1.

L’HOSPITAL’S RULE

In this section we shall learn an important new technique

for finding limits of functions.

For
x2  4 sin x
a) lim b) lim
x 2 x  2 x0 x
We cannot directly find the limit because in both cases
the numerator and denominator both approach zero.
Such limit is called indeterminate form of type 0/0.

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 1.1 THE INDETERMINATE FORM

Indeterminate form of type 0/0

Here we are concerned with limits of quotients where
the numerator and denominator both tend to 0.
Need to use this theorem.

Theorem : L' Hôpital's Rule (0/0)

Suppose that f ( x)  0 and g ( x)  0
as x  a, x  a  , x  a  , x  , x   .
f ( x) f ( x)
If  L (finite,  or - ) , then  L.
g ( x) g ( x)

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Remark
Need to check that lim f(x)/g(x) is an indeterminate form.
If it is not, the L' Hôpital's Rule cannot be used.
then
Examples
Find
sin 2 x
1. lim
x 0 x
Solution
Have lim sin 2 x  0 and lim x  0 - indeterminate form
x 0 x 0
d
(sin 2 x)
So sin 2 x dx 2 cos 2 x
lim  lim  lim  2
x 0 x x 0 d x0 1
x
dx
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 ex  x 1
2. lim 2
x 0 x
Solution Have indeterminate form since
lim e  x  1  0 and
x
lim x 2
0
x 0 x 0

ex  x 1 e x  1 Still have 0/0, diff. again

So lim 2
 lim
x 0 x x 0 2x
ex 1
 lim 
x 0 2 2
tan x
3. lim 2 - indeterminate form
x 0 x
tan x sec 2 x
So lim 2
 lim  
x 0 x x 0 2x
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 e2 / x 1
4. lim - indeterminate form
x  1 / x

So e2 / x 1 e 2 / x ( 2 / x 2 )
lim  lim
x  1 / x x  1/ x2

 lim 2e 2 / x
x 

2

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Indeterminate form of type 

Theorem : L' Hôpital' s Rule (/)
Suppose that f ( x)   and g ( x)  
as x  a, x  a  , x  a  , x  , x   .
f ( x) f ( x)
If  L (finite,  or - ) , then  L.
g ( x) g ( x)
Example
Evaluate
x
1. lim x - form  / 
x  e
x  lim 1
So lim x x  e x  0
x  e 6
 1.2 OTHER INDETERMINATE FORMS

• Indeterminate forms of type 0

Lim f(x)g(x) is called an indeterminate form of type 0
if lim f ( x)  0 and lim g ( x)  .
Limit problems of this type can be handled
by convertingit to the form

f ( x) g ( x)
f ( x) g ( x)  or f ( x) g ( x) 
1 / g ( x) 1/ f ( x)

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 Example

Evaluate

1. lim x ln x
x 0

Indeterminate form since lim x  0 and

x 0

lim ln x  
x 0
So
ln x 1 / x  lim (  x)
lim x ln x  lim  lim x 0 
x 0  1 / x
2
x 0 x 0 1 / x

Type /, use L' Hôpital

0

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 Indeterminate forms of type 0 0 ,  0 ,1 .
lim f ( x ) g ( x ) give rise to such indeterminate forms.
x a
All the three types of indeterminate forms are treated by
introducing y  f(x) and then calculating lim ln y
g(x)
xa
L
Example  lim y  e L
Evaluate xa

1. lim(1  x)1/ x - - - type 1

x 0

Let y  (1  x) ln y  ln(1  x)  1 / x ln(1  x)

1/ x 1/ x

ln(1  x) 1 /(1  x)
So lim ln(1  x )  lim
1/ x
 lim
x 0 x 0 x x 0 1
Type 0 / 0, use L' Hôpital
1
 lim(1  x )1/ x  e1  e
x 0
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 Indeterminate forms of type 
Indeterminate forms of this type can be treated by
combining the two terms into one.

Example
1 1  - - - type   
1. Evaluate lim   
x 0  x sin x  Type 0 / 0, use L' Hôpital

So lim  
 1 1   sin x  x 
  lim  
x 0  x

sin x  x  0  x sin x 

 cos x  1    sin x 
 lim   lim  
x 0  sin x  x cos x  x 0  cos x  cos x  x sin x 

0
Again 0 / 0, use L' Hôpital again  0
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