Limit of the Sine Function

The limit of the sine of a sequence an approaching zero is equal to zero. $$ \lim_{a_n \rightarrow 0} \sin a_n = 0 $$

Proof

By assumption, the sequence an converges to zero.

$$ \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty } a_n = 0 $$

Example. Consider the sequence $$ a_n = \frac{1}{n} $$ which converges to zero as n approaches infinity.

By the definition of the limit, there exists an index v such that |an| < ε for all n > v.

From trigonometry, we know that for all positive values of x, the inequality 0 < sin x < x holds. Therefore, we can write:

$$ 0 \le | \sin a_n | = \sin |a_n| \le |a_n| $$

Taking limits as n tends to infinity, we obtain:

$$ \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty } 0 \le \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty } | \sin a_n | = \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty } \sin |a_n| \le \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty } |a_n| $$

Since the sequence an converges to zero, we have:

$$ 0 \le \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty } | \sin a_n | = \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty } \sin |a_n| \le 0 $$

Thus, by the Squeeze Theorem, the limit of sin an must also be zero:

$$ \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty } | \sin a_n | = \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty } \sin |a_n| = 0 $$

Therefore, if the sequence an approaches zero as n→∞, then the limit of sin(an) is also zero.

$$ \lim_{a_n \rightarrow 0} \sin a_n = \sin 0 = 0 $$

And that completes the proof.

 

 
 

Please feel free to point out any errors or typos, or share suggestions to improve these notes. English isn't my first language, so if you notice any mistakes, let me know, and I'll be sure to fix them.

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