Calculus Week 2.

3
Rommel

27/11/2023

1 L’Hôpital’s Rule
L’Hôpital’s Rule is a mathematical technique used to evaluate limits of
indeterminate forms, where the limit of the numerator and denominator
separately approaches zero, infinity, or an indeterminate form (such as 0/0
or /). The rule is named after the French mathematician Guillaume de
l’Hôpital, who first published it in the 17th century.
Indeterminate Forms:
An indeterminate form occurs when evaluating the limit of a quotient
yields an expression like 0/0 or /. These forms do not provide enough
information about the behavior of the function, and L’Hôpital’s Rule is a
method to resolve such indeterminate forms.
L’Hôpital’s Rule:
Statement: Suppose f (x) and g(x) are differentiable functions on an open
interval containing a (except possibly at a), and g 0 (x) is not zero near a. If

lim f (x) = lim g(x) = 0 or ± ∞

x→a x→a

f 0 (x)
and limx→a g 0 (x)
exists, then

f (x) f 0 (x)
lim = lim 0
x→a g(x) x→a g (x)

∞
Form: If 00 or ∞ is encountered when evaluating a limit, L’Hôpital’s Rule
suggests taking the derivative of the numerator and denominator separately
and reevaluating the limit.

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 Steps to Apply L’Hôpital’s Rule:
1. Check Indeterminate Form:
Confirm that the limit is of the form 00 or ∞∞
.
2. Take Derivatives:
Differentiate the numerator and denominator separately.
3. Reevaluate the Limit:
Substitute the derivatives into the original limit.
4. Repeat if Necessary:
If the new limit is still indeterminate, apply L’Hôpital’s Rule again.
Example:
Consider the limit limx→0 sin(x)
x
.
sin(x)
As x approaches 0, x is of the form 00 . Applying L’Hôpital’s Rule:

sin(x) cos(x)
lim = lim = cos(0) = 1
x→0 x x→0 1
Notes:
L’Hôpital’s Rule can be applied repeatedly if necessary. The rule is not
applicable in all cases; certain conditions must be met, such as differentiability
and the existence of the limit of the derivative quotient. The rule is not valid
for other indeterminate forms such as 0 · ∞, 00 , ∞ − ∞, etc.
L’Hôpital’s Rule is a powerful tool for evaluating limits involving indeterminate
forms, especially in calculus and mathematical analysis. It provides a systematic
way to handle limits that would otherwise be difficult to evaluate directly.

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2 Indeterminate Forms
Indeterminate forms are mathematical expressions that do not provide enough
information about the behavior of a function at a certain point, particularly
when evaluating limits. These forms arise when attempting to compute a
limit, and they usually involve the ratios of two functions or expressions.
∞
The most common indeterminate forms include 00 , ∞ , 0 · ∞, ∞ − ∞, 00 , ∞0 ,
∞ ∞
1 , and 0 . Let’s explore these in more detail:
1. 00 :
This indeterminate form occurs when both the numerator and the denominator
of a fraction approach zero as the variable approaches a certain value.

f (x)
lim where lim f (x) = lim g(x) = 0
x→a g(x) x→a x→a

2. ∞
∞
:
This form arises when both the numerator and the denominator of a
fraction become unbounded as the variable approaches a certain value.

f (x)
lim where lim f (x) = lim g(x) = ∞
x→a g(x) x→a x→a

3. 0 · ∞:
This form occurs when a product of two functions approaches zero times
infinity.

lim f (x) · g(x) where lim f (x) = 0 and lim g(x) = ∞

x→a x→a x→a

4. ∞ − ∞:
This indeterminate form arises when the difference of two functions results
in infinity minus infinity.

lim [f (x) − g(x)] where lim f (x) = ∞ and lim g(x) = ∞

x→a x→a x→a
0
5. 0 :
This form occurs when the base of an exponentiation approaches zero,
and the exponent approaches zero.

lim [f (x)]g(x) where lim f (x) = 0 and lim g(x) = 0

x→a x→a x→a

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 6. ∞0 :
This form occurs when the base of an exponentiation approaches infinity,
and the exponent approaches zero.

lim [f (x)]g(x) where lim f (x) = ∞ and lim g(x) = 0

x→a x→a x→a
∞
7. 1 :
This form occurs when the base of an exponentiation approaches 1, and
the exponent approaches infinity.

lim [f (x)]g(x) where lim f (x) = 1 and lim g(x) = ∞

x→a x→a x→a
∞
8. 0 :
This form occurs when the base of an exponentiation approaches 0, and
the exponent approaches infinity.

lim [f (x)]g(x) where lim f (x) = 0 and lim g(x) = ∞

x→a x→a x→a

Understanding these indeterminate forms is crucial for applying techniques

like L’Hôpital’s Rule and other methods for evaluating limits in calculus.
They highlight situations where further analysis or manipulation is needed
to determine the limit accurately.