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Squeeze theorem applied to x^2 sin(1/x)

Consider the function f(x)=x2sin⁡(1x)f(x) = x^2 \sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) for x≠0x \neq 0. Since −1≤sin⁡(1x)≤1-1 \le \sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) \le 1 for all x≠0x \neq 0, we can bound f(x)f(x) between two simpler functions g(x)g(x) and h(x)h(x) such that g(x)≤f(x)≤h(x)g(x) \le f(x) \le h(x) near x=0x = 0. Use the Squeeze Theorem with appropriate bounding functions g(x)g(x) and h(x)h(x) to evaluate lim⁡x→0x2sin⁡(1x).\lim_{x \to 0} x^2 \sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right).

Hint

Multiply the inequality −1≤sin⁡(1/x)≤1-1 \le \sin(1/x) \le 1 through by x2x^2 (which is nonnegative, so the inequality direction is preserved). Then find the limits of the resulting lower and upper bounding functions as x→0x \to 0.

Step-by-step solution

Since −1≤sin⁡(1x)≤1-1 \le \sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) \le 1 holds for all x≠0x \neq 0, multiply every part of this inequality by x2≥0x^2 \ge 0. This preserves the inequality direction and gives −x2≤x2sin⁡(1x)≤x2.-x^2 \le x^2\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) \le x^2. So we have bounded f(x)=x2sin⁡(1/x)f(x) = x^2\sin(1/x) between g(x)=−x2g(x) = -x^2 and h(x)=x2h(x) = x^2.

Now compute the limits of the bounding functions as x→0x \to 0: lim⁡x→0(−x2)=0\lim_{x\to 0} (-x^2) = 0 and lim⁡x→0x2=0\lim_{x\to 0} x^2 = 0. Since both bounds approach the same value 00, the Squeeze Theorem guarantees that f(x)f(x) is trapped between two functions converging to 00, so lim⁡x→0x2sin⁡(1x)=0.\lim_{x \to 0} x^2 \sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) = 0.

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