Solving Limit with L'Hopital's Rule

  • Thread starter izen
  • Start date
In summary, the conversation is about finding the limit of the function cos(1/x)^x as x approaches infinity using L'Hopital's Rule. The attempt at a solution involves changing the form to 0/0 by taking the natural logarithm, applying L'Hopital's Rule, and continuing to do so until the limit becomes a determinate value. The conversation also suggests using the substitution z=1/x and taking the limit as z approaches 0 for a cleaner solution. The final answer is 1.
  • #1
izen
51
0
[itex]^{}[/itex]

Homework Statement



lim [itex]_{x\rightarrow\infty}[/itex] [itex]\left(cos\frac{1}{x}\right)[/itex][itex]^{x}[/itex]

find the limit using L' Hopital's Rule

Homework Equations




The Attempt at a Solution



1[itex]^{\infty}[/itex] >> change form to 0/0 by taking ln both sides

ln(y) = lim [itex]_{x\rightarrow\infty}[/itex] x ln [itex]\left(cos\frac{1}{x}\right)[/itex]
ln(y) = lim [itex]_{x\rightarrow\infty}[/itex] [itex]\frac{ln \left(cos\frac{1}{x}\right)}{\frac{1}{x}}[/itex] ===> 0/0

Apply L' Hopital's Rule

ln(y) = lim [itex]_{x\rightarrow\infty}[/itex] [itex]\frac{\frac{1}{cos\frac{1}{2}}(-sin\frac{1}{x})}{\frac{-1}{x^{2}}}[/itex] ===> 0/0

the next step do i have to apply L' Hopital's Rule again or just rearrange the fraction and take exponential both sides.

please help thank you
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
The math would come out much nicer if you define z=1/x and take limit z→0 instead, before using L'Hopital
 
  • #3
You continue applying L'Hopital's until the limit becomes a determinate value. "0/0" is still indeterminate.
 
  • #4
You didn't finish the chain rule differentiation in l'Hopital. You still have a derivative of 1/x to take in the numerator.
 
  • #5
Hi all thanks for the comments :)
yes I didn't finish the chain rule yet. :P it will end up with lim -tan (1/x) which is equal 0 and e^0 = 1 thanks you guys again
 

FAQ: Solving Limit with L'Hopital's Rule

What is L'Hopital's Rule?

L'Hopital's Rule is a mathematical theorem used to evaluate limits involving indeterminate forms, such as 0/0 or ∞/∞. It states that if the limit of a function f(x) and g(x) both approach 0 or ∞ as x approaches a certain value, then the limit of the ratio of f(x) and g(x) is equal to the limit of the ratio of their derivatives.

When should L'Hopital's Rule be used?

L'Hopital's Rule should be used when evaluating a limit results in an indeterminate form, such as 0/0 or ∞/∞. It can also be used when the limit involves a complex expression that can be simplified by taking the derivative.

Can L'Hopital's Rule be used for all limits?

No, L'Hopital's Rule can only be applied to limits involving indeterminate forms. It cannot be used for limits that do not approach 0 or ∞, or when the limit can be evaluated by other methods.

How do you apply L'Hopital's Rule?

To apply L'Hopital's Rule, the limit must first be written as a ratio of two functions. Then, take the derivative of both the numerator and denominator and simplify the resulting expression. If the resulting limit is still indeterminate, continue taking derivatives until the limit can be evaluated.

Are there any limitations to using L'Hopital's Rule?

Yes, there are a few limitations to using L'Hopital's Rule. It can only be applied to limits involving indeterminate forms and cannot be used for all types of limits. Additionally, the functions in the limit must be differentiable near the value of the limit.

Similar threads

Back
Top