47 LHopitas Rute Contemporary Caleulus 47 Hb PITAL'S RULE fec+h) — fe When we began taking limits of slopes of secant lines, Mgog = as hZO , we frequently ‘encountered one difficulty: both the numerator and the denominator approached 0. And since the denominator approached 0, we could not apply the Main Limit Theorem, In each case, however, we ‘managed to get past this "0/0" difficulty by using algebra or geometry or trigonometry, but there was no ‘common approach or pattern, The algebraic steps we used to evaluate sin(2-+h)~sin(2) fim 2th) =4 h i seem quite diferent from the trigonometric steps needed for im In this section we consider a single technique, called I'H8 pital’s Rule (pronounced Low-Pee—Tall}, which enables us to quickly and easily evaluate limits ofthe form "0/0" as well as several other difficult forms. A Linear Example ‘Two linear functions are given in Fig. 1,and we need to find ti £09 Unfortunately, lim f(x) =0 and lim g(x) =0 so g(x) as at ‘we cannot apply the Main Limit Theorem. However, we know £ and g are linear, we can calculate their slopes from Fig. 1, and we ‘know that they both go through the point (5,0) so we can find their equations: fx) =-2(—5) and g(x) = 3(x-5). im 2225) ss 3-5) spacer Now the limit In fact, this pattern works for any two lincar functions: If f and g are linear functions with slopes m and m#0 and acommon root at x= a, (£08) = f(a) = m(x—a) and g(x) - g(a) = (xa) so f(x) = m{K—a) and g(x) = n(x -a)) fG) m(x-a) __m _ slope off = lim ———~ = “y= Slope of then lim re g(x) ee (xa) “The really powerful result, discovered by John Bemoulli and named forthe Marquis de 114 pital who published i in his calculus book, s thatthe same pater is tre fr differentiable functions even if they are not linear. WSBCTC 447 LHopitas Rute Contemporary Caleulus Ica for a proof: Even though f and g may not be linear functions, they are differentiable so atthe point X=a they are “almost lineat” in the sense that they are well approximated by their tangent lines at that point (Fig. 2): since fa) = g(a) =0 (x)= f(a) + £@)X-a) =F a\(X-a) and (x) = gla) + 2 @K-8) = 2 LE. 7 jim 29 5 jm LOG—o me a(x) gi(a)(x- a) ‘Then Fa) (Unfortunately, we have ignored a couple subtle difficulties such as g(x) or (x) possibly being © when x is close to a, A proof of PHA pital’s Rule is difficult and is not included.) x +sin(Sx) nx) mo By ml ae Example 1: Use 116 pital’s Rule to determine lim and lim Solution: (a) We could evaluate this limit without I pital’s Rule but lets use it, We can mateh the 3x. Then £(0)=0, 200) =0,and f and g are differentiable with £"(x)=2x-+ Seos(Sx) and g (x)=3 s0 x? + sin( 5x) and 200) pattern of THO pita’ Ree by ting «=0, 0) fim 2 tsinSx) _ 10) _ 204Sc0ox50) _ xr sinGa) _ - % = mt Bx = F@ = (b) Let a=1,1(x)=In(x) and g(x) =e ©. Then f(1)=0, (1)=0, f and g are differentiable for x * Then near 1 (x#0),and f(x) = 1x and gx) tim BO) _ £0 ans 1 lim ae 7 BD =- 160852) tiny Practice 1: Use IH pita’s Rule to find lim iter 6 mo 3x sa s2e8 Strong Version of L'110 pitas Rule LH pitas Rute can be strengthened to include the case when g(a) =0 and the indeterminate form °20/20", the ease when both f and g increase without any bound, (@). © wsBCTC 247 LHopitas Rute Contemporary Caleulus 5 Example2: Evaluate lim “_ oe Sx Solution: As "x +2", both f(x) = e”* and g(x) = Sx increase without bound so we have an "22/20" indeterminate form and can use the Strong Version HO pital's Rule: a a é Te tim £ = tim see Sy eS ‘The limit of fg’ may also be an indeterminate form, and then we can apply I'H6 pital’s Rule to the ratio f¥g'. We can continue using 16 pital’s Rule at each stage as long as we have an indeterminate quotient. Example3: lim —~— oa y= sin(x) =sin(x) + 0 so Solution: As x > 0, f(x)=x7 GO and gw) x 3x? "O> tin aap = tim "8° so we can se 18 pitas Rule again x0 88) ico) ~ ° “_ an OF 10" = tim ="$ and again 3 sing) ~ ° “ . * = lim -f-6 #8 costa) xtet Practice 2: Use THO pital’s Rule wo find lim © oe 4 8r @ wspcrc 347 LHopitas Rute Contemporary Caleulus Which Function Grows Faster? Sometimes we want to compare the asymptotic behavior of two systems or functions for large values of x, and 1H6 pital’s Rule can be a useful tool. For example, if we have two different algorithms for sorting names, and each algorithm takes longer and longer to sort larger collections of names, we may want 10 know which algorithm will accomplish the task more efficiently for really large collections of names. Example 4: Algorithm A requires n-In(n) steps to sort n names and algorithm B requires n!* steps Which algorithm will be better for sorting very large collections of names? inn) Solution: We can compare the ratio of the number of steps each algorithm requires, «and then, n-In(n) 7 take the limit ofthis ratio as grows arbitrarily large: Lim If this limit is infinite, we say that n-In(n) "grows faster" than n! IF the limit is 0, we say that n'® grows faster than mn(a). Since n'in(a) and a! both grow arbitrarily large when n is large, we can algebraically In simplify the ratio to 4p and then use L'Hopita's Rule tim 2 ig Eo ting 2 woe we O50 me Tn lS grows faster than n-in(n) so algorithm A requires fewer steps for realy large sorts. Practice 3: Algorithm A requites e” operations to find the shortest path connecting 1 towns, algorithm B requires 100-In(n) operations for the same task, and algorithm C requires n° operations. Which algorithm is best for finding the shortest path connecting a very large number of towns? Worst? Other "Indeterminate Forms" "0/0" is called an indeterminate form because knowing that f approaches 0 and g approaches 0 is not ‘enough to determine the limit of fig, en if ithas a limit. The ratio of a "small” number divided by a "small" number can be almost anything as the three simple “0/0” examples show: lim axix=3, tim x7 =0 ,and lim Sxix? = 2 Similarly, */00* is an indeterminate form because knowing that f and g both grow arbitrarily large is not enough to determine the value limit of tlg_ or if the limit exists lim 3xx=3, Tim x7ix = » and lim sxx*=0 WSBCTC47 LHopitas Rute Contemporary Caleulus s Besides the indeterminate quotient forms "0/0" and "2/2" there are several other "indoterminate forms." In ‘each case, the resulting limit depends not only on each function's limit but also on how quickly each function approaches its limit Product: If f approaches 0, and g grows arbitrarily large, the product fg has the indeterminant form “0 - Exponent: If f and g both approach 0, the function © has the indeterminant form "0°." Iefapproaches 1, and g grows arbitrarily large, the function £® has the indeterminant form "1°." If grows arbitrarily large, and g approaches 0, the function 1® has the indeterminant for Difference: If f and g both grow arbitrarily large, the funetion fg has the indeterminant form "20 — 9°." Unfortunately, HO pitas Rule can only be used directly with an indeterminate quotient ("010* or“), but these other forms can be algebraically manipulated into quotients, ané then 1H ptal’s Rule can be applied tothe resulting quotient Example S: Evaluate Tim win(x) (" 0(-%)" form) Solution: ‘This limit involves an indeterminate product, and we need a quotient inorder to apply TH pita’ Rule. We can rewrite the product xn(x) as the quotient “Tf” , and then . I 2 Tim x Inix) tim 9@) _, 2 so apply IH pital’s Rule a ya Wx i? A product with he indetermicant frm *02" canbe rewriten as aquaint, Tor He and then THA pital’s Rule can be used, wvaluate im x* coe " form) Example 6: Solution: An indeterminate exponent can be converted to & product by recalling a property of exponential and logarithm functions: for any postive number a, In(f8). ein(t) Tim x¥ = Tim eM) = im en) and this last limit involves an indeterminate product xIn(x) —* 0%) which we converted to a quotient and evaluated to be 0 in Example 5. ur final answer is then xin(x) 0 lim xX = tim lM) = tim & WSBCTC47 LHopitas Rute Contemporary Caleulus ‘An indeterminate form involving exponents, © with the form "0°," "1% ," or “se®,” can be ee ein (limit of gin4)) ‘converted to an indeterminate product by recognizing that and then determining the limit of g'in(). The final result is a Wee Example 7: Evaluate tim(i+4 C1?" form) amity Solution: lim (1+ XM +9) soweneed lim xing +) rmatystim(+ 2) = ti ROTH = x, PROBLEMS Determine the limits in problems 1-15. 1 2 Jim +30. 32 Sy 4 5 6 Tam £0860 x)= c0s(a) Be x In In 1 8. fim 2 9. im PO (ps any postive number ro, Tim 2" 11, tim 48°8E 4p, Jim AO nay me ry 13. 14, lim 15, lim x) ayaa" my = x= c0s(x) WSBCTC47 LHopitas Rute Contemporary Caleulus 3x 16, Finda value for p so lim - peed 2. 17, Find a value for p so lim Po oy 3x45 18, lim S222 has the indeterminate form "2/20" . Why doesn't IH pital’s Rule work with this eo y2x-1 limit? (Hint: Apply 1'H6 pita’ Rule twice and see what happens.) Evaluate the limit without using 1H pital’s Rute. Come vim 5 lim me ey 19, (a) Evaluate lim ay () An algorithm is “exponential” if it requires ave steps (a and b are positive constants). An algorithm is "polynomial" if itrequires cn® steps (¢ and d are positive constants). Show that polynomial algorithms require fewer steps than exponential algorithms for large problems, 20, The problem lim + — appeared on atest. Bx ex One student determined the limit was an indeterminate "0/0" form, and applied 1'H8 pital’s Rule to get x 2x 2 “lim im lim = OB ex Gxt] 6 Another student also determined the limit was an indeterminate "0/0" form and wrote, “tim —— = tim 2% 2 Sy 08 Sex 0 6x4] Which student is correct? Why? Determine the limits in problems 21 —29. 21. Tim sin(xyin(s) 22. lim 23. lim ¥x-In(x) 24, Tim xS80) 2s. lim 1-3/2’ 26. lim (1-cos(3x))* 21. tin( 4 1 } 28, lim (x-In(x)) 29. tim( 5) 8 Lx sin(a), = ely 30, lim (1+ 3/2)" WSBCTC47 LHopitas Rute Contemporary Caleulus Section 4.7, PRACTICE Answers Practice: (@) fim 42086) SERA! The numerator and denominator are both differentiable and both m0 3x equal 0 when x=0,s0.we can apply "10 pitas Rule tim 2289852) _ jipq SesimSx) 0 _ P33, eS ‘The numerator and denominator are both differentiable functions and they both equal 0 when x=0,s0 we can apply TH pitas Rule: S4x-6 4) Qx+l os wd xe 2-8 ot Dx $2 Practice 2 tim = ‘The numerator and denominator are both differentiable 48x and both become arbitrarily large as x becomes large, so we can apply 148 pital’s Rule: xite™ 2x+et lim lim Sake a8 & "sing 118 pitats Rule again fim 222° = jim 2*€° , "2 ana aps: Comparing. A with & operations to B with 100-In(a) operations lim —“_ 5" * souse LHopital’s Rule: "= 100-In(n) " . ne" = lim To0/n ~ "= 100 lim = © so B requires fewer operations than A. lim —“__ *=* 100° In(n) Comparing B with 100-n(n) operations to C with n° operations. iy LOO IN) fy ONE tn ty = ti SF 100/n = lim am Sn so B requires fewer operations than C. B requires the fewest operations of the three algorithms, Comparing A with c” operations to C with n° operations. Using l'H6 pital's Rule several times: lim 5 <= tim im lim ne 20n* n= 60n? m= 1200 120 so A requires more operations than C. A requires the most operations of the three algorithms, WSBCTC