## 17 Limits ¶

### 17.1 Functions and Variables for Limits ¶

Option variable: lhospitallim ¶

  Default value: 4

  `lhospitallim` is the maximum number of times L’Hospital’s rule is used in `limit`. This prevents infinite looping in cases like `limit (cot(x)/csc(x), x, 0)`.

  Categories: Limits ·

Function: limit
`limit` (expr, x, val, dir)
`limit` (expr, x, val)
`limit` (expr) ¶

  Computes the limit of expr as the real variable x approaches the value val from the direction dir. dir may have the value `plus` for a limit from above, `minus` for a limit from below, or may be omitted (implying a two-sided limit is to be computed).

  `limit` uses the following special symbols: `inf` (positive infinity) and `minf` (negative infinity). On output it may also use `und` (undefined), `ind` (indefinite but bounded) and `infinity` (complex infinity).

  `infinity` (complex infinity) is returned when the limit of the absolute value of the expression is positive infinity, but the limit of the expression itself is not positive infinity or negative infinity. This includes cases where the limit of the complex argument is a constant, as in `limit(log(x), x, minf)`, cases where the complex argument oscillates, as in `limit((-2)^x, x, inf)`, and cases where the complex argument is different for either side of a two-sided limit, as in `limit(1/x, x, 0)` and `limit(log(x), x, 0)`.

  `lhospitallim` is the maximum number of times L’Hospital’s rule is used in `limit`. This prevents infinite looping in cases like `limit (cot(x)/csc(x), x, 0)`.

  `tlimswitch` when true will allow the `limit` command to use Taylor series expansion when necessary.

  `limsubst` prevents `limit` from attempting substitutions on unknown forms. This is to avoid bugs like `limit (f(n)/f(n+1), n, inf)` giving 1. Setting `limsubst` to `true` will allow such substitutions.

  `limit` with one argument is often called upon to simplify constant expressions, for example, `limit (inf-1)`.

  `example (limit)` displays some examples.

  For the method see Wang, P., "Evaluation of Definite Integrals by Symbolic Manipulation", Ph.D. thesis, MAC TR-92, October 1971.

  Categories: Limits ·

Option variable: limsubst ¶

  Default value: `false`

  prevents `limit` from attempting substitutions on unknown forms. This is to avoid bugs like `limit (f(n)/f(n+1), n, inf)` giving 1. Setting `limsubst` to `true` will allow such substitutions.

  Categories: Limits ·

Function: tlimit
`tlimit` (expr, x, val, dir)
`tlimit` (expr, x, val)
`tlimit` (expr) ¶

  Take the limit of the Taylor series expansion of `expr` in `x` at `val` from direction `dir`.

  Categories: Limits ·

Option variable: tlimswitch ¶

  Default value: `true`

  When `tlimswitch` is `true`, the `limit` command will use a Taylor series expansion if the limit of the input expression cannot be computed directly. This allows evaluation of limits such as `limit(x/(x-1)-1/log(x),x,1,plus)`. When `tlimswitch` is `false` and the limit of input expression cannot be computed directly, `limit` will return an unevaluated limit expression.

  Categories: Limits ·

Function: gruntz
`gruntz` (expr, var, value)
`gruntz` (expr, var, value, direction) ¶

  Compute limit of expression expr with respect to variable var at value. When value is not infinite (i.e., not `inf` or `minf`), direction must be supplied, either `plus` for a limit from above, or `minus` for a limit from below.

  If `gruntz` cannot find the limit, an unevaluated expression `gruntz(...)` is returned.

  `gruntz` implements the method described in the dissertation of Dominik Gruntz, "On Computing Limits in a Symbolic Manipulation System" (ETH Zurich, 1996).

  The algorithm identifies the most rapidly varying subexpression, replaces it with a new variable, rewrites the expression in terms of the new variable, and then repeats.

  The algorithm doesn’t handle oscillating functions, so it can’t do things like `limit(sin(x)/x, x, inf)`.

  To handle limits involving functions such as `gamma(x)` and `erf(x)`, the Gruntz algorithm requires them to be written in terms of asymptotic expansions, which Maxima cannot currently do.

  The Gruntz algorithm assumes that variables and expressions are real, so, for example, it can’t handle `limit((-2)^x, x, inf)`.

  `gruntz` is one of the methods called from `limit`.

  Categories: Limits ·