# Epsilon Delta Definition of Limit | Negation of Epsilon Delta Definition

In this post, we will learn the epsilon-delta definition of a limit with examples. We also provide the negative statement of the epsilon-delta definition of limits.

## Epsilon-Delta Definition of limit

Let f(x) be a function of a variable x such that f(x) tends \to L when x tends to a, that is,

$\lim\limits_{x \to a} f(x) = L$.

The epsilon-delta definition of this limit is given as follows: for every ε>0, there exists a δ>0 such that

|f(x)-L| < ε whenever 0<|x-a|<δ

holds true.

Let us understand the above ε-δ definition with the help of an example.

Example: Show that $\lim\limits_{x \to 0} x^2 = 0$ by epsilon-delta method.

Solution:

Let ε>0 be a given positive number. we need to find a δ>0 such that

$|x^2-0| < \epsilon$ whenever 0<|x-0|<δ …(I)

Choose δ = $\sqrt{\epsilon}$. Then δ>0. Now, for 0< |x| < δ = $\sqrt{\epsilon}$ we have

|x| < $\sqrt{\epsilon}$

$\Rightarrow |x|^2 < \epsilon$

$\Rightarrow |x^2| < \epsilon$ whenever 0 < |x-0| < δ =$\sqrt{\epsilon}$.

Thus (I) is true. Hence by epsilon-delta definition of limit, we can conclude that $\lim\limits_{x \to 0} x^2 = 0$.

We will now give the negative statement of the epsilon-delta definition of limit.

## Negation of Epsilon Delta Definition of limit

Suppose that $\lim\limits_{x \to a}$ f(x) = L, that is f(x) tends \to L when x→a. The negation of the epsilon-delta definition says the following:

f(x) does not tend \to L when x→a  then it is not true that for every ε>0, there exists a δ>0 such that

|f(x)-L| < ε, whenever 0<|x-a|<δ.

That is, if f(x) does not tend to L when x→a, then there exists some ε>0 such that for every δ>0 there exists some point x in the set {x : 0<|x-a|<δ} such that

|f(x)-L| ≥ ε.