Find the limit (if it exists) $\lim_{(x,y) \to (0,0)} \dfrac{xy}{x^2 + |y|}.$

multivariable-calculus

I want to find the limit $$\lim_{(x,y) \to (0,0)} \dfrac{x \sin(y)}{x^2 + |y|},$$ if it exists. My idea was to use the fundamental trig limit to obtain $$\lim_{(x,y) \to (0,0)} \dfrac{x \sin(y)}{x^2 + |y|} = \lim_{(x,y) \to (0,0)} \dfrac{xy}{x^2 + |y|} \dfrac{\sin{y}}{y},$$ but now, I need to calculate the limit of the first factor, which I can't.

If you solve the limit computationally, you'll know it exists and it equals zero, so you could use polar coordinates to prove it. But the exercise do not say the limit exists, so the use of polar coordinates is not allowed.

Do you know how to find this limit $$\lim_{(x,y) \to (0,0)} \dfrac{xy}{x^2 + |y|}?$$

Best Answer

You can apply the squeeze theorem:

\begin{align*} 0\leq \left|\frac{x\sin(y)}{x^{2} + |y|}\right| & = \frac{|x\sin(y)|}{x^{2} + |y|} \leq \frac{|x\sin(y)|}{|y|} = |x|\left|\frac{\sin(y)}{y}\right|\xrightarrow{(x,y)\to(0,0)} 0\times 1 = 0 \end{align*}

As to the proposed limit in the title of the question, you can proceed as follows: \begin{align*} 0\leq\left|\frac{xy}{x^{2} + |y|}\right| & = \frac{|xy|}{x^{2} + |y|} \leq \frac{|xy|}{|y|} = |x| \xrightarrow{(x,y)\to(0,0)} 0 \end{align*}

Related Question