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Limits using Differentiation

L'Hospital's Rule

While computing limits, we often encounter situations, where the limits take one of the following forms 0/0,∞/∞,∞ - ∞,0 × ∞ and 1^-, 0^-, ∞^o. is it possible to compute the limit of functions in such cases?

These values are termed as indeterminate values in the language of mathematics. In fact, with just the knowledge of limits one cannot expect to solve such limits. The rule used for computing the limits of indeterminate forms is termed as L’Hospital’s Rule.

If f(x) and g(x) are differential functions of x and

1. If f(a) = 0 and g(a) = 0 or f(a) = ∞ and g(a) = ∞ then

lim _(x→a) (f(x))/(g(x)) = lim_(x→a) (f' (x))/(g' (x))

In general if f(a) = f'(a) – f"(a) = .............. f^n-1(a) = 0 (or ∞)

And g'(a) = g"(a) = ........................ = g^n-1(a) = 0 (or ∞)

Where fⁿ(a) ≠ 0 (or ∞) and gⁿ(a) ≠ 0, then

lim _(x→a) (f(x))/(g(x)) = lim _(x→a) (fⁿ (x))/(gⁿ (x)).

Note: L 'Hospital's rule is applicable only when the given expression is of the form 0/0, ∞/∞.

Let us have a look at some of the illustrations involving limits of the form 0/0 or ∞/∞:

Illustration 1:

Evaluate lim _(x→0) (e^xsin x – x – x²)/(x²+x – ln (1-x))

Solution:

S = lim _(x→0) (e^xsin x – x – x²)/(x²+x – ln (1 – x)) (0/0 form)

= lim _(x→0) [e^x(cos x + sin x) – 1 – 2x] / [ 2x + 1 + 1/(1 – x)] (0/0 form)

= (1 – 1 – 0)/(0 + 1 + 1)

= 0.

_________________________________________________________________

Illustration 2:

Evaluate lim _(x→∞) (2x²+ 3x – 1)/(3x²- 5x + 2).

Solution:

The given expression is lim_(x→0) (2x²+ 3x – 1)/(3x²- 5x + 2)

= lim _(x→∞) (2x²+ 3x – 1)/(3x²- 5x + 2) (∞/∞ form)

= lim _(x→∞) (4x + 3)/(6x – 5) (differentiating numerator and denominator)

= lim _(x→∞) 4/6

= 2/3.

____________________________________________________________________

Illustration 3:

lim_(x→1) (x⁷- 2x⁵+ 1)/(x³- 3x²+ 2)

Solution:

The question can be solved by two methods:

Method 1: lim_(x→1) (x⁷- 2x⁵+ 1)/(x³- 3x²+ 2) [0/0 form]

Using L'Hospital’s rule we can get the value of limit by differentiating the denominator and numerator separately.

lim _(x→1) (7x⁶- 10x⁴)/(3x²- 6x)

= (7 – 10)/(3 – 6) = 1

Method 2: Alternatively, because (x – 1) factor is common to both Numerator and Denominator, hence we can write,

lim _(x→1)(x⁷- 2x⁵+ 1)/(x³- 3x²+ 2) = lim _(x→1)[x⁶(x-1)+ x⁵(x-1)- (x⁵-1)]/[(x²(x-1)- 2(x² -1)]

= lim _(x→1)[(x-1)(x⁶ + x⁵–(x⁴+ x³+x²+ 1)]/[(x-1)(x²- 2x - 2)]

= lim _(x→1)[x⁶ + x⁵-x⁴- x³-x²- 1)]/[(x²- 2x - 2)

= (1 + 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1)/(1 – 2.1 – 2)

= 1.

Remark:

If the problem is not in the form of 0/0 or ∞/∞, we can simplify the expression till it becomes of the form 0/0 or ∞/∞. Hence, any form of indeterminacy can always be expressed in the form 0/0 or ∞/∞ which can then be easily solved by applying the L Hospital’s Rule. The chart given below illustrates the various possible forms of indeterminacy and how they can be modified so as to apply the Hospital’s Rule:

Any form of indeterminacy can always be put in the form 0/0 and ∞/∞ so that we can then solve it by applying the L' Hospital’s Rule. Let us see how L' Hospital’s Rule can be applied in the following cases:

Case I: When indeterminacy is of the form 0, ∞

Let lim _(x→a) f(x) g(x) = 0, ∞ (f(a) = 0, g(a) = ∞)

The expression can be modified as

lim _(x→a) f(x)/(1 ⁄ (g(x))) = 0/0 form and L' Hospital Rule can be applied.

Illustration:

Find lim _(x→π/2) (π/2 – x) tan x

lim _(x→π/2) (π/2 – x) tan x [0.∞ form]

= lim _(x→π/2) (π/2 – x)/cot x [0/0 form]

= lim _(x→π/2) – (0 – 1)/cosec²x = lim _(x→π/2) sin² x

= 1²

= 1.

Refer the following video for more on L Hospital’s Rule

Case II: If indeterminacy is of the form 1^∞.

Let y = lim _(x→a) [f(x)]^g(x) is of the form 1^∞

Then we can write

log_e y = lim _(x→a) g(x) log_e f(x) (now form ∞ × 0 since log_e 1 = 0)

= lim _(x→a) log f(x)/(1 ⁄ (g(x))) (now 0/0 form)

By applying the L' Hospital Rule one gets a value for the limit 'a' (say)

Then we have log y = α

or y = e^α.

Case III: If indeterminacy is of the form 0⁰

y = lim _(x→a) [f(x)]^(g(x)) is of the form 0^0.

then expression can be written as

log y = lim _(x→a) g(x) log f(x) (Now form 0 × - ∞ since log_e⁰= -∞)

and expression takes the form

log y = lim _(x→a) g(x)/(1 ⁄ log f(x) ) (form 0/0)

By using L' Hospital Rule one can evaluate this limit.

Q1. L Hospital’s Rule is used for finding the

(a) determinate limits

(b) Indeterminate limits

(d) none of these

Q2. If indeterminacy is of the form 1^∞

(a) we can determine the limit using L Hospital’s rule after taking logarithm of the function.

(b) the limit can’t be determined.

(d) none of these.

Q3. If f(a) = 0 and g(a) = 0 or f(a) = ∞ and g(a) = ∞ then

(a) lim _(x→a) (f(x))/(g(x)) = lim _(x→a) (f' (x))/(g(x))

(b) lim _(x→a) (f(x))/(g(x)) = lim _(x→a) (f(x))/(g' (x))

(d) none of these

Q4. L 'Hospital's rule is applicable only when the given expression is

(a) of the form 1/1.

(b) can be of any form.

(d) of the form 0/0, ∞/∞ or is reducible to one of these forms.

Q1.	Q2.	Q3.	Q4.
(b)	(a)	(c)	(d)

Related Resources

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