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Indeterminate Forms

L'Hopital's rule provides a method for evaluating indeterminate limits of the form 0/0 or ∞/∞. It states that if the limit of the numerator and denominator of a function both approach 0 or ∞, then the limit can be determined by taking the derivative of the numerator and denominator and evaluating the resulting limit. Several examples demonstrate applying L'Hopital's rule to evaluate limits that are indeterminate forms, finding simplified expressions or determinate limits that allow evaluation of the original limit.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
65 views10 pages

Indeterminate Forms

L'Hopital's rule provides a method for evaluating indeterminate limits of the form 0/0 or ∞/∞. It states that if the limit of the numerator and denominator of a function both approach 0 or ∞, then the limit can be determined by taking the derivative of the numerator and denominator and evaluating the resulting limit. Several examples demonstrate applying L'Hopital's rule to evaluate limits that are indeterminate forms, finding simplified expressions or determinate limits that allow evaluation of the original limit.

Uploaded by

het sevak
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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102000104 - CALCULUS

UNIT-1 : DIFFERENTIATION
Chapter 2
Indeterminate Forms

A mathematical expression is said to be indeterminate if it is not definitively or precisely deter-


mined. Certain forms of limits are said to be indeterminate when merely knowing the limiting
behavior of individual parts of the expression is not sufficient to actually determine the overall
f (x)
limit. For example, a limit of the form 0/0, i.e., lim where lim f (x) = lim g(x) = 0, is
x→a g(x) x→a x→a
indeterminate since the value of the overall limit actually depends on the limiting behavior of
the combination of the two functions. For example,
x x2
lim = 1, while lim = 0.
x→0 x x→0 x

There are seven indeterminate forms involving 0, 1, and ∞ as follows:


0 ∞
, 0 · ∞, , ∞ − ∞, 00 , ∞0 , 1∞ .
0 ∞

L’ Hôpital’s Rule

Let f and g be two differentiable functions on I − {a}, where I is an open interval containing a.
If
lim f (x) = lim g(x) = 0 or ± ∞,
x→a x→a

then
f (x) f 0 (x)
lim = lim 0 ,
x→a g(x) x→a g (x)

provided the right side limit exists.


The differentiation of the numerator and denominator often simplifies the quotient and/or
converts it to a determinate form, allowing the limit to be evaluated more easily.
ex − 1 − x
Example 2.0.1. Evaluate lim .
x→0 x2
Solution. The given form is 0/0. Applying L’ Hôpital’s Rule, we have

ex − 1 − x
 
0
lim form
x→0 x2 0

2
Sec 1.1 Indeterminate Forms 3

ex − 1
 
0
= lim still form
x→0 2x 0
x
e
= lim
x→0 2
1
= . 
2
x − xx
Example 2.0.2. Evaluate lim .
x→1 1 + log x − x

Solution. The given form is 0/0. Applying L’ Hôpital’s Rule, we have


x − xx
lim
x→1 1 + log x − x

1 − (1 + log x)xx
= lim 1
x→1
x
−1
1

−(1 + log x)(1 + log x)xx − xx x
= lim
x→1 − x12
(1 + log x)2 xx + xx x1

= 1
x2
2
(1 + 0) · 1 + 1(1)
=
1
= 2. 
1 + sin x − cos x + log(1 − x)
Example 2.0.3. Evaluate lim .
x→0 x tan2 x
Solution. The given form is 0/0. Applying L’ Hôpital’s Rule, we have
1 + sin x − cos x + log(1 − x)
lim
x→0 x tan2 x
1 + sin x − cos x + log(1 − x)  x 2
= lim ·
x→0 x3 tan x
1 + sin x − cos x + log(1 − x)
= lim · (1)
x→0 x3
cos x + sin x − 1/(1 − x)
= lim
x→0 3x2
− sin x + cos x − 1/(1 − x)2
= lim
x→0 6x
− cos x − sin x − 2/(1 − x)3
= lim
x→0 6
1
= − . 
2
sin 3x + ax + bx3
Example 2.0.4. Find the values of a and b such that lim = 0.
x→0 x3
Solution. The given form is 0/0. Applying L’ Hôpital’s Rule, we have
sin 3x + ax + bx3
lim =0
x→0 x3
4 Chapter 1 Indeterminate Forms

3 cos 3x + a + 3bx2
⇒ lim =0
x→0 3x2
3+a
⇒ lim =0
x→0 0
which gives
a+3=0 ⇒ a = −3.
Thus
3 cos 3x − 3 + 3bx2
lim =0
x→0 3x2
−9 sin 3x − 3 + 6bx
⇒ lim =0
x→0
  6x  
9 sin 3x
⇒ lim − +b =0
x→0 2 3x
9
⇒ − +b=0
2
9
⇒ b= .
2
9
Hence, a = −3, b = . 
2
ln x
Example 2.0.5. Evaluate lim √ .
x→∞ 2 x

Solution. The given form is ∞/∞. Applying L’ Hôpital’s Rule, we have


1
ln x x 1 1
lim √ = lim 1 −1/2
 = lim −1/2
= lim 1/2 = 0. 
x→∞ 2 x x→∞ 2
2
x x→∞ x·x x→∞ x
Example 2.0.6. Evaluate lim logx tan x.
x→0

Solution. Using change of base property,


1
log tan x · sec2 x x
lim logx tan x = lim = lim tan x 1 = lim · sec2 x = 1. 
x→0 x→0 log x x→0
x
x→0 tan x
 x
Example 2.0.7. Evaluate lim log 2 − · cot(x − a).
x→a a
Solution. The given form is 0 · ∞. Observe that
 x
lim log 2 − · cot(x − a)
x→a a
 x
log 2 −
= lim a
x→a tan(x − a)
1
− a1

2−x/a
= lim
x→a sec2 (x − a)
1
− a1

2−1
= lim
x→a sec2 0
1
= − . 
a
Sec 1.1 Indeterminate Forms 5

x
Example 2.0.8. Evaluate lim sin2 · ln x.
x→0 2
Solution. The given form is 0 · ∞. Observe that
x
lim sin2 · ln x
x→0 2
ln x
= lim
x→0 cosec2 x
2
1
x
= lim
2 cosec x2 (− cosec x2 cot x2 ) ·
x→0 1
2
1
= − lim
x→0 x cosec2 x cot x
2 2
sin2 x2 · sin x2
= − lim
x→0 x cos x2
sin3 x2
= − lim
x→0 x cos x
2
x 3
sin3 x2

2
= − lim  ·
x→0 x 3 x cos x2
2
2
x
= − lim (1) ·
x→0 8 cos x2
0
= −
8 cos 0
= 0. 
 
1 1
Example 2.0.9. Evaluate lim − .
x→0 x2 sin2 x
Solution. The given form is ∞ − ∞. Observe that
 
1 1
lim −
x→0 x2 sin2 x
sin2 x − x2
= lim
x→0 x2 sin2 x

sin2 x − x2 x2
 
= lim
x→0 x4 sin2 x
sin2 x − x2
= lim (1)
x→0 x4
2 sin x cos x − 2x
= lim
x→0 4x3
sin 2x − 2x
= lim
x→0 4x3
2 cos 2x − 2
= lim
x→0 12x2
6 Chapter 1 Indeterminate Forms

cos 2x − 1
= lim
x→0 6x2
−2 sin 2x
= lim
x→0 6(2x)
2 sin 2x
= − lim
6 x→0 2x
1
= − . 
3
 
1
Example 2.0.10. Prove that lim cot x − = 0.
x→0 x
Solution. The given form is ∞ − ∞. Observe that
 
1
lim cot x −
x→0 x
 
1 1
= lim −
x→0 tan x x
x − tan x
= lim
x→0 x tan x

x − tan x x
= lim
x→0 x2 tan x
x − tan x
= lim (1)
x→0 x2
1 − sec2 x
= lim
x→0 2x
−2 sec2 x tan x
= lim
x→0 2

= 0. 
 
1 x 1
Example 2.0.11. Prove that lim − =− .
x→1 log x x − 1 2
Solution. The given form is ∞ − ∞. Observe that
 
1 x
lim −
x→1 log x x − 1
x − 1 − x log x
= lim
x→1 log x(x − 1)

1 − x x1 − log x

= lim
x→1 log x + (x − 1) 1

x
Sec 1.1 Indeterminate Forms 7

− log x
= lim 1
x→1 log x + 1 −
x

− x1
= lim 1
x→1
x
+ x12
1
= − . 
2
Example 2.0.12. Evaluate lim (sin x)tan x .
x→π/2

Solution. The given form is 1∞ . Let

L = lim (sin x)tan x


x→π/2
 
tan x
⇒ log L = log lim (sin x)
x→π/2

= lim tan x log (sin x)


x→π/2
 
log (sin x) 0
= lim form
x→π/2 cot x 0
1
cos x
= lim sin x 2
x→π/2 −coscec x

= − lim sin x cos x = 0.


x→π/2

Thus
log L = 0 ⇒ L = e0 = 1. 
 1−cos x
1
Example 2.0.13. Evaluate lim .
x→0 x
Solution. The given form is ∞0 . Let
 1−cos x
1
L = lim
x→0 x
 
1
⇒ log L = lim (1 − cos x) log
x→0 x
 x 
= lim 2 sin2 (− log x)
x→0 2
sin2 x2  x 2
= 2 lim  ·
x 2
(− log x)
x→0 2
2
2
= lim x2 (− log x)
4 x→0
8 Chapter 1 Indeterminate Forms

1 (− log x)
= lim 1
2 x→0 x2

1 −1
= lim x2
2 x→0 − x3
1 x2
= lim = 0.
2 x→0 2
Thus
log L = 0 ⇒ L = e0 = 1. 
1
Example 2.0.14. Evaluate lim (1 − x2 ) log(1−x) .
x→1

Solution. The given form is 00 . Let


1
L = lim 1 − x2
 log(1−x)
x→1

1
log 1 − x2

⇒ log L = lim
x→1 log(1 − x)

2x
− 1−x 2
= lim 1
x→1 − 1−x
2x(1 − x)
= lim
x→1 (1 − x)(1 + x)

2x
= lim = 1.
x→1 1 + x

Thus
log L = 1 ⇒ L = e1 = e. 

Example 2.0.15. Prove that lim (ax + x)1/x = ae.


x→0

Solution. The given form is 1∞ . Let

L = lim (ax + x)1/x


x→0

1
⇒ log L = lim log(ax + x)
x→0 x
log(ax + x)
= lim
x→0 x
1
ax +x
(ax log a + 1)
= lim
x→0 1
ax log a + 1
= lim
x→0 ax + x
Sec 1.1 Indeterminate Forms 9

a0 log a + 1
= lim
x→0 a0 + 0
log a + log e
= lim
x→0 1

= log ae.

Thus
log L = log ae ⇒ L = ae. 

Exercise

Exercise 2.0.1. Evaluate the following limits:


ex + e−x − x2 − 2
 
1 1
(1) lim (10) lim −
x→0 sin2 x − x2 x→2 x − 2 log(x − 1)
xx − x
 
1 1
(2) lim (11) lim −
x→1 x − 1 − log x x→0 2x x(eπx + 1)
tan x − sin x
 
(3) lim 1 2
(12) lim − cot x
x→0 sin3 x x→0 x2
cosh x − cos x  x 1/x
(4) lim e + e2x + e3x
x→0 x sin x (13) lim
x→0 3
x a − ax
(5) lim  1/x2
x→a xx − aa tan x
(14) lim
x 2
x→0 x
e sin x − x − x
(6) lim 2
x→0 x + x log (1 − x) (15) lim (cos x)cot x
x→0

log (x − π2 ) 
(16) lim a1/x − 1 x
(7) lim x→∞
x→π/2 tan x
1/log(1−x)
(8) lim logtan x tan 2x (17) lim (1 − x2 )
x→1
x→0
 x
πx ax + 1
(9) lim (x2 − 1) tan (18) lim
x→1 2 x→∞ ax − 1
sin 2x + a sin x
Exercise 2.0.2. If lim is finite, find the value of a and hence limit.
x→0 x3
x(1 + a cos x) − b sin x
Exercise 2.0.3. If lim = 1, find the value of a and b.
x→0 x3
sin x3 − x3
Exercise 2.0.4. Use Taylor’s series to conjecture lim
x→0 x9
sin x sin−1 x − x3
Exercise 2.0.5. Use Taylor’s series to conjecture lim
x→0 x6
10 Chapter 1 Indeterminate Forms

Answers

1 1 1 − log a 2 4 1
2.0.1 (1) − (2) 2 (3) (4) 1 (5) (6) − (7) 0 (8) 1 (9) − (10) −
4 2 1 + log a 3 π 2
π 2 2 1/3 2/a
(11) (12) (13) e (14) e (15) 1 (16) log a (17) e (18) e
4 3
5 3 1 1
2.0.2 a = −2, −1 2.0.3 a = − , b = − 2.0.4 − 2.0.5
2 2 6 18

Viva Questions

sin x
(1) What is the value of lim ? (1)
x→0 x

tan x
(2) What is the value of lim ? (1)
x→0 x
(3) Which are the different indeterminate forms?

(4) Which rule you apply to find the limit of a function having an indeterminate form?
1
(5) What is the value of lim sin ? (does not exist)
x→0 x
1
(6) What is the value of lim x sin ? (0)
x→0 x
 
x+2 if x 6= 0 x+1 if x 6= 0
(7) Let f (x) = and g(x) =
0 if x = 0 0 if x = 0

f 0(x)
(a) What is lim ? (1)
x→0g0(x)
f (x)
(b) What is lim ? (2)
x→0 g(x)

(c) Why this does not contradict the L’Hôpital’s Rule?


 x
1
(8) Which is the indeterminate form in lim 1 + . (1∞ )
x→∞ x
(9) Give an example of a function which has an indeterminate form of ∞0 .
 
1
(10) What is the value of lim x sin ? (1)
x→∞ x
zzzzzzz

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