N O T R E D A M E O F T R E C E M A R T I R EZ

GRADE LEVEL: 11 WEEK: 2

SUBJECT: BASIC CALCULUS LESSON: 2
TOPIC: LIMITS OF TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

LESSON 2

LIMITS OF TRIGONOMETRIC
FUNCTIONS

Learning Outcomes of the Lesson

At the end of the lesson, the student is able to:

(1) Compute the limits of trigonometric functions
sin 𝑥 1−cos 𝑥
(2) Evaluate the limits involving these expressions 𝑥 , 𝑥

From the last section, we have seen that the direct substitution method can be used to find the limits of
some algebraic functions. In this section, we will learn that this method can similarly be used to evaluate the
limits of trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions.

Recall the graphs of the six trigonometric functions.

 The graphs of figure a and b show that the limits of the sine and cosine functions exist for all real numbers.
The graphs of figure c, d, e and f show that the limits of tangent, cotangent, secant, and cosecant functions will
exist for real numbers in the domain of the respective functions. These are numbers that will not make the
functional value undefined.

Limit Theorems of Trigonometric Functions

Let c be a real number in the domain of the given function. Then,

1. lim sin 𝑥 = sin 𝑐

𝑥→𝑐

2. lim cos 𝑥 = cos 𝑐

𝑥→𝑐

3. lim tan 𝑥 = tan 𝑐

𝑥→𝑐

4. lim cot 𝑥 = cot 𝑐

𝑥→𝑐

5. lim sec 𝑥 = sec 𝑐

𝑥→𝑐

6. lim csc 𝑥 = csc 𝑐

𝑥→𝑐

Note: The Limit Theorems above are direct substitution of x = c.

There are also other useful trigonometric limits that will be needed to find the trigonometric derivatives.

Other Trigonometric Limit Theorems

sin 𝑥
7. lim 𝑥 = 1
𝑥→0

1−cos 𝑥
8. lim 𝑥
=0
𝑥→0
TRIGONOMETRIC TABLE AND IDENTITIES

These table and identities can be use when evaluating the limits of trigonometric functions.

Angles (In Degrees) 0° 30° 45° 60° 90° 180° 270° 360°

Angles (In Radians) 0° π/6 π/4 π/3 π/2 π 3π/2 2π

sin 0 1/2 1/√2 √3/2 1 0 -1 0

cos 1 √3/2 1/√2 1/2 0 -1 0 1

tan 0 1/√3 1 √3 ∞ 0 ∞ 0

cot ∞ √3 1 1/√3 0 ∞ 0 ∞

csc ∞ 2 √2 2/√3 1 ∞ -1 ∞

sec 1 2/√3 √2 2 ∞ -1 ∞ 1
1. Evaluate 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝜋 𝑥 • 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥.
𝑥→
2

Solution: We use the Direct Substitution property to obtain

𝜋 𝜋
𝐿𝑖𝑚
𝜋
𝑥 • 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥. = 2 • 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2
𝑥→
2

𝜋
= 2•1
𝝅
=
𝟐

The previous Limit Theorems can be applied to determine the limit of trigonometric functions.

𝑡𝑎𝑛 3𝑥
2. Evaluate 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝜋 2
𝑥→ 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2𝑥−𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑥
4

Solution: We apply the Limit Theorems particularly the Direct Substitution property to get
𝜋
𝑡𝑎𝑛 3𝑥 𝑡𝑎𝑛 3( )
4
𝑙𝑖𝑚𝜋 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2𝑥−𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 = 𝜋 𝜋
𝑥→ 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2( )−𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 ( )
4 4 4

−1
= 0−(
√2)2

𝟏
=
𝟐
𝑠𝑖𝑛 5𝑥
3. Evaluate 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑥
𝑥→0

Solution To apply Trigonometric Limit Theorems 7, we need to have 5x in the denominator.

So,
𝑠𝑖𝑛 5𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 5𝑥
𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑥
= 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑥 •5 Multiply and divide by 5.
𝑥→0 𝑥→0
𝑠𝑖𝑛 5𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 5𝑥
= 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑥
• 𝑙𝑖𝑚 5 Remember 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑥
=1
𝑥→0 𝑥→0 𝑥→0

=1•5
=𝟓
𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑥
4. Evaluate 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛 7𝑥
𝑥→0

Solution We multiply and divide the numerator by 2x and multiply and divide the
denominator by 7x, to obtain
𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑥
𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑥 •2𝑥
𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛 7𝑥 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑥7𝑥 Multiply and divide by 2x and 7x, respectively.
𝑥→0 𝑥→0 •7𝑥
7𝑥

𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑥
( )2𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 7𝑥
= 𝑙𝑖𝑚 2𝑥
𝑠𝑖𝑛 7𝑥 Remember 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑥
= 1 and 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑥
=1
𝑥→0 ( )7𝑥 𝑥→0 𝑥→0
7𝑥

1•2
=
1•7
𝟐
=
𝟕
 𝑡𝑎𝑛 4𝑡
5. Evaluate 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛 3𝑡
𝑡→0
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 𝑠𝑖𝑛 4𝑡
Solution: Recall that 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 = . So, we change tan 4𝑡 to .
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 𝑐𝑜𝑠 4𝑡
𝑠𝑖𝑛 4𝑡
𝑡𝑎𝑛 4𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠 4𝑡
𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛 3𝑡 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛 3𝑡
𝑡→0 𝑡→0
1
•𝑠𝑖𝑛 4𝑡
= 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑠𝑖𝑛
4𝑡
3𝑡
𝑡→0
1 𝑠𝑖𝑛 4𝑡
• •4𝑡
𝑐𝑜𝑠 4𝑡 4𝑡
= 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛 3𝑡
𝑡→0 •3𝑡
3𝑡

1 𝑠𝑖𝑛 4𝑡
𝑙𝑖𝑚 •𝑙𝑖𝑚 •𝑙𝑖𝑚 4
𝑡→0 𝑐𝑜𝑠 4𝑡 𝑡→0 4𝑡 𝑡→0
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛 3𝑡
𝑙𝑖𝑚 •𝑙𝑖𝑚 3
𝑡→0 3𝑡 𝑡→0

1
•1•4
= 11•3
𝟒
=𝟑

1−cos 3𝑥
6. Evaluate lim 5𝑥
𝑥→0

Solution: To apply Trigonometric Limit 8, we have to multiply and divide by 3.

1−𝑐𝑜𝑠 3𝑥 3 1−𝑐𝑜𝑠 3𝑥 3 1−𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥
𝑙𝑖𝑚 5𝑥
• 3 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚 3𝑥
•5 Remember 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑥
=0
𝑥→0 𝑥→0 𝑥→0
3
=0•5

=𝟎
1−𝑐𝑜𝑠2 2𝑥
7. Evaluate lim 4𝑥
𝑥→0

Solution: To apply Trigonometric Limit Theorem 8, we have to transform the function using
algebraic properties.
1−𝑐𝑜𝑠2 2𝑥 (1+𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑥)(1−𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑥)
𝑙𝑖𝑚 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝑥→0 4𝑥 𝑥→0 2•2𝑥
1+𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑥 1−𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑥 1−𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥
= 𝑙𝑖𝑚 2
• 2𝑥
Remember 𝑙𝑖𝑚 2𝑥
=0
𝑥→0 𝑥→0
1+1
= 2
• 0

=𝟎