Chapter 13

LIMITS AND DERIVATIVES

13.1 Overview
13.1.1 Limits of a function
Let f be a function defined in a domain which we take to be an interval, say, I. We shall
study the concept of limit of f at a point a in I.
We say lim f ( x) is the expected value of f at x = a given the values of f near to the
x a
left of a. This value is called the left hand limit of f at a.

We say xlim
a
f (x) is the expected value of f at x = a given the values of f near to the
right of a. This value is called the right hand limit of f at a.
If the right and left hand limits coincide, we call the common value as the limit of f at
x = a and denote it by lim f ( x) .
x a

Some properties of limits

Let f and g be two functions such that both lim f ( x) and lim g ( x) exist. Then
x a x a

(i) lim [ f ( x) g ( x)] lim f ( x) lim g ( x)

x a x a xa

(ii) lim [ f ( x) g ( x)] lim f ( x) lim g ( x)

x a x a xa
(iii) For every real number
lim ( f ) ( x) lim f ( x)
x a xa

(iv) lim [ f ( x) g ( x)] [lim f ( x) lim g ( x)]

x a x a x a

f ( x) lim f ( x)
lim x a
x a g ( x) lim g ( x) , provided g (x) 0
x a
 226 EXEMPLAR PROBLEMS MATHEMATICS

Limits of polynomials and rational functions

If f is a polynomial function, then lim f ( x) exists and is given by
x a

lim f ( x) f ( a )
x a

An Important limit
An important limit which is very useful and used in the sequel is given below:

xn a n
lim na n 1
x a x a
Remark The above expression remains valid for any rational number provided a is
positive.
Limits of trigonometric functions
To evaluate the limits of trigonometric functions, we shall make use of the following
limits which are given below:

sin x cos x 1 sin x 0

(i) lim = 1 (ii) lim
x 0
(iii) lim
x 0
x 0 x
13.1.2 Derivatives Suppose f is a real valued function, then
f ( x h ) f ( x)
f (x) = hlim
0
... (1)
h
is called the derivative of f at x, provided the limit on the R.H.S. of (1) exists.
Algebra of derivative of functions Since the very definition of derivatives involve
limits in a rather direct fashion, we expect the rules of derivatives to follow closely that
of limits as given below:
Let f and g be two functions such that their derivatives are defined in a common
domain. Then :
(i) Derivative of the sum of two function is the sum of the derivatives of the functions.
d d d
f ( x) g ( x) = f ( x) g ( x)
dx dx dx
(ii) Derivative of the difference of two functions is the difference of the derivatives
of the functions.
d d d
f ( x) g ( x) = f ( x) g ( x)
dx dx dx
 LIMITS AND DERIVATIVES 227

(iii) Derivative of the product of two functions is given by the following product
rule.

d d d
f (x) g ( x) = dx f (x ) g ( x) f ( x) dx g ( x)
dx
This is referred to as Leibnitz Rule for the product of two functions.
(iv) Derivative of quotient of two functions is given by the following quotient rule
(wherever the denominator is non-zero).

d d
f ( x) g ( x ) f ( x) g ( x)
d f ( x) dx dx
dx g ( x)
=
g ( x)2
13.2 Solved Examples
Short Answer Type

1 2 (2 x 3)
Example 1 Evaluate lim 3
x 2 x 2
x 3 x 2 2 x

Solution We have

1 2 (2 x 3) 1 2(2 x 3)
lim 3
x 3 x 2 2 x =
lim
x 2 x 2
x 2 x 2
x ( x 1) ( x 2

x ( x 1) 2 (2 x 3)
= lim
x 2
x ( x 1) ( x 2)

x 2 5x 6
= x 2
lim
x (x 1) (x 2)

( x 2) ( x 3)
= xlim
2 x ( x 1) ( x 2)
[x 2 0]

x 3 1
= xlim
2 x ( x 1)
2
 228 EXEMPLAR PROBLEMS MATHEMATICS

2 x 2
Example 2 Evaluate lim
x 0 x
Solution Put y = 2 + x so that when x 0, y 2. Then
1 1
2 x 2 y 2 22
lim = lim
y 2 y 2
x 0 x

1 1
1 2 1 1 2 1
= (2) 2
2 2 2 2

x n 3n
Example 3 Find the positive integer n so that lim 108 .
x 3 x 3
Solution We have

x n 3n
lim = n(3)n 1
x 3 x 3
Therefore, n(3)n 1 = 108 = 4 (27) = 4(3)4 1
Comparing, we get n= 4
Example 4 Evaluate lim (sec x tan x)

x
2

Solution Put y = x . Then y 0 as x . Therefore
2 2

lim (sec x tan x) = lim [sec( y ) tan ( y)]
y0 2 2
x
2

= lim (cosec y cot y )

y0

1 cos y
= lim
y0 sin y sin y

1 cos y
= lim
y0 sin y
 LIMITS AND DERIVATIVES 229

y y 1 cos y
2 sin 2 since , sin 2
2 2 2
= lim
y 0 y y
2sin cos sin y 2sin y cos y
2 2 2 2

y
= lim tan =0
y 2
0
2

sin (2 x) sin(2 x)
Example 5 Evaluate lim
x 0 x
Solution (i) We have

(2 x 2 x ) (2 x 2 x )
2cos sin
sin (2 x) sin(2 x) 2 2
lim = lim
x 0 x x 0 x

2cos 2 sin x
= lim
x 0 x

sin x sin x
= 2 cos2 lim 2cos 2 as lim 1
x 0 x x 0 x
Example 6 Find the derivative of f (x) = ax + b, where a and b are non-zero constants,
by first principle.
Solution By definition,

f ( x h ) f ( x)
f (x) = lim
h 0 h

a ( x h) b ( ax b ) bh
= hlim
0
= lim =b
h h 0 h

Example 7 Find the derivative of f (x) = ax 2 + bx + c, where a, b and c are none-zero

constant, by first principle.
Solution By definition,

f ( x h ) f ( x)
f (x) = lim
h 0 h
 230 EXEMPLAR PROBLEMS MATHEMATICS

a ( x h)2 b ( x h) c ax 2 bx c
= hlim
0 h

bh ah 2 2axh
= hlim
0
= lim
h0
ah + 2ax + b = b + 2ax
h
Example 8 Find the derivative of f (x) = x3, by first principle.
Solution By definition,

f ( x h ) f ( x)
f (x) = lim
h 0 h

( x h) 3 x 3
= lim
h 0 h

x 3 h 3 3 xh ( x h ) x3
= lim
h 0 h

= lim
h0
(h 2 + 3x (x + h)) = 3x2

1
Example 9 Find the derivative of f (x) = by first principle.
x
Solution By definition,
f (x h) f (x)
f (x) = lim
h 0 h

1 1 1
= lim
h 0 h x h x

h 1
= lim = 2.
h 0 h ( x h) x x
Example 10 Find the derivative of f (x) = sin x, by first principle.
Solution By definition,
f (x h) f (x)
f (x) = lim
h 0 h
 LIMITS AND DERIVATIVES 231

sin ( x h ) sin x
= lim
h 0 h

2x h h
2cos
2
sin
2
= hlim
0 h
2
2

h
(2 x h) sin
lim 2
= lim cos
h 0 2 h 0 h
2
= cos x.1 = cos x
Example 11 Find the derivative of f (x) = xn , where n is positive integer, by first
principle.
Solution By definition,
f ( x h ) f ( x)
f (x) =
h

( x h ) n xn
=
h
Using Binomial theorem, we have (x + h) n = nC0 xn + nC1 xn 1 h + ... + n Cn h n

( x h ) n xn
Thus, f (x) = lim
h 0 h

h ( nx n 1 ... h n 1 ]
= lim
h 0
= nx n 1.
h
Example 12 Find the derivative of 2x4 + x.
Solution Let y = 2x4 + x
Differentiating both sides with respect to x, we get
dy d d
= (2 x4 ) ( x)
dx dx dx
= 2 4x4 1 + 1x0
 232 EXEMPLAR PROBLEMS MATHEMATICS

= 8x3 + 1
d
Therefore, (2 x4 x) = 8x3 + 1.
dx
Example 13 Find the derivative of x2 cosx.
Solution Let y = x2 cosx
Differentiating both sides with respect to x, we get
dy d 2
= ( x cos x)
dx dx
d d 2
= x
2
(cos x ) cos x (x )
dx dx
= x2 ( sinx) + cosx (2x)
= 2x cosx x2 sinx
Long Answer Type

2sin 2 x sin x 1
Example 14 Evaluate lim
x 2sin 2 x 3sin x 1
6

Solution Note that

2 sin2 x + sin x 1 = (2 sin x 1) (sin x + 1)
2 sin2 x 3 sin x + 1 = (2 sin x 1) (sin x 1)

2sin 2 x sin x 1 (2sin x 1) (sin x 1)

Therefore, lim = lim
x
2sin 2 x 3sin x 1 x
(2sin x 1) (sin x 1)
6 6

sin x 1
= lim (as 2 sin x 1 0)
x
sin x 1
6

1 sin
6
= = 3

sin 1
6
 LIMITS AND DERIVATIVES 233

tan x sin x
Example 15 Evaluate lim
x 0 sin 3 x
Solution We have

1
sin x 1
tan x sin x cos x
lim = xlim
x 0 sin 3 x 0 sin 3 x

1 cos x
= lim
x 0 cos x sin 2 x

x
2 sin 2 1
= lim 2 = .
x 0 x x 2
cos x 4 sin 2 cos 2
2 2

a 2x 3x
Example 16 Evaluate lim
x a 3a x 2 x

a 2x 3x
Solution We have lim
x a 3a x 2 x

a 2x 3x a 2 x 3x
= lim
x a 3a x 2 x a 2 x 3x

a 2x 3x

= lim
x a 3a x 2 x a 2x 3x

lim
( a x) 3a x 2 x
= x a
a 2 x 3x 3a x 2 x 3a x 2 x
(a x) 3 a x 2 x

= lim
x a a 2 x 3 x 3a x 4 x
 234 EXEMPLAR PROBLEMS MATHEMATICS

4 a 2 2 3
= = .
3 2 3a 3 3 9

cos ax cos bx
Example 17 Evaluate lim
x 0 cos cx 1

(a b ) (a b) x
2sin x sin
2 2
Solution We have lim
x 0 sin 2 cx
2
2

(a b ) x (a b) x
2sin sin x2
lim 2 2
=
x 0 x2 sin 2
cx
2

2
( a b) x (a b ) x cx 4
sin sin 2
= lim
2 2 2 c
x 0 (a b ) x 2 (a b ) x 2 2 cx
sin
2 a b 2 ab 2

a b a b 4 a2 b2
= =
2 2 c2 c2

( a h) 2 sin ( a h ) a 2 sin a
Example 18 Evaluate lim
h 0 h

( a h) 2 sin ( a h ) a 2 sin a
Solution We have lim
h 0 h

( a 2 h 2 2 ah ) [sin a cos h cos a sin h ] a 2 sin a

= lim
h 0 h

a 2 sin a (cos h 1) a 2 cos a sin h

= lim [ ( h 2 a ) (sin a cos h cos a sin h )]
h 0 h h
 LIMITS AND DERIVATIVES 235

2 2 h
a sin a ( 2sin 2 ) h a 2 cos a sin h
lim lim lim ( h 2 a ) sin (a h )
= h 0 h2 2 h 0 h h0

2
= a 2 sin a 0 + a2 cos a (1) + 2a sin a
= a2 cos a + 2a sin a.
Example 19 Find the derivative of f (x) = tan (ax + b), by first principle.
f (x h) f (x)
Solution We have f (x) = lim
h 0 h

tan a ( x h) b tan ( ax b )
= hlim
0 h

sin ( ax ah b) sin ( ax b )

cos ( ax ah b ) cos ( ax b )
lim
= h 0
h

sin ( ax ah b ) cos ( ax b ) sin ( ax b ) cos ( ax ah b )

= lim
h 0 h cos ( ax b ) cos ( ax ah b )

a sin ( ah )
= hlim
0 a h cos ( ax b ) cos ( ax ah b)

a sin ah
= lim lim [as h 0 ah 0]
h 0 cos ( ) cos ( )
ax b ax ah b ah 0 ah

a
= = a sec2 (ax + b).
cos (ax b)
2

Example 20 Find the derivative of f ( x) sin x , by first principle.

Solution By definition,

f ( x h ) f ( x)
f (x) = lim
h 0 h
 236 EXEMPLAR PROBLEMS MATHEMATICS

sin (x h) sin x
= lim
h 0 h

sin ( x h ) sin x sin ( x h ) sin x

= lim
h 0 h sin ( x h ) sin x

sin ( x h ) sin x
= hlim
0 h sin ( x h ) sin x
2x h h
2 cos
2
sin
2
= lim
h 0
2
h
2

sin ( x h) sin x
cos x 1
= = cot x sin x
2 sin x 2

cos x
Example 21 Find the derivative of .
1 sin x

cos x
Solution Let y =
1 sin x
Differentiating both sides with respects to x, we get

dy d cos x
=
dx 1 sin x
dx

d d
(1 sin x) (cos x) cos x (1 sin x )
dx dx
=
(1 sin x) 2

(1 sin x) ( sin x ) cos x (cos x)

=
(1 sin x) 2
 LIMITS AND DERIVATIVES 237

sin x sin 2 x cos 2 x

=
(1 sin x) 2

(1 sin x) 1
= =
(1 sin x) 2 1 sin x
Objective Type Questions
Choose the correct answer out of the four options given against each Example 22 to 28
(M.C.Q.).
sin x
Example22 lim is equal to
x 0 x (1 cos x )

1
(A) 0 (B) (C) 1 (D) 1
2
Solution (B) is the correct answer, we have

x x
2sin cos
sin x 2 2
lim = lim
x 0 x (1 cos x ) x 0 2 x
x 2cos
2

x
tan
1 2 = 1
= lim
2 x0 x 2
2

1 sin x
Example23 lim is equal to
cos x
x
2

(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 1 (D) does not exit

Solution (A) is the correct answer, since

1 sin x 1 sin 2 y
lim = lim taking x y
x
cos x y 0
cos y 2
2
2
 238 EXEMPLAR PROBLEMS MATHEMATICS

y
2sin 2
1 cos y lim 2
= lim
y0
= y0 y y
sin y 2 sin cos
2 2

y
= lim tan =0
y0 2
| x|
Example 24 lim is equal to
x 0 x
(A) 1 (B) 1 (C) 0 (D) does not exists
Solution (D) is the correct answer, since
| x| x
R.H.S = lim 1
x 0 x x

| x| x
and L.H.S = lim 1
x 0 x x

Example 25 lim [ x 1] , where [.] is greatest integer function, is equal to

x 1

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 0 (D) does not exists

Solution (D) is the correct answer, since

R.H.S = lim [ x 1] 0
x 1

and L.H.S = lim [ x 1] 1

x 1

1
Example 26 lim x sin is equals to
x 0 x

1
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) (D) does not exist
2
Solution (A) is the correct answer, since
1
lim x 0 and 1 sin 1, by Sandwitch Theorem, we have
x 0 x
 LIMITS AND DERIVATIVES 239

1
lim x sin = 0
x 0 x

1 2 3 ... n
Example 27 nlim , n N, is equal to
n2

1 1
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) (D)
2 4

1 2 3 ... n
Solution (C) is the correct answer. As xlim
n2

n ( n 1) 1 1 1
= nlim lim 1
x 2

2n2
= n 2

Example 28 If f(x) = x sinx, then f is equal to
2

1
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 1 (D)
2
Solution (B) is the correct answer. As f (x) = x cosx + sinx

So, f = cos sin 1
2 2 2 2

13.3 EXERCISE
Short Answer Type
Evaluate :

x2 9 4x 2 1 x h x
lim lim
1. x 3 2. 2x 1 3. lim
x 3
1
x h 0 h
2

1 1 5 5
( x 2) 3 2 3 (1 x) 6 1 (2 x) 2 ( a 2) 2
4. lim 5. lim 6. lim
x 0 x x1 (1 x) 2 1 x a xa
 240 EXEMPLAR PROBLEMS MATHEMATICS

x4 x x2 4
7. lim 8. lim
x1 x 1 x 2 3x 2 x 2

x4 4 x7 2 x 5 1 1 x3 1 x3
9. lim 10. lim 11. lim
x 2 x 3 2x 8
2 x1 x3 3 x2 2 x 0 x2

x3 27 8x 3 4x 2 1
12. xlim 13. lim1 2
3 x 5 243 x 2x 1 4x 1
2

xn 2n sin 3 x
14. Find n, if lim 80 , n N 15. lim
x 2 x 2 x a sin 7 x

sin2 2 x 1 cos2 x 2sin x sin 2 x

16. lim 17. lim 18. lim
x 0 sin 2 4 x x 0 x2 x 0 x3

1 cos mx 1 cos 6 x sin x cos x

lim
19. lim 20. lim 21.
x 0 1 cos nx
x x x
2 x 4
3
3 4

3 sin x cos x sin 2 x 3 x sin x sin a

22. lim 23. lim 24. lim
x x
x 0 2 x tan3 x x a x a
6
6

cot 2 x 3 2 1 cos x
25. lim 26. xlim
x cosec x 2 0 sin 2 x
6

sin x 2sin 3x sin 5x

27. lim
x 0 x

x4 1 x3 k 3
28. If lim lim 2 , then find the value of k.
x1 x 1 x k x k 2
Differentiate each of the functions w. r. to x in Exercises 29 to 42.

x 4 x3 x2 1
3
1
29. 30. x 31. (3x + 5) (1 + tanx)
x x
 LIMITS AND DERIVATIVES 241

3x 4 x5 cos x
32. (sec x 1) (sec x + 1) 33. 34.
5x 7 x 9
2
sin x

x 2 cos
35. 4 36. (ax2 + cotx) (p + q cosx)
sin x

a b sin x
37. 38. (sin x + cosx) 2 39. (2x 7)2 (3x + 5)3
c d cos x

1
40. x2 sinx + cos2x 41. sin3x cos3x 42.
ax bx c
2

Long Answer Type

Differentiate each of the functions with respect to x in Exercises 43 to 46 using first
principle.

ax b 2
43. cos (x2 + 1) 44. 45. x 3
cx d
46. x cosx

Evaluate each of the following limits in Exercises 47 to 53.

( x y) sec( x y) x sec x
47. lim
y0 y

(sin( ) x sin( ) x sin 2 x)

48. lim x
x 0 cos 2x cos 2x

x
1 sin
tan 3 x tan x lim 2
49. lim

50. x x x x
x cos cos sin
cos x 4
4
4 2 4

| x 4|
51. Show that lim does not exists
x 4 x 4
 242 EXEMPLAR PROBLEMS MATHEMATICS

k cos x
2 x when x
2
52. Let f(x) = and if lim f ( x) f ( ) ,
3 x
2
x 2
2
find the value of k.

x 2 x 1
53. Let f (x) = 2 , find c if xlim
1
f ( x) exists.
cx x 1

Objective Type Questions

Choose the correct answer out of 4 options given against each Exercise 54 to 76
(M.C.Q).

sin x
54. lim is
x x
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 1 (D) 2

x2 cos x
55. lim is
x 0 1 cos x

3 3
(A) 2 (B) (C) (D) 1
2 2

(1 x) n 1
56. lim is
x 0 x
(A) n (B) 1 (C) n (D) 0

xm 1
57. lim is
x1 xn 1

m m m2
(A) 1 (B) (C) (D)
n n n2

1 cos4
58. lim is
x 0 1 cos6
 LIMITS AND DERIVATIVES 243

4 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D) 1
9 2 2
cosec x cot x
59. lim is
x 0 x
1 1
(A) (B) 1 (C) (D) 1
2 2
sin x
60. lim is
x 0 x 1 1 x
(A) 2 (B) 0 (C) 1 (D) 1
sec2 x 2
61. lim is
tan x 1
x
4

(A) 3 (B) 1 (C) 0 (D) 2

62. lim
x 1 2 x 3
is
x1 2 x2 x 3
1 1
(A) (B) (C) 1 (D) None of these
10 10

sin[ x]
, [ x] 0
63. If f (x) = [ x] , where [.] denotes the greatest integer function ,
0 ,[ x ] 0

then lim
x 0
f ( x) is equal to

(A) 1 (B) 0 (C) 1 (D) None of these

| sin x |
64. lim is
x 0 x
(A) 1 (B) 1 (C) does not exist(D) None of these

x2 1, 0 x 2
65. Let f (x) = , the quadratic equation whose roots are xlim f ( x) and
2 x 3, 2 x 3
2

lim f ( x) is
x 2
244 EXEMPLAR PROBLEMS MATHEMATICS

(A) x2 6x + 9 = 0 (B) x2 7x + 8 = 0
(C) x2 14x + 49 = 0 (D) x2 10x + 21 = 0

tan 2 x x
66. lim is
x 0 3 x sin x

1 1 1
(A) 2 (B) (C) (D)
2 2 4

1
67. Let f (x) = x [x]; R, then f is
2

3
(A) (B) 1 (C) 0 (D) 1
2

1 dy
68. If y = x , then at x = 1 is
x dx

1 1
(A) 1 (B) (C) (D) 0
2 2

x4
69. If f (x) = , then f (1) is
2 x

5 4
(A) (B) (C) 1 (D) 0
4 5

1
1
2 dy
x
70. If y , then is
1 dx
1 2
x

4x 4 x 1 x2 4x
(A) (B) (C) (D)
(x2 1)2 x2 1 4x x 12

sin x cos x dy
71. If y , then at x = 0 is
sin x cos x dx
 LIMITS AND DERIVATIVES 245

1
(A) 2 (B) 0 (C) (D) does not exist
2
sin( x 9) dy
72. If y , then at x = 0 is
cos x dx
(A) cos 9 (B) sin 9 (C) 0 (D) 1

x2 x100
73. If f (x) = 1 x ... , then f (1) is equal to
2 100

1
(A) (B) 100 (C) does not exist (D) 0
100

xn a n
74. If f ( x) for some constant a, then f (a) is
x a

1
(A) 1 (B) 0 (C) does not exist (D)
2
75. If f (x) = x100 + x99 + ... + x + 1, then f (1) is equal to
(A) 5050 (B) 5049 (C) 5051 (D) 50051
76. If f (x) = 1 x + x x ... x + x , then f (1) is euqal to
2 3 99 100

(A) 150 (B) 50 (C) 150 (D) 50

Fill in the blanks in Exercises 77 to 80.

tan x
77. If f (x) = , then lim
x
f ( x) = ______________
x

x
78. lim sin mx cot
x 0
2 , then m = ______________
3

x x2 x 3 dy
79. if y 1 ... , then = ______________
1! 2! 3! dx

x
80. lim = ______________
x 3 [ x]