# Limit of Sine of X over X/Geometric Proof

## Theorem

$\displaystyle \lim_{x \mathop \to 0} \frac {\sin x} x = 1$

## Geometric Proof

Let $\theta$ be an angle in the unit circle, measured in radians.

Define the following points:

 $\displaystyle O$ $=$ $\displaystyle \left({0, 0}\right)$ $\displaystyle A$ $=$ $\displaystyle \left({1, 0}\right)$ $\displaystyle B$ $=$ $\displaystyle \left({\cos \theta, \sin \theta}\right)$ $\displaystyle C$ $=$ $\displaystyle \left({1, \tan \theta}\right)$

and consider all $\theta$ in the open interval $\left({0 \,.\,.\, \dfrac \pi 2}\right)$.

From Area of Triangle in Terms of Side and Altitude, we have that $\triangle OAB$ has an area of $\dfrac 1 2 b h$ where:

$b = 1$
$h = \sin \theta$

and so:

$\operatorname {area}\triangle OAB = \dfrac 1 2 \sin \theta$

From Area of Sector, the sector formed by arc $AB$ subtending $O$ is $\dfrac \theta 2$.

Clearly this sector cannot be smaller in area than $\triangle OAB$, and so we have the inequality:

$\dfrac {\sin \theta} 2 \le \dfrac \theta 2$

for all $\theta \in \left({0 \,.\,.\, \dfrac \pi 2}\right)$.

Next, from Area of Triangle in Terms of Side and Altitude, we have that $\triangle OAC$ has an area of $\dfrac 1 2 b h$ where:

$b = 1$
$h = \tan \theta$

and so:

$\operatorname {area}\triangle OAC = \dfrac 1 2 \tan \theta$

$\triangle OAC$ is clearly not smaller than the sector.

We now have the following compound inequality:

$(A) \quad \dfrac 1 2 \sin \theta \le \dfrac 1 2 \theta \le \dfrac 1 2 \tan \theta$

for all $\theta \in \left({0 \,.\,.\, \dfrac \pi 2}\right)$.

Clearly, if any of the plane regions were to be reflected about the $x$-axis, the magnitudes of the signed areas would be the same.

The inequality $(A)$, then, will hold in quadrant $\text{IV}$ if the absolute value of all terms is taken, and so:

 $\displaystyle \left \vert{\frac 1 2 \sin \theta}\right\vert$ $\le$ $\displaystyle \left\vert{\frac 1 2 \theta}\right\vert \le \left\vert{\frac 1 2 \tan \theta}\right\vert$ for all $\theta \in \left({-\dfrac \pi 2 \,.\,.\, 0}\right) \cup \left({0 \,.\,.\, \dfrac \pi 2}\right)$ $\displaystyle \implies \ \$ $\displaystyle \frac 1 2 \left \vert{\sin \theta}\right\vert$ $\le$ $\displaystyle \frac 1 2 \left\vert{\theta}\right\vert \le \frac 1 2 \left\vert{\tan \theta}\right\vert$ $\displaystyle \implies \ \$ $\displaystyle 1$ $\le$ $\displaystyle \frac {\vert\theta\vert} {\vert \sin \theta\vert} \le \frac 1 {\vert \cos\theta \vert}$ by multiplying all terms by $\dfrac 2 {\vert \sin \theta \vert}$ $\displaystyle \implies \ \$ $\displaystyle 1$ $\le$ $\displaystyle \left \vert{ \frac {\theta}{\sin \theta} }\right \vert \le \left \vert{ \frac 1 {\cos \theta} }\right \vert$

Now, we have that $\dfrac{\theta}{\sin\theta} \ge 0$ on $\left({-\dfrac \pi 2 \,.\,.\, 0}\right) \cup \left({0 \,.\,.\, \dfrac \pi 2}\right)$.

Also, we have that $\dfrac 1 {\cos \theta} \ge 0$ on $\left({-\dfrac \pi 2 \,.\,.\, 0}\right) \cup \left({0 \,.\,.\, \dfrac \pi 2}\right)$.

So our absolute value signs are not needed.

Hence we arrive at:

$1 \le \dfrac \theta {\sin \theta} \le \dfrac 1 {\cos \theta}$

for all $\theta \in \left({-\dfrac \pi 2 \,.\,.\, 0}\right) \cup \left({0 \,.\,.\, \dfrac \pi 2}\right)$.

$1 \ge \dfrac{\sin\theta}{\theta} \ge \cos \theta$

for all $\theta \in \left({-\dfrac \pi 2 \,.\,.\, 0}\right) \cup \left({0 \,.\,.\, \dfrac \pi 2}\right)$.

Taking to the limit:

$\displaystyle \lim_{\theta \to 0} \ 1 = 1$
$\displaystyle \lim_{\theta \to 0} \ \cos \theta = 1$

So by the Squeeze Theorem:

$\displaystyle \lim_{\theta \to 0} \frac{\sin\theta}{\theta} = 1$

$\blacksquare$