CALCULUS I

CHAPTER IV
Early Transcendentals -- James Stewart
 Applications of Differentiation

4.4 INDETERMINATE FORMS AND L’HOSPITAL’S RULE

Prepared by: Dr. Hadi Hamad

L’HOSPITAL’S RULE
Suppose 𝑓 and 𝑔 are differentiable and 𝑔′ 𝑥 ≠ 0 on an open interval 𝐼 that
contains 𝑎 (except possibly at 𝑎). Suppose that

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 0 and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 0

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

Or that

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = ±∞ and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = ±∞

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

0 ∞ 𝑓 𝑥 𝑓′ 𝑥
We have indeterminate form ( 𝑜𝑟 ) . Then lim = lim ′
0 ∞ 𝑥→𝑎 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑥→𝑎 𝑔 (𝑥)

If the limit on the right side exists (or is ∞ 𝑜𝑟 − ∞)

 ln 𝑥
Ex 1: Find lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
 𝑒𝑥
Ex 2: Calculate lim 2
𝑥→∞ 𝑥
 ln 𝑥
Ex 3: Calculate lim 3
𝑥→∞ 𝑥
 tan 𝑥−𝑥
Ex 4: Find lim
𝑥→0 𝑥3
 sin 𝑥
Ex 5: Find lim−
𝑥→𝜋 1−cos 𝑥
 𝑓 𝑔
◦ INDETERMINATE PRODUCTS 𝑓𝑔 = Or 𝑓𝑔 =
1/𝑔 1/𝑓

◦ INDETERMINATE DIFFERENCES

If lim 𝑓 𝑥 = ∞ and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = ∞, then the limit lim [𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑔(𝑥)] is converted into
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
quotient (common denominator, rationalization, factoring out a common factor).

◦ INDETERMINATE POWERS

Several indeterminate forms arise from the limit lim 𝑓 𝑥 𝑔(𝑥)

𝑥→𝑎

1. lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 0 and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 0 type 𝟎𝟎

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

2. lim 𝑓 𝑥 = ∞ and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 0 type ∞𝟎

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

3. lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 1 and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = ±∞ type 𝟏±∞

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

Use ln 𝑦 = 𝑔 𝑥 ln 𝑓(𝑥) or 𝑓 𝑥 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑒 [𝑔 𝑥 ln 𝑓 𝑥 ]

Ex 6: Evaluate lim+ 𝑥 ln 𝑥
𝑥→0
Ex 8: Calculate lim+(1 + sin 4𝑥)cot 𝑥
𝑥→0
Ex 9: Find lim+ 𝑥 𝑥
𝑥→0
Q56/Page: 305
𝑎 𝑏𝑥
Find the limit lim 1 +
𝑥→∞ 𝑥
END OF SECTION 4-4

Thanks for your attention