TWO SPECIAL

TRIGONOMETRIC LIMITS
Special Limits Involving Sine and Cosine

sin 𝑡
lim =1
𝑡→0 𝑡

1 − cos 𝑡
lim =0
𝑡→0 𝑡
Examples:
sin 3𝜃
lim
𝜃→0 𝜃
Multiply the numerator and denominator by 3 to get the
expression in a form where we can evaluate it.
sin 3𝜃 3 sin 3𝜃
lim = lim
𝜃→0 𝜃 𝜃→0 3𝜃

sin 3𝜃 sin 3𝜃
= lim 3 ∙ = lim 3 ∙ lim
𝜃→0 3𝜃 𝜃 →0 𝜃→0 3𝜃

= 3 (1) = 3
 sin 6𝑥
lim
𝑥→0 5𝑥

Multiply the numerator and denominator by 6.

sin 6𝑥 6 sin 6𝑥
lim = lim ∙
𝑥→0 5𝑥 𝑥→0 6 5𝑥

6 sin 6𝑥 6 sin 6𝑥
= lim ∙ = lim ∙ lim
𝑥→0 5 6𝑥 𝑥 →0 5 𝑥→0 6𝑥

6 6
= (1) =
5 5
 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑥
𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝑥 →0 𝑥

Use the ratio identity to rewrite tan x.

tan 𝑥 sin 𝑥 1
lim = lim ∙
𝑥 →0 𝑥 𝑥 →0 cos 𝑥 𝑥

sin 𝑥 1
= ( lim ) ∙ ( lim )
𝑥 →0 𝑥 𝑥 →0 cos 𝑥

= 1 1 = 1