Follow your curiosity

What discovery has been shared with you?

FACTREE gives you something interesting to discover every day — and something worth talking about together.

Start with one fact. Explore it, go deeper, then follow whichever branch catches your imagination.

Choose subjects for a surprise

Exploring any topic

Begin your discovery

Your next discovery is one click away.

Choose one or more subjects above, or leave Any Topic selected and let curiosity decide.

Mathematics

The Epsilon-Delta Definition of a Limit Explained

Quick fact

The epsilon-delta definition was largely refined in the 19th century, most notably by the mathematician Karl Weierstrass, to eliminate inconsistencies in early calculus that relied on 'infinitesimals.'

Why this is interesting

You've probably learned that a limit is the value a function 'gets closer and closer to.' But did you know that mathematicians, to make this truly precise, use a challenge game involving the Greek letters epsilon and delta?