$$\lim_{x \rightarrow 0} \ln x$$

Project ID: 
3000020063
Question: 

David was tasked with calculating the following limit: $$ \lim_{x \rightarrow 0} \ln x $$

From his math lessons, he remembered the procedure of solving when we substitute for $x$ a number very close to the point at which we are trying to find the limit.

First, David sketched the graph of the function $y = \ln x$:

From the graph, he observed that as $x$ approaches $0$, the function values decrease below all bounds. He therefore concluded that: $$ \lim_{x \rightarrow 0} \ln x = -\infty $$

Did David find the limit correctly? Explain.

Answer 1: 

No. The limit of the function $y = \ln x$ at the point $x = 0$ does not exist.

Answer 2: 

Yes. The limit is determined correctly.

Answer 3: 

No. The limit of the function $y=\ln x$ at the point $x=0$ can be calculated as the function value at the point $0$, i.e., the correct result of our limit is $1$.

Answer 4: 

No. The graph is not correct. If we were to draw the correct graph, we would see that the limit of the function $y=\ln x$ at the point $x=0$ is equal to $+\infty$.

Correct Answer: 
Answer 1
Hint: 

The function $y = \ln x$ at the point $x = 0$ does not have a limit. The limit from the right is $−\infty$, but the limit from the left does not exist (the logarithm is not defined for negative $x$ at all), and therefore there is no two-sided limit.