Complex Zeroes

Calculus Level 3

A function f f is defined by

lim n x 2 n 1 x 2 n + 1 \lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}{\frac{x^{2n}-1}{x^{2n}+1}}

Find the sum of all points where the function is not continuous.

Details and Assumptions :

  • No L'Hôpital's Rule is allowed.

Problem credit: Calculus: 6E, James Stewart


The answer is 0.

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5 solutions

Julian Poon
Mar 30, 2015

Let 2 n = a 2n=a

Now, let's split this into cases:

Case 1: a = p q a=\frac{p}{q} where q q is an odd number and gcd ( p , q ) = 1 \gcd{(p,q)}=1 , but a a still approaches infinity

When x < 1 |x|<1 , lim a x a 1 x a + 1 = 0 1 0 + 1 = 1 \lim _{ a\rightarrow \infty }{ \frac { x^{ a }-1 }{ x^{ a }+1 } } =\frac { 0-1 }{ 0+1 } =-1

When x > 1 |x|>1 , lim a x a 1 x a + 1 = 1 1 = 1 \lim _{ a\rightarrow \infty }{ \frac { x^{ a }-1 }{ x^{ a }+1 } } =\frac { 1 }{ 1 } =1

Therefore, points on the graph where x = 1 x=1 and x = 1 x=-1 are not continuous.

Case 2: a = p q a=\frac{p}{q} where q q is an even number and gcd ( p , q ) = 1 \gcd{(p,q)}=1 ,but a a still approaches infinity

When 0 x < 1 0 \le x <1 , lim a x a 1 x a + 1 = 0 1 0 + 1 = 1 \lim _{ a\rightarrow \infty }{ \frac { x^{ a }-1 }{ x^{ a }+1 } } =\frac { 0-1 }{ 0+1 } =-1

When x < 0 x<0 it is complex but as a a approaches infinity, m x a 1 x a + 1 = 0 \Im m{\frac{x^{a}-1}{x^{a}+1}}=0 . And it is easily derivable that again points on the graph where x = 1 x=1 and x = 1 x=-1 are not continuous.

Therefore, 1 + 1 = 0 1+-1=\boxed{0}

Great! ^.^

John M. - 6 years, 2 months ago

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The exponent of every instance of x x is "even" in a sense, so if f ( x ) f(x) is discontinuous at some x = x 0 x = x_{0} , then it is also discontinuous at x = x 0 x = -x_{0} . Correct me if I'm wrong.

That said, to do the full solution is far more enlightening!

Jake Lai - 6 years, 2 months ago
Akiva Weinberger
May 9, 2015

Since no one's done it yet, I thought I'd post the graph. Graph Graph

it's just find the sum of solution of the equation x 2 n + 1 = 0 x^{2n}+1=0

even if we not take complex roots into account but since all the coefficient is real number so all complex root are in conjugated form.

Finally we have sum of answer = a n 1 a n = 0 =\frac{-a_{n-1}}{a_{n}}=0

Tanishq Varshney
Mar 30, 2015

-1 and 1 are the points of discontinuity

Maybe zero also? As it is -1 at x=0

Nimesh Patodi - 6 years, 2 months ago
Karan Shekhawat
Mar 30, 2015

-1+1=0 Ans.

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