Proof ' that ln(x) converges Where is the flaw in the following 'proof '? lim_(x ->oo)[(d)/dx{ln(x)}]=lim_(x -> oo}[(1)/(x)]=0 =>lim_(x -> oo)[ln(x)]=text(constant) in bbb(R), therefore ln(x) converges to some real number.

Nash Frank

Nash Frank

Answered question

2022-07-20

Proof ' that ln ( x ) converges
Where is the flaw in the following 'proof '?
lim x [ d d x { ln ( x ) } ] = lim x [ 1 x ] = 0 lim x [ ln ( x ) ] = constant R ,
therefore ln ( x ) converges to some real number.

Answer & Explanation

Franklin Frey

Franklin Frey

Beginner2022-07-21Added 15 answers

It's not even clear what it means to say that lim x f ( x ) "is a constant," since it isn't a function of any variable, it's just a limit, if the limit exists.
But consider f ( x ) = x . We know that lim x d d x f ( x ) = 0, but is lim x x a constant?
One thing we can say, if lim x d d x f ( x ) = 0, is that if D is any constant, then
lim x ( f ( x + D ) f ( x ) ) = 0
This claim is just nonsense:
If
lim x [ d d x { ln ( x ) } ] = 0
then
lim x ln ( x ) = lim x [ 0 d x ] = constant
The fundamental theorem of calculus does not even remotely support that. We have:
ln ( x ) = 1 x 1 t d t
Note, there is no x in that expression except on the limits. So:
lim x ln ( x ) = 1 1 t d t
The indefinite integral:
This expression:
lim x 1 x d x
Doesn't actually make sense, because 1 x d x is not well-defined, and, while it is common to refer it as a function of x, x is not a free variable.
A simple example, with no infinities:
lim x 1 x d x = lim x 1 x 2 2 = 1 2
But:
( lim x 1 x ) d x = d x = x
You simply can't swap integrals and limits that way.
Karsyn Beltran

Karsyn Beltran

Beginner2022-07-22Added 5 answers

It appears you are saying that if
lim x f ( x ) = 0 lim x 0 x f ( x ) d x  converges
in your instance, f ( x ) = 1 x
Although this would make analysis of integrals much simpler, it is not true. There are many functions that vanish at infinity whose integral diverges ( 1 x being a good example).

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