# Math Help - Find limit

1. ## Find limit

$\lim_{x \to 0}$ cos(pi/x)/(x - 2)

How could I find this limit? Any idea would be appreciable.

2. ## Re: Find limit

Originally Posted by initM
$\lim_{x \to 0}$ cos(pi/x)/(x - 2)

How could I find this limit? Any idea would be appreciable.
The limit does not exist, because for values infinitessimally close to $\displaystyle x = 0$, the function $\displaystyle \cos{\left(\frac{\pi}{x}\right)}$ can equal any value in $\displaystyle [-1, 1]$ (you can not determine a single value that it goes to).

3. ## Re: Find limit

Originally Posted by initM
$\lim_{x \to 0}$ cos(pi/x)/(x - 2)

How could I find this limit? Any idea would be appreciable.
Take $x_n=\frac{1}{2\pi n}$ and $y_n=\frac{1}{(2n+1)\pi}$ and $x_n ,y_n \to 0$ when $n\to \infty$.

Could you continue?

4. ## Re: Find limit

Originally Posted by Also sprach Zarathustra
Take $x_n=\frac{1}{2\pi n}$ and $y_n=\frac{1}{(2n+1)\pi}$ and $x_n ,y_n \to 0$ when $n\to \infty$.

Could you continue?
It is little bit difficult for me. Can I use any substitution here?

5. ## Re: Find limit

Originally Posted by initM
It is little bit difficult for me. Can I use any substitution here?
Actually, I think there is a slight error there- the " $\pi$" should not be in there. Try instead $x_n= \frac{1}{2n}$ and $y_n= \frac{1}{2n+1}$, 1 over the even integers and 1 over the odd integers.

Now, I am hoping that "It is a little bit difficult for me" does NOT mean "I really don't want to actually do anything my self" so I will make some suggestions: If $x_n= \frac{1}{2n}$, what is $\frac{\pi}{x_n}$? What is the cosine of that? What does that go to as n goes to infinity? If $y_n= \frac{1}{2n+1}$, what is $\frac{\pi}{y_n}$? What is the cosine of that? What does that go to as n goes to infinity?