Proving $lim_{xto-infty}x^{-k} = 0$












0














Please prove $lim_{xto-infty}x^{-k} = 0$ for k a natural number using the definition of this limit. I am having problems discovering the proof.










share|cite|improve this question




















  • 1




    I assume that $kinmathbb{N}$. In that case since $x^ktopm infty$ (as all polynomials of positive degree do) then $x^{-k}=1/x^kto 0$.
    – freakish
    Jan 3 at 21:39












  • Please use the definition of this limit at infinity.
    – Eric Brown
    Jan 3 at 21:43






  • 1




    Hint: prove it for $k=1$ and then use $|x^{-k}|<|x^{-1}|$ for $x<-1$ and $k>1$.
    – SmileyCraft
    Jan 3 at 21:50










  • But this requires the use of the squeeze theorem for functions as x→-∞, which has not been proven by me yet.
    – Eric Brown
    Jan 3 at 21:55
















0














Please prove $lim_{xto-infty}x^{-k} = 0$ for k a natural number using the definition of this limit. I am having problems discovering the proof.










share|cite|improve this question




















  • 1




    I assume that $kinmathbb{N}$. In that case since $x^ktopm infty$ (as all polynomials of positive degree do) then $x^{-k}=1/x^kto 0$.
    – freakish
    Jan 3 at 21:39












  • Please use the definition of this limit at infinity.
    – Eric Brown
    Jan 3 at 21:43






  • 1




    Hint: prove it for $k=1$ and then use $|x^{-k}|<|x^{-1}|$ for $x<-1$ and $k>1$.
    – SmileyCraft
    Jan 3 at 21:50










  • But this requires the use of the squeeze theorem for functions as x→-∞, which has not been proven by me yet.
    – Eric Brown
    Jan 3 at 21:55














0












0








0







Please prove $lim_{xto-infty}x^{-k} = 0$ for k a natural number using the definition of this limit. I am having problems discovering the proof.










share|cite|improve this question















Please prove $lim_{xto-infty}x^{-k} = 0$ for k a natural number using the definition of this limit. I am having problems discovering the proof.







calculus limits infinity






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited Jan 3 at 21:42

























asked Jan 3 at 21:30









Eric Brown

10511




10511








  • 1




    I assume that $kinmathbb{N}$. In that case since $x^ktopm infty$ (as all polynomials of positive degree do) then $x^{-k}=1/x^kto 0$.
    – freakish
    Jan 3 at 21:39












  • Please use the definition of this limit at infinity.
    – Eric Brown
    Jan 3 at 21:43






  • 1




    Hint: prove it for $k=1$ and then use $|x^{-k}|<|x^{-1}|$ for $x<-1$ and $k>1$.
    – SmileyCraft
    Jan 3 at 21:50










  • But this requires the use of the squeeze theorem for functions as x→-∞, which has not been proven by me yet.
    – Eric Brown
    Jan 3 at 21:55














  • 1




    I assume that $kinmathbb{N}$. In that case since $x^ktopm infty$ (as all polynomials of positive degree do) then $x^{-k}=1/x^kto 0$.
    – freakish
    Jan 3 at 21:39












  • Please use the definition of this limit at infinity.
    – Eric Brown
    Jan 3 at 21:43






  • 1




    Hint: prove it for $k=1$ and then use $|x^{-k}|<|x^{-1}|$ for $x<-1$ and $k>1$.
    – SmileyCraft
    Jan 3 at 21:50










  • But this requires the use of the squeeze theorem for functions as x→-∞, which has not been proven by me yet.
    – Eric Brown
    Jan 3 at 21:55








1




1




I assume that $kinmathbb{N}$. In that case since $x^ktopm infty$ (as all polynomials of positive degree do) then $x^{-k}=1/x^kto 0$.
– freakish
Jan 3 at 21:39






I assume that $kinmathbb{N}$. In that case since $x^ktopm infty$ (as all polynomials of positive degree do) then $x^{-k}=1/x^kto 0$.
– freakish
Jan 3 at 21:39














Please use the definition of this limit at infinity.
– Eric Brown
Jan 3 at 21:43




Please use the definition of this limit at infinity.
– Eric Brown
Jan 3 at 21:43




1




1




Hint: prove it for $k=1$ and then use $|x^{-k}|<|x^{-1}|$ for $x<-1$ and $k>1$.
– SmileyCraft
Jan 3 at 21:50




Hint: prove it for $k=1$ and then use $|x^{-k}|<|x^{-1}|$ for $x<-1$ and $k>1$.
– SmileyCraft
Jan 3 at 21:50












But this requires the use of the squeeze theorem for functions as x→-∞, which has not been proven by me yet.
– Eric Brown
Jan 3 at 21:55




But this requires the use of the squeeze theorem for functions as x→-∞, which has not been proven by me yet.
– Eric Brown
Jan 3 at 21:55










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















2














For all $k > 0$ there exists a $pinmathbb{N}$ such that $frac{1}{p} < k$. Then



$$0 < frac{1}{x^k} = left(frac{1}{x}right)^k < left(frac{1}{x}right)^{1/p}$$



Since $frac{1}{x}to 0$ and $f(u) = u^{1/p}$ is continuous at $0$, we have



$$lim_{xto -infty}left(frac{1}{x}right)^{1/p} = lim_{xto -infty}left(frac{1}{x}right)^{1/p} = lim_{uto 0}u^{1/p} = 0^{1/p} = 0$$



Therefore



$$lim_{xto -infty}frac{1}{x^k} = 0 k > 0$$






share|cite|improve this answer





























    0














    The limit is equivalent to $lim_{xto -infty} frac{x^k}{x^{2k}}$, an indeterminate form of $frac{infty}{infty}$. By L'Hospitals rule, that is equivalent to $lim_{xto -infty} frac{kx^{k-1}}{2kx^{2k-1}}$. A little bit of algebraic manipulation shows that that is equal to $lim_{xto -infty} frac{1}{2}*x^{-k}$. Taking the 1/2 out of the limit, we have $lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}=frac{1}{2}*lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}$. Treating $lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}$ as a variable in a linear equation to be solved for, we have $lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}=0$






    share|cite|improve this answer





















    • This works only after you have proven L'Hospitals rule as x decreases to negative infinity.
      – Eric Brown
      yesterday











    Your Answer





    StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
    return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
    StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
    StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
    });
    });
    }, "mathjax-editing");

    StackExchange.ready(function() {
    var channelOptions = {
    tags: "".split(" "),
    id: "69"
    };
    initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

    StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
    // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
    if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
    StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
    createEditor();
    });
    }
    else {
    createEditor();
    }
    });

    function createEditor() {
    StackExchange.prepareEditor({
    heartbeatType: 'answer',
    autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
    convertImagesToLinks: true,
    noModals: true,
    showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
    reputationToPostImages: 10,
    bindNavPrevention: true,
    postfix: "",
    imageUploader: {
    brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
    contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
    allowUrls: true
    },
    noCode: true, onDemand: true,
    discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
    ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
    });


    }
    });














    draft saved

    draft discarded


















    StackExchange.ready(
    function () {
    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3061021%2fproving-lim-x-to-inftyx-k-0%23new-answer', 'question_page');
    }
    );

    Post as a guest















    Required, but never shown

























    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    2














    For all $k > 0$ there exists a $pinmathbb{N}$ such that $frac{1}{p} < k$. Then



    $$0 < frac{1}{x^k} = left(frac{1}{x}right)^k < left(frac{1}{x}right)^{1/p}$$



    Since $frac{1}{x}to 0$ and $f(u) = u^{1/p}$ is continuous at $0$, we have



    $$lim_{xto -infty}left(frac{1}{x}right)^{1/p} = lim_{xto -infty}left(frac{1}{x}right)^{1/p} = lim_{uto 0}u^{1/p} = 0^{1/p} = 0$$



    Therefore



    $$lim_{xto -infty}frac{1}{x^k} = 0 k > 0$$






    share|cite|improve this answer


























      2














      For all $k > 0$ there exists a $pinmathbb{N}$ such that $frac{1}{p} < k$. Then



      $$0 < frac{1}{x^k} = left(frac{1}{x}right)^k < left(frac{1}{x}right)^{1/p}$$



      Since $frac{1}{x}to 0$ and $f(u) = u^{1/p}$ is continuous at $0$, we have



      $$lim_{xto -infty}left(frac{1}{x}right)^{1/p} = lim_{xto -infty}left(frac{1}{x}right)^{1/p} = lim_{uto 0}u^{1/p} = 0^{1/p} = 0$$



      Therefore



      $$lim_{xto -infty}frac{1}{x^k} = 0 k > 0$$






      share|cite|improve this answer
























        2












        2








        2






        For all $k > 0$ there exists a $pinmathbb{N}$ such that $frac{1}{p} < k$. Then



        $$0 < frac{1}{x^k} = left(frac{1}{x}right)^k < left(frac{1}{x}right)^{1/p}$$



        Since $frac{1}{x}to 0$ and $f(u) = u^{1/p}$ is continuous at $0$, we have



        $$lim_{xto -infty}left(frac{1}{x}right)^{1/p} = lim_{xto -infty}left(frac{1}{x}right)^{1/p} = lim_{uto 0}u^{1/p} = 0^{1/p} = 0$$



        Therefore



        $$lim_{xto -infty}frac{1}{x^k} = 0 k > 0$$






        share|cite|improve this answer












        For all $k > 0$ there exists a $pinmathbb{N}$ such that $frac{1}{p} < k$. Then



        $$0 < frac{1}{x^k} = left(frac{1}{x}right)^k < left(frac{1}{x}right)^{1/p}$$



        Since $frac{1}{x}to 0$ and $f(u) = u^{1/p}$ is continuous at $0$, we have



        $$lim_{xto -infty}left(frac{1}{x}right)^{1/p} = lim_{xto -infty}left(frac{1}{x}right)^{1/p} = lim_{uto 0}u^{1/p} = 0^{1/p} = 0$$



        Therefore



        $$lim_{xto -infty}frac{1}{x^k} = 0 k > 0$$







        share|cite|improve this answer












        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered Jan 3 at 21:56









        Wolfy

        2,31311038




        2,31311038























            0














            The limit is equivalent to $lim_{xto -infty} frac{x^k}{x^{2k}}$, an indeterminate form of $frac{infty}{infty}$. By L'Hospitals rule, that is equivalent to $lim_{xto -infty} frac{kx^{k-1}}{2kx^{2k-1}}$. A little bit of algebraic manipulation shows that that is equal to $lim_{xto -infty} frac{1}{2}*x^{-k}$. Taking the 1/2 out of the limit, we have $lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}=frac{1}{2}*lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}$. Treating $lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}$ as a variable in a linear equation to be solved for, we have $lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}=0$






            share|cite|improve this answer





















            • This works only after you have proven L'Hospitals rule as x decreases to negative infinity.
              – Eric Brown
              yesterday
















            0














            The limit is equivalent to $lim_{xto -infty} frac{x^k}{x^{2k}}$, an indeterminate form of $frac{infty}{infty}$. By L'Hospitals rule, that is equivalent to $lim_{xto -infty} frac{kx^{k-1}}{2kx^{2k-1}}$. A little bit of algebraic manipulation shows that that is equal to $lim_{xto -infty} frac{1}{2}*x^{-k}$. Taking the 1/2 out of the limit, we have $lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}=frac{1}{2}*lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}$. Treating $lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}$ as a variable in a linear equation to be solved for, we have $lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}=0$






            share|cite|improve this answer





















            • This works only after you have proven L'Hospitals rule as x decreases to negative infinity.
              – Eric Brown
              yesterday














            0












            0








            0






            The limit is equivalent to $lim_{xto -infty} frac{x^k}{x^{2k}}$, an indeterminate form of $frac{infty}{infty}$. By L'Hospitals rule, that is equivalent to $lim_{xto -infty} frac{kx^{k-1}}{2kx^{2k-1}}$. A little bit of algebraic manipulation shows that that is equal to $lim_{xto -infty} frac{1}{2}*x^{-k}$. Taking the 1/2 out of the limit, we have $lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}=frac{1}{2}*lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}$. Treating $lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}$ as a variable in a linear equation to be solved for, we have $lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}=0$






            share|cite|improve this answer












            The limit is equivalent to $lim_{xto -infty} frac{x^k}{x^{2k}}$, an indeterminate form of $frac{infty}{infty}$. By L'Hospitals rule, that is equivalent to $lim_{xto -infty} frac{kx^{k-1}}{2kx^{2k-1}}$. A little bit of algebraic manipulation shows that that is equal to $lim_{xto -infty} frac{1}{2}*x^{-k}$. Taking the 1/2 out of the limit, we have $lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}=frac{1}{2}*lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}$. Treating $lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}$ as a variable in a linear equation to be solved for, we have $lim_{xto -infty} x^{-k}=0$







            share|cite|improve this answer












            share|cite|improve this answer



            share|cite|improve this answer










            answered 2 days ago









            H Huang

            437




            437












            • This works only after you have proven L'Hospitals rule as x decreases to negative infinity.
              – Eric Brown
              yesterday


















            • This works only after you have proven L'Hospitals rule as x decreases to negative infinity.
              – Eric Brown
              yesterday
















            This works only after you have proven L'Hospitals rule as x decreases to negative infinity.
            – Eric Brown
            yesterday




            This works only after you have proven L'Hospitals rule as x decreases to negative infinity.
            – Eric Brown
            yesterday


















            draft saved

            draft discarded




















































            Thanks for contributing an answer to Mathematics Stack Exchange!


            • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

            But avoid



            • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

            • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


            Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


            To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.





            Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.


            Please pay close attention to the following guidance:


            • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

            But avoid



            • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

            • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


            To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




            draft saved


            draft discarded














            StackExchange.ready(
            function () {
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3061021%2fproving-lim-x-to-inftyx-k-0%23new-answer', 'question_page');
            }
            );

            Post as a guest















            Required, but never shown





















































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown

































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown







            Popular posts from this blog

            1300-talet

            1300-talet

            Display a custom attribute below product name in the front-end Magento 1.9.3.8