Indeterminate Forms and the L’Hopital’s Rule

Raymond Louis S. Tañedo

Institute of Mathematics
University of the Philippines, Diliman
Recall

Theorem (L’Hopital’s Rule)

Let f and g be functions di�erentiable on an interval I containing a
f(x)
except possibly at a and g0 (x) 6= � for all x 2 I\{a}. If lim is
x!a g(x)

an indeterminate form of type �� or , then

f(x) f 0 (x)
lim = lim
x!a g(x) x!a g0 (x)

f 0 (x) f 0 (x)
provided lim exists or lim =± .
x!a g0 (x) x!a g0 (x)

�/��
Examples
� x
�. lim
x!� �x � (f)
like we
5)

limecc=caz
=: -

for
11

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 ln x
�. lim 0.
=

�
x!�+ e x

(exercise: (

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 sin x x
�. lim
x!� x� (E)

intothe
ilection
30.

waklim-os in
=-t.lim sit
=-
lim COSX

x
=

+0

(1)
re
=-

#rise: Evaluatehim to
=-

t
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Remark (Indeterminate Form of Type � · and )
�. If lim f(x) = � and lim g(x) = + or , we write
x!a x!a
lim f(x)g(x) as
x!a
f(x)
�.� lim � which is an indeterminate form of type �� , or
x!a
g(x)
g(x)
�.� lim � which is an indeterminate form of type
x!a
f(x)
and apply L’Hopital’s Rule.
�. If lim7]
f(x) + g(x) is an indeterminate form of type ,
x!a
rewrite f(x) + g(x) as a single expression to obtain an
indeterminate form of type �� or and apply L’Hopital’s rule.

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 I'm lux
exist
lim Ex
does not
Examples
x2-0-
->

lim <
-

x + 5

�
�. lim x� e x (0.0)

tollMotEtELYENiMoEIi
x!�+

SM:
a.Mo-acre -

For a
·

tm-ex t8
0
=

�/��
 � �
� c)
�. lim csc x ( -
o -
(
-

a)) +

( -
w +

x!� x

=dst
this
.Mor(csccc-telFodinotstict
SOC

sinsc
wiRlim(cl-sinx) -
-

+cosx + coss

sin
=mor tacosori =
z =
0.

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�. lim (ln(x + �) ln x)
an 0.
=

x!
in(x -

1)
& exercise.

�/��
Remark (Indeterminate Form of Type � , �� , �
)
If lim f(x)g(x) is an indeterminate form of type � , �� , �, we write
x!a
im g(xIn(lR
g(x) g(x) ln[f(x)]
lim f(x) = lim e =
C
x!a x!a

and evaluate lim g(x) ln[f(x)] �rst. Then, if

x!a
�. lim g(x) ln[f(x)] = L 2 R, then lim f(x)g(x) = eL .
x!a x!a
�. lim g(x) ln[f(x)] = , then lim f(x)g(x) = .
x!a x!a
�. lim g(x) ln[f(x)] = , then lim f(x)g(x) = �
x!a x!a

�/��
 Examples

�. lim (t n x)cos x

gocosscluctance (x)
x! � a
0

coscintance

Solilim Fancx en
-
line 2
(v)
1-

CrosccleCtanceanarcEEEEEE
Now,

Jim
(0.0)
-

xtE

-linere tanx

=()(ox) x
=

- x 0
=

00
lime(tanx1* 1. ��/��
Therefore, = =
 � ��
�. lim x + e�x x
x!�+

(Exercise.)

��/��
 n
Exercise

Evaluate the following limits.

�. lim t n x ln x (Exercise:
EtctwoE
x!�+
� �
=
3
� �x =

�. lim � + (10)
x! x
(Hic)
lim(1 3 exoxIn+ Therefore,
*
sc

=
Now,
im (H )
(mxx(n(+ () =

(E
x+ a
(0.0)

��/��
⑰
him tanclnce
= t =.nic (a
x+o+(0.0) GU,2
↓

-Emot an antic resin

=

(0)(1)
0.
=