16

Indeterminate Forms.
16.1. Indeterminate Forms. The limit of ¢ (x)/y (x)
as x a is, in general, equal to the limit of the numerator
divided by the limit of the denominator. But when these two
limits are both zero, the quotient reduces to the form 0/0,
which is meaningless.
This does not imply that lim,o (x)/y (x)} is
conclusion
meaningless, or that it does not exist; the only
which we may draw is that the method adopted by us is
consider what
unsuitable. In the present chapter we shall
other cases..
should be done in such and similar
indeterminate form. Other
The form 0/0 is called an
0x 0", 1° and oo.
indeterminate forms are co/oo, co, oo-co,
we do not find
From what follows it should be clear that
indeterminate forms. We
the other
the value of 0/0, or any of of functions whose limits
the combinations
find the limits of limits of the functions
when we take the
forms
assume these

separately. functions
form 0/0. Let o (x) and y (x)be
16.11. The Theorem in the
Taylor's
expansible by
which are =0, and y (a) 0.
=

of x a. Also
=
let o (a)
neighbourhood

lim )(x) lim-

- y' '(x)
Then (X)
lim,, ¢ (r)/y (x)
=
Theorem,
We have by Taylor's
(a)+(1/2!)x-a)¢°
(a)+...+ R
(a)+(x-a) ¢ a)'y"(a)+...+R,
lim
(a)+(x-a)y'
(a)+(1/2!) (x -

377
 378 DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUUS

Here R, = (1/n!)(x-a)"o{a+0 (x-a)}. 0<0<1,

and R2 has a similar meaning.
Now, since o (a) = 0, and y (a) =0, we get, after
dividing both numerator and denominator by (x -a),
o' (a)+ (x - a){(1/2!) (a)+.
lim )-lim,
w(X) lim,»
(a)+(x-a)iu y (a)+ ..}

alim.
y (a) x)
This proves the proposition which is generally called
L'Hopital's Rule.
It is easy to see that if ¢ (a), d" (a),. . , ¢ - (a), and
v(a), y"( a ) , . y ( a ) , are all zero, but ( a ) and
y(a) are not both zero, then

lim ylim,
(x) (x) )
NOTE 1. The existence of differential coefficients of order
higher than n need not be assumed.
2. The proposition of this article is true even whenx tends to
instead of a. For writing x =1 /t, we have, if

lim,, (x) =0 and lim,y (x) =0.

then lim, (x)=im0 (1/)
y (x) y(1/1)
=
lim, (1/1).-2
,0
'(1/).12by the proposition proved above.
= lim,
(1-lim,
'(1/w'(1/1) (x)
'(x)
'(x)
IMPORTANT. The student must not differentiate
(x)/y (x) as a fraction by the quotient rule of differentiatio
The numerator and denominator
have to be differentiat
separately.
 ORMS
379
So times it iis
Sometimes
necessary to use
times in the same problem
L' Hopital's Rule several
as can be seen in
ie the
examples. The use of
standard results on limits, such as following
sin x
im0 =1 and lim tan x
anx =1
X

can simplify and shorten the process of

continuously
Aifferentiating .the numerator and denominator. The student
should employ such methods whenever possible.

Ex. 1. Evaluate lim,,,(a"-b*)/x. Agra 03, Indore04,071

a-b
We have lim. 0

a log a-b log b.= log

lims0 a- log b= log
tan x-x2
Ex. 2. Evaluate lim0 Delhi 2008|
xtanx
tan -x2 lim, o
We have lim,0 tan lim im an
tan x
tan x
tan x
tanr =1
tanx-0 limo
lim,0 0

sec* r-2r
= lim, 2 tan r
4x

tan x-2
2 tan r 2secr
secr
2sec x+

lim, o 12 x
-1|
sec r+ 2 tan x sec
= lim, o 6r

x- 1
3 sec'r-2sec
= lim, o 6x
tan x
xtan x-4 sec* r
12sec"
= lim,-o 12x
an x12-.1
tan .j=4=
12secr-4sec x.in
X.imm,o 12x
= lim, o 12
380 DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

Sin 2x- a sin x

Ex. 3. If the limit of as x>0, be finite, find the
value of a and the limit. GNDU Amritsar 04, Delhi 061
sin 2x-a sin x 2sin xcosX-a sin x
We have lim = lim
x
sin x (2cos x-a)
= lim x-0

= lim, im,-0 (2cos x-a)

lim (2cos x-aa) Sin

= lim z-0
x (:lim,z-0 =1) (1)
From (1), we see that
limx =0. For the above fraction to havea
finite limit, the numerator must also be zero as x 0
1.e. lim,(2cos x-a) =0 or 2-a =0 or a =2 2)
From (1) and (2), we have
2cos x-2
im0
= lim,-o -2sin x

Sin
2x (
=-lim,o X
= -1

Hence, a =2 and the limit is -1

16.12. Alternative proof. We
Rule
can deduce De
ll' Hopital's
(S 16.11) very easily from
can now be stated in
Cauchy's theorem. The itselt rule
a more general form as follows:
Let o (x) and
y (x) be continuous in a Sxsb, and ler
'(x) and y'(x) exist in a<x<b;
y(a) =0 further, let ¢ (a)=,
and y
(x)*0 in a<x<b. Then
im 9)
y (*) lin
'(x)
if the latter limit exists.
For values of x less than b, we have
) =r)-¢ (a)
y(x) v(x) -v Since o(a) =v(a) =0,
 INDETERMINATE FORMS 381

) , a<x, <x, by Cauchy's theorem.

'x,)
as x > a , we
its, and remembering that x,
> a
Taking limit

)lim ()
lim y(X) "y'(x)
noticed that b
may be very near to a if necessary.
It is to
be It is
the bove limits are really right-hand limits.
since a< x,
rule to c o v e r the case
AlsO that we can enunciate the
so,
however,
vident,
left.
when x afrom the theorem lies
rule from Cauchy's
The advantage of deriving the =a is not
of the derivatives at x
existence
that the
in the fact
necessary.
the form 0/0, we can apply the rule
If'(x)/y' (x)
assumes

where the
again.
16.2. Algebraic Methods. In cases
or some of
involved are known,
functions the
expansions of the be used either to solve
the limits are known, they may
the work. the
problem or to shorten that differentiating
should note to
The student a m o u n t s really
denominator repeatedly function
o r the of the
numerator the expansion
c o e f f i c i e n t s in expansionis
inding the and if the
Theorem;
Maclaurin's
Concerned, by be shortened.
diready known, the work can non-existence

a c c o u n t of
the
when on Maclaurin's

Dut in some cases, Taylor's and

of the coefficients, result by
differential
we can
still get the
applicable,
theorems
alms
are not

algebraic methods. Kanpur 07|

/ 2 tan x Rohilkhand 05,

Ex. 1. Find lim,e-1)2 neighbourhood

series in the
ina Taylor's
expanded
cannot be applicable.
of Rule is not
0 , L'Hopi tan X
3/2
But xtan=lim0+x/2!+.
lim0 (e'-1) by the
Exponential
Theorem
382 DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

= lim, tanx
(1+x/2!+...)"*
: lim,o tan x
(1+x/2!+ tan x
lim,..
Ex.2. Evaluate lim (+)"-e
Kumaon 04, Indore 05, Rohilkhand 07, Magadh 01, 08, Patna 02,
04, 08, Allahabad 08
We have lim,. (1 x) -e
0

(1. )
= lim, . d
= lim, (1+ r)' (1)
d
Let y=(1x)" sothat log y log (1 x)
Differentiating wr.1, we get
d
(lr) :
log
E (1. x) )
y d

(1-x-x -...)-
=(-1r..)+(Gx-..)
Then x-terms with higher powers of x
or
1+x' =(1+x)"- x- terms of higher powers of x
or
lim,-o(1+x) '
=
lim,(1+r) 0=e(-:)= -!e
since we know that lim (1-x) = e

Substitutng this value in 1). we get im, (

 INDETERMINATE FORMS 383

EXAMPLES
limits:
Evaluate the following
(1+ bx). 2. lim,o(x-sin x)/ x.
1. l i m , e - e ) /log

3
lim,(x-tan x)/x Bundelkhand06, Kashi V. 101
lim(e-e)/ (x-sin x) Magadh 03, Patna 03
4.

5. lim,xe" -log (1+x)}/x. Rohilkhand 09,Agra 06, 101

6. limlog (1-x*)/ log cos x.
tan x,
7. lim (tan x-x)/x*
Lucknow 07, 10]
x-sinx)/x*'.
8. limo (tan
xcos x-log (1+x) Meerut 2005
9. limo x a
e +log (1-x)-1| 11. lim,0 -a
10. lim,-0 tan x - x
Rohilkhand 2003
sin x-x+x
x-x 13. lim,
12. lim -x+log* IKumaon 20051
Allahabad 2004] Kumaon 2012]
cosr

e-e
14. lim-0-sin X
lndore 20061
s i nx .s i n x - x

15. Prove that lim,o

that
b, c so
values of a, Lucknow 09|
16. Find the 09,
ae-bcos x+ ce 2 Kashi V

lim,0 x sin x
order that
and b in
Find the
values of a tol.
.
sin x be equal
x)- b may
x (1+ a cos

Kushi
Vidyapeeth 08
lim,0 x |Allahabad
02,
( 1 +x ) - e + j e x lle Purvanchal

24
lim,.,o 121
18. Prove that Patna 10,
Kunpur

09,
Vidyapeeth
Kushi
a n 06,
 384 DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

ANSWERS
1. 2a/ b.
2 3.- 4. 1.
5. 6. 2 7. 8.
9.-1 10.- 11. (log a--1)/(log a+1).
12. 2. 13. 14. 3.
16. a= 1,b = 2,c = 1. 17. a=-
16.3. The Form co/ lim (x) and
co, Let
limy (x) be both infinite. Then
limy ylim,
(X) y'((*))
For, lim- im,
y (x)
1/y(x) (x)
which is of the form 0/0
= lim,a y'(x) )
y (x)}/ by §16.11,

lim,-a ()w())
2

Thus lim, X)lim, ( r )

(x)
' (x) lim
y (x) (1)
(X)
Now let lim,o (x)/y (x)} = (2)
Three cases arise.
CASE I. ^ *0, # 0o. In this case, we can divide both
sides of equation (1) by and thus obtain the following:
lim,- y'(x)
(x)
Hence lim,- '(x)
'(x
 INDETERMINATE FORMS 385

CASE
II. A . Adding 1 to each sideof equation (2),
(x)+ ()=lim ' (x)+()
A+1 lim, (x) '(x)
by Case I.

lim, 1'(x)
= lim,ya )
Hence
y' (x)
Here
CASE III. A
= co,

y'
1
lim,o (x)/y (x)}
lim,- y)lim,
(*) (x)
by Case II.
'()
Therefore lim,- )-lim,
y (*)
'(*)
and
case in which lim, ¢ (x) =o
Hence in every

lim, (x) =
*0, we have
lim ()lim,-
y (x) ' (x)
c a n at o n c e
be put in a
of two functions
Although the quotient indeterminate form 0/0,
instead
the
form which would give riseto the form
c a r e should
be taken to select
vice versa, Also, in
of o/ oo, and evaluate the limit most quickly.
which would enable us to it is necessary to
under the form o/ o,
most c a s e s coming otherwise thee
soon as
convenient;
transform to the form
0/0 as denominator would
n u m e r a t o r and
the the
process of differentiating in the n u m e r a t o r (or
havex
never terminate. Thus,if we once found, successive
> 0has to be
limit when x
aenominator) and the all
which all
which
- > a*

differentiations would involve

x,x", x ..,

be
the form 0/0 has
to
change to
as x>0. So a
humerically)
made at a suitable stage. can show that the
x = |/ 1, we

NOTE. 1. As before,by writing

whenx> ,
proposition of this article is true even both the limits
when one or
also
evidently true
. The proposition is

are-.
386 DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

Ex. Find lim logx

Og Agra 2006
cot *
This is of the form o/o. We have, therefore,

lim
im, logX
cot x =lim
1/x
-cos ec x

= lim,> o
-sinx (O
X

= limo7 -2sin xcoS -0.

16.31. The form 0x co, This can
easily be reduced to the
form 0/0 or to the form oo/ o. Let
lim,z-a (x) =
0 and
lim,y (x) =*», then
lim, (x).y (x)= lim. (x)
) _
/w(x)
or
lim (x).y (x)= lim, y(x)
1/(x)
(
which can now be evaluated by the methods given before.
Ex. Evaluate
lim, x
log x
We have lim, Xog x. (which is of the form 0x co)

- lim,0 log
x x
1/x
lim»0
=
lim, *x lim,
=

EXAMPLES
Evaluate the following limits:
1. lim,0 log sin 2x
log sin x Jabalpur 20061
COs ec x
2. lim,
log » TKashi Vidyapeeth 08, Agra 09, Kumuon131

3. lim, Og a>1
r
a
4. lim, Jabalpur 20071
x
 INDETERMINATE FORMSs 387

log(1-x) Agra 05, Lucknow 10

5. lim1 cot tX*
log (x-1)+ tan / nx
lim1 ,x>1 from theright.
6. cot Tx

7. lim,o logsn sin 2x)

the base so that
log,sin
logsia, (sin 2x) 8 Sin 2x=

Hint: Change log,sinx

sec t X
9. lim,o sin x log x
8. lim,; tan 3t x 0

log log (1-x*) Jabalpur 2004]

10. lim,--0
log log cos x

11. lim,. 2" sin (al2*) [Agra 03] 12. lim, x (a"" -1)
T
|Lucknow 10, Allahabad 12]
13. lim,- Sec log x
2x
14. lim,-x"e* , where m is a positive integer. Agra 2007]
ANSWERS

3. 0. 4. o.
1. 1 2. 0o.

8. 3.
5. 0. 6. -2 7. 1.

11. a. 12. log a.

9. 0. 10.
13. 2/Tt 14. 0.

16.32. The form oo - o o . This can be reduced to the form

O/0 or oo / o. Let lim, (x) = o and lim,,, y (x) = «o,

then
1/y(x)-1/¢ (x)
lim,o (x)-y (x)} lim, 1/w(x)-¢ (x) =

and ifthe left-hand side is of the form o - o , the right-hand

side is of the form 0/0
Ex. 1. Evaluate limu2 (secx-tan x).
1-sin x
lim,,w2(secx-tan x)= m,- w2cos
CoS X

-cOS x
= 0.
=
lim,- n 2-sin x
388 DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

Ex. 2. Evaluate lim,o sin

sinx
Patna 06, Delhi07, Kumaon 10,Allahabad 10,Kunpur 11|
We have
lim, sin x (oo-o)

=lim,o sinx-x
sin'x

= lim,o sin x-x\.lim,o sinx 2

lim
Sin x-x
=lim,

sin 2x-2x
= lim,-
4x
2cos 2x-2 1-cos 2x
12x
x-0
6

16.4. The forms 0, 1°, co". These can be made to

depend upon one of the previous forms.
Let A =
lim,{o (x)}" ,
then log A =
lim, {y (x) log o (x)},
on taking the logarithm of both sides.
Thus if {¢ (x)}" assumes
any of
,we have only to determine the limittheofforms
0. o
y (x) log o
by one of the previous methods.
The student sometimes
wonders why 1 should be an
form, seeing that I raised to any indeterm that
power gives 1. But he should notice
this only entitles him to conclude that if
lim (x)= o, then lim, 0 =L
 INDETERMINATE FORMS 389

When (r)>1
as x > a
and at thesame time y (x)-o as x >

then lim (o
(r)}"°"might be anything; for the value of (o(x)}v" when
(r) is not
exactly,but only approximately, equal to 1, is not necessarily
the value of
near to 1 when y (x) is large. Consider for example, once that it is
(1.01)1000000 Applying the Binomial Theorem,
we see at
(1.01)
1.
far greater than
Ex. 1. Evaluate lim, (1+al x)".
A =lim,,, (1+a/x)". (1)
Lel
{x log (1+alx)} (0x )
Then log A =
lim
log (1+alx)
lin, 1/x
(1+a/x) (-ax)
= lim, -*
2

=lim, a (1+a/x) =a.

HenceA =e". 1/r

tan x
Ex. 2. Evaluate lim,0 x
11]
Garhwal 03, Putna 03, 05, 09,
Rohilkhand 10, Magadh 02, 05, 06,
/r
form 1°)
tan r) (which is of the
Let A =lim,o
l o g n r
tan x (0x oo)
Then log A =lim, x
x+x*/3+2x°/15+..

= lim,o 1og
)
=lim,.log(1+(}r*+a
+ +
lim, {Gr +z*'+...)-{(}
terms with higher powers ofx)
+
kim,
terms with higher powers of x)=0.
Gr+x+
lim,
1.
Hence A =e =
390 DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

Ex. 3. Evaluate lim, (sin x)

Lucknow 05, Jabalpur 05, Calcutta 05, Magadh 071

Let A =lim,,(sin x) (which is ofthe form!")

log sin x
Then log A = l i m , 2 tan x log sin x = l i m , 2
cot x

coS x/ sin X= lim,-wa x cos x) = 0.

= lim,»/2cos ecX

Hence A =e =1

Ex. 4. Evaluate lim,-o(cot x). Himachal 2006|

Let A = lim,(cotx). (which is of the form*)
log A = lim,, x log cot x = lim,x (log cos x-log sin x)
Then
= limox log cos x-lim,o x log sin x

log sin x
= 0-lim,o1/x
cOs x x
-lim,»0 /x*Sin*-lim,0 tan x

2x
=xc2 lim, xcos*x=0.
lim,0 cec
lim,
Hence A =e = 1

16.5. Compound forms. In case a given function can be

broken up into two or more factors, the limit of each of which
can be easily found (either by the methods of this chap1er or
by mere substitution), then the limit of the entire function ean
be determined by evaluating the limit of each tactor
separately, provided that the product of these limits is ot
itself an indeterminate form.
A similar rule would apply in the case of a quotient, su
difference or power. The student should be on the look o
for recognising cases in which such methods are applicable
applicabie
 INDETERMINATE FORMS 391

Evaluate lim,
sin 2x+2sinx-2sin x 1-cosx
Ex. cos x-cos x cosxsin 'x

Allahabad2006
sin 2x+ 2sinx-2sin x 1-cosx-A+B (1)
Let lim -0{| cos X-cos x cosxsin x

sin 2x+2sin'
2sin x-2sin
x-2sin x 1-cosx
where A =
lim, ll 2r+ and B = lim,-o
coS X-cos x coSxsin 'x

sin 2x+ 2sin'x-2sin r

Now A =
lim, ,0 cos x-cos x

sin 2x+2sin x-2sin x

= lim,so
1-cos x COS X

sin 2x+2sin *x-2sin x

1-cos x
2cos 2x+4sin xcos x-2cos x
= lim,so
sin
2cos 2x+2sin 2x-2cos x
= lim,so
Sin x ()
= lim,s0 -4sin
2x+4cos 2x+2sin r

COS x
(2)
1-cos x l-cos x
Also B= lim,o;
cos xsin x
=
lim,- os x (1-cos* x)
1
im,0 cos x (1+cos x) 2
(3)

Substituting (2) and (3) in (1), the required limit

=A +B =4*+ = 164.
EXAMPLES
Evaluate the following limits:

.im,sinz 2. lan,
Indore 2008 14gra 08, 101
3. lim,.(rtan x- nsecx).
 DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS
392

5. lim, cotx.
4. lim,
x x tan x
Delhi 05, Kumaon 09
[Kuwnaon 20111
6. lim sec x .
7. lim,(a" +x)":.
1-sin x)

Agra 2011 Allahabad 2004|

8. lim,.(1/x)"". \Magadh 2010 9. lim,(cos )

10. lim,
Stn)
. [Kumaon 03, Allahabad 05, Himachal 051

1/2
tan x Purvanchal 05, Rohilkhand 11|
11. lim,

/r
12. lim 13. lim,o (cot x ) .

Himachal 2007|
14. lim,,(cos x) 15. lim,-nCOS x)

Avadh 2003 Lucknow 11, 121

tan (T xl 2a)

16. lim,..2- 17. lim,

Avadh 04, Patna I1 Allahabad 2011]

18. lim,,(1-x2)/ log -x) 1/ (1-log a)
19. lim, (log x)
20. lim,a-a) 21. lim,(;m-tan x
Jabalpur 20081
ANSWERS
1. 0.
2- 3. -1 4.
5. 3 6.-0, 7. ae. 8. 0
9. e/2 10. e/6 I1. e3
12. o on the right, 0 on the left. 13. 1. 14. 1.
15. e/2
16. en
17. e.. 18. e
19. 1/ e. 20. 1
(x>a). 21. 1