Limits Indeterminate Forms and LHospitals Rule

I. Indeterminate Form of the Type

0
0
We have previously studied limits with the indeterminate form
0
0
as shown in the
following examples:

Example 1: ( ) 4 2 2 2
2
) 2 )( 2 (
2
4
lim lim lim
2 2
2
2
+ +

x
x
x x
x
x
x x x
Example 2:

x x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x x 2 sin
1
3 cos
1
1
3 sin
2 sin
3 cos
3 sin
2 sin
3 tan
lim lim lim
0 0 0

2
3
) 1 )( 1 )( 1 (
2
3
2 sin
2
3 cos
1
3
3 sin
2
3
lim lim lim
0 2 0 0 3

,
_

,
_

,
_

x
x
x x
x
x x x
[Note: We use the given limit 1
sin
lim
0

.]
Example 3:
12
1
8 3
1
) 8 (
2 8
3 2
3
0
lim

+

f
h
h
h
. [Note: We use the definition
of the derivative
h
a f h a f
a f
h
) ( ) (
) (
lim
0
+

where
3
) ( x x f
and a = 8.]
Example 4:
( ) ( )
2
3
3
sin
3
3
2
1
cos
lim
3

f
x
x
x
. [Note: We use the
definition of the derivative
a x
a f x f
a f
a x

) ( ) (
) (
lim
where

x x f cos ) (
and
3

a
.]
1
However, there is a general, systematic method for determining limits with the
indeterminate form
0
0
. Suppose that f and g are differentiable functions at x = a
and that
) (
) (
lim
x g
x f
a x
is an indeterminate form of the type
0
0
; that is,
0 ) (
lim

x f
a x
and
0 ) (
lim

x g
a x
. Since f and g are differentiable functions at x = a, then f and g
are continuous at x = a; that is,
) ( ) (
lim
x f a f
a x

= 0 and
) ( ) (
lim
x g a g
a x

= 0.
Furthermore, since f and g are differentiable functions at x = a, then
) (a f
a x
a f x f
a x

) ( ) (
lim
and
a x
a g x g
a g
a x

) ( ) (
) (
lim
. Thus, if
0 ) ( a g
, then

) (
) (
) (
) (
) ( ) (
) ( ) (
) ( ) (
) ( ) (
) (
) (
lim lim lim lim
x g
x f
a g
a f
a x
a g x g
a x
a f x f
a g x g
a f x f
x g
x f
a x a x a x a x

if
f
and
g
are continuous at x = a. This illustrates a special case of the technique known as
LHospitals Rule.
LHospitals Rule for Form
0
0
Suppose that f and g are differentiable functions on an open interval
containing x = a, except possibly at x = a, and that
0 ) (
lim

x f
a x
and
0 ) (
lim

x g
a x
. If
) (
) (
lim
x g
x f
a x

has a finite limit, or if this limit is + or

, then
) (
) (
) (
) (
lim lim
x g
x f
x g
x f
a x a x

. Moreover, this statement is also true
in the case of a limit as , , ,
+
x a x a x or as
. + x
In the following examples, we will use the following three-step process:
Step 1. Check that the limit of
) (
) (
x g
x f
is an indeterminate form of type
0
0
. If it
is not, then LHospitals Rule cannot be used.
Step 2. Differentiate f and g separately. [Note: Do not differentiate
) (
) (
x g
x f
using the quotient rule!]
2
Step 3. Find the limit of
) (
) (
x g
x f

. If this limit is finite, + , or

, then it is
equal to the limit of
) (
) (
x g
x f
. If the limit is an indeterminate form of type
0
0
, then simplify
) (
) (
x g
x f

algebraically and apply LHospitals Rule again.

Example 1: 4 ) 2 ( 2
1
2
2
4
lim lim
2
2
2

x
x
x
x x
Example 2:
2
3
) 1 ( 2
) 1 ( 3
2 cos 2
3 sec 3
2 sin
3 tan
2
0 0
lim lim

x
x
x
x
x x
Example 3:
12
1
) 8 ( 3
1
) 8 ( 3
1
1
) 1 ( ) 8 (
3
1
2 8
3
2
3
2
0
3
2
0
3
0
lim lim lim

+

h
h
h
h
h h h
Example 4:
( )
2
3
3
sin
1
sin
3
2
1
cos
lim lim
3 3

x
x
x
x x
Example 5:
2
1
2 2
1 1
lim lim lim
0 0
2
0

x
x
x
x
x
x
e
x
e
x
x e
[Use LHospitals Rule
twice.]
Example 6:
( ) ( )( ) ( )
0
1
0
1
cos
2
1 1
cos
2
1
sin
1
lim lim lim
2
3 2

+ + +
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x x
, or

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

+ +
+ y
y
y
y
x
x
y y x
where
x
y
1

.
Example 7: ( ) 0 ) 0 ( 0
ln
1
ln
lim lim
0 0


x
x
x
x
x x
[This limit is not an indeterminate
form of the type
0
0
, so LHospitals Rule cannot be used.]
3
II. Indeterminate Form of the Type

We have previously studied limits with the indeterminate form

as shown in the
following examples:
Example 1:

+
+

+
+
+ +
2 2 2
2
2 2 2
2
2
2
1 3 2
7 5 3
1 3 2
7 5 3
lim lim
x x
x
x
x
x x
x
x
x
x x
x x
x x

2
3
0 0 2
0 0 3
1 3
2
7 5
3
lim lim
2
2

+
+

+
+
+ + x x
x
x
x
x
Example 2:

1
1 3
2
lim
x
x
x

2 2
2
2 2
1
1 3
lim
x x
x
x x
x
x

0
1
0
0 1
0 0
1
1
1 3
2
2
lim

+

x
x
x
x
Example 3:
+

1 2
4 3
2
3
lim
x
x
x

3 3
2
3 3
3
1 2
4 3
lim
x x
x
x x
x
x


+

0
3
0 0
0 3
1 2
4
3
3
3
lim
x
x
x
x
limit does not exist.
Example 4:

+
+

1
1 4
2
lim
x
x
x

+
+

x
x
x
x
x
1
1 4
2
lim

x
x
x
x
x
1
1 4
2
2
lim
+

+

x x
2
(
because x < 0 and thus
2
x x
) =

+
+

x
x
x
x
x
1
1 4
2
2
lim
4
2
1
4
1
1
1
4
2
2
lim

+
+

x
x
x
.
However, we could use another version of LHospitals Rule.
LHospitals Rule for Form

Suppose that f and g are differentiable functions on an open interval

containing x = a, except possibly at x = a, and that

) (
lim
x f
a x
and

) (
lim
x g
a x
. If
) (
) (
lim
x g
x f
a x

has a finite limit, or if this limit is + or

, then
) (
) (
) (
) (
lim lim
x g
x f
x g
x f
a x a x

. Moreover, this statement is also true
in the case of a limit as , , ,
+
x a x a x or as
. + x
Example 1:
2
3
4
6
3 4
5 6
1 3 2
7 5 3
lim lim lim
2
2

+
+
+ + + x x x x
x
x x
x x
Example 2: 0 ) 0 (
2
3 1
2
3
2
3
1
1 3
lim lim lim
2

+

x x x
x
x x x
Example 3:
+

4
18
4
9
1 2
4 3
lim lim lim
2
2
3
x
x
x
x
x
x x x
Example 4:

+
+

1 4
4
1
1 4 2
8
1
1 4
2
2
2
lim lim lim
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x x
LHospitals
Rule does not help in this situation. We would find the limit as we
did previously.
5
Example 5:
( )
( )
2 4
4
2 2
3
3
2
2
3
2
3 3
2 2
1 3
1 2
1
3
1
2
) 1 ln(
) 1 ln(
lim lim lim lim
x x
x x
x x
x x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x x x +
+

+
+

+
+

+
+
+ + + +
=

3
2
72
48
72
48
6 36
24
6 12
2 8
lim lim lim
2
2
3
3

+

+
+
+ + + x
x
x
x
x x
x
x x x
Example 6:
0
2
0
2 2
2
1
1
ln
2 2
0
3
0
3
0
2
0
lim lim lim lim

+ + + +

x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x x x
Example 7:
0
2
) 0 ( arctan
1 arctan
lim lim lim

,
_

,
_

,
_

+ + +

x
x x
x
x x x
[This limit is
not an indeterminate form of the type

, so LHospitals Rule
cannot be used.]
III. Indeterminate Form of the Type 0
Indeterminate forms of the type 0 can sometimes be evaluated by rewriting the
product as a quotient, and then applying LHospitals Rule for the indeterminate
forms of type
0
0
or

.
Example 1:
0 ) (
1
1
1
ln
ln
lim lim lim lim lim
0
2
0
2
0 0 0

+ + + + +

x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x
x x x x x
Example 2:

+ + + +
x
x x
x x
x
x
x
x x
x x x x
tan sin
cot csc
1
csc
ln
ln ) (sin
lim lim lim lim
0 0 0 0

0 ) 0 )( 1 ( tan
sin
lim lim
0 0

,
_

,
_

+ +

x
x
x
x x
Example 3:
( )
( )
1
sin
1
1
sin
1
sin
lim lim lim
0

+
+ + y
y
x
x
x
x
y x x
[Let
x
y
1

.]
6
IV. Indeterminate Form of the Type

A limit problem that leads to one of the expressions
) ( ) ( + +
,
) ( ) (
,
) ( ) ( + +
,
) ( ) ( + +
is called an indeterminate form of type

. Such limits are indeterminate
because the two terms exert conflicting influences on the expression; one pushes
it in the positive direction and the other pushes it in the negative direction. However,
limits problems that lead to one the expressions
) ( ) ( + + +
,
) ( ) ( +
,
) ( ) ( +
,
) ( ) ( +
are not indeterminate, since the two terms work together (the first two produce a
limit of + and the last two produce a limit of

). Indeterminate forms of the
type

can sometimes be evaluated by combining the terms and manipulating
the result to produce an indeterminate form of type
0
0
or

.
Example 1:

,
_

,
_

+ + +
x x x
x
x x
x x
x x x x x sin cos
1 cos
sin
sin
sin
1 1
lim lim lim
0 0 0

0
2
0
cos cos sin
sin
lim
0

+ +

+
x x x x
x
x
Example 2:
( ) [ ]
1
]
1

,
_

2
0
2
0
cos 1
ln ln ) cos 1 ln(
lim lim
x
x
x x
x x

,
_

1
]
1

,
_

1
]
1

,
_

2
1
ln
2
sin
ln
cos 1
ln
lim lim
0
2
0 x
x
x
x
x x
V. Indeterminate Forms of the Types

1 , , 0
0 0
Limits of the form
[ ]
) (
) (
lim
x g
a x
x f

[ ]

'

) (
) (
lim
x g
x
x f or
frequently give rise to
indeterminate forms of the types

1 , , 0
0 0
. These indeterminate forms can
sometimes be evaluated as follows:
(1) [ ]
) (
) (
x g
x f y
(2) [ ] [ ] ) ( ln ) ( ) ( ln ln
) (
x f x g x f y
x g

(3)
[ ] [ ] { } ) ( ln ) ( ln
lim lim
x f x g y
a x a x

7
The limit on the righthand side of the equation will usually be an
indeterminate limit of the type 0 . Evaluate this limit using the
technique previously described. Assume that
[ ] { } ) ( ln ) (
lim
x f x g
a x
= L.
(4) Finally,
[ ]
L
a x a x a x
e y L y L y
1
]
1

lim lim lim
ln ln
.
Example 1: Find
x
x
x
lim
0
+

.
This is an indeterminate form of the type
0
0 . Let
x x
x y x y ln ln
x xln .
( )

+ + + + +

x
x
x
x
x
x x y
x x x x x
lim lim lim lim lim
0
2
0 0 0 0
1
1
1
ln
ln ln
0.
Thus,
1
0
0
lim

+

e x
x
x
.
Example 2: Find
x
x
x
e
2
) 1 (
lim

+
+
.
This is an indeterminate form of the type
0

. Let
+

x
x
e y
2
) 1 (
x
e
e y
x
x
x
) 1 ln( 2
) 1 ( ln ln
2
+

1
]
1

+

.
x
e
y
x
x x
) 1 ln( 2
ln
lim lim
+

+ +
=
2
2
1
2
1
1
2
lim lim lim

,
_

+ + +
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x e
e
e
e e
e
. Thus,
x
x
x
e
2
) 1 (
lim

+
+
=
2
e .
Example 3: Find
( )
x
x
x
1
0
cos
lim
+

.
This is an indeterminate form of the type

1
. Let

x
x y
1
) (cos
x
x
x y
x
) ln(cos
) (cos ln ln
1

1
]
1

.

+ +
x
x
y
x x
) ln(cos
ln
lim lim
0 0
( ) 0 tan
lim
0

+

x
x
. Thus,
( )
x
x
x
1
0
cos
lim
+

= 1
0
e .
8
Practice Sheet for LHospitals Rule
(1)

) 2 cos( 1
3
0
lim
x
x xe
x
x
(2)

+
3
) (ln
lim
x
x
x
(3)

)] ln( ) cos 1 [ln(

2
0
lim
x x
x
(4)
,
_

+
x
x
x
3
2
1
lim
(5)

,
_

,
_

+
1
2
cos
1
1
cos
lim
x
x
x
(6)

x
x x
x
2
0
1 1
lim
(7)

2
1
0
) (cos
lim
x
x
x
(8)
+
+ +
1 6 8 3
2 7 5
2 3 4
2 3 4
1
lim
x x x
x x x x
x
(9)

x
x
x
5 81 9
lim
0
(10)
( )
( )

+
+ 1 5 ln
2 ln
3
3
lim
x
x
x
(11) ( ) +

+
x
x
x
e
2
1
lim
9
(12)

3
0
) 2 sin( 2 ) 4 sin(
lim
x
x x
x
(13)

1
]
1

x x
x
1
sin
1
lim
0
(14)

,
_

+
1
1
lim
x
x
e x
(15)

x x
x
ln
3
0
lim
(16)

,
_

+
+

x
x
x
x
1 5
1 2
ln
lim
0
(17)

,
_

+
+
2
1
lim
x
x
x
e
(18)

x
x
x
) 3 arctan(sin
lim
0
(19)
( )

3
0
2
0
sin
lim
x
dt t
x
x
(20) ( ) +

x
x
x
x e
1
2
0
lim
(21)

+
x
x
x
arctan
lim
(22)

) tan 2 arcsin(
)) 3 ( arctan(sin
lim
0
x
x
x
(23)

2
0
) ln(cos
lim
x
x
x
10
(24)
,
_

+
+
x
x
x 2
1
1
lim
(25)

+
x
x
x
1
) (ln
lim
(26)
( ) +
+
x e
x
x
) 1 ln(
lim
Solution Key for LHospitals Rule
(1)
2
3
4
6
2 cos 4
3 3 9
2 sin 2
1 3
) 2 cos( 1
3 3 3
0
3 3
0
3
0
lim lim lim

+ +

x
e e xe
x
e xe
x
x xe
x x x
x
x x
x
x
x
(2)
( ) ( )

+ + + + + x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x x x x ln 6
1
ln 6
1
) (ln 3
1
) (ln 3
1
) (ln
lim lim lim lim lim
2
2
3

( )
+
+ + 6
1
6
1
lim lim
x
x
x x
(3)

'

,
_

,
_

2
0
2
0
2
0
cos 1
ln
cos 1
ln )] ln( ) cos 1 [ln( lim
lim lim
x
x
x
x
x x
x
x x

2 ln
2
1
ln
2
sin
ln
lim
0

,
_

'

,
_

x
x
x
(4) Let
x
y
1
( )
y
y
x
x
y
x
3
0
3
2 1
2
1
lim lim

,
_

+
+
. Now, let
( ) z y z
y
ln 2 1
3

( )
( )
6
1
2 1
6
) 2 1 ln( 3
ln
2 1 ln 3
2 1 ln
lim lim lim
0 0 0
3

+ + +

y
y
y
z
y
y
y
y y y
y
. Thus,

,
_

+ + +
6
0 0 0
lim lim lim
6 ln 6 ln e z z z
y y y
( )
y
y
x
x
y
x
3
0
3
2 1
2
1
lim lim

,
_

+
+
=

6
0
lim

+
e z
y
.
11
(5) Let
x
y
1

,
_

,
_

+ +
+ ) 2 sin( 2
) sin(
1 ) 2 cos(
1 ) cos(
1
2
cos
1
1
cos
lim lim lim
0 0 y
y
y
y
x
x
y y x

4
1
cos 4
1
cos sin 4
sin
lim lim
0 0

+ +
y y y
y
y y
.
(6)
+
+

2
2 2
0
2
0
1 1
1 1 1 1 1 1
lim lim
x x
x x
x
x x
x
x x
x x

( ) ( )
( ) ( )
2
1
1 1
1
1 1 1 1
1 1
2
0
2
2
0
2
2
0
lim lim lim

+

+


x x
x
x x x
x x
x x x
x x
x x x
.
(7) Let ( )

2
0 0
2
1 1
) ln(cos
ln
) ln(cos
) ln(cos ln ) (cos
lim lim
2 2
x
x
y
x
x
x y x y
x x
x x

2
1
cos 2
1 sin
cos 2
sin
2
cos
sin
lim lim lim
0 0 0

,
_

,
_

x x
x
x x
x
x
x
x
x x x
. Thus, ( )
2
1
ln
lim
0
y
x

,
_

2
1
0 0
lim lim
2
1
ln e y y
x x
2
1
0
1
0
lim lim
2
) (cos


e y x
x
x
x
.
(8)
+
+

+
+

+
+ +
12 48 36
2 42 60
12 24 12
1 2 21 20
1 6 8 3
2 7 5
2
2
1
2 3
2 3
1
2 3 4
2 3 4
1
lim lim lim
x x
x x
x x x
x x x
x x x
x x x x
x x x

0
20
limit does not exist.
(9)
( )

+

+
+

x x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x x
5 81 9
) 5 81 ( 81
5 81 9
5 81 9 5 81 9 5 81 9
lim lim lim
0 0 0

( )
18
5
5 81 9
5
5 81 9
5
lim lim
0 0

+

+

x x x
x
x x
.
(10)
( )
( )
1
30 15
3 15
) 2 ( 15
) 1 5 ( 3
1 5
15
2
3
1 5 ln
2 ln
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
3
3
lim lim lim lim

+

+
+ + + + x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x x x
12
(11) Let ( ) ( )
+
+ +
+

y
x
e
e y e y
x
x
x
x
x
x
ln
) 1 ln( 2
1 ln ln 1
lim
2 2

2
2
1
2
1
1
2
) 1 ln( 2
lim lim lim lim

+
+ + + +
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x e
e
e
e
e
e
x
e . Thus,

+
y
x
ln
lim

,
_

+ +
2
lim lim
2 ln 2 e y y
x x
( )
2
2
lim lim
1

+

+
+ e y e
x
x
x
x
.
(12)
+

x
x x
x
x x
x
x x
x x x 6
) 2 sin( 8 ) 4 sin( 16
3
) 2 cos( 4 ) 4 cos( 4 ) 2 sin( 2 ) 4 sin(
lim lim lim
0
2
0
3
0
8
6
48
6
) 2 cos( 16 ) 4 cos( 64
lim
0

x x
x
.
(13)

,
_

1
]
1

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

+ + x x x x
x
x
.
(14)
( )
. 1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
2
2
1
1
1
lim lim lim lim

,
_

+ + + +
e e
x
x
e
x
e
e x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
(15)
. 0 ) 3 (
3
3
1
1
ln
ln
3
0
3
4
0 3
4
0 3
1
0
3
0
lim lim lim lim lim

+ + + + +

x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x
x x x x x
(16)
3
) 1 5 )( 1 2 (
3
1
) 1 5 (
) 1 2 ( 5 ) 1 5 ( 2
1 2
1 5
1 5
1 2
ln
lim lim lim
0
2
0 0

+ +

,
_

+
+ +

,
_

+
+

,
_

+
+
x x
x
x x
x
x
x
x
x
x x x
.
(17) Let
x
y
1
( )
y
y
x
x
ey
x
e
2
1
0
2
1 1
lim lim
+
,
_

+
+
+
. Next, let
( ) + z ey z
y
ln 1
2
1

( )
2 2
1
2
) 1 ln(
ln
2
) 1 ln(
1 ln
lim lim lim
0 0 0
2
1 e ey
e
y
ey
z
y
ey
ey
y y y
y

+

+

+
+
+ + +

. Thus,
13

,
_

+ + +

2
0 0 0
lim lim lim
2
ln
2
ln
e
y y y
e z
e
z
e
z
( )
y
y
x
x
ey
x
e
2
1
0
2
1 1
lim lim
+
,
_

+
+
+
=

2
0
lim
e
y
e z
+

. ( ) ( )
( )

+
+ +

y
x
x e
x e y x e y
x
x
x
x
x
x
ln
ln
ln ln
lim
0
2
1
2
1
2
(18)
3
1
3 sin 1
3 cos 3
) 3 arctan(sin
2
0 0
lim lim

+

x
x
x
x
x x
.
(19)
( )
3
1
3
) cos(
6
) cos( 2
3
) sin(
sin
2
0
2
0
2
2
0
3
0
2
0
lim lim lim lim

+ + + +

x
x
x x
x
x
x
dt t
x x x
x
x
.
(20) Let ( ) ( )
( )

+
+ +

y
x
x e
x e y x e y
x
x
x
x
x
x
ln
ln
ln ln
lim
0
2
1
2
1
2
( )
3
1
1 2
ln
2
2
0
2
0
lim lim

+
+

+

x e
e
x
x e
x
x
x
x
x
. Thus

,
_

3 ln 3 ln
lim lim
0 0
y y
x x

3
0
lim
e y
x
( )
3
0
1
2
0
lim lim
e y x e
x
x
x
x
+

.
(21)
0
2
arctan
lim

+

x
x
x
.
(22)
2
3
1
2
1
3
tan 4 1
sec 2
3 sin 1
3 cos 3
) tan 2 arcsin(
)) 3 ( arctan(sin
2
2
2
0 0
lim lim

x
x
x
x
x
x
x x
.
(23)
2
1
cos 2
1 sin
2
cos
sin
) ln(cos
lim lim lim
0 0
2
0

,
_

,
_

x x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x x
.
(24) Let
x
y
1
.
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
0
lim lim
y
y
x
x
y
x

,
_

+
,
_

+
+
+
Let
,
_

+ z y z
y
ln
2
1
1
1
14

.
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
2
1
1 ln
ln
2
1
1 ln
2
1
1 ln
lim lim lim
0 0 0
1

,
_

,
_

+

,
_

+
+ + +

y
y
y
z
y
y
y
y y y
y

Thus,

,
_

+ + +

2
1
0 0 0
lim lim lim
2
1
ln
2
1
ln e z z z
y y y

,
_

+
+
x
x x 2
1
1
lim
.
2
1
1
2
1
0
1
0
lim lim
e z y
y
y
y

,
_

+
+ +

(25) Let
+ + x
x
y
x
x
x y x y
x x
x x
) ln(ln
ln
) ln(ln
) ln(ln ln ) (ln
lim lim
1 1

0
ln
1
1
ln
1
lim lim

+ + x x
x x
x x
. Thus,

,
_

+ + +
y y y
x x x
lim lim lim
0 ln 0 ln
1
0
e
1 ) (ln
lim lim
1

+ +
y x
x
x
x
.
(26)
( ) ( ) ( )

,
_

,
_

+
+ +
+ + +
x
x
x
x x
x
x
x e
e
e e x e
1
ln ln 1 ln ) 1 ln(
lim lim lim
0 1 ln ln
1
ln
lim lim

,
_

,
_

,
_

,
_

+
+ +
x
x
x
x
x
x e
e
e
e
.

15