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Estimating the limit of x*sin(1/x) near 0 using a graph

Consider the function f(x)=xsin⁡(1x)f(x) = x\sin\left(\dfrac{1}{x}\right), which is defined for all x≠0x \neq 0. We want to investigate its behavior as x→0x \to 0.

The graph of f(x)=xsin⁡(1x)f(x) = x\sin\left(\dfrac{1}{x}\right) near x=0x=0 is shown below.

Estimating the limit of x*sin(1/x) near 0 using a graph graph

Note that f(x)f(x) is not defined at x=0x=0 itself. Based on the graph, and considering values of xx close to 00 on both sides, what is lim⁡x→0xsin⁡(1x)\displaystyle\lim_{x\to 0} x\sin\left(\dfrac{1}{x}\right)?

Hint

Look at how the curve is squeezed between the two dashed lines y=xy=x and y=−xy=-x as xx gets close to 00 from either side, even though sin⁡(1/x)\sin(1/x) itself oscillates rapidly. Focus on the height of the wiggles, not their frequency.

Step-by-step solution

As xx approaches 00 from either side, the factor sin⁡(1/x)\sin(1/x) oscillates rapidly between −1-1 and 11, but this oscillation is multiplied by xx, which is shrinking toward 00. This means the graph of f(x)f(x) is trapped between the lines y=xy=x and y=−xy=-x, since ∣xsin⁡(1/x)∣≤∣x∣|x\sin(1/x)| \le |x| for all x≠0x \neq 0.

Looking at the graph, both the upper and lower envelope lines squeeze down to the point (0,0)(0,0), forcing the oscillations of f(x)f(x) to flatten out and approach height 00 near x=0x=0. Approaching from the left and from the right, the function values get arbitrarily close to 00, so the two-sided limit exists and equals 00.

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