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Estimating a finite limit from a table of values

Consider the function g(x)=tan⁡(x)xg(x) = \dfrac{\tan(x)}{x}. We want to understand how g(x)g(x) behaves as xx gets close to 00, even though g(x)g(x) is not defined at x=0x=0 itself.

The table below shows values of g(x)=tan⁡(x)xg(x) = \dfrac{\tan(x)}{x} for values of xx approaching 00 from both sides.

xx−0.1-0.1−0.01-0.01−0.001-0.0010.0010.0010.010.010.10.1
g(x)g(x)1.003351.003351.00003331.00003331.0000003331.0000003331.0000003331.0000003331.00003331.00003331.003351.00335
Estimating a finite limit from a table of values graph

Based on the table and the graph, what value does g(x)g(x) appear to be approaching as x→0x \to 0? That is, what is lim⁡x→0tan⁡(x)x\displaystyle\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\tan(x)}{x}?

Hint

Look at how the values of g(x)g(x) change as xx gets closer to 00 from the left and from the right. You don't need to know the value of g(0)g(0) (it's actually undefined there) — just track the trend of nearby values.

Step-by-step solution

As xx approaches 00 from the left (negative values getting closer to 00) and from the right (positive values getting closer to 00), the table shows g(x)g(x) getting closer and closer to 11, with the values 1.00335,1.0000333,1.000000333,…1.00335, 1.0000333, 1.000000333, \ldots shrinking toward 11 from both directions.

The graph confirms this: the curve dips down and appears to pass through the height y=1y=1 right around x=0x=0, even though there's no actual point plotted at x=0x=0 since gg is undefined there. Since both the left-hand and right-hand trends agree on the same value, we conclude the two-sided limit exists and equals that common value.

Therefore lim⁡x→0tan⁡(x)x=1\displaystyle\lim_{x\to 0}\frac{\tan(x)}{x} = 1.

Value of g at zero versus the limit

Is the function g(x)=tan⁡(x)xg(x) = \dfrac{\tan(x)}{x} actually defined at the point x=0x = 0? Answer yes or no.

Hint
Step-by-step solution

No. The function g(x)=tan⁡(x)xg(x) = \dfrac{\tan(x)}{x} is undefined at x=0x = 0, since that would require dividing by zero. The table and graph only show values for xx near zero, never at zero itself. Despite this, the limit as xx approaches zero still exists and equals one, since limits depend only on nearby behavior, not on the value at the point itself.

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