MAT101-Engineering Mathematics 1

Differential Calculus-6

Indeterminate Forms
 Introduction:
Let f(x) and (x) are two functions of x.
 f (x) 
Consider the limit, lim  
x a
 (x) 
 f (x)  lim f (x)
By the properties of limits, lim    x a
x a
 (x)  lim (x)x a

 f (x)  0
But if limf (x) and lim (x) are both zero, then lim    which is an indeterminate form.
x a x a x a
 (x)  0
Therefore we cannot say whether the limit exists or not. But, by adopting suitable methods, we can

evaluate the limit. The other indeterminate forms are , 0  ,   , 00 , 1 and  0 .

 Evaluation of Limits:
0
 Form I :
0
If f(x) and (x) be two functions of x capable of being expanded by Taylor’s Series*, and if f(a) = (a) =0,
 f (x)  lim f (x)
then lim    xa , provided the latter limit exists, whether finite or infinite. This is known
xa
 (x)  limxa
 (x)
as L’Hospital’s Rule.

Proof:
By Taylor’s series,
 x  a  x  a
2 3

f ( x)  f (a )   x  a  f (a )  f (a )  f (a )       and

2! 3!
 x  a  x  a
2 3

 ( x)   (a)   x  a   (a)   (a)   (a)      

2! 3!

 x  a  x  a
2 3

Taylor’s series is f ( x )  f (a )   x  a  f (a )  f (a )  f (a )      

*
2! 3!
Page1 Jyothi Lakshmi. S
   x  a  x  a 
2 3

 f (a )   x  a  f (a )  f (a )  f (a)     

 f ( x) 
 lim   lim  2! 3! 
xa  ( x)  x a 
 x  a  x  a 
2 3
 
  (a )   x  a   (a )   (a)   (a)      
 2! 3! 
  x  a  x  a 
2 3

 0   x  a  f (a )  f (a )  f (a )    

 lim  2! 3!   given f (a )   (a )  0 
xa 
 x  a  x  a 
2 3

 0   x  a   (a )   (a)   (a )    

 2! 3! 
  x  a  x  a 
2 3

  x  a  f (a )  f (a )  f (a )     

 lim  2! 3! 
xa 
 x  a  x  a 
2 3

  x  a   (a )   (a)   (a)      

 2! 3! 

   x  a  x  a
2

  x  a   f (a )  f (a )  f (a )      
  2! 3!  
 lim  
xa   x  a  x  a 
2

  x  a   (a )  2!  (a )   (a)       
 

3!  
  x  a  x  a 
2

 f (a )  f (a )  f (a)     

 lim  2! 3! 
xa 
 x  a  x  a 
2

  (a )   (a)   (a)      

 2! 3! 
  x  a  x  a 
2

lim  f (a)  f (a)  f (a)     

xa
 2! 3! 

  x  a  x  a 
2

lim  (a)   (a)   (a)      

xa
 2! 3! 
   x  a  x  a
2
 
lim  f (a )  f (a )  f (a)      
 x a  2! 3!  
 
 a  a a  a 
2

 f (a )  f (a)  f (a )     

f (a)  2! 3! 
   f ( a )  0  0      f ( a ) 
 (a)  
  x  a  x  a 
2

 similarly lim  (a )   (a )   (a )       

xa


2! 3!  
   (a) 
 
 

 f (x)  f (a)
Note: If f(a)=(a)=0, then , lim  
x a
 (x)   (a)
In general, f(a)= f(a)= f(a)=-----= fn-1(a)=0 and(a)= (a)= (a)=----- =n-1(a)=0 and at least one of
fn(a) or n(a)0, then,

Page2 Jyothi Lakshmi. S

  f (x)  f n (a)
lim   n
x a
 (x)   (a)

 f (x)  0
 Rule to evaluate lim   in form :
x a
 (x)  0
Differentiate the Numerator f(x) and Denominator  (x) separately as many times as would be
necessary to reach a determinate form.

Note: Sometimes it will be convenient to use the expansions of known functions (sinx, cosx, …,
using Maclurin’s series) and standard limits for evaluating the indeterminate forms.

 x  sin x   0 0  sin 0 0 
Eg. lim   form 0 as  
 x   0
3
x 0 03
1  cos x   0 1  cos 0 1  1 0 
 lim   form as   
 3x 
2
x 0
 0 3. 02 0 0
 sin x   0 sin 0 0 
 lim   form 0 as 
x 0
 6x  6.0 0 
 cos x  1  cos 0 1 
 lim      
x 0
 6  6  6 6


 Form II :


L’Hospital rule can also be applied to the form


 0
 Form III :  Forms reducible to 
 0

  Form 0   
If limf (x)  0 and lim (x)   , then lim  f (x) .(x)  asumes the form 0   .
x a x a x a

f (x) (x)
In this case we can express f (x) .(x)  or f (x) .(x)  . Then,
 1   1 
 (x)   f (x) 
   
   
 
 f (x)  0  0 0
lim  f (x) .(x)   lim   , which assumes the form   
x a x a  1 
  0  1  0
 
  (x)       
 
   
 
 (x)     
or lim  f (x) .(x)   lim   , which assumes the form  
x a x a  1 
    1  
 
  f (x)     0  
 
Hence L 'Hopital rule can be applied

Page3 Jyothi Lakshmi. S

 Eg. lim  x log x  form 0   as 0  log 0  0   
x 0

   
 log x    log 0  
 lim    form as  
x 0   1     1  
  x     
0 
   
 1  1 
     
 lim  x  (applying L ' Hospital rule) form as 0  
 1   1  
x 0

 x 2   02 
  x2 
 lim 
x 0
  lim   x   0
 x  x 0

  Form    
If limf (x)   and lim (x)   , then lim  f (x)  (x)  asumes the form    .
x a x a x a

 1 1 
 (x)  f (x) 
In this case we can express f (x)  (x)    . Then,
 1 
 f (x) . (x) 
 
 1 1   1 1 
      
lim  f (x)  (x)   lim 
  (x) f (x)   0        0  0  0 
 , which assumes the form 
x a x a
 1  0  1   0 0 
     .  
  f (x) . (x)    
   
Hence L 'Hopital rule can be applied

   
Eg. lim sec x  tan x  form    as sec    tan       
x

2
 2 2 
 l sin x 
 lim  
x 
 cos x cos x 
2

  
 1  sin   
 1  sin x  form
0  2   1 1  0 
 lim   as
x   cos x

  0  0 0 
2
 cos   
 2 
Applying L 'Hospital rule,

  cos x  0
 lim    1  0
x    sin x 

2

  Form 0 , 1 0 
, 0 
If lim  f (x) 
 (x )
, assume any one of the forms 00 or 1 or  0 .
x a

let y  lim f (x)

 (x)
, then
x a

Page4 Jyothi Lakshmi. S

 l og  y   lim log f (x) 
x a
  (x)

 lim (x) .log f (x)  , which is in the form 0  .
x a

Hence log(y) can be evaluated by the previous method  Form 0    ,

Let log(y) = l, then y= el
 
cot   
form 0  2

Eg. lim sec x cot x
 as sec   0 

x
  2 
2  
let y  lim sec x cot x 

x
2

 log y  lim log  s ec x cot x  


x
2

      
 lim cot x log  s ec x   form 0   as cot   log  s ec     0. log   0   

x
2
 2   2  
     
 log  s ec x    log  s ec    
 lim   form  as   2   


x  tan x      
2
 tan   
 2 
Applying L ' Hospital rule,

 1 
 sec x sec x tan x 
 lim  

x  sec 2 x 
 
2

  
 tan   
 tan x   2   
 lim  2  form as
x   sec x 

    
2
 sec 2   
 2 
 sin x 
 lim  cos 2 x   lim sin x cos x   1.0  0
x  
 cos x 
x
2 2

ie. log y  0  y  e0  1
 lim sec x cot x   1

x
2

1. Evaluate the following Limits:

x  sinx
(a) lim
x 0 x log 1  x 

Ans:

Page5 Jyothi Lakshmi. S

 x  sinx  0 0  sin0 0 
lim  form as  
x 0 x log 1  x   0 0 log 1  0  0 
 
1  cos x  0 1  cos 0 0 
 lim  form as  
x 0 x 0 0 0 
 log 1  x    log 1  0  
1x  10 
 
 
sinx 0  sin0 0 
 lim  0  0
x 0 1  x  x 1 2  100 1 11 
   
1  x  1  x   10
2 2
 1  0 

sin ax
(b) lim
x 0 sinbx

Ans:

sin ax  0 
lim  form 
x 0 sinbx  0 
a cos ax a cos a0 a
 lim  
x 0 b cos bx b cosb0 b

x  tanx
(c) lim
x 0 x3

Ans:

x  tanx  0 
lim  form 
x 0 x3  0 
1  sec2 x  0 
 lim  form 
x 0 3x 2  0 
2sec x sec x tanx 2sec2 x tanx  0 
 lim  lim  form 
x 0 6x x 0 6x  0 
2  sec2 x sec2 x  tanx  2sec x  sec x tanx  2 1  0  2 1
 lim   
x 0 6 6 6 3

1  cos x
(d) lim
x  0 sin bx

Ans:

1  cos x  0 
lim  form 
x 0 sinbx
 0 
sinx 0
 lim  0
x 0 bcosbx b.1

Page6 Jyothi Lakshmi. S

 log x
(e) lim
x 1 x 1

Ans:

log x  0 
lim  form 
x 1 x  1
 0 
1
1 1
 lim x    1
x 1 1 x 1

a sinx  sin ax
(f) lim
x  0 x  cos x  cos ax 

Ans:

a sinx  sin ax  0 
lim  form 
x 0 x  cos x  cos ax   0 
a cos x  acos ax  0 
 lim  form 
x 0 x   sinx  asinax    cos x  cos ax   0 
a sinx  a2 sin ax
 lim
x 0
x   cos x  a2 cos ax     sinx  asinax     sinx  asinax 
a sinx  a2 sin ax  0 
 lim  form 
x 0
x   cos x  a cos ax   2   sinx  a sinax 
2
 0 
a cos x  a3 cos ax
 lim
x 0
x  sinx  a3 sinax     cos x  a2 cos ax   2   cos x  a2 cos ax 

a cos x  a3 cos ax a  a3 a3  a a  a2  1  a
 lim    
x 0
x  sinx  a sinax   3   cos x  a cos ax 
3 2
0  3  1  a2
 3 a  1 
2
3 a  1 
2
3

1  cos x
(g) lim
x 1 x2  2x  1

Ans:

1  cos x  0 1  cos 1 1 1 0
lim  form as 2   
x 1 x 2  2x  1
 0 1  2.1  1 1  2  1 0 
 sin x  0 
 lim  form as sin   0 
x 1 2x  2  0 
  cos x   .  1 2
2 2
 lim  
x 1 2 2 2

cosh x  cos x
(h) lim
x 0 x sinx

Ans:

Page7 Jyothi Lakshmi. S

 cosh x  cos x  0 
lim  form as cosh 0  1 
x 0 x sinx  0 
sinh x  sinx  0 
 lim  form as sinh 0  0 
x  0 x cos x  sinx
 0 
cosh x  cos x 11 2
 lim    1
x  0 x sinx  cos x  cos x 011 2

tanx  sinx
(i) lim
x 0 x3

Ans:

tanx  sinx  0 
lim  form 
x 0 x3  0 
sec2 x  cos x  0 
 lim  form 
x 0 3x 2  0 
2sec x sec x tanx  sinx
 lim
x 0 6x
2sec x tanx  sinx
2
 0 
 lim  form 
x 0 6x  0 
2  sec2 x sec2 x  tanx 2sec x sec x tanx   cos x
 lim
x 0 6
2sec x  4 sec x tan x  cos x 2  0  1
4 2 2
3 1
 lim   
x 0 6 6 6 2

OR

tanx  sinx  0 
lim  form 
x 0 x3  0 
 x 3
2x 5
  x3 x5 
 x    ............ 
  x    ............ 
 3 15   3! 5!  Re fer problems on expansion 
 lim 3  
x 0 x of functions 
1 1   2 1
x  x  x 3     x 5     .................................
 lim  3 3!   15 5! 
x 0 x3
1 1   2 1
x 3     x 5     .................................
 lim 
3 3!   15 5! 
x 0 x3
 1 1   2 1 
x 3     x 2     .................................
 lim  3 3!   15 5!  
x 0 3
x

Page8 Jyothi Lakshmi. S

 1 1   2 1
 lim     x 2     ...............................  cancelling x 3 
x 0
 3 3!   15 5! 
1 1   2 1
     02     .  0  ..............................
 3 3!   15 5! 
1 1 1 1 21 3 1
      
3 3! 3 6 6 6 3

2. Evaluate the following Limits:

log sinx
(a) lim
x 0 cot x

Ans:

log sinx   
lim  form 
x 0 cot x   
1
cos x
sinx cos ec x cos x cos x
 lim  lim  lim   lim  sinx cos x  0.1  0
x  0  cos ec x
2 x 0  cos ec x
2 x 0 cos ecx x 0

 
log  x  
(b) lim  2
 tanx
x
2

Ans:

 
log  x  
 2   
lim  form 
x
 tanx   
2

1 1
 
x x
 0 
2
 lim 2  lim 2  lim cos x
  form 
x

2
s ec2 x x  
2
1 x

2 x
 0 
2
cos x 2
 
2cos x  sinx 20 1
 lim  0
 1 1
x
2

log sin2x
(c) lim
x 0 log sinx

Ans:

log sin2x   
lim  form 
x 0 log sinx   
1
cos2x  2
sin2x cot2x   
 lim  lim 2  form 
x 0 1 x  0 cot x   
cos x
sinx
Page9 Jyothi Lakshmi. S
 tanx  0   1 
 lim 2  form   cot2x  
x 0 tan2x  0   tan2x 
sec2 x
 lim 2 1
x 0 2sec2 2x

tanx
(d) lim
 tan3x
x
2

Ans:

tanx   
lim  form 
x
 tan3x   
2

sec2 x   
 lim  form 
x

3sec2 3x   
2

cos2 3x  0 
 lim  form 
x

2
3cos2 x  0 
2cos 3x   sin3x 3 sin6x  0 
 lim 
 lim  form   sin2A  2sin A cos A
x

3.2 cos x  sinx x   sin2x  0 
2 2

6 cos 6x 3 cos 3 3   1
 lim   3
x
 2 cos2x cos  1
2

3. Evaluate the following Limits:

(a) lim x log x

x 0

Ans:

lim x log x
x 0
 form 0 
log x   
 lim  form 
x 0 1   
x
1
x2
 lim x  lim   lim  x  0
x 0 1 x 0 x x 0
2
x

(b) lim x log tanx

x 0

Ans:

lim x log tanx

x 0
 form 0 
log tanx   
 lim  form 
x 0 1   
x

Page10 Jyothi Lakshmi. S

 1
sec2 x
cos x 1
 lim tanx  lim  x 2 cot x sec2 x  lim  x 2
x 0 1 x 0 x 0 sinx cos2 x
x2
x 2  0 
 lim  form 
x  0 sinx cos x
 0 
2x 0 0
 lim 
  0
x  0 sinx cos x  cos x cos x 0  1 0

 
(c) lim  x   tanx
x  2

2

Ans:

 
lim  x   tanx  form 0 
x  2

2


x
2  0 
 lim  form 
x
 cot x
2
 0 
1 1
 lim   1
x

 cos ec x
2
1
2

4. Evaluate the following Limits:

(a) lim  sec x  tanx 


x
2

Ans:

lim  sec x  tanx   form  


x
2

1 sinx 1  sinx  0 
 lim   lim  form 
x

2
cos x cos x x

2
cos x  0 
 cos x 0
 lim  0
x
  sinx 1
2

1 1 
(b) lim  2  2 
x 0
x sin x 

Ans:

Page11 Jyothi Lakshmi. S

 1 1 
lim  2  2   form  
x 0
x sin x 
sin2 x  x 2  0 
 lim 2 2  form 
x 0 x sin x  0 
sin2 x  x 2 x 2
 lim
x 0 x 2 sin2 x
 2
x
multiplying bothNr. andDr. by x  2

 sin2 x  x 2 x2   sin2 x  x 2  x 2 
 lim   2   lim    
x 0
 x4 sin x  x 0  x4  sinx  
 sin2 x  x 2 
 
2
 x 
 lim    lim   lim  f(x).g(x)  lim f(x). limg(x)
 x 0  sinx 
x 0 4 x a x a x a
 x
 sin2 x  x 2  2  sinx x 
 lim   1  lim  lim  1
x 0
 x4   x 0 x x 0 sinx

 sin x  x 
2 2
 0 
 lim    form 
 0 
x 0 4
 x 
 2sinx cos x  2 x 
 lim  
x 0
 4x 3 
 sin2x  2 x   0 
 lim    form 
x 0
 4x 3   0 
 2cos2x  2   0 
 lim    form 
x 0
 12x 2   0 
 4 sin2x   0 
 lim    form 
x 0
 24x   0 
 8 cos2x  8 1
 lim    24  3
x 0
 24 

a x
(c) lim   cot 

x 0 x a

Ans:

Page12 Jyothi Lakshmi. S

 a x
lim   cot   form  
x 0 x
 a
 x
 a cos a 
 lim   
x 0 x
 x
sin 
 a
 x x  x x x  x x x 
 asin a  x  cos a   asin a  x  cos a 
a  lim 
 asin  x cos
a a a 

 lim    lim   
x x x  x2 x
sin 
x 0 x 0 x 0
 x sin 
 
 x sin  
 a   a a  a a
 x x  x 
 asin  x cos 
 lim  a a   lim  a 
 
x 0
 x2  x 0  sin x 
   
 a   a
 x x  x 
 asin  x cos 
 lim  a a   lim  a   x 
   as x  0  0 
 
2
x 0
 x  ax 0  sin x  a
   
 a   a

 x x
 asin  x cos   sinx x 
 lim  a a  1  lim  1
 lim
 
2
x 0
 x  x  0 x x  0 sinx
 
 a 
 x x
 asin  x cos   0 
 lim  a a form 

 0 
2
x 0
 x 
 
 a 
 1 x  1 x x  x x x x x x
 a a cos a   x  a sin a  cos a    cos  sin  cos   sin 
 lim      lim a a a a  lim a a
x 0 
  x 0  
2x  x  0
 2x   2x 
 a   a   a 
 
 x
 sin a  0
 lim   0
x 0
 2  2
 

5. Evaluate the following Limits:

lim  cos x 
cot x
(a)

x
2

Ans:

Page13 Jyothi Lakshmi. S

 lim  cos x 
x

cot x
 form 0  0

let y  lim  cos x 

cot x

x
2

log y  lim cot x log  cos x    form 0   


x
2

log cos x 

 lim  
x

2
tanx 
1 
 sinx

 lim cos x 2  
x

2
sec x 
 lim   sinx cos x   0

x
2

 y  e0  1

1
(b) lim 1  x  x
x 

Ans:

 form  
1
lim 1  x  x 0
x 
1
let y  lim 1  x  x
x 

1
log y  lim log 1  x   form 0   
x  x
log 1  x  
 lim  
x  x 
1
 lim 1  x 0
x  1
y  e  1
0

lim  sinx 
tan x
(c)

x
2

Ans:

Page14 Jyothi Lakshmi. S

 lim  sinx 
x

tan x
 form 1  

let y  lim  sinx 

tan x

x
2

log y  lim  tanx log  sinx    form   0 


x
2

log sinx 0

 lim  
x
 cot x
2
0
1
cos x
 lim sinx 2
x  co sec x

2

 lim   sinx cos x   0


x
2

 y  e0  1

lim 1  sinx 
cot x
(d)
x 0

Ans:

lim 1  sinx 
x 0
cot x
 form 1 


let y  lim 1  sinx 

cot x

x 0

log y  lim cot x log 1  sinx    form   0 

x 0

log 1  sinx  0

 lim  
x 0 tanx 0
1
cos x
 lim 1  sinx2
cos x 1
 lim  1
x 0 sec x x  0 1  sinx 10
 y  e1  e

Page15 Jyothi Lakshmi. S