Answer: The limit of
as
approaches infinity is indeterminate. This means that the function does not approach a specific value as
goes to infinity.
Explanation:
Given the function:
![\[ f(n) = \sin^4(\pi (n + (1)/(2))) \]](https://img.qammunity.org/2024/formulas/mathematics/college/dzhje3gz1776e7q36mptd3lk5udd23zwgt.png)
We want to find:
![\[ \lim_{{n \to \infty}} f(n) \]](https://img.qammunity.org/2024/formulas/mathematics/college/q8cje3qv31mq0xfhsai0j4hhp8t3jhrx57.png)
Step 1: Understand the inner function
The inner function is
. As
approaches infinity, this term will also approach infinity. This means the argument of the sine function will take on increasingly larger values.
Step 2: Behavior of the sine function
The sine function oscillates between -1 and 1 for all real numbers. Specifically,
will always be -1 or 1 because:
![\[ \sin(\pi/2) = 1 \]](https://img.qammunity.org/2024/formulas/mathematics/college/nexniul9pbhzltr1bfdken2uwxwrhj4xcc.png)
\[ \sin(3\pi/2) = -1 \]
... and so on for every integer value of
.
Step 3: Raising to the fourth power
Regardless of whether
is 1 or -1, when you raise it to the fourth power, the result will always be 1. This is because:
![\[ 1^4 = 1 \]](https://img.qammunity.org/2024/formulas/mathematics/college/26p95rdnhq2yd0xmexi28okdmyxff3sffi.png)
![\[ (-1)^4 = 1 \]](https://img.qammunity.org/2024/formulas/mathematics/college/1s4c8yhhn5urvj5ordo6rh89rng6a6mtph.png)
Step 4: Conclusion
Given that for all integer values of
,
will always be 1, the limit as
approaches infinity is also 1.
![\[ \lim_{{n \to \infty}} \sin^4(\pi (n + (1)/(2))) = 1 \]](https://img.qammunity.org/2024/formulas/mathematics/college/ifh0rfzibrosp3y020luwxzcrghqkj2okx.png)