Exercise 715Calculus › Single-variable calculus › LimitsL1Added 1 Nov 2026
sin(1/x) has no limit at 0
#sequences#non-existence of limits
Statement
Prove that has no limit as .
Hint
If had a limit , then for every sequence with . Find two sequences that give different values.
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Solution
The method. To show that a limit does not exist, it is enough to find two sequences tending to along which has different limits.
First sequence. Let . Then and for all . So if the limit exists, it equals .
Second sequence. Let . Then and for all . So if the limit exists, it equals .
Conclusion. The limit would have to equal both and , which is impossible. Hence has no limit at .
Remark. On every interval the function takes every value in infinitely often, which is why it cannot settle down.