Mistake Master

Determining Limits Using the Squeeze Theorem AB & BC

If $g(x) \le f(x) \le h(x)$ near $a$, and $g$ and $h$ share the same limit $L$ there, then $f$ is trapped and its limit is also $L$. The theorem's value is that $f$ itself need not be tractable: the standard case is a bounded but limitless factor such as $\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)$ multiplied by something shrinking to zero, where the limit laws cannot be applied at all.

The failures are all failures to verify. Bounds get quoted without being multiplied through, so $-1 \le \sin \le 1$ is offered as though it settled a limit when those bounds do not meet. Bounds that close on different values get used anyway, and the theorem concludes nothing there. And bounds valid only for $x > 0$ get applied to a two-sided limit, which matters because multiplying an inequality by a negative quantity reverses it.

-x² x² sin(1/x) both bounds → 0 the oscillation never stops, but the corridor closes
Drawn to scale. The middle curve keeps oscillating all the way in; what forces the limit is the corridor narrowing to a point.
BOUNDS THAT DO NOT MEET BOUNDS THAT MEET -1 ≤ sin(1/x) ≤ 1 -x² ≤ x² sin(1/x) ≤ x² limits: -1 and 1 limits: 0 and 0 they disagree they agree theorem says nothing the limit is 0 the multiplication by x² is the step that turns a true statement into a useful one
Both inequalities on the left are true. Truth is not the requirement; meeting is.

The work

3 ways in · any order
Lesson
Determining Limits Using the Squeeze Theorem

States both hypotheses and why each is needed, builds the bounds for the standard oscillating example step by step, and handles the sign problem when the multiplier is not always positive.

Skill check · 10 scenarios
Diagnostic
10-item topic check

Ten items on the single failure mode of this topic: invoking the Squeeze Theorem without verifying that the bounds hold near the point and share a limit. Take it cold to see whether it is yours, or after the lesson to confirm it is not.

Not yet available · 10 items
Targeted Practice
Drill a single misconception

Pick one of the failure modes you missed and drill it on its own. The round is adaptive: two correct in a row clears the misconception and moves you to the next.

Take the diagnostic to identify your misconceptions