# [SOLVED] Why is limit of natural log equal to ln of limit?

• Nov 16th 2009, 04:41 PM
x3bnm
[SOLVED] Why is limit of natural log equal to ln of limit?
Why is that

$\lim _{x\to -\infty} \frac{x+1}{x-1} = \ln(\lim _{x\to -\infty} \frac{x+1}{x-1})$

Can anyone kindly explain it?
• Nov 16th 2009, 04:44 PM
Drexel28
Quote:

Originally Posted by x3bnm
Why is that

$\lim _{x\to -\infty} \frac{x+1}{x-1} = \ln(\lim _{x\to -\infty} \frac{x+1}{x-1})$

Can anyone kindly explain it?

It isn't. The first one is 1 the second is 0[/tex]
• Nov 16th 2009, 05:37 PM
x3bnm
Sorry the expression was wrong in my last post. Edited one is :

$\lim _{b\to -\infty} (\ln(|\frac{b-1}{b+1}|) ) = \ln(\lim _{b\to -\infty} \frac{b-1}{b+1})$

I found them Thomas' Calculus solution book as part of solving a integral(Chapter 8.8 exercise9). But why are they equal?
• Nov 16th 2009, 05:44 PM
hjortur
Because ln(x) is continous for every $x>0$
• Nov 16th 2009, 05:53 PM
x3bnm
Quote:

Because ln(x) is continous for every $x > 0$
Can you elaborate on this?
• Nov 16th 2009, 05:57 PM
RockHard
The function is not discontinuous on any interval greater than 0, or does not have any asymptotic holes on intervals greater than 0, simply look at the graph as x is > 0 and it continues to reach infinity in terms of limits

Finding the graph is simple, just use a calculator or manually find the "sequence of terms" for each x, like x = 1, x = 2, x = 3...and so on to make the graph and youll see why
• Nov 16th 2009, 06:05 PM
x3bnm
Thanks hjortur and RockHard. I get it now.(Happy)
• Nov 16th 2009, 06:07 PM
redsoxfan325
One of the definitions/implications of continuity is that if you have a sequence $\{x_n\}$ such that $\lim_{n\to\infty}x_n=x$, then $\lim_{n\to\infty}f(x_n)=f(x)$