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Squeeze theorem applied to sin(n)/n

Consider the sequence an=sin⁡(n)na_n = \dfrac{\sin(n)}{n} for n=1,2,3,…n = 1, 2, 3, \dots

Since −1≤sin⁡(n)≤1-1 \le \sin(n) \le 1 for every positive integer nn, dividing through by nn (which is positive) gives bounding sequences for an=sin⁡(n)na_n = \dfrac{\sin(n)}{n}. Use the Squeeze Theorem with these bounding sequences to evaluate lim⁡n→∞sin⁡(n)n.\lim_{n\to\infty} \frac{\sin(n)}{n}.

Hint

Start from −1≤sin⁡(n)≤1-1 \le \sin(n) \le 1, divide every part of the inequality by nn, and find the limits of the resulting left and right sequences as n→∞n \to \infty.

Step-by-step solution

Since sin⁡(n)\sin(n) always lies between −1-1 and 11, we have −1≤sin⁡(n)≤1-1 \le \sin(n) \le 1 for all positive integers nn. Dividing every part of this inequality by n>0n > 0 preserves the inequality direction, giving −1n≤sin⁡(n)n≤1n.-\frac{1}{n} \le \frac{\sin(n)}{n} \le \frac{1}{n}. This produces a lower bound sequence −1/n-1/n and an upper bound sequence 1/n1/n, both of which sandwich an=sin⁡(n)/na_n = \sin(n)/n for every nn.

Now evaluate the limits of the two bounding sequences: lim⁡n→∞(−1n)=0\lim_{n\to\infty} \left(-\frac{1}{n}\right) = 0 and lim⁡n→∞1n=0\lim_{n\to\infty} \frac{1}{n} = 0. Since both bounds converge to the same value 00, the Squeeze Theorem guarantees that the sequence trapped between them also converges to 00. Therefore lim⁡n→∞sin⁡(n)n=0.\lim_{n\to\infty} \frac{\sin(n)}{n} = 0.

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