6.

5 L'Hopital's Rule; Indeterminat

e Forms 441
V QUICK CHECK ANSWERS 6.4
I. (al 1-z. +z) <hl (4. X) (cl (--r.. 41. <R. +-r.) 2. (a)(( '. +:Y.) (bl (0. I l 3. (,11 (--1:. . 2) and (2 . +-.c )
(b) ( - z.- :!lan dl2 .+ -,. ) (c) (-·r..
-2-2 v'2) a nd (-2+ 2J2 .+-r .)
(d) (2.0 ) (el (-'.2. l(w - ) ""' (-2.5 1

.X(J ) I i' ) -2± 2,/2

L'HOPITAL'S RULE; IND ETE RM INA

TE FO RM S
/11 this ,\'('('lin11 \\ '(' 11 •i// disc/I.I'.\' (I gene
ml /I/Cfh()df<!I' 11.l'ill ,~ dl'l'i\ '/llil'C '.\'
111e1hnd 11·i// e11 ohle us to estah lish lo/in d li111iIs. This
/i111i1 s with cer1oi111v 1h01 eorl ier
uhle to cn 11jec /ure usi g llllll1 l' l'i col in the le.rt 11·e 11·e /'£' 011/y
11 o r gmf) hir·o l evide nce. The met hoc/
in !hi s .\'('('/ion is {//1 eX //'('/11e/v /JOV. 1huI H 'l' 1vi// di .11·11ss
'e l:fi.t! /no/ tho! is 11.l'l'rl illf('/'11{/I/_\' hr 1111/U
/Jmgm11 I.1· lo cu lc11/a te limit s of' 11 \' ('0 /llfl/1 / (' /'
arinu s 1_,·1)('.1·.

INDETERMINATE FORMS OF TYPE

0/0
Reca ll that a limit of th e fo rm
f(.1)
Jim
(ll
1 - • (/ g(\' )
in which f(x)- --. O and g(.r) ---. Oas .r---.
a is called an inde term inat e form of
Some exa mpl es encountered earlier in the type 0/0.
tex t are
t~ - l . sin x l - cos x
lim ·- - = 2 . l1m - - = l . Jim - - - - = 0
\' - • I X - l .r - •U X r - •U .\'
The first limit was obtained algebraically
by factoring the numerator and canceling
com mon factor ofx - l, and the second the
two limit s were obtained using geometric
However, there are many indeterminate methods.
forms for which neither algebraic nor
meth ods wi ll produce the limit, so we need geometric
to develop a more general method .
To moti va te such a meth od. suppose that
( I ) is an indeterminate form of type
whi ch f' an d g' are continuous at x = 0 / 0 in
a and g'(a ) =I=- 0. Since f and g ca n
approx imat ed by th eir loca l linea r appr be clos ely
oximations near a , it is reas onable to expe
ct that
.
lirn - -
f( .,) .
= l1m - - - + f'(u )( .r - o)
f(o)
-----
1 - 0 ,c:(x) ,-r1 g(a) + g'(a )(x - a) ( 2)
Since we are ass uming th at f' and g ' are
co ntinuous at .1· = o. we have
Jim /"(x)
I • (I ·
= f'(o ) and lim ,c:'(x) = g ' (a)
.\" >f f

and sin ce the differentiability off and

,c: at x =a impli es the continuity of f and g at
_\' = o. we have
f(o) = Jim f(. 1 ) = 0
.\" - (/
and .~(u l = lirn g(.1) = 0
\-{/

Thu s. we ca n rewrit e (2) as

. f(x) . f'(a )(x - a)

lim - - = . f'(o ) . /'(.r l
1 ~1, ,c:(.r)
l1rn - - -- -
g'(a )(r - o)
= l1m -·- - = lim -·- -
1-0
.r-o g ' (o) r-" .~'( \')
This res ult. ca ll ed L'Hopital's rule ,
co nverts the given inde terminat e form
in vo lving derivatives that is often easi into a limit
er to eva luate.
Although we lll tltivated (3) by assuming
that f and g have co ntinuou s derivati
.r = o and that g'(a ) 'I- 0, the result is ves at
true under less stringent cond ition s and
for one-side d limits and limits at +z and is also valid
- z. The proo f of the follo wing prec
of L' Hop ital's rule is omitted. ise state men t
 Chapter 6 / Exponen t 1a ,
. I Logarithmic and Inverse Trigonometric Functions
441 •
· ., di/ji:re11ric1/J/e
("
1'111{011d g OI( ..
1
6.5.1 THEOREM (L'H,,pillll's J<ule.fiir Fom1 0/0)
. . - • _
.,UJ)/JOS<! £ : _
' rC<!/JI puss1/Jil or -1
_
0 . und r/1{1I =
. fi,n clious 011 llll open 111tervul co111u111111g .\ - o . c ·
I .
lim f(x) = 0 und }~~'g (rl = ()
.\ - C l

· · 1s
/(lim[ f'( x) / g'(x )l exisrs.orift11 · 1·1111111.1
· · - + z or- x t//<!11
- -.
x-r,

. f (x ) . f' (x)
WARNING ltm - -
x --+ll g(x)
= x--+"
lim , .
g (,i)
Note that in L'.Hopital's rule the nu-
. . . . . - · - ( 1 -r _ _r--X .
. a1su ·
rrue 111 t Ile, c-r,1.1-<! 0'Jfa /1111,r n.s .\ - · ·1
merator and denominator are ditteren- Moreov<!1: this srat<!111e11r 1s u
tiated individually. This is not the same
as ditterentiating (lx ) / g (.r ). or as x - +x.

. ' H ' .. I' . .

In the a ampk s that follow we will appl y L optl,l s u k usinv.
· ~
the follo w ing three- step I

process:

Applying L'H6pital's Rule

Step 1. Check that the limit of f (x)/ g(.1) is an indeterminate form of type O/ O.

Step 2. Differentiate f and g separatel y.

Step 3. Find the limit of f'(x) I g ' (.I) . It· tl1 1· s 1·1n1·1t 1· s· h11 1· te. + x. o r - x. then it is equal
to the limit of f (x)/ g (x) .

► Example 1 Find the limit

x2 - 4
lim
,-2 X - 2
using L' H6pital 's rule , and check the result by factoring .

Solution. The numerato r and den o minator have a Ii mi t o f 0. so the Ii 111 it is an i ndeterrni-
nate form of type 0/ 0. Appl ying L'Hopital's rule yields
cl ,
x2 - 4 -1 .1- -4]
lim _d_.,,-
· --- 2.1
lim \irn =4
, -,2x- 2 ' • 2 cl , •2 I
-11-2]
clx
The limit in Example l can be inter-
This agree s with the computation
preted as the limit form of a certain
derivative. Use that derivative to evalu-
-~ .,;
x2 - 4 . (x - 2)(.1 + 2 )
ate the limit. lim - - -
.1- 2 x - 2
= 11111 - - - - - - lim (.r+2)=4 ◄
.r - ·2 x-2 x-~

: Guillaume Franc;oisAntoine de L'Hopital (1661-1704) L'Hopital ' s rule appeared for the lirst time in that book . Actuall y,
; Frcm:h mathematic.: ian . L' H6pital , born lo parents or the L' H6pital 's rule and rnost ur the material in the calculu s text were due
· French high nobility, held the title or Marquis de Sainte- tu John Bernoulli , who was L'Hopilal 's teacher. L'Hopit,tl dropped
Mesme Comte d' Autremenl. He showed mathematical his plans for a book on integral calculus when Leibni z informed
talent quite early anJ al ,tgc 15 sol ved a dillicult prob- him that he intended to write such a text. L' Hopi ta I was apparentl v
lem aboul cyc loids posed by Pascal. As a yo ung man generous and personable. and hi s many contacts with maj or math; -
he servctl bridl y as a cava lry nlfo:er. but resigned becau se or near- malicians pro vided the ve hicle ror di sse1ni11,1tin" 111,1 ·or ct·1,.,. ,,·e .·
sightedness. In hi s uw11 time he gained rame as the author ur the "' . , ,l 11es 1
in calculu s thruughuul Eurnpe .
lirsl textb u1>k cve r publi shed un dillcrenlial c;1kulus, L'i\11uly.1·r' tl<!s
l11_fi11i1111:111 Peti r.1· po11r /'/11rellig e11ce ties Lignes Cu11rbes ( 16% ).
 6 .s L'Hopital's Rule; Indeterminate Forms 443

~--Ex·;~pl;2 In eac h parl co nfirm 1ha1 the limit is an indele rminare form of type 0 / 0,
and eva lu ate ii using L'Hop ital's rule.
sin 2x - sin .r e·' - I
(a) Jim - - (bl Jim (c) Jim
O
I-· .r \ - ,r/] cosx .r-11 .r ·1
- co.,..r x-~/.1
tan .r (f) Jim
(cl ) lim (e) Jim
, - 0 x- 0
.r - 11 ,2 x-+·.c sin(l/x)

Solution (a). Th e numera tor and denominator have a limit of 0, so th e I imit is an inde-
terminate fo rm of type 0/ 0. Appl y ing L' Hopital"s rul e y ield s
d
-lsi112.1I 2 cos 2.r
s in 2.r d .r
Jim = lim ~-,---- Ii Ill =2
, - o .r ' - II rf I - •()
- lx l
r/.r
Ob., e1Tc' that thi s resu lt agree ., with lh,11 llbl,1in ecl by ., uhsti turi o n in Exii mpk 2( h ) 01· Sec-
1in11 I .h.

WARNING Solutfrm (h). The nu111er,11 m ,in d de11omim1tnr h,1ve ;1 limit o r n. sn rh e limit is a n ind e-
terminate form of type 0/ 0. App ly ing L'Hc"1pi1,11's rul e y ie lds
Applyi ng L'H6pital 's rule to limits that
are not indetermina te forms can pro- d
duce inco rrect results. For example, th e f -si n .r
- II - ., in.rl - cos .r n
d.r = r-;r = ()
computation lirn
cos.r
= lim
, -7n d
lim
/ :. -s 1n .1 - I
d - jco., .11
.\ +<, y;fr+(,f d.r
lim
, -· n .r +1
1 1
, ~. i, ~rl-"----
r/.1
- f .1 + 21 Solution (c). The num erator and denn111inc1tor ha ve <I limit o f' 0. so th e limit is a n i11d e-
I term in ,1te form of type 0/ 0. Applying L' H6p ital's rul e y ie ld s
= lim - = I
' - · II I

is 11 0 1 valid, since the limit is not an .r _ - d Ie·'. - I J

e 1 dx e·'
indeterminate form . The correct result lim - -1- = lim -'-'----,---- =Jim-,= +x
is r-o x· .r-o d , r - 0 3x-
- f.r ' )
. .r + 6 0+ 6 d .r
l11 n - -
, - 11.r+:>
- - =-',
= 0+1
Solution (d). The numerator and denominator have a limit of 0. so th e limit is an inde-
terminate form of type 0/ 0. App ly ing L'H6pital's rule yields

tan .r sec 2 .r
Jim
,- 0
= r Jim =- x:
.r - •il - ~ ll 2x

Solution (e). The numera tor and denominator have a limit of 0. so th e limir is an inde-
terminate fo rm of type 0/ 0. App ly ing L' Hop ital 's rule y ields

- COS .I S Iil .\'

lim - --0 - - = lim - -
.1 _,o x- .1->0 2.r
Since th e new limit is another indeterminat e form of type 0/ 0. we apply L'H6pital·s rule
agui11:
- cosx SIil X . COSX I
lim ,
., - o
Iin1 - - == l1n1 - -
x-
= .r-11 2x -o 2
.1 2

Solution (f). The numera tor and denominator ha ve a limit of O. so th e limit is an

indeterm inate form of type 0/ 0. Applying L'H{ipital's rul e y ield s

.\' - .jf.1 - rr - 7/ 1 { r - 1/.1 ()

Ii Ill --/- = Ii Ill ----:--:--- -- = Ii Ill _.- - -
i - +, s in ( I r ) 1 - +·,. (-l / 12 )cns(l /r ) r-+-,.co s(l /r) I
 r
I

444 Chapter 6 / Exponential, Logarithmic,

and Inverse Trigonometric Functions

·,, INDETERMINATE FORMS OF TYPE x / x

. . 0 t · 1 tunctl ll 11 1·s. +:r- or
. . . . _ . .. - :r::
When we wa nt lo 1nd1ca te that the 1111111 - .
(or a one-s
. .
i ded llmit ) ' . ,., pie
witho ut be ing specih c about the sign, we will . - ·t ·. :r:; For ex,11.. ·
say that t1e
1 111111 is -·
lirn f( .r )
\ - • l/ 1
=x mean s lim f (.r ) = +x or lim f'( .r)== - :r:: I -
\-(I '

lim f( x )
\ - > I ·,.
=x mean s lim f(x) = +x or lim f(.r) == - x
' ·· ~ +:,. 1 - , I ·,.

lim f( x ) = :z: means .

I 1111 ./'(. 1· ) = ±x ·,111'!
' , 1·
-1111" ./'Ci)= = ±x
' - '" . _, -u '
The linrn of a ratio. /'(x) /g (x) , in whi ch the . . - . 1d the deno min ator
- num erat or has 1111111 :z; '. 11
has llm1t. :r. is. ca . . . . . ,/' ' .
ll eu an 11uletem111wte .frnm V1 typt "° / x · T he tu ll mv1n g ve1s
_ ·ion o f

L' HCip ital 's rul e. whi ch we state witho

. ut . - it s of thi-s
t· t
prnul. c,lll o ten 1e LLseJ tu evaluat e 11111 ·
type.

6.5 .2 THE O REM (/.'H6p iu,/ '.1· 1?11/eJi1r Funn .

,; / :,: I S1t/l /ln .\'!' rhu t .I cll li 1g cit!. , 1liff
··
i,ren ri u/Jl e
.fi 111 cr io11.,· U /1 <Ill (i j i l! /1 ill f (' /'\
'(I ' ('()/1/( /i lll ll ,!! .\' · = (I £'.1·,·e1"'
, 11uss i/1/_1· c// .r = u. u 11 cl rlw t
lim t'(x ) = :r: one/ lim ,1; (.1) = x
., - 1 1 · 1-f/

If lim l f '(x) /g'(x) I exists , nr if rhi.1· limit is

.\ - (/ + x ur - :r:. . th en

. f (x ) . f' V)
llm - -
g(x)
= lim - -
. 1 - 11 , - " g ' (.r)
Mnre m•c1; th is sw reme111 is also rrn e in rh t'
,·use' r,f' u li111i1 us \'--> u . .\' --, u · -1· --> - :r. ·
ur as x ----> +x.

► Example 3 In each part co nli rm th at the

li mit is an indete rminate fo rm of type :r: / x
and appl y L' H6pit al's rule.

(a) lim
.\ ln .1·
x- + 7- e-1·
(b) lim
1-ll ' CS C X

Solution (a ). The nume rator and de nominator

both have a limit o f +z. so we ha ve an
indete rminate fo rm of type :r: / 'Yc . Ap pl yin g L' H6p it al\ rul e yield s
X I
.\
Ji m -
. I eX
= ' \im
.
- = ()
"7. I 'J. e·'

Solution (b). The nume rator has a limit of - :r.

and the deno min ator has a limit of + :r:.,
su we have an indete rminate fo rm of type :r:.
/ :r:.. App lyin g L' Hop iul 's ru le yie lds C:--1
. l1u l/ 1
I
11111 - -
- U (,' SC,' .\
= li111
, ·• ll ' - csc .1· Ul t .I
T his last limit is aga in an indeterminate for
m uf type :r:./:r.. . Moreover, any additi onal
,1pplicati uns of L' H(1pit al's ru le will yielu powe
rs llf 1/.r in the nu 111e rator ant.I exp ress iuns
invo lvin g csc .\' ,llld cut .1· in th e deno rnin atm:
thu s. repeateu appli cati u11 uf L'H Cipit al's rule
simpl y produces new indete rminat e fo rm s.
We mu st tr y so methin g e lse. The last limit
(4) can be 1·ewritten as in

~in .1
li111
( - -.\-- lan x ) =- li 111
I , ll '
\ -() '
li rn tan .1 = -( I )( ll ) = ()
\ ·II
T hu s,
In .1·
I- \)
lim
CS( .\"
=0 ◄
 times used as ··measuring sticks" to describe how rapidly other functions grow. For example.
we know that e' ---+ +:c as x ---+ +:c and that the growth of e' is very rapid (Table 6. 1.5);
however. the growth of x" is also rapid when n is a high power. so it is reasonable to ask
,. whether high powers of x grow more or less rapidly thane'. One way to investigate this is
to examine the behavior of the ratio x " I e' as x---+ + ✓- . For example. Figure 6.5.1 a shows
~() !\ ,. = \
- th e graph of." = x:; I e'. This graph suggests that x 5 / e' - 0 as x - + x , and this implies
,· '
l:'i I\
I
that the growth of the function e' is sufficiently rapid that its values eventually overtake
those of.\:; and force the ratio toward zero . Stated informally. "e' eventually grows more
I
10 \ rapidly than x:; ." The same conclusion could have been reached by putting e' on top and
:'i
\ examining the behavior of e' /x 5 as x ---+ +x (Figure 6.5.1h) . ln this case the values of e'
\ eve ntually overtake those of x 5 and force the ratio toward + x. More generally. we can use
I"-~..._ L'Hopital's rule to show that ex eventua/1.v grows more rapidly tha11 anv positi ve integer
5 10 15 20
power of x, that is,
(ll)

,n e·'
lim ~ =0 and lim - 11 =+:r.; (5-6)
x -> +::c eX , -+ "-' X
Ill

Bnth limits are indeterlllinate forllls of type z / x th,1t can be evaluated using L"Hci pital' \
rul e. For exa lllpl e. to establish (5). we will need to appl y L'Hopital"s rule II tirnes. For thi s
purpo\e. llbserve that successive differentiati ons of .1 " reduce th e ex ponent hy l each tirne.
-l
thus prnclucing a constant for the nth deri vati ve. For exarnple . the successi w deri vati ves
of 1 ' are J1~. (11. and 6. In ge neral , the 11th derivative of 1 11 is 11(11 - l )(11 - 2) · · · l = 111
(ve rify ). Thu s. appl ying LHC,pital's rule II tillles to (5) yields
1" 11 '
l i Ill lirn = ()
t_ Fig11 l'l' 6.:'i. I
, · • 1 ·•. c' • I y (''

Limit (6) can be es tabli shed similarly.

INDETERMINATE FORMS OF TYPE O - @

Thus far we have cliscussecl incl eterrninate forlllS of type() / () and ,._ / Y... Howeve r. t\:ese are
not rhe onl y possibiliti es: in general. the lirnit nf an expression that has one nt the torllls

f(.r) f(x) ~L, 1. f(x) - g(x ). f'(.r) + g(x)

f(x) · g(x).
g(,)
is called an indeterminate f orm if the limit s of f(x) and g(.\) incliv_id~all y exert co nRicting
inAuences on th e limit of the entire expression. For example, the lmut

lim x In x
\ , () '

. . t . · iate rorm 0 rtype (). x because the limit of the nrst factor is 0. the limit of
1s an till1e e, mu - · .I' 'J . • · . tl ·oduct
· d f tot· ·ts -x and these two limits exert confttctmg mftuences on ie pt ·
the seco n ac · -, '
On the other hand , the limit lim [ jx(I - x2) l
\' -'I- -j-Y.

. . . . . , .. . I n ·s . factor has a limit of + :1:. the second factor has

is not an tndet erm111ate trn m becc1use t ,e t, t . . . I' ·r 1f - :1: for the product.
a limit nf -:1:, and these influences work togeth~r
1ndetermi nate forms of type () . Y.J can sornett mes e e ~ . . . .
rewritinl! the product to1~od~~~t;:t~~~1~;
... / or :r. / -,_ .
as a ratio. and th e n applying L'Htlpital's rul e for ind eterrnmate trnms ot type() 0

. . . . . I . ·n lu ct of the lir, t II pP, iti,·l' intl'gl·rs

· I the cx11n: ss io1111 1• read 11-Jaclonal. dl'll Olcs l lL P1 '
• Recall 1\iat Im 11 ::'..
446 Chapter 6 ; Exponentia
l, Logarithmic, and Inv
erse Trigonometric Fun
ctions
WA RN ING
,,. Example 4 Evaluate
It is tem ptin g to argu
e that an inde - .
(a) Jim .r \11 ., . •J sec
_, . '.! .1
term inat e form of type (b) \1111 ( I - 1.111
I 1 ·, has va lue
IJ since "ze ro times ' - - t1
any thin g is zero ." . _, ' - · "
How ever, this is fallacio . . . . . . . - er. so the
us since I) · :r. is Solutio11 (a) , The tactor _, has a 1!111 11 ot O .ind the L·.tc·tor In r has a \111111 ot - '.' .· . ..
1101 a prod uct of num
b ers, but ra1he1 stated prubli:111 is an i11d . -ib k app1 0.1che
s.
a state m en t abo ut
limits . For exam
eterrni11 att· rurn1 o r type 11 Til de ~1re t W l' JJl ' ' '
4

we can re writ e the lirnit · ,__

pi e, he re ar e two inde as
term inat e fo rm s
of type IJ ·, w hose l11ntts a,e not zero
: \11 .I .I
limll or Jim ~
11111 ( \ . . ' I / \ \ .ti / In . '
.
' • 11
the hrst be111!.! an 1n1.kter11111. \ -,_ .. - - . he sec ond an inJeterlllillat e . t.
1ate lur!ll ot type x. / z •1nd torlll Cl .
type 0 / 0 . Ho~ we ve r. the . . t
1
li 111 ( ✓-;- · ~) = lini (~) . . ·
.
hrst torn1 1s the pre k1i . ... , 1111
eu
. b ..
1• chrnce ecau sc, the der iva tive ot
• ·t"·d
,IJ I \ 1 - •1 11 fi I / .r 1s less comp ltca • · . . Id
ted tha n the deriva tive ot· I/ In -1•· Tin t cho ice y1e s •

. ln.r
lirn x ln x = ltm
x --► u • .\ _,, u• - - I 1.r = .\ 1·1111 -
->U' -
l/ 1
; .:,
1 .\
-
- lilll
-- ,u ·
(-.1 ) ==0
.\
Solution (b). The st..it ed .
pro bkr n is an indeterminat
it to ..in ind eterm in ate form e forni ot type 0 · z. We w ill co1 we n
of typ e 0/ U:
lim ( 1 -ta nx )se c2 x = 1 .r I - tan
x-r r / 4 Jim - tan ., = lilll
, - rr /➔ J/s ec2 .r ,- ., / 4 cos 2.1·
- sec " x -2
lim I ◄
, -11 / s -2 S_.Iil ?__ \ -2
~ INDETERMINATE FORM
S OF TYPE x. - '"
A limit proble m that
lead s to one of the expres
s ions
(+ x) - (+ x). ( - x) - (-x ).
(+ x) + (-x ) . (-: r.) +(+ :r.)
is called an i,ul eterm ina
te fon n of typ e oc - oc .
the two terms exert confl Such limit s ;ire ind ete rm
ictin g intiuences on the exp ina t e bec au se
directi on and the oth er ress ion : o ne pus he s it in I~
pushes it in the neg;1 ti ve the pos iti ve
lead to one uf the expre ss directio11 . Ho we ve r, lim
ions it pro ble ms tha t

(+ x) + ( + x)_
( +x ) - ( - x ).
(-z ) + ( -x ) ( - x) - (+ z )
are nut i11detern1inate , sin
ce the two term s wo rk tog
or +z and those un the e th er (th ose un the top
bottom prndu ce a limit o pru duc e a lim it
i' -x )
lnd ete rn1in ate fo rms of typ
e X - X ca n so me tim es
and ma111pul at1ng th e res be eva lua ted by cur n bin
ult to produ ce ,111 111J eter11 ing the ter m s
1inate form of type U/ U
mx / :r. .
► Example 5 Eva lu:.ite _lim (~ - -.-
'-) _
1 - , ll • .\" Sill .\
Solution, Both terms lt.i ve
• . . :.i limit o r +z . so the st,
ot type x - x. Co mb 1n1n 1ted \Jt"Oblem i . . ·
g the twu term s yields s .in tl\ L1e te1 .rn 111
. .
ate tor n1

it.Ill ( -I - -_- I ) :::: it. Ill sin .\ - .1

, ~ ll ' .\" S ill .\" \ •II · .rs in .1·
which is :.in indet ermina
te for m of type 0/ U. Ap
. p lyinu L' Hf)l) it · \' . .
. • .
S Iil X - X "' ' cl s I u 1e tw ice yie
Ji m -- - - cos.\" - I ld s
.,-o • xs inx lim
, -o ' s in .r+ .rc os .r

Jim - si n x
0
, - >11 • cos .r + cos x - .1· sin .r == -== O -<Ill
2
 6.5 L'Hopital's Rule; Indeterminate Forms
447
INDETERMINATE FORMS OF TYPE 011 , , 11 , t ·
Limit s 0r the fo rm
li1n f< 1) ~11 '
ca n give ri se to i11deter111i11ate fnr111 .1· of th e types 11
0 • co 11, a11d J '·. (The interpre latinns nl'
the se sy mbols should be clea r. ) for exarnp k . the
limit
lim ( I + x)
111
.I - 01
\V hose va lu e we know to be c \see Formul a ( I) of
Sectio n 6.2 \ is an indeterminate fo rm ol'
type , ., . 1t is indete rmin ate because th e expressions
I + x an d I /.r exert two confli ctin g
influ ences : the first appro aches I, whi ch drives
the ex pression toward I . and the ,econd
approaches + x, whi ch dri ves the expression towar
d + x.
Inclete rmina te form s of types o0 • x 11 • and I'· can some
times be evalu ated by fir st in tro-
du cin g a de1Jend ent vari abl e
11 1
\' = f(.r f ·
and then co mputin g the limit of In v. Since

In v = ln\J(.1l 1 1
= g(x) - ln\ f (x ll
' \

th e limit of 1n v wi11 be an indetermin ate fo rm of type

O· x (veri fy), whi ch can be evalu ated
by methods we have already studi ed. Once the limit
of h1 Y is know n, it is a Slrai g.ht forwa rd
matte r to determ1n· e th 1· · t· - t·( ")g en as we will illustrate
e 1m1 1 o ,v - . ., , · 111 the next exampl e.

► '
Example 6 Frnd 11m
· ( I + s111
. x )l/.1·
.r- 0

Solution. As disc ussed above . we begin by introducin g a dependent vari able

' )1/.1
\' =( \ +S ill .I'
,111 d 1,1kin~ th e natu ra l logar ith m or bnt h sid es:
~
. In ( 1 + si 111l
. )111 = -1 ln ( l +s1n .11=
ln _,· = ln ( l + s1n x .r x
In( I + sin 1)
Thu s. lim In _1· = li m
I ,I) I ,ii .I'
.
I . ·hi , ·111 indete rmi nate tnrlll ol. type O/ O. ,,() by L' Hi'1pit al 's ruk
ll' l l L ' .
. ln ( l + s1n . . (cosi ) / ( l +s1n .1) == l
.1) = Jim ~-·-·_ _ _ __
li m ln v== ltm 1_ 11 I
i _ 11 . .1- 11 .1 ... ·
.
, 1 as .r _, o. the co nt1nu1'tY <1f the exponenti al t unLIHl ll
Si nce we have show:1 th a_t ln ()v ~ 1d tl~i ~ impl ies
. , In I --> e as .\ -> ' el l
th at ·' _, £' as .r .- n. Thus .
im plies that c . . 111 == , ◄
li rn ( 1 + ~111 -1 ) 1
1-II

V
-
t. In eac 11 pa 7 _ 2
SES 6 5
QUICK CHECK EXERCI - .
_,_......,.....,..............- - -
. rt doe~
~~-=:::===--
(See page

L' Hopi tal's rul e ,ipp y . ,

cos x
450 for answers.)

. .
. I to the given l11n1t'l
2. Eva lu ate each or the limits in

3.
.

-- - -
Us in g L' Hopita l's rul e, I ~-ni ·,. sonxc
~ -
. I Check Exerc ise 1.
QL~'. ~'
·
_::1 .---:;-
(b) Ii m -
1 _, I ) ,I
( J) _li~?I _11+ .I - 2
c]1 - 1
l i t
(c _1 _ 0 n
) wn-.1-
448 .
Chapter 6 / Exponential, . . an d Inverse Tngonome
Logarithmic, · tric Functions

EXERCISE SET 6.5 _____ 8 _:.__:___:_

Graphing Utility _______
@J CAS , w . . - ~ - _ __ ___ ~ " "

38.
--•·"'

lilll ( e2,
.

- I)'
1-2 E,,tluat e th e given li111i1 witho ut using L' HC,pita l's rule. and 37. li1n _\'~Ill I

r
,-0
\ -o -
1he11 ched, 1k11 yuur answer is co 1Tec 1using L' Hup ital 's rule .
Xl / 1
.r' - 4 40. li1n
2., - 5 39. Jim [ - - \ -+ ·1.
I. (:1J li1n , (b) lim , __, , InI x
0
,_, .r- + 2.r -8 1-+ • 3.1 + 7 1 42. lirn ( - In .r) '
SI 11 .\ r
)
- I 41. li111 (In .r l /., ,I/
2. 1,1) li111 --.1 (bJ li111
\ - +·,. '
· II lall •I _\ .I - I li1n ( l i.111 X) l.7121 __ ,
43.
I - :rn ·
3-6 True-False De term ine whe ther th e s1:.11eme111 is true or · · · teuer 11
44. Show that for any pns1t1 ve 111 "" .,
i':tl se. Expla in yo ur answer. 1
. In .r (b) lin1 - _ == +x.
(a) 11111 - = U , - +,. In .1 C
+z
3. L' Hopital's rul e Joes 1101 app ly 10 li111 111 .r
I -,, _.rll
\
\ - • - 7_ X
~~~~~~~~
~~fifr>~;
.
4. For any pol yno1111al p(x)
p(x), Jim - - = 0.
_
r-+-:r. e-' 45. (a) F·111 d the error in th e fo ll owing ca lculati on:
- 11· . h .. (I n x)" x'-x 2 +x- 3.1 2 - 2.1 + I
:,, 11 is c osen sulllcientl y large, then lim - - = + ::.c. li rn lim
1-,,+·1. .\' , -1 x 3 - x~ , - 1 3.1 2 - 2.1
6. Jim (si n .r) 11' = O 6.1 - 2
,U'
I
= lilll - - -
,- I 6.1' - 2
=
7-43 Find th e li111i1 s.
e' - I (b) rincl th e co1Tect limit.
7. lim - - sin 2.r
1- 0 S ill .\'
8. li1n 46. (a) Find the error in the follo w ing calcu lation:
, - ,1 sin Sx
9. Ii Ill
tan
-I I-
II
10. li111 - -
,,/ li m
\6.1
li1 n - - - - - - - -
_1 4 - I (1
t i -()
. ' - 0 I - e' .2

SJ 11 .I
SI n .\'
11. li111 12. li111 (bJ Fi11d the co1rec1 limi t.
·1 .I - TT ·() · .r 2

111 .1 (' >\

B 47-50 Make :1 rnnJe cture abuu1 the limi t by graphii1g the !'unc-
U. li 111 14. li111 tion involved wi th a gr:1phing u1ili1 y : th en che d.: yo ur conjecture
,. .r x2
' using L' HC,p ital 's ru le
cr>1 .r I - In .r In ( 111 1 l
15. Ii Ill 16. li 111 47. li m - -,_- 48. lill1 .1
-·0 111 .I I -- (j' ,, 1 I - • +·,. , /. \' \ ---- !)

Xl lJlJ
17. ln (si1u) 49. li111 (sin .1 i-'' 1"' 50.
-+ t:111 .\
lilll 18. li1 n I -LJ ·
\ ......... - J.
e' 1 -{)' ln (tan .1)
19. li111 .re 20. li1n (.r-TTJl:1n } r
n
B 51-54 M:1ke ,1 rn11_iec1 ure about th e equ,1tiu11s horizo nt:il ur
asymptotes. ii' ,lil y. by gr,1phi11g the equc1 ti on w ith ,1 graph ing
TT
21. lim x sin - 22. utility: then check yuu r ,111,wn u~ing L' H0pit,il·, rul e.
1-...t...-, _
li1n tan .r In x
.\' - lJ ~
I
51.i=ln.r -e' 52.
_1· = .1 - ln( I + 2e')
23. li111 sec 3.r cos :ir
1+-I)'
24. li m (x - nJ cot x

25.
1- -:r n.-
lim ( I - 3/x)'
,-n 53. 1· = (ln .rJ1 1,
54.
.
\- .- (·-
.I+ 2
26. li 111( I + 2x)- 31'
1-..1..-,_
r- u 55. Limits of the type
27. lim (e' +x)I / , 28. Jim ( I + a/xl-' 0/.,__ -,_/ U.
\ -, u U'· . 'l.. X
' -+::t. +x + (+x).
+x - ( - x). + (-x).
29. Jim (2 - x)'"" 11JT/2J'1 30. lim l cos(2/xH''
- x -x - (+x)
•-1 r----1-+ x
are nut indeterminate fo rm s. Find the fol lowing limit s by
mspection.
31. Jim (csc x - I /x)
,-u 32. I .1111
_ ( - I -cos
-- 3x)
I
.r- 0 x2 x2 (a) lirn .\'
r ""-7u-1 In .r (b) lirn
33. lim
_, -+ ':/.
cJx 2 +x -x) . ( -I - -I- )
34. lim (c) lim (cos.rl"'"'
1-+ -,._ (:-,
,-u x e·' - I r--. 1rr / 2; - (cl) l i1n \In .1) cot _1
•- u-
~
35. limfx- ln (x]+ l ) J 36. lim lln x - In( I + l) J (el
r-+-,. 1-.+--- liin(J ,:- ( - ln .i)
I - _r lI) lirn (.\' +_1 1)
1 - - ·,._
\

6.5 L'Hopital's Rule; Indeterminate Forms 449

56. Th ere is a m v 1h ii . . . I· . .
• 1,11 c 11 cu .1 1e., ,1111 0 110 he\! 11111111" c- il cu lu s (b) Co nlirm this res ull using L ' l-li\ pi1al ·, rul e. IHi,11 : E x-
Slude111s w hi ch -1. , . I . . II· "'. ' . "' '. .
n" x' I . . '.11t:., I 1.11 .1 1ncle1eri111na1e Im m, ul 1ypes pre., s the limit in term s o r 1 1I x. I =
· · · ,ind I h,1ve ,·,d ue I because "a 11 y 1hi11 !! 10 Ihe zero (c ) Ir II is a pos iti ve integer. 1he11 ii fo ll ow s from part (al
fi~w; ,i; i ~ I " ,11_
1d " I 10 any rower is I .. The f';llacy is ;hat wi 1h x = 11 th a1 the apr roxima 1i o11
- ,111d I ,11 e 1101 rowe1, n l 11u111be1s. bu1 1.11he1 de-
scripiions o r li111 i 1s. The l'n llo wi 11g exa mp les. w hi ch we re n(!!fi:-1) :::::: ln k
sugge s1ed by
Pro f. Jach: S1a ib nf Drexe l U 11i ve rsi1 y. show shn uld be goocl w hen II is large. U,c !hi s rc:, 11I1 and lhc
tha1 ., uc h I ncle 1en11i11a1 e rnnn ., can have an y posi 1i ve real square rnn l key nn a ca lc ulator Ill ,1rprn xi1m11e 1he ,·,d-
, ·,ilu e:
ue., n l' In 0. 3 ancl In 2 w i1h 11 =
I 0 24. I'1 en co mpare 1he
(aJ lim /1 ' '11 "' ,1- 111 ,, I =c1 "
, - o- (for1110 ) values nb1a i11 ecl w ith values or !he logari th111 s gcncr, 11ed
= (/ (rorn1 directl y l'rom th e crilc ul ,1tor. /Hi111 : Th e 111h rnnt s fn r
(b) ' ~I~ -, I _r il 11 u111 - 111 II I ·;.'' )
w hi ch II is ,1 pow er or 2 can be ob tained as succc s, i,·c
1111
( cl lim I (.1
1- 11
+ I) "" ' I= 11 ( l.orm I '·). sq u.ire mots . I

Verify these res ults. 64. Find all values or k and/ such th at
k + cos /.r
57~60 Verify that L'Hopital's rul e is or 11 0 help in li11di11g th e
Ii m ---,,- -
I - . I) _r-
= -4
l1m1t ; th en find th e l imit. if it exists. by some other method . .P
.1+sin2x 2 ·
57. Jim - - - - 58. Jim .\ - SIil X
-• - + ·• -
1 1 - + , 3x + sin x B 65. L et f(x) = x 2 sin( I Ix)
59 _ Jim .1(2 + sin 2.r) _ lim x(2 + si n x) (a) Are the limits lim, - o· f(x) and lim , - o- f(x) in -
60
• -+• .r + I • -+ • .r~+ I determ in ate fo rm s?
61. Th e accompany in g sc hem ati c diagram represents an electri- (b) U se a graphing utility to generate the graph off, and
ca l c irc uit cons i sting o fan el ec trom o ti ve force th at produces use the graph to make conjec tures about the limits
a vo ltage V. a resis tor wi th re si sta nce R . and an inductor in part (a) .
wi th inductan ce L. It i s show n in elec tri ca l ci rcuit th eory (c) Use the Squeezin g Theorem ( 1.6.2) Lo co nfirm th at
th at if the vo l tage i s firq applied at time I 0. then the = yo ur co njectures in part (b) are correc t.
c urrent / fl o w in g through th e ci rc u i t at tim e I i s given by 66. (a) Ex p lain w hy L'H 6 pit al' s rul e does no t appl y to the
\I prob lem x2s in ( l /x)
l = - ( I - C' - 1/1/ L )
R lirn .
.r - l l S ill X
What i s th e effec t on th e cu rrent at a fixed time I if the
(b) Find the limit.
res i stance app roac hes O ( i .e .. R-> O-'- )'l
xs in ( l / x)
67. Find lirn - - - - if it exists.
N , - , 11 ' sin x

68. Suppose th at fun c t ions f and g are differentiabl e al ., = u

\I
11 c1ncl that /(u ) = g(u) = 0. If' g ' (o) -=p 0. show that
I
/ ( \) /'( ll)
I. l i m -· - = -· --
' _,, g(.t) g ' (u)
; Figure Ex-6 I
wi th out usi ng L'H op itat· s rul e. l/-/i111 . Di\ide th e numer-
62. ( a) S h o w tlwl l i1n trr / 2 - 1 ) 1,1 11 .1 = I. ator ancl de nn 111in ,1 1m nr f (.tl /.~(x) hy .1· - r, an d use the
. ,7 ~
d elinit ion, rm J'( c1) and g ' (ol.l
rbJ Show 1h ;11
69. Writing Were we lD u se L'H C) pital' s ru le I,) ev,du.ite ei th er
11 111 ( l . - 1;111 \' ) ::::: ()
,-1 ' c rr l ~ - sin , ( I) '
.1
lim - -
I , II I
nr I lin! , I +~
( b ) that th e ar 1)1'(1x i111 a1i on
(c) 11 J'o ll ows J'rnm p,1r1
I we cn ul cl be ,1ccused uJ' c irc ular re.isnning. Exrh1in w h y .
1,111 .1 ~ ; , _ 1· 011
;r - . 70. Writing Exerc i se 56 shows that th e ind etermin ate forms
1) Use ca lc ula-
. · . • •
nec11 rr 1- ·
;i and .)1 c;1n ass ume an y positi ve rea l valu e. H m\·evc r. it i s
sho ulcl be: good l nr v,ilu e, ol .1
, )1 r 1 - I .."l7 : com rrn re oI·1e11 the c;is e that th ese ind e1er111in.1t e I·ur111, h,we_\'a_I:10' 1_._
1o rl o li11 cll,1 n .r:1 ncll / (,1 / _ -.r (1 . -
I
R e:i d th e :1 r1 ic le " Ind eterminat e r nrrn s n r Ex ponenll,il ypc ,
the res ult s.
. pos iti ve co nstant. then by .lnhn Baxley and Elmer H ay ashi in th e June- Jul y l97X
Use a CAS In s I,ow 1 . t ii'/.; is. ,1
11<1
@] 63. (a) issu e o r Th e A111Nico11 Moth e11w1 irn l lvf(l111h/,·. and wri te' a
lirn r(/.; 11, - I ) = In k short repo rt 011 w h y this i s th e case .
I - • .- -1_