Examples 1 - 9 (L’Hopital’s Rule)

Problems & Solutions

Example 1
x2 + x − 12
Evaluate the limit lim using
x →3 x2 − 9
(a) algebraic manipulation (factor and cancel)
Solution

x2 + x − 12 ( x − 3)( x + 4) x+4 7
lim = lim = lim =
x →3 x2 − 9 x →3 ( x − 3)( x + 3) x →3 x + 3 6
(b) L’Hopital’s Rule
Solution
0
Since direct substitution gives 0 we can use L’Hopital’s Rule to give

x2 + x − 12 H 2x + 1 7
lim = lim =
x →3 x2 − 9 x →3 2x 6

Example 2
sin 3x
Evaluate the limit lim using
x →0 tan 4x
sin x
(a) the basic trigonometric limit lim = 1 together with appropriate changes of variables
x →0 x
Solution
Write the limit as   
sin 3x sin 3x x cos 4x
lim = lim lim
x →0 tan 4x x →0 x x →0 sin 4x

In the first limit let u = 3x and in the second let v = 4x. Then the limit is
  
sin 3x 3 sin u v cos v
lim = lim lim
x →0 tan 4x u →0 u v→0 4 sin v
   
sin u v
= 34 lim lim lim cos v = 3
4
u →0 u v→0 sin v v →0

(b) L’Hopital’s Rule

Solution
0
Since direct substitution gives 0 we can use L’Hopital’s Rule to give

sin 3x H 3 cos 3x 3
lim = lim = 4
x →0 tan 4x x →0 4 sec2 4x
 Examples 1 - 9 (L’Hopital’s Rule)
Problems & Solutions Page 2

Example 3
π


Evaluate the limit limπ x − 2 tan x using L’Hopital’s Rule.
x→ 2

Solution
Write the limit as

x − π2
limπ x − π
2 tan x = limπ
x→ 2 x→ 2 cot x
0
Then direct substitution gives 0 so we can use L’Hopital’s Rule to give

H 1
limπ x − π
2 tan x = limπ = −1
x→ 2 x→ 2 (− csc2 x )

Example 4 √
2−x−x
Evaluate the limit lim using L’Hopital’s Rule.
x →1 x−1
Solution
0
Since direct substitution gives 0 use L’Hopital’s Rule to give

1
√ −√ −1
2−x−x H 2−x 3
lim = lim =−
x →1 x−1 x →1 1 2
Note that this result
√can also be obtained by rationalizing the numerator by multiplying top and bottom by
the root conjugate 2 − x + x.

Example 5
1 − cos x
Evaluate the limit lim using L’Hopital’s Rule.
x →0 x2
Solution
0
Since direct substitution gives 0 use L’Hopital’s Rule to give

1 − cos x H sin x
lim = lim
x →0 x2 x →0 2x

0
Again direct substitution gives 0 so use L’Hopital’s Rule a second time to give

1 − cos x H cos x 1
lim = lim =
x →0 x2 x →0 2 2
 Examples 1 - 9 (L’Hopital’s Rule)
Problems & Solutions Page 3

Example 6
Evaluate the limits at infinity
ex
(a) lim
x →∞ x
Solution
∞
Direct “substitution” gives ∞ so we can use L’Hopital’s Rule to give
ex H ex
lim = lim =∞
x →∞ x x →∞ 1

(b) lim x2 e− x
x →∞
Solution
Write the limit as
x2
lim x2 e− x = lim
x →∞ x →∞ e x
∞
Then direct “substitution” gives ∞ so we can use L’Hopital’s Rule to give
H 2x H 2
lim x2 e− x = lim = lim x = 0
x →∞ x →∞ ex x →∞ e
p 
(c) lim x2 + x + 1 − x
x →∞
Solution
Direct “substitution” gives the indeterminate form ∞ − ∞. Write the limit as
r !
1 1
! 1+ + 2 −1
x x
r
p
2
 1 1
lim x + x + 1 − x = lim x 1 + + 2 − 1 = lim
x →∞ x →∞ x x x → ∞ 1
x
∞
Now direct “substitution” gives so we can use L’Hopital’s Rule to give
∞

1 −1/2
   
1 1 1 2
p  2 1 + x + x2 − 2− 3
x x
H
lim x2 + x + 1 − x = lim
x →∞ x →∞ 1
− 2
x
2
1+ 1
= lim  x
x →∞
1/2 = 2
1 1
2 1+ + 2
x x

Example 7
ln ( x − 2)
Evaluate the limit lim using L’Hopital’s Rule.
x → 2+ ln ( x2 − 4)
Solution
∞
Direct substitution gives ∞ so we can use L’Hopital’s Rule
1
ln ( x − 2) H x − 2 = lim x2 − 4 x2 − 4
lim = lim = lim
2
x →2+ ln ( x − 4) x → 2+ 2x x →2+ 2x ( x − 2) x →2+ 2x2 − 4x
2
x −4
H 2x
= lim =1
x →2 4x − 4
+
 Examples 1 - 9 (L’Hopital’s Rule)
Problems & Solutions Page 4

Example 8
Evaluate the limit lim (ln x − x ) using L’Hopital’s Rule.
x →∞

Solution
Direct “substitution” gives the indeterminate form ∞ − ∞. Write the limit as

lim (ln x − x ) = lim ln xe− x

x →∞ x →∞

Then, as in Example 6 (a) and (b),

x H 1
lim xe− x = lim x
= lim x = 0
x →∞ x →∞ e x → ∞ e
Now let u = xe− x , then x → ∞ ⇒ u → 0+ . Hence

lim (ln x − x ) = lim ln u = −∞

x →∞ u → 0+

Example 9
√
x
Evaluate the limit lim (sin x ) using L’Hopital’s Rule.
x → 0+

Solution
Direct substitution gives the indeterminate form 00 . First find the natural logarithm of the limit, as
 √  √ ln (sin x )
ln lim (sin x ) x = lim x ln (sin x ) = lim
x → 0+ x → 0+ x → 0+ 1
√
x
∞
Now direct substitution gives ∞, so we can use L’Hopital’s Rule
cos x
ln (sin x ) H
lim = lim  sin  x
x → 0+ 1 x → 0+ 1 −3/2
√ − 2 x
x
x3/2 cos x
  
√ x
= −2 lim = −2 lim x cos x lim =0
x → 0+ sin x x → 0+ x → 0+ sin x

since √
lim x cos x = 0
x → 0+

and we can use L’Hopital’s Rule on the second limit to give

x H 1
lim = lim =1
x → 0+ sin x x →0 cos x
+

Hence  √ 
x
ln lim (sin x ) =0
x → 0+

so that √
x
lim (sin x ) = e0 = 1
x → 0+
 SECTION 7.7 INDETERMINATE FORMS AND L’HOSPITAL’S RULE ❙❙❙❙ 1

|||| 7.7 Indeterminate Forms and L’Hospital’s Rule

A Click here for answers. S Click here for solutions.

1– 45 Find the limit. Use l’Hospital’s Rule where appropriate. If

|||| x  sin 3x e 4x  1
23. lim 24. lim
there is a more elementary method, use it. If l’Hospital’s Rule xl0 x  sin 3x xl0 cos x
doesn’t apply, explain why.
tan x  sin x x  tan 2x
x2 x 2  3x  4 25. lim 26. lim
1. lim 2 2. lim xl0 x3 xl0 x  tan 2x
xl2 x  4 xl1 x1
tan 2x 2x  sin1x
x6  1 tan x 27. lim 28. lim
3. lim 4 4. lim xl0 tanh 3x xl0 2x  cos1x
x l 1 x  1 x l 0 x  sin x
1
2x  sin x
ex  1 x  tan x 29. lim 30. lim xe x
5. lim 6. lim
xl0 2x  tan1x x l 
x l 0 sin x xl0 sin x
31. lim e x ln x 32. lim sec 7x cos 3x
xl x l 2
sin x tan x
7. lim 8. lim
xl0 x3 xl x 33. lim sx sec x 34. lim x   cot x
xl0 xl

t2
 
4
cos x s
9. lim 10. lim 1 1
x l32 x  32 t l16 t  16 35. lim x  1 tan x2 36. lim  2
xl1 xl0 x4 x
3
s xs
3
a 6x  2x 37. lim ( x  sx 2  1 )
11. lim 12. lim
xla xa xl0 x xl

38. lim (sx 2  x  1  sx 2  x )

ln x3 sin x xl

 
13. lim 14. lim
xl x2 xl0 ex 1 1
39. lim  x
tan  x 2
sin x
xl x e 1

 
15. lim 16. lim
x l 0 tanx 
2
xl0 x x3 x3
40. lim 
xl x2  1 x2  1
ln1  e x

 
ln ln x
17. lim 18. lim x
xl sx xl 5x 1
41. lim sin xtan x 42. lim 1
xl0 xl x2
tan12x x

 
19. lim 20. lim 1 x2
xl0 3x x l 0 sin 3x 1
43. lim cot xsin x 44. lim 1
xl0 xl x
sin mx sin10 x
21. lim 22. lim
xl0 sin nx xl0 sinx 10  45. lim ln x x
xl0
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
2 ❙❙❙❙ SECTION 7.7 INDETERMINATE FORMS AND L’HOSPITAL’S RULE

Answers

E Click here for exercises. S Click here for sol utions.

1
1. 2. 5
4
3 1
3. 4.
2 2
5. 1 6. 2

7. ∞ 8. 0

1
9. 1 10.
32
1
11. 12. ln 3
3a2/3
13. 0 14. 0

15. α 16. 1

1
17. 0 18.
5
2 1
19. 20.
3 3
m
21. 22. 1
n
23. −2 24. 0

1
25. 26. −3
2
2
27. 28. 0
3
1
29. 30. 0
3
3
31. 0 32.
7
33. 0 34. 1

2
35. − 36. ∞
π
37. 0 38. 1

39. 0 40. 0

41. 1 42. 1

43. 1 44. ∞

45. 1
 SECTION 7.7 INDETERMINATE FORMS AND L’HOSPITAL’S RULE ❙❙❙❙ 3

Solutions

E Click here for exercises. A Click here for answers.

H sin2 x H 2 sin x cos x
=.
The use of l’Hospital’s Rule is indicated by an H above the equal sign: 16. lim = lim
x→0 tan (x2 ) x→0 2x sec2 (x2 )
x−2 x−2 1 1
1. lim 2 = lim = lim = sin x cos x
x→2 x − 4 x→2 (x − 2) (x + 2) x→2 x + 2 4 = lim lim =1·1= 1
x→0 x x→0 sec2 (x2 )
x2 + 3x − 4 (x − 1) (x + 4) 
2. lim = lim ln ln x H 1 (x ln x) 2
x→1 x−1 x→1 x−1 17. lim √ = lim  √ = lim √ =0
x→∞ x x→∞ 1 (2 x) x→∞ x ln x
= lim (x + 4) = 5
x→1 
ln (1 + ex ) H ex (1 + ex )
6
x −1 H 6x5 −6 3 18. lim = lim
3. lim = lim = = x→∞ 5x x→∞ 5
x→−1 x4 − 1 x→−1 4x3 −4 2 ex H ex 1
= lim = lim =
tan x H sec2 x 1 1 x→∞ 5 (1 + ex ) x→∞ 5ex 5
4. lim = lim = = 

x→0 x + sin x x→0 1 + cos x 1+1 2 2
tan−1 (2x) H 2 1 + 4x 2
ex − 1 H ex 1 19. lim = lim =
5. lim = lim = =1 x→0 3x x→0 3 3
x→0 sin x x→0 cos x 1
x H 1
20. lim = lim 
x + tan x H 1 + sec2 x 1 + 12 x→0 sin−1 (3x) x→0
6. lim = lim = =2 3 1 − (3x)2
x→0 sin x x→0 cos x 1
sin x H cos x 1√ 1
7. lim = lim =∞ = lim
1 − 9x2 =
x→0 x3 x→0 3x2 3 x→0 3
tan x tan π 0 sin mx H m cos mx m
8. lim = = = 0. L’Hospital’s Rule does not 21. lim = lim =
x→π x π π x→0 sin nx x→0 n cos nx n
apply because the denominator doesn’t approach 0. sin10 x H 10 sin9 x cos x
22. lim = lim
cos x H − sin x x→0 sin (x10 ) x→0 10x9 cos (x10 )
9. lim = lim = − sin 3π =1  9
x − 3π/2 x→3π/2
x→3π/2 1 2
sin x cos x
√ √ = lim lim
4
t−2 4
t−2 x→0 x x→0 cos (x10 )
10. lim = lim
√ 
√ 
t→16 t − 16 t→16 t+4 t−4 = 19 · 1 = 1
√4
t−2 x + sin 3x H 1 + 3 cos 3x 1+3
= lim
√ 
√ 
√  23. lim = lim = = −2
t→16 t+4 4
t+2 4t−2 x→0 x − sin 3x x→0 1 − 3 cos 3x 1−3
1 e4x − 1 0
= lim
√ 
√  24. lim = =0
t→16 t+4 4t+2 x→0 cos x 1
1 1 tan x − sin x H sec2 x − cos x
= = 25. lim = lim
(4 + 4) (2 + 2) 32 x→0 x3 x→0 3x2
2
x1/3 − a1/3 H (1/3) x−2/3 1 H 2 sec x tan x + sin x
lim = lim = 2/3 = lim
11.
x→a x−a x→a 1 3a x→0 6x
H 4 sec2 x tan2 x + 2 sec4 x + cos x
6x − 2x H 6x (ln 6) − 2x (ln 2) = lim
12. lim = lim x→0 6
x→0 x x→0 1
0+2+1 1
= ln 6 − ln 2 = ln 62 = ln 3 = =
6 2
(ln x)3 H 3 (ln x)2 (1/x) 3 (ln x)2 x + tan 2x H 1 + 2 sec2 2x
13. lim = lim = lim 26. lim = lim
x→∞ x 2 x→∞ 2x x→∞ 2x2 x→0 x − tan 2x x→0 1 − 2 sec2 2x
H 6 (ln x) (1/x) 3 ln x 1 + 2 (1)2
= lim = lim = = −3
x→∞ 4x x→∞ 2x2
1 − 2 (1)2
H 3/x 3
= lim = lim =0 tan 2x H 2 sec2 2x 2
x→∞ 4x x→∞ 4x2
27. lim = lim =
x→0 tanh 3x x→0 3 sech2 3x 3
sin x 0
14. lim = = 0. L’Hospital’s Rule does not apply.
x→0 ex 1 2x − sin−1 x 2 (0) − 0
28. lim = = 0. L’Hospital’s Rule
x→0 2x + cos−1 x 2 (0) + π/2
tan αx H α sec2 αx
15. lim = lim =α does not apply.
x→0 x x→0 1
4 ❙❙❙❙ SECTION 7.7 INDETERMINATE FORMS AND L’HOSPITAL’S RULE

√ 
2x − sin−1 x H 2 − 1/ 1 − x2 x3 x3
29. lim = lim 40. lim −
x→0 2x + tan−1 x x→0 2 + 1/ (1 + x2 ) x→∞ x2 − 1 x2 + 1



2−1 1 x3 x2 + 1 − x3 x2 − 1
= = = lim
2+1 3 x→∞ (x2 − 1) (x2 + 1)
x H 1 2x3 2/x
30. lim xex = lim = lim = lim = lim
x→−∞ e−x
x→−∞ x→−∞ −e−x x→∞ x4− 1 x→∞ 1 − 1/x4
= lim −ex = 0 =0
x→−∞

ln x H 1/x 41. y = (sin x)tan x⇒ ln y = tan x ln (sin x), so

31. lim e−x ln x = lim = lim x
x→∞ x→∞ ex x→∞ e ln (sin x)
1 lim ln y = lim tan x ln (sin x) = lim
= lim =0 x→0 + x→0+ x→0 + cot x
x→∞ xex
H (cos x) / sin x
cos 3x = lim
32. lim sec 7x cos 3x = lim x→0+ − csc2 x
x→(π/2)− x→(π/2)− cos 7x
= lim (− sin x cos x) = 0 ⇒
x→0+
H −3 sin 3x 3 (−1) 3
= lim = = lim (sin x) tan x
= lim eln y = e0 = 1.
x→(π/2)− −7 sin 7x 7 (−1) 7 x→0 + x→0 +
√  x 
33. lim x sec x = 0 · 1 = 0 1 1
x→0+ 42. Let y = 1 + 2 . Then ln y = x ln 1 + 2 ⇒
x x
x−π H 1 
34. lim (x − π) cot x = lim = lim 1
x→π x→π tan x x→π sec2 x  ln 1 + 2
1 1 x
= =1 lim ln y = lim x ln 1 + 2 = lim
x→∞ x→∞ x x→∞ 1/x
(−1)2  
2 1
x−1 − 3 1+ 2
35. lim (x − 1) tan (πx/2) = lim H x x
x→1+ x→1+ cot (πx/2) = lim
x→∞ −1/x2
H 1 2
= lim π =− 2/x
x→1+ − csc2 (πx/2) 2 π = lim = 0,
 1 + 1/x2
x→∞
1 1 1 − x2
 x
36. lim − 2 = lim =∞ so lim 1 + 1/x2 = lim eln y = e0 = 1.
x→0 x4 x x→0 x4 x→∞ x→∞

√  43. y = (cot x) sin x

⇒
ln y = sin x ln (cot x) ⇒
37. lim x − x2 − 1

x→∞
√ ln (cot x) H − csc2 x cot x

√  x + x2 − 1 lim ln y = lim = lim
= lim x − x − 1 2 √ x→0 + x→0+ csc x x→0 + − csc x cot x
x→∞ x + x2 − 1 csc x sin x
2

2  = lim = lim =0
x − x −1 x→0+ cot x
2
x→0 + cos2 x
= lim √
x→∞ x + x2 − 1 so lim (cot x)sin x = lim eln y = e0 = 1.
x→0+ x→0+
1
= lim √ =0
x→∞ x + x2 − 1 x2
44. Let y = (1 + 1/x) . Then ln y = x2 ln (1 + 1/x) ⇒

√ √ 
38. lim x2 + x + 1 − x2 − x ln (1 + 1/x)
x→∞ lim ln y = lim x2 ln (1 + 1/x) = lim
√ √ x→∞ x→∞ x→∞ 1/x2

√ 2 √  x2 + x + 1 + x2 − x

= lim x +x+1− x −x √ 2 √ H −1/x2 / (1 + 1/x)
x→∞ x2 + x + 1 + x2 − x = lim

2 
2  x→∞ −2/x3
x +x+1 − x −x x
= lim √ √ = lim =∞ ⇒
x→∞ x2 + x + 1 + x2 − x x→∞ 2 (1 + 1/x)
2x + 1 2
= lim √ 2 √ lim (1 + 1/x)x = lim eln y = ∞.
x→∞ x + x + 1 + x2 − x x→∞ x→∞
x
2 + 1/x 45. y = (− ln x) ⇒ ln y = x ln (− ln x), so
= lim
x→∞ 1 + 1/x + 1/x2 + 1 − 1/x ln (− ln x)
lim ln y = lim x ln (− ln x) = lim
2 x→0 + x→0+ x→0+ 1/x
= =1
1+1 H (1/ − ln x) (−1/x)
 = lim
1 1 1 1 x→0+ −1/x2
39. lim − = lim − lim x (since
x→∞ x ex − 1 x→∞ x x→∞ e − 1 −x
= lim =0 ⇒
both limits exist) = 0 − 0 = 0 x→0+ ln x

lim (− ln x)x = e0 = 1.
x→0 +