Does $\lim_{(x,y)\rightarrow (0,0)}\frac{(x^2-y^2) \cos (x+y)}{x^2+y^2}$ exists?
Answer
Writing the limit in polar coordinates (i.e. $x=r \cos \theta$ and $y=r \sin \theta$) we get
\[\lim_{(x,y) \rightarrow (0,0)}\frac{(x^2-y^2)\cos(x+y)}{x^2+y^2}=\lim_{r \rightarrow 0} \frac{r^2(\cos^2 \theta-\sin^2 \theta) \cos(r(\cos \theta +\sin \theta))}{r^2}\]
\[=\lim_{r \rightarrow 0} (\cos^2 \theta-\sin^2 \theta) \cos(r(\cos \theta +\sin \theta))\]
\[=\cos^2 \theta-\sin^2 \theta. \]
Since the above depends on $\theta$ the limit is question does not exists. Indeed on the line $y=x$ we have $\theta=\frac{\pi}{4}$
\[\cos^2 \theta-\sin^2 \theta =(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2})^2-(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2})^2=0.\]
On the line $y=0$ we have $\theta=0$, and hence
\[\cos^2 \theta-\sin^2 \theta =1^2-0^2=1.\]
Thus the limit does not exist, since if it exists it must be unique.
\[\lim_{(x,y) \rightarrow (0,0)}\frac{(x^2-y^2)\cos(x+y)}{x^2+y^2}=\lim_{r \rightarrow 0} \frac{r^2(\cos^2 \theta-\sin^2 \theta) \cos(r(\cos \theta +\sin \theta))}{r^2}\]
\[=\lim_{r \rightarrow 0} (\cos^2 \theta-\sin^2 \theta) \cos(r(\cos \theta +\sin \theta))\]
\[=\cos^2 \theta-\sin^2 \theta. \]
Since the above depends on $\theta$ the limit is question does not exists. Indeed on the line $y=x$ we have $\theta=\frac{\pi}{4}$
\[\cos^2 \theta-\sin^2 \theta =(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2})^2-(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2})^2=0.\]
On the line $y=0$ we have $\theta=0$, and hence
\[\cos^2 \theta-\sin^2 \theta =1^2-0^2=1.\]
Thus the limit does not exist, since if it exists it must be unique.
443
The answer is accepted.
Join Matchmaticians Affiliate Marketing
Program to earn up to a 50% commission on every question that your affiliated users ask or answer.
- answered
- 3436 views
- $2.00
Related Questions
- Module isomorphism and length of tensor product.
-
Limit graphs
- Get the volume and surface area of the paraboloid $z=4-x^2-y^2$ cut by the plane $z=4-2x$
- How do you prove integration gives the area under a curve?
- Graphing question
- Find $\int x \sqrt{1-x}dx$
- Show that $\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{2}}\frac{ x}{ \tan x}dx=\frac{\pi}{2} \ln 2$
- Basic calc question