Why doesn't Mathematica evaluate this simple limit?
On a different occasion (Dirichlet coefficients as limits: wrong) I have shown that the sometimes limited capabilities of the function Limit[]
can be improved by using an intermediate Series[].
Following this idea we can write for the limit in question
Limit[Expand[
Normal[Series[(n - n Sqrt[1 + x])^2, {x, 0, 2}]] /.
x -> 10/ n + Sin[n]/n^2], n -> \[Infinity]]
(* 25 *)
In this manner we can even calculate the limit with a symbolic parameter "a"
Limit[Expand[
Normal[Series[(n - n Sqrt[1 + x])^2, {x, 0, 2}]] /. x -> a/ n + Sin[n]/n^2],
n -> \[Infinity]]
(* a^2/4 *)
Also, a general function is permissible (provided Limit[f[n]/n,n -> \[Infinity]] == 0
)
Limit[
Expand[Normal[Series[(n - n Sqrt[1 + x])^2, {x, 0, 2}]] /.
x -> a/ n + f[n]/n], n -> \[Infinity]]
(* Limit[a^2/4 + 1/2 a f[n] + f[n]^2/4, n -> \[Infinity]] *)
Where the final Limit can only be assessed once f[n] is given explicitly.
Modification of the OP.
Taking f[n] = Sin[n]
(instead of f[n] = Sin[n]/n
as in the OP) we find
Limit[Expand[
Normal[Series[(n - n Sqrt[1 + x])^2, {x, 0, 2}]] /. x -> a/ n + Sin[n]/n],
n -> \[Infinity]]
(* Limit[a^2/4 + 1/2 a Sin[n] + Sin[n]^2/4, n -> \[Infinity]] *)
Taking the x-expansion beyond x^2 we get for all higher powers
Limit[Expand[
Normal[Series[(n - n Sqrt[1 + x])^2, {x, 0, 3}]] /. x -> a/ n + Sin[n]/n],
n -> \[Infinity]]
(* 1/4 (a + Interval[{-1, 1}])^2 *)
The problem here is the Sin[n]
which has no limit since it is an oscillating function, but it is always bounded by $\pm 1$: if you change you code with the following:
Limit[(n - Sqrt[1 + 10 n + n^2])^2, n -> Infinity]
with 1 in place of Sin
(or -1 if you want), you get the result:
(*25*)
Since the functionality of Limit[]
has been improved in version 11.2, the limit is now evaluated rather easily:
Limit[(n - Sqrt[Sin[n] + 10 n + n^2])^2, n -> ∞]
25