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MATHEMATICS - CASE STUDY SOLUTION
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The thermal conductivity coefficient of a
material is a function of temperature. What is the coefficient at the
temperature of -∞, 1, +∞.
The function is:
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Diagram of f(t) when t is from 0 to 5 |
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When t = 1,
f(t) = f(1)
= 1 / [20 + (1 - 1)2]
= 0.05
From the left diagram, it can be found that when t = 1, f(t) is equal
to 0.05. The diagram verifies the previous calculated result.
Another method to solve this problem is to use the limit of the function.
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Diagram of f(t)
when t is from -1000 to 0 |
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When t = -∞,
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Diagram of f(t)
when t is from 0 to 1000 |
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When t = +∞,
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Discussion
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- Without limit concept
In the case of t approaches -∞ and +∞, when the value of t is
substituted into the function equation, the actual quantity of f(t) can not
be calculated, because -∞ and +∞ are not actual number.
- With limit concept
As f(t) approaches -∞ ( +∞), for each positive ε,
no matter how small, there is a corresponding positive δ,
such that if
then
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