and calculate the limit as you know limx→0 sinx/x is 1

Sumant Salphale - 5 years, 2 months ago

@Rishabh Dubey It's by contradiction. The problem starts by saying the limit exists (it's 0). Take a look at Felix's solution. If you substitute x = 0 in the part just before "a + (b+2)inf", you'll get (b+2)/0. If (b+2) is not zero then this automatically means the limit does not exist. If (b+2) is 0 then we can use L'Hopital's Rule to find the limit.

Matt O - 5 years, 2 months ago

How's (b+2)(infinity)=0

Rekha Maheshwari - 4 years, 9 months ago

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I believe he set b = 2 b=-2 so that he could get another 0 0 \dfrac{0}{0} indeterminate form and apply L'Hopital's rule further

Saúl Huerta - 1 year, 5 months ago

Someone knows if is there any way of approach this problem without using L'Hôpital's rule?

Hjalmar Orellana Soto - 4 years, 5 months ago
Joe Potillor
Feb 7, 2017

with b we can do this (1) + (2).+. .+ (0) = -b but b is really (100). and we could just add +5 more equations. they are: e = 2 & b = 0 with these equations. we could add 5. i.e e = 2+ -3.

Am Kemplin - 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Taisanul Haque
Oct 31, 2018

This problem can be done by another method i.e by expanding s i n ( 2 x ) sin(2x) and consider up to second place then after manipulating expression it would give hence b = 2 b=-2 and a = a= 4 3 \frac{4}{3} .Therefore answer is 2.

add a to e2 = 3a + -3 then. add +2 more equations.

Am Kemplin - 1 month, 2 weeks ago

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