8/31/2017 (, )-definition of limit - Wikipedia

(, )-definition of limit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In calculus, the (, )-definition of limit ("epsilondelta definition of

limit") is a formalization of the notion of limit. The concept is due to
Augustin-Louis Cauchy, who never gave an ( ) definition of limit in his
Cours d'Analyse, but occasionally used arguments in proofs. It was
first given as a formal definition by Bernard Bolzano in 1817, and the
definitive modern statement was ultimately provided by Karl
Weierstrass.[1][2] It makes rigorous the following informal notion: the
dependent expression f(x) approaches the value L as the variable x
approaches the value c if f(x) can be made as close as desired to L by taking
x sufficiently close to c.

Contents Whenever a point x is within units of

c, f(x) is within units of L

1 History
2 Informal statement
3 Precise statement and related statements
3.1 Precise statement for real valued functions
3.2 Precise statement for functions between metric spaces
3.3 Negation of the precise statement
3.4 Precise statement for limits at infinity
4 Worked examples
4.1 Example 1
4.2 Example 2
4.3 Example 3
5 Continuity
6 Comparison with infinitesimal definition
7 See also
8 References
9 Further reading

History
Although the Greeks examined limiting process, such as the Babylonian method, they probably had no concept
similar to the modern limit.[3] The need for the concept of a limit came into force in the 17th century when Pierre
de Fermat attempted to find the slope of the tangent line at a point of a function such as . Using a non-
zero, but almost zero quantity, , Fermat performed the following calculation:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(%CE%B5,_%CE%B4)-definition_of_limit 1/9
8/31/2017 (, )-definition of limit - Wikipedia

The key to the above calculation is that since is non-zero one can divide by , but since is
close to 0, [4]
is essentially . Quantities such as are called infinitesimals. The problem with this
calculation is that mathematicians of the era were unable to rigorously define a quantity with properties of [5]
although it was common practice to 'neglect' higher power infinitesimals and this seemed to yield correct results.

This problem reappeared later in the 1600s at the center of the development of calculus because calculations such
as Fermat's are important to the calculation of derivatives. Isaac Newton first developed calculus via an
infinitesimal quantity called a fluxion. He developed them in reference to the idea of an "infinitely small moment
in time..."[6] However, Newton later rejected fluxions in favor of a theory of ratios that is close to the modern
definition of the limit.[6] Moreover, Isaac Newton was aware that the limit of the ratio of vanishing quantities was
not itself a ratio, as he wrote:

Those ultimate ratios ... are not actually ratios of ultimate quantities, but limits ... which they can approach so
closely that their difference is less than any given quantity...

Additionally, Newton occasionally explained limits in terms similar to the epsilondelta definition.[7] Gottfried
Wilhelm Leibniz developed an infinitesimal of his own and tried to provide it with a rigorous footing, but it was
still greeted with unease by some mathematicians and philosophers.[8]

Augustin-Louis Cauchy gave a definition of limit in terms of a more primitive notion he called a variable quantity.
He never gave an epsilondelta definition of limit (Grabiner 1981). Some of Cauchy's proofs contain indications of
the epsilondelta method. Whether or not his foundational approach can be considered a harbinger of Weierstrass's
is a subject of scholarly dispute. Grabiner feels that it is, while Schubring (2005) disagrees.[1] Nakane concludes
that Cauchy and Weierstrass gave the same name to different notions of limit.[9]

Eventually, Weierstrass and Bolzano are credited with providing a rigorous footing for calculus in the form of the
modern definition of the limit. [1][10] The need for reference to an infinitesimal was then removed [11] and
Fermat's computation turned into the computation of the following limit:

This is not to say that the limiting definition was free of problems as although it removed the need to use
infinitesimals, it did require the construction of the real numbers by Richard Dedekind.[12] This is also not to say
that infinitesimals have no place in modern mathematics as later mathematicians were able to rigorously create
infinitesimal quantities as part of the hyperreal number or surreal number systems. Moreover, it is possible to
rigorously develop calculus with these quantities and they have other mathematical uses.[13]

Informal statement

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(%CE%B5,_%CE%B4)-definition_of_limit 2/9
8/31/2017 (, )-definition of limit - Wikipedia

A viable intuitive or provisional definition is that a "function f approaches the limit L near a (symbolically,
) if we can make f(x) as close as we like to L by requiring that x be sufficiently close to, but unequal
to, a."[14]

When we say that two things are close (such as f(x) and L or x and a) we mean that the distance between them is
small. When f(x), L, x, and a are real numbers, the distance between two numbers is the absolute value of the
difference of the two. Thus, when we say f(x) is close to L we mean is small. When we say that x and a
are close, we mean that is small.[15]

When we say that we can make f(x) as close as we like to L, we mean that for all non-zero distances, , we can
make the distance between f(x) and L smaller than .[15]

When we say that we can make f(x) as close as we like to L by requiring that x be sufficiently close to, but, unequal
to, a, we mean that for all non-zero distances , there is some non-zero distance such that if the distance between
x and a is less than then the distance between f(x) and L is smaller than .[15]

The aspect that must be grasped is that the definition requires the following conversation. One is provided with any
challenge for a given f,a, and L. One must answer with a such that implies that
. If one can provide an answer for any challenge, one has proven that the limit exists.

Precise statement and related statements

Precise statement for real valued functions

The definition of the limit of a function is as follows:[15]

Let be a real-valued function defined on a subset of the real numbers. Let be a limit point of and let be
a real number. We say that

if for every there exists a such that, for all , if , then .

Symbolically:

If or , then the condition that is a limit point is automatically met because closed real intervals
and the entire real line are perfect sets.

Precise statement for functions between metric spaces

The definition can be generalized to functions that map between metric spaces. These spaces come with a function,
called a metric, that takes two points in the space and returns a real number that represents the distance between the
two points.[16] The generalized definition is as follows:[17]

Suppose is defined on a subset of a metric space with a metric and maps into a metric space
with a metric . Let be a limit point of and let be a point of .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(%CE%B5,_%CE%B4)-definition_of_limit 3/9
8/31/2017 (, )-definition of limit - Wikipedia

We say that

if for every there exists a such that, for all , if , then .

Since is a metric on the real numbers, one can show that this definition generalizes the first
definition for real functions.[18]

Negation of the precise statement

The negation of the definition is a follows:[19]

Suppose is defined on a subset of a metric space with a metric and maps into a metric space
with a metric . Let be a limit point of and let be a point of .

We say that

if there exists an such that for all there is an such that and
.

We say that does not exist if for all , .

For the negation of a real valued function defined on the real numbers, simply set .

Precise statement for limits at infinity

The precise statement for limits at infinity is as follows:[16]

Suppose is defined on a subset of a metric space with a metric and maps into a metric space
with a metric . Let .

We say that

if for every , there is a real number such that there is an where and such that if
and , then .

Worked examples
Example 1

We will show that

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(%CE%B5,_%CE%B4)-definition_of_limit 4/9
8/31/2017 (, )-definition of limit - Wikipedia

We let be given. We need to find a such that implies .

Since sine is bounded above by 1 and below by -1,

Thus, if we take , then implies , which completes the proof.

Example 2

Let us prove the statement that

for any real number .

Let be given. We will find a such that implies .

We start by factoring:

We recognize that is the term bounded by so we can presuppose a bound of 1 and later pick something
smaller than that for . [20]

So we suppose . Since holds in general for real numbers and , we have

Thus,

Thus via the triangle inequality,

Thus, if we further suppose that

then

.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(%CE%B5,_%CE%B4)-definition_of_limit 5/9
8/31/2017 (, )-definition of limit - Wikipedia

In summary, we set

So, if , then

Thus, we have found a such that implies . Thus, we have shown that

for any real number .

Example 3

Let us prove the statement that

This is easily shown through graphical understandings of the limit, and as such serves as a strong basis for
introduction to proof. According to the formal definition above, a limit statement is correct if and only if confining
to units of will inevitably confine to units of . In this specific case, this means that the statement is
true if and only if confining to units of 5 will inevitably confine

to units of 12. The overall key to showing this implication is to demonstrate how and must be related to each
other such that the implication holds. Mathematically, we want to show that

Simplifying, factoring, and dividing 3 on the right hand side of the implication yields

which immediately gives the required result if we choose

Thus the proof is completed. The key to the proof lies in the ability of one to choose boundaries in , and then
conclude corresponding boundaries in , which in this case were related by a factor of 3, which is entirely due
to the slope of 3 in the line

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(%CE%B5,_%CE%B4)-definition_of_limit 6/9
8/31/2017 (, )-definition of limit - Wikipedia

Continuity
A function f is said to be continuous at c if it is both defined at c and its value at c equals the limit of f as x
approaches c:

If the condition 0 < |x c| is left out of the definition of limit, then requiring f(x) to have a limit at c would be the
same as requiring f(x) to be continuous at c.

f is said to be continuous on an interval I if it is continuous at every point c of I.

Comparison with infinitesimal definition

Keisler proved that a hyperreal definition of limit reduces the quantifier complexity by two quantifiers.[21] Namely,
converges to a limit L as tends to a if and only if for every infinitesimal e, the value is infinitely
close to L; see microcontinuity for a related definition of continuity, essentially due to Cauchy. Infinitesimal
calculus textbooks based on Robinson's approach provide definitions of continuity, derivative, and integral at
standard points in terms of infinitesimals. Once notions such as continuity have been thoroughly explained via the
approach using microcontinuity, the epsilondelta approach is presented as well. Karel Hrbek argues that the
definitions of continuity, derivative, and integration in Robinson-style non-standard analysis must be grounded in
the method in order to cover also non-standard values of the input.[22] Baszczyk et al. argue that
microcontinuity is useful in developing a transparent definition of uniform continuity, and characterize the
criticism by Hrbek as a "dubious lament".[23] Hrbek proposes an alternative non-standard analysis, which
(unlike Robinson's) has many "levels" of infinitesimals, so that limits at one level can be defined in terms of
infinitesimals at the next level.[24]

See also
Continuous function
Limit of a sequence
List of calculus topics

References
1. Grabiner, Judith V. (March 1983), "Who Gave You the Epsilon? Cauchy and the Origins of Rigorous
Calculus" (http://www.mr-ideahamster.com/classes/assets/a_evepsilon.pdf) (PDF), The American
Mathematical Monthly, Mathematical Association of America, 90 (3): 185194, JSTOR 2975545 (https://w
ww.jstor.org/stable/2975545), doi:10.2307/2975545 (https://doi.org/10.2307%2F2975545), archived (https://
www.webcitation.org/5gVUmZmxc?url=http://www.maa.org/pubs/Calc_articles/ma002.pdf) (PDF) from the
original on 2009-05-04, retrieved 2009-05-01
2. Cauchy, A.-L. (1823), "Septime Leon - Valeurs de quelques expressions qui se prsentent sous les formes
indtermines Relation qui existe entre le rapport aux diffrences finies et la fonction drive"
(http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k90196z/f45n5.capture), Rsum des leons donnes lcole royale
polytechnique sur le calcul infinitsimal (http://math-doc.ujf-grenoble.fr/cgi-bin/oeitem?id=OE_CAUCHY_
2_4_9_0), Paris, archived (https://www.webcitation.org/5gVUmywgY?url=http://math-doc.ujf-grenoble.fr/c
gi-bin/oeitem?id=OE_CAUCHY_2_4_9_0) from the original on 2009-05-04, retrieved 2009-05-01, p. 44 (ht
tp://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k90196z.image.f47).. Accessed 2009-05-01.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(%CE%B5,_%CE%B4)-definition_of_limit 7/9
8/31/2017 (, )-definition of limit - Wikipedia

3. Stillwell, John (1989). Mathematics and its history. New York: Springer-Verlag. pp. 3839. ISBN 978-1-
4899-0007-4.
4. Stillwell, John (1989). Mathematics and its history. New York: Springer-Verlag. p. 104. ISBN 978-1-4899-
0007-4.
5. Stillwell, John (1989). Mathematics and its history. New York: Springer-Verlag. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-4899-
0007-4.
6. Buckley, Benjamin Lee (2012). The continuity debate : Dedekind, Cantor, du Bois-Reymond and Peirce on
continuity and infinitesimals. p. 31. ISBN 9780983700487.
7. Pourciau, B. (2001), "Newton and the Notion of Limit", Historia Mathematica, 28 (1),
doi:10.1006/hmat.2000.2301 (https://doi.org/10.1006%2Fhmat.2000.2301)
8. Buckley, Benjamin Lee (2012). The continuity debate : Dedekind, Cantor, du Bois-Reymond and Peirce on
continuity and infinitesimals. p. 32. ISBN 9780983700487.
9. Nakane, Michiyo. Did Weierstrass's differential calculus have a limit-avoiding character? His definition of a
limit in style. BSHM Bull. 29 (2014), no. 1, 5159.
10. Cauchy, A.-L. (1823), "Septime Leon - Valeurs de quelques expressions qui se prsentent sous les formes
indtermines Relation qui existe entre le rapport aux diffrences finies et la fonction drive"
(http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k90196z/f45n5.capture), Rsum des leons donnes lcole royale
polytechnique sur le calcul infinitsimal (http://math-doc.ujf-grenoble.fr/cgi-bin/oeitem?id=OE_CAUCHY_
2_4_9_0), Paris, archived (https://www.webcitation.org/5gVUmywgY?url=http://math-doc.ujf-grenoble.fr/c
gi-bin/oeitem?id=OE_CAUCHY_2_4_9_0) from the original on 2009-05-04, retrieved 2009-05-01, p. 44 (ht
tp://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k90196z.image.f47)..
11. Buckley, Benjamin Lee (2012). The continuity debate : Dedekind, Cantor, du Bois-Reymond and Peirce on
continuity and infinitesimals. p. 33. ISBN 9780983700487.
12. Buckley, Benjamin Lee (2012). The continuity debate : Dedekind, Cantor, du Bois-Reymond and Peirce on
continuity and infinitesimals. pp. 3235. ISBN 9780983700487.
13. Tao, Terence (2008). Structure and randomness : pages from year one of a mathematical blog. Providence,
R.I.: American Mathematical Society. pp. 95110. ISBN 978-0-8218-4695-7.
14. Spivak, Michael (2008). Calculus (4th ed.). Houston, Tex.: Publish or Perish. p. 90. ISBN 978-0914098911.
15. Spivak, Michael (2008). Calculus (4th ed.). Houston, Tex.: Publish or Perish. p. 96. ISBN 978-0914098911.
16. Rudin, Walter (1976). Principles of Mathematical Analysis (https://books.google.com/books?id=kwqzPAAA
CAAJ). McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math. p. 30. ISBN 978-0070542358.
17. Rudin, Walter (1976). Principles of Mathematical Analysis (https://books.google.com/books?id=kwqzPAAA
CAAJ). McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math. p. 83. ISBN 978-0070542358.
18. Rudin, Walter (1976). Principles of Mathematical Analysis (https://books.google.com/books?id=kwqzPAAA
CAAJ). McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math. p. 84. ISBN 978-0070542358.
19. Spivak, Michael (2008). Calculus (4th ed.). Houston, Tex.: Publish or Perish. p. 97. ISBN 978-0914098911.
20. Spivak, Michael (2008). Calculus (4th ed.). Houston, Tex.: Publish or Perish. p. 95. ISBN 978-0914098911.
21. Keisler, H. Jerome (2008), "Quantifiers in limits" (http://www.math.wisc.edu/~keisler/limquant7.pdf) (PDF),
Andrzej Mostowski and foundational studies, IOS, Amsterdam, pp. 151170
22. Hrbacek, K. (2007), "Stratified Analysis?", in Van Den Berg, I.; Neves, V., The Strength of Nonstandard
Analysis, Springer
23. Baszczyk, Piotr; Katz, Mikhail; Sherry, David (2012), "Ten misconceptions from the history of analysis and
their debunking", Foundations of Science, arXiv:1202.4153 (https://arxiv.org/abs/1202.4153) ,
doi:10.1007/s10699-012-9285-8 (https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10699-012-9285-8)
24. Hrbacek, K. (2009). "Relative set theory: Internal view" (http://logicandanalysis.org/index.php/jla/article/vie
w/25/17). Journal of Logic and Analysis. 1.

Further reading
Grabiner, Judith V. (1982). The Origins of Cauchy's Rigorous Calculus (https://books.google.com/books?id=
XuFcx-laQmIC). Courier Corporation. ISBN 978-0-486-14374-3.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(%CE%B5,_%CE%B4)-definition_of_limit 8/9
8/31/2017 (, )-definition of limit - Wikipedia

Schubring, Gert (2005). Conflicts Between Generalization, Rigor, and Intuition: Number Concepts
Underlying the Development of Analysis in 17th19th Century France and Germany (https://books.google.c
om/books?id=rMWe3okqPOcC) (illustrated ed.). Springer. ISBN 0-387-22836-5.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=(,_)-definition_of_limit&oldid=795520514"

This page was last edited on 14 August 2017, at 19:24.

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.
By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia is a registered trademark
of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(%CE%B5,_%CE%B4)-definition_of_limit 9/9