CHAPTER

18 Limits and Derivatives

Limit L'hopital's Rule

™ The expected value of the function as dictated by the points f ( x) 0 ±∞
If lim is of form or
to the left of a point defines the left hand limit of the function x→a g ( x) 0 ±∞
at that point. Similarly the right hand limit.
f ( x) f '( x)
Limit of a function at a point is the common value of the left Then lim = lim
™ x→a g ( x) x → a g '( x)
and right hand limits, if they coincide.
Derivatives
™ For a function f and a real number a, lim f(x) and f(a) may not ™ Derivative of a function f at any point x is defined by
x→a
df ( x) f ( x + h) − f ( x )
be same (In fact, one may be defined and not the other one). f '( x)
= = lim
dx h →0 h
Fundamental Theorems on Limits ™ For functions u and v the following holds:
™ For functions f and g if lim f ( x) & lim g ( x) exists, then the (u ± v)' = u' ± v'
x→a x→a
following holds: (uv)' = u'v + uv'
lim[ f ( x) ± g ( x)]
= lim f ( x) ± lim g ( x) '
x→a x→a x→a  u  u ' v − uv ' provided all are defined.
  =
lim[ f ( x).g ( x)] = lim f ( x). lim g ( x) v v2
x→a x→a x→a
lim f ( x) ™ Following are some of the standard derivatives.
 f ( x)  x →a
lim  = lim g ( x) ; g ( x) ≠ 0 & xlim
x →a  g ( x)  →a
g ( x) ≠ 0 d n
( x ) = nx n −1
x→a dx
Theorem d
Following are some of the standard limits (sin x) = cos x
™ dx
xn − an d
lim
= na n −1 , for any + ve integer (cos x) = − sin x
x→a x − a dx
log (1 + x ) d ( x)
lim =1 e = ex
x →0 x dx
sin x tan x d ( x)
lim
= lim = 1 a = a x log a
x →0 x x →0 x
dx
1 − cos x
lim =0 d 1
x →0 x ( ln x ) =
dx x
x
 1 d
e
lim 1 +  = ( tan x ) = sec 2 x
x →∞  x dx
ex −1 d
lim
x
=1 ( cosec x ) = −cosec x cot x
x →0
dx
ax −1 d
lim = log e a ( sec x ) = sec x tan x
x →0 x dx