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One-sided infinite limit of csc(x) as x approaches 0 from the left

Consider the function f(x)=csc⁡(x)f(x) = \csc(x), which has a vertical asymptote at x=0x = 0.

Recall that csc⁡(x)=1sin⁡(x)\csc(x) = \dfrac{1}{\sin(x)}. Evaluate the one-sided limit

lim⁡x→0−csc⁡(x)\lim_{x \to 0^-} \csc(x)

by analyzing the sign and magnitude of sin⁡(x)\sin(x) as xx approaches 00 from the left. Express your answer using +∞+\infty or −∞-\infty, or state that the limit does not exist if neither applies.

One-sided infinite limit of csc(x) as x approaches 0 from the left graph
Hint

Rewrite csc⁡(x)\csc(x) as 1sin⁡(x)\frac{1}{\sin(x)} and think about whether sin⁡(x)\sin(x) is positive or negative for small negative values of xx (just to the left of 00), and what happens to 1sin⁡(x)\frac{1}{\sin(x)} as sin⁡(x)\sin(x) gets close to 00 from that side.

Step-by-step solution

Write csc⁡(x)=1sin⁡(x)\csc(x) = \dfrac{1}{\sin(x)}. As x→0−x \to 0^-, meaning xx is a small negative number close to 00, the sine function is also small and negative, since sin⁡(x)≈x\sin(x) \approx x for xx near 00 and sin⁡(x)<0\sin(x) < 0 for small negative xx. So sin⁡(x)→0−\sin(x) \to 0^- as x→0−x \to 0^-.

Since the denominator sin⁡(x)\sin(x) approaches 00 through negative values while the numerator stays fixed at 11, the fraction 1sin⁡(x)\dfrac{1}{\sin(x)} becomes a large negative number, growing without bound in magnitude. Therefore lim⁡x→0−csc⁡(x)=−∞\lim_{x \to 0^-} \csc(x) = -\infty, confirming that x=0x=0 is a vertical asymptote of f(x)=csc⁡(x)f(x)=\csc(x).

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