Created by T.

Madas

LIMITS

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 Created by T. Madas

LIMITS BY
STANDARD
EXPANSIONS

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (***)

a) Write down the first two non zero terms in the expansions of sin 3x and cos 2x .

b) Hence find the exact value of

 3 x cos 2 x − sin 3 x 
lim  
x →0  3x3

sin 3 x ≈ 3x − 9 x3 , cos 2 x ≈ 1 − 2 x 2 , − 1
2 2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 2 (***)
Use standard expansions of functions to find the value of the following limit.

 cos 7 x − 1 
lim  .
x→0  x sin x  

MM1A , − 49
2

Question 3 (***)
Use standard expansions of functions to find the value of the following limit.

 e5 x − 5 x − 1 
lim  .
x→0  sin 4 x sin 3 x 
 

25
24

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 4 (***)
Use standard series expansions to evaluate the following limit.

  1 
lim  x − x 2 ln  x +   .
x→∞   x 

V , FP3-G , 1
2

Question 5 (***)
By considering series expansion, determine the value of the following limit.

 
 2x − x x + 4 
lim .
x→0  ln 1 − 3 x 2 
 ( )


FP3-P , 1
12

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 6 (***+)
Use standard expansions of functions to find the value of the following limit.

 cos 2 3 x − 1 
lim  2 .
x →0  x 


FP3-N , −9

Question 7 (***+)
Use standard expansions of functions to find the value of the following limit.

 ln (1 − x ) 
lim  2
+ cosec x  .
x→0  sin x 

FP3-L , − 1
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 8 (****+)
Use standard expansions of functions to find the value of the following limit.

 ex x2 + 2 x + 4 − 2 
lim  .
x →0  x 


No credit will be given for using alternative methods such as L’ Hospital’s rule.

MM1G , 5
2

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 Created by T. Madas

LIMITS BY
L’HOSPITAL
RULE

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (**)
Find the value of the following limit

 x cos x 
lim  .
x→0  x + arcsin x 


FP3-J , 1
2

Question 2 (**+)
Find the value of the following limit

 
lim  x  2 x − 1  .
1

x→∞   

FP3-R , ln 2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 3 (***)
Find the value of the following limit

 cos 2 3 x − 1 
lim  2 .
x →0  x 


FP3-K , −9

Question 4 (***)
Find the value of the following limit

 cos 7 x − 1 
lim  .
x→0  x sin x  

FP3-Q , − 49
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (***)
Use L'Hospital's rule to find the value of the following limit

 tan x − x 
lim  .
x→0  sin 2 x − sin x − x 


FP3-O , − 2
7

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 6 (***+)
Show clearly that the following limit converges to 1 .

lim  x x 
x→∞ 

You must justify the evaluation.

SPX-O , proof

Question 7 (****)
If p ∈ ( 0, ∞ ) , show that

lim  x p ln x  = 0 , x ∈ ( 0, ∞ ) .
x → 0+  

FP3-V , proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 8 (****)
Find the value of the following limit

 e5 x − 5 x − 1 
lim  .
x→0  sin 4 x sin 3 x 
 

V , FP3-U , 25
24

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 9 (****)
Find the value of the following limit

lim  x − sin x  .
x →0 +  

MM1B , 1

Question 10 (****+)
Find the value of the following limit

 sin π cos 2 x
( )  .
lim 
x →0  x2 
 

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 11 (****+)
Find the value of the constant k , given that

  x 2 + ( k − 2 ) x − 2k  tan ( x − 2 ) 
 
lim   2

 = 5.
x→2
 x − 4 x + 4 

k =3

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 12 (****+)
Show with detailed workings that

 a bx 
lim 1 +   = e ab .
x→∞  x  


FP3-W , proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 13 (*****)
Find the value of the following limit

 sin 2 x − tan 2 x 
lim  4
.
x→π  ( x − π ) 


−1

Question 14 (*****)

 a − a 2 − x2 − 1 x2 
L = lim  4  , a >0.
x →0  x 4 
 

Given that L is finite, determine its value.

1
64

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 15 (*****)
Find the value of the following limit

1 y 
lim  4
y →0  y


0
sin 3 x dx  .


1
4

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 Created by T. Madas

VARIOUS
LIMITS

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (**)
Find the value of the following limit

 3x 2 + 7 x − 1 
lim  2 .
x→∞  x + 5 


Question 2 (**)
Find the value of the following limit

 x3 − x 2 − x − 2 
lim  .
x→2 
 x−2 

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 3 (**+)
Find the value of the following limit

 1 1  1  
lim  −   .
x→3  x 3  x − 3  

−1
9

Question 4 (**+)
Given that n is a positive integer determine

 xn e x 
lim  .
x → 0 1 − e x 
 

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (***)
Find the value of the following limit

 x3 − 8 
lim  .
x→2  x − 2 
 

You may not use the L’ Hospital’s rule in this question.

12

Question 6 (***)
Find the value of the following limit.

lim  x + 5 − x  .
x→∞ 

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 7 (***)
Find the value of the following limit.

lim  x x 2 + 1 − x3 + 1  .
3

x→∞  

MM1-H , 1
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 8 (***)
The Fibonacci sequence is given by the recurrence formula

un+ 2 = un +1 + un , u1 = 1 , u2 = 1 .

It is further given that in this sequence the ratio of consecutive terms converges to a
limit φ , known as the Golden Ratio.

(
Show, by using the above recurrence formula, that φ = 1 1 + 5 .
2 )
MP2-S , proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 9 (***+) Limits

Evaluate the following limit.

 1 1
lim  − .
x →0  x 1 + x x

You may NOT use L’Hospital’s rule in this question

MM1J , x = 1
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 10 (***+)

2n n
f ( n ) = 22 , n ∈ » and f ( n ) = 10001000 , n ∈ » .

 g (n) 
Determine whether or not lim   exists.
n→∞ f ( n )
 

 g (n) 
lim  =0
n →∞ f ( n )
 

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 11 (***+)
Show clearly without the use of any calculating aid that

6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + ... = k ,

where k is an integer to be found.

k =3

Question 12 (***+)

x + 2 + x + 2 + x + 2 + x + 2 + x + 2 + ... ,

It is given that the above nested radical converges to a limit L , L ∈ » .

Determine the range of possible values of x .

SP-T , x ≥ − 9
4

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 13 (***+)

3 3
4 + 2 4 + 2 3 4 + 2 3 4 + 2 3 4 + ...

Given that the above nested radical converges, determine its limit.

SPX-B , L = 2

Question 14 (****)
Find the value of the following limit

 x 2 − 16 
lim  .
x→4  x − 2 
 

You may not use the L’ Hospital’s rule in this question.

32

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 15 (****)
Find the value of each of the following limits.

1 − x 
a) lim  .
x→1  1 − x 

 sin ( kx ) 
b) lim  .
x→0  sin x 

You may not use the L’ Hospital’s rule in this question.

32

Question 16 (****)
Find the value of the following limit

 x + 4 − 2
lim  .
x →0
 x ( x + 1) 

You may not use the L’ Hospital’s rule in this question.

1
4

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 17 (****)
The function f is defined as

f ( x ) ≡ x + x + x + x + x + ... , x ∈ ( 0, ∞ ) .

Determine the value of

0
f ( x ) dx .

SPX-K , 19
6

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 18 (****+)
Find the value of the following limit

lim  x 2 + 5 x − x  .

x→∞  

MM1-F , 5
2

Question 19 (****+)
Find the value of the following limit

 1  n 
lim 1 +  
n→∞  n  
 .

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 20 (****+)
Use two distinct methods to evaluate the following limit

 3 x −2 
lim  2 .
x→8  x − 9 x + 8 

1
84

Question 21 (****+)
Find the value of the following limit

 ( 8 + cos x )(1 − cos 2 x ) 

lim  .
x →0  x tan 3x 

You may not use the L’ Hospital’s rule in this question.

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 22 (****+)
Use two distinct methods to evaluate the following limit

 x2 + x + 3 − x2 + 4 
lim  2
.
x→1  x − x 


10
5

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 23 (****+)
Find the value of the following limit

 3 x − 2
lim  .
x→8  x − 8 

You may not use the L’ Hospital’s rule in this question.

1
12

Question 24 (****+)
By considering the limit of an appropriate function show that 00 = 1 .

proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 25 (****+)
Find the value of the following limit

 x − 2 + x 2 − 3x + 2 
lim  .
x→2  2 
 x −4

You may not use the L’ Hospital’s rule in this question.

1
2

Question 26 (****+)
Find the value of the following limit

 x 2 − 25 − x − 5 
lim  .
x →5  x 3
− 125 


You may not use the L’ Hospital’s rule in this question.

10 − 1
60

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 27 (****+)
Find the value of the following limit

lim  x 2 n − x n − x n  , n ∈ » .

x→∞  

1
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 28 (****+)
Find the value of the following limit

  
x
1 1
lim 1 + 3 + 2   .
x→∞  x  
 x
2


MM1E , 1

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 29 (****+)
Use two distinct methods to evaluate the following limit.

 x+3−2 x 
lim  .
x→1  x −1 

MM1E , − 3
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 30 (****+)
Use two distinct methods to evaluate the following limit

lim  n 2 + 3n − n  .

n→∞  

You may not use the L’ Hospital’s rule in this question.

MM1C , 3
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 31 (****+)

f ( x ) = 1 + x2 , x ∈ » .

Use the formal definition of the derivative as a limit, to show that

x
f ′( x) = .
1 + x2

proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 32 (****+)

1
f ( x) = , x∈» , x >1.
x2 − 1

Use the formal definition of the derivative as a limit, to show that

x
f ′( x) = − 3 .
( x − 1)
2 2

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 33 (****+)

100
f ( x) ≡ 100
x
1
+ 100 100 (
r =1
100
x + r) , x∈».

Use a formal method to find

lim f ( x ) .
x→∞

MPX-C , 100

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 34 (****+)
Find the value of the following limit

1 − cos x 2
( )  .
lim 
x→0  x 2 tan 2 x 
 

SPX-G , 1
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 35 (*****)

1− x
f ( x) = , x ∈ » , x < 1.
1+ x

Use the formal definition of the derivative as a limit, to show that

1
f ′( x) = − .
2
(1 + x ) 1− x

SPX-M , proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 36 (*****)
Solve the following equation over the set of real numbers.

 x + a  ax  e
lim    = e2 .
x→∞  x − a  
 

You may assume that the limit in the left hand side of the equation exists.

You must clearly state any results used in the solution.

− 12
SPX-W , a = ± e

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 37 (*****)
It is given that for some real constants a and b ,

lim  x 2 − 2 x + 2 − ( ax + b )  = 2 , x ∈ » , x > 0 .

x→+∞  

Determine the value of a and the value of b .

a = 1 , b = −3

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 38 (*****)
Determine the exact value of the following limit.

  1π +h


1 6 sin x
lim   dx  
h →0  h  1π x 
  6 

You must justify the evaluation.

3
SPX-M ,
π

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 39 (*****)
Evaluate the following limit.

 1π +h



6

lim  dx  .
2 sin x
h→0  πh
 1π
6


2
SPX-R ,
π

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 40 (*****)

a) Use L’Hospital’s rule to evaluate

 3 1 + sin 3 x − 3 1 − sin 3 x 
lim  .
x →0  x 

b) Verify the answer to part (a) by an alternative method.

You must state clearly any additional results used.

SPX-S , 2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 41 (*****)
The positive solution of the quadratic equation x 2 − x − 1 = 0 is denoted by φ , and is
commonly known as the golden section or golden number.

( )
This implies that φ 2 − φ − 1 = 0 , φ = 1 1 + 5 ≈ 1.62 .
2

Show, with full justification, that

 1−φ 
(
lim  x xφ + 1
x→∞ 
)  = 1 .

X , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 42 (*****)
A curve has equation y = f ( x ) .

The finite region R is bounded by the curve, the x axis and the straight lines with
equations x = a and x = b , and hence the area of R is given by

b
I ( a, b ) =
 a
f ( x ) dx .

The area of R is also given by the limiting value of the sum of the areas of rectangles
of width δ x and height f ( xi ) , known as a “right (upper) Riemann sum”

 n 
I ( a, b ) = lim 
n→∞ 

i =1
 f ( xi ) δ x   ,



b−a
where δ x = and xi = a + i δ x .
n

Using the “right (upper) Riemann sum” definition, and with the aid of a diagram where
appropriate, show clearly that


0
x 2 dx = 1 .
3

SYNF-C , proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 43 (*****)
The Lambert W function, also called the omega function or product logarithm, is
a multivalued function which has the property

( )
W x ex ≡ x ,

and hence if x e x = y then x = W ( y ) .

For example

− x e− x = 2  − x = W ( 2 ) , ( x + π ) e x+π 2 2 ( )
= 1  x + π = W 1 and so on.

Use this result to show that the limit of

( (
ln e+ ln e+ ln ( e+ ln ( e+ ...) ) ))
is given by

− e− W  − e − e  .
 

SPX-P , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 44 (*****)

No credit will be given for using L’Hospital’s rule in this question.

a) Use the formal definition of the derivative of a suitable expression, to find the
value for the following limit

 x3 + 2 x − 12 
lim  .
x→4  x−4 


b) Verify the answer to part (a) by an alternative method.

SPX-T , 7
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 45 (*****)
Use the formal definition of the derivative to prove that if

y = f ( x) g ( x) ,

dy
then = f ′ ( x ) g ( x ) + f ( x ) g′( x )
dx

You may assume that

• lim  f ( x ) + g ( x )  = lim  f ( x )  + lim  g ( x ) 
x →c x→c x→c

• lim  f ( x ) × g ( x )  = lim  f ( x )  × lim  g ( x ) 

x →c x →c x→c

V , X , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 46 (*****)
A curve has equation y = f ( x ) .

The finite region R is bounded by the curve, the x axis and the straight lines with
equations x = a and x = b , and hence the area of R is given by

b
I ( a, b ) =
a
f ( x ) dx .

The area of R is also given by the limiting value of the sum of the areas of rectangles
of width δ x and height f ( xi ) , known as a “right (upper) Riemann sum”

 n 
I ( a, b ) = lim 
n→∞ 

i =1
 f ( xi ) δ x   ,



b−a
where δ x = and xi = a + i δ x .
n

Using the “right (upper) Riemann sum” definition, and with the aid of a diagram where
appropriate, show clearly that

 3
x 2 dx = 63 .

SPX-Q , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 47 (*****)
A curve has equation y = f ( x ) .

The finite region R is bounded by the curve, the x axis and the straight lines with
equations x = a and x = b , and hence the area of R is given by

b
I ( a, b ) =
a
f ( x ) dx .

The area of R is also given by the limiting value of the sum of the areas of rectangles
of width δ x and height f ( xi ) , known as a “right (upper) Riemann sum”

 n 
I ( a, b ) = lim 
n→∞ 


i =1
 f ( xi ) δ x   ,



b−a
where δ x = and xi = a + i δ x .
n

Using the “right (upper) Riemann sum” definition, and with the aid of a diagram where
appropriate, show clearly that

 n!  1
lim  n n  = .
n→∞  n  e

SPX-Z , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 48 (*****)
Use Leibniz rule and standard series expansions to evaluate the following limit

 x 


t ln ( t + 1) 
lim  3
1
dt  .
x →0 x t4 + 1
 0 6 

SPX-V , 2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 49 (*****)
Determine the limit of the following series.

 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
lim  + + + + ... + + + + .
n→∞  n + 1 n + 2 n + 3 n + 4 n + n − 2 n + n −1 n + n 

V , SPX-V , ln2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 50 (*****)

a) Show with detailed workings that

lim  x 2 + 2 x − 1 − x 2 − 1 = 1 .
x→∞  

b) Hence determine in exact simplified form the value of

 x
lim 
x→∞ 
( x2 + 2 x − 1 − )
x2 − 1  .


− 12 1
SPX-X , e =
e

Created by T. Madas