MH1100/MTH112: Calculus I.

Solutions to Problem Set #12.

Problem 1: (Various from Section 6.8 from [Stewart]).

In this problem you are asked to determine a number of limits. If you can
find a more elementary method than LHospitals rule, please use it instead.
If LHospitals rule doesnt apply, explain why.
Solutions.
Uses of LHospitals rule below will be marked LHR.
Solution to 1.
This is an elementary limit only requiring division:
x2 1
x1 x2 x
lim

(x 1)(x + 1)
x1
(x 1)x
(x + 1)
= lim
x1
x
= 2.
=

lim

Solution to 2.
This limit is of indeterminate form of typ 0/0, so we can try LHospitals
rule:
lim

x(/2)+

cos x
1 sin x

=
=

lim

x(/2)+

lim

x(/2)+

= .

sin x
cos x
(sin x)

(LHR.)
lim

x(/2)+

1
cos x

"

There are two subtleties here. The first is that LHospitals rule is still valid
(x)
when the limit you get from the rule limxa fg (x)
equals . The second
is the fact (intuitive, and straightforward to prove) that limxa f (x)g(x) =
when limxa f (x) = L (with L > 0) and limxa g(x) = .

Solution to 3.
Again, this is of type 0/0, and a use of LHospitals rule will solve the
d
problem. Recall that dx
[tan x] = cos12 x .
sin 4x
x0 tan 5x
lim

4 cos 4x
x0 5 (1/ cos2 (5x))
4 cos (4 0)
=
5 (1/ cos2 (5 0))
=

lim

4
.
5

(LHR.)

Solution to 4.
This is an indeterminate form of type /, so can be studied with LHospitals
rule.
ln x
lim
x
x

1/x
x 1/2 x1/2
2
= lim 1/2
x x
= 0.
=

lim

(LHR.)

Solution to 5.
This is an inderterminate form of type /0, so LHospitals rule cannot be
applied. But we can easily understnad the limit by rewriting it as a product:
!
"
ln x
1
lim
= lim ln x
.
x
x0+ x
x0+
Note that limx0+ ln x = while limx0+
lim

x0+

1
x

ln x
= .
x

= +. Thus:

Solution to 6.
This limit is an indeterminate form of type 0/0. (This fact uses the calculation: limt0 (8t 5t ) = 80 50 = 1 1 = 0.) So:
# t
$
d
t
8

5
8t 5t
lim
= lim dt d
(LHR.)
t0
t0
t
dt [t]
ln 8 8t ln 5 5t
t0
1
= ln 8 80 ln 5 50
= lim

= ln 8 ln 5.
Solution to 7.

This limit is of type 0/0 and you could certainly use LHospitals rule to
study this limit. There is a more elementary solution, however, which goes
as follows.

1 + 2x 1 4x
lim
x0
x

1 + 2x 1 4x
1 + 2x + 1 4x

= lim

x0
x
1 + 2x + 1 4x
(1 + 2x) (1 4x)
&

= lim %
x0 x
1 + 2x + 1 4x
6x
&

= lim %
x0 x
1 + 2x + 1 4x
6

= lim
x0
1 + 2x + 1 4x
6

=
1+20+ 140
= 3.

Solution to 8.
This limit can be determined with two uses of LHospitals rule.
ex 1 x
x0
x2
lim

ex 1
(LHR.)
x0 2x
ex
= lim
(LHR, because of type 0/0.)
x0 2
1
=
.
2
=

lim

Solution to 9.
This is of type 0/0, so LHospitals rule should have something to say:

sin1 x
1/ 1 x2
lim
= lim
(LHR.)
x0
x0
x
1
1
= '
1 (limx0 x)2
= 1.

Solution to 10.
This limit is of type /, so we can proceed with LHospitals rule.
(ln x)2
x
x
lim

2 ln x (1/x)
(LHR.)
1
ln x
= 2 lim
x x
1/x
= 2 lim
(LHR. because of type /.)
x 1
= 20
=

lim

= 0.

Solution to 11.
Two uses of LHospitals rule will solve this limit:
1 x + ln x
x1 1 + cos x
lim

1 + x1
x1 sin x
lim

1/x2
x1 2 cos x
1/1
=
2 cos
1
= 2.

lim

(LHR.)
(LHR. because of type 0/0.)

Solution to 12.
You could use LHospitals rule to study the following limit. Another approach is to turn it into the standard limit limt0 sint t = 1. To do this well
set t = x . Then:
% &
( )
sin x
lim x sin
= lim
x
x /x
x
sin t
= lim
t0+ t
= .
We might as well compare this to the LHospitals rule calculation of the
same limit. When you have two methods available, using both will confirmyour answer.
% &
( )
sin x
lim x sin
= lim
x
x 1/x
x
% &
x2 cos x
= lim
(LHR.)
x
1/x2
( )
= lim cos
x
x
= cos 0
= .

Solution to 13.
We could start by making this limit more familiar in the following way:
lim sin x ln x = lim

x0+

x0+

sin x
ln x
lim
.
x
x0+ 1/x

This limit will be valid if the second limit exists. The second limit is of type
/, and a standard calculation using LHospitals rule:
lim

x0+

ln x
1/x

1/x
1/x2
lim (x)

lim

x0+

(LHR.)

x0+

= 0.
Thus:
lim sin x ln x = lim

x0+

x0+

sin x
ln x
lim
= 1 0 = 0.
x
x0+ 1/x

Solution to 14.
Note that the given limit is of type , which cannot be studied without
more analysis. One approach is based on the limit
ex
x x
lim

LHR.

ex
= .
x 1
lim

(Note that this limit is studied in more generality below, in Problem 2.)
Once you have this limit you can argue:
(
)
lim (x ln x) = lim ln exln x
(ln ex = x)
x
x
! x"
e
= lim ln
x
x
=
because it is a standard fact that if limx f (x) = , and limx g(x) =
, then limx f (g(x)) = .

Solution to 15.
We begin by shifting the dependence on x up into the index, in the standard
way.
lim x

x0+

lim e

xln x

x0+

limx0+ xln x

= e
= e
= e
= e

(ex is continuous.)

ln x
limx0+ 1/2
x

limx0+

1/x
(1/2)x3/2

2 limx0+

(LHR.)

= e20
= 1.
Solution to 16.
Again, we begin by shifting the dependence on x up into the index.
lim x1/x =

lim e

ln x
x

= elimx

ln x
x

(ex is continuous.)

= elimx

1/x
1

(LHR.)

= e

= 1.

Solution to 17.
Note that because
2x 3
1 3/2x
= lim
= 1,
x 2x + 5
x 1 + 5/2x
lim

and because limx (2x + 1) = , this is an indeterminate form of type 1 .

This has no logical meaning, and we need to analyse it further to understand
the limit.
Begin with the standard move: eln x = x.
!
"
2x3
2x 3 2x+1
lim
= lim e(2x+1)ln ( 2x+5 )
x 2x + 5
x
7

Using the fact that ex is a continuous function, we can pass the limit into
the exponential. This means the limit we need to understand is:
(
)
ln 2x3
2x+5
lim
.
x 1/(2x + 1)
This limit is of type 0/0, so we can study it with LHospitals rule. The
derivative of the numerator is:
* !
"+
*
+
d
2x 3
2x + 5 d 2x 3
ln
=

dx
2x + 5
2x 3 dx 2x + 5
2x + 5 2 (2x + 5) (2x 3) 2
=

2x 3
(2x + 5)2
1
= 16
.
(2x 3)(2x + 5)
The derivative of the denominator is:
*
+
d
1
2
=
.
dx 2x + 1
(2x + 1)2
So, using LHospitals rule, the limit we need can be computed:
(
)
1
ln 2x3
16 (2x3)(2x+5)
2x+5
lim
= lim
2
x 1/(2x + 1)
x
(2x+1)
2
%
&
1 2
1 + 2x
&%
&
= lim 8 %
3
1
x
1 2x
1 + 2x
= 8
= 8.

(1 + 0)2
(1 0)(1 + 0)

Now that we know this limit we can finish the problem:

lim

2x 3
2x + 5

"2x+1

=e

limx

ln 2x3
2x+5
1/(2x+1)

)
=

1
.
e8

Solution to 18.
This limit is of type , so we need to do more work to understand it.
!
"
1
1
lim
x
e 1
x0+ x
ex (1 + x)
= lim
x0+ x(ex 1)
ex 1
= lim x
(LHR, because of type 0/0)
x0+ e 1 + xex
ex
= lim x
(LHR, because of type 0/0)
x0+ e + ex + xex
1
=
1+1+0
1
=
.
32
!
Problem 2: (#6.8.71 from [Stewart]).
Prove that for any positive integer n N:
ex
lim n = .
x x
Solution
Well prove this statement by induction.
The base case of the induction, n = 1, is clear: limx
Now assume that for some n N, limx
ex
it follows that limx xn+1
= as well.
Note that the limit limx
LHospitals rule that
ex
= lim
x xn+1
x
lim

ex
xn+1

d
x
dx [e ]
d
n+1 ]
dx [x

ex
xn

= .

= . We will show that

is of type /.
=

ex
x0

It follows from

1
ex
lim n =
(n + 1) x x

by the induction assumption.

(Note that we are allowed to do this because the precise fourth assump (x)
tion of LHospitals rule is that the limit limx fg (x)
either exists or equals
.)

Problem 3: (#6.8.72 from [Stewart]).

Prove that for any positive real p R, p > 0,
ln x
= 0.
x xp
lim

Solution
Note that:
limx ln x = .
limx xp = , if p > 0.
Thus the limit is of type /, and we can apply LHospitals rule to deduce:
ln x
= lim
x xp
x
lim

d
dx [ln x]
d
p
dx [x ]

= lim

1/x
1
1
= lim p = 0.
p1
x
px
p
x
!

10

Problem 4: (#6.8.98 from [Stewart]).

For what values of a and b is the following equation true?
!
"
sin 2x
b
lim
+ a + 2 = 0.
x0
x3
x
Solution:
Start be rewriting the limit:
sin 2x + ax3 + bx
= 0.
x0
x3
lim

This limit is of type 0/0. LHospitals rule now tels us to investigate the
limit:
#
$
d
3
2 cos 2x + 3ax2 + b
dx sin 2x + ax + bx
lim
=
lim
.
d
2
3]
x0
x0
3x
[x
dx
Note that as x 0, the top line goes to 2 + b while the bottom line goes
to 0. Thus we conclude that unless b = 2, the given limit goes to infinity.
If we set b to 2, then this limit is of type 0/0, and we can apply
LHospitals rule a second time. We get:
2 cos 2x + 3ax2 2
x0
3x2
lim

4 sin 2x + 6ax
6x
8 cos 2x + 6a
= lim
x0
6
4
= + a.
3
=

lim

(LHR.)

x0

(LHR.)

This is zero if and only if a = 43 .

In summary: The given limit is zero of and only if a =

4
3

and b = 2.
!

11

Problem 5: (#3.4.8 from [Stewart].)

Evaluate the following limit:
lim

12x3 5x + 2
.
1 + 4x2 + 3x3

Solution:
The square root function is continuous. So we can take the limit towards
infinity inside the square root:
,
,
12x3 5x + 2
12x3 5x + 2
lim
=
lim
.
2
3
x
x 1 + 4x2 + 3x3
1 + 4x + 3x
This, of course, is only justified if the inside limit exists. The inside limit is
computed by dividing through by x3 :
,
12 5 x12 + 2 x13
12x3 5x + 2
lim
=
lim
x 1 + 4x2 + 3x3
x
3 + 4 x1 + x13
,
12
=
3
= 2.
!

12

Problem 6: (#3.4.17 and #3.4.18 from [Stewart].)

Evaluate the limits:

9x6 x
x3 +1

6
limx x9x3 +1x .

(i) limx
(ii)

Solution to Part (i).

The deduction is:
limx

9x6 x
x3 +1

= limx

= limx
=

"

x3

1
x5

(Because the limit only

depends on positive x.)

x3 +1

1
x5
1+ 13
x

#
$
limx 9 15
x
#
$
limx 1+ 13
x

= 3.
Solution to Part (ii).
The deduction is:

6
limx x9x3 +1x

= limx
= limx
=

"

x3

x3 +1

1
x5

(Because the limit only

depends on negative x.)

1
x5
1
1+ 3
x

#
$
limx 9 15
x
#
$
limx 1+ 13
x

= 3 .

13

Problem 7: (#3.4.19 from [Stewart].)

Evaluate the limit:
lim

Solution:

lim

lim

(.

(.

)
9x2 + x 3x .

9x2 + x 3x

(.

9x2

9x2 + x + 3x
+ x 3x
9x2 + x + 3x

9x2 + x (3x)2
lim
x
9x2 + x + 3x
x
= lim
x
9x2 + x + 3x
1
= lim '
x
9 + x1 + 3

1
.
6

14

Problem 8: (#3.4.20 from [Stewart].)

Evaluate the limit:
lim

Solution:

(
)
.
x + x2 + 2x .

(
)
.
x + x2 + 2x
x
/
0
(
) x x2 + 2x
.

lim
x + x2 + 2x
x
x x2 + 2x
%
&
x2 x2 + 2x

lim
x x x2 + 2x
2x

lim
x x x2 + 2x
2x
'
lim
x
x (x) 1 + x2
lim

=
=
=
=
=

lim

= 1.

2
'
1+ 1+

2
x

15

Problem 9: (#3.4.21 from [Stewart].)

Evaluate the limit:
lim

Solution:

lim

=
=
=
=
=

lim

lim

lim

lim

(.
/

(.

x2 + ax

x2 + ax

x2 + bx

)
x2 + bx .

0
) x2 + ax + x2 + bx

x2 + ax x2 + bx
x2 + ax + x2 + bx
! 2
"
(x + ax) (x2 + bx)

x2 + ax + x2 + bx
!
"
(a b)x

x2 + ax + x2 + bx

(a b)
'

'
1
1
1 + ax + 1 + bx
(.

ab
.
2

16

Problem 10: (#3.4.22 from [Stewart].)

Does the limit limx cos x exist? Discuss.
Solution:
This function does not have a limit as x tends to infinity. One explanation
is: after every positive M there are points where the function has value 1
(whenever x is an even multiple of ), and points where the function has
value 1 (whenever x is an odd multiple of ), so the function cannot
approach any particular value.
!
Problem 11: (#3.4.27 from [Stewart].)
Evaluate the limit
lim (x

x).

Solution:
If we arrange this as follows:
lim

% %
&&
x x1

then we observe that this expression is a product of two functions, each of

which goes to infinity. So the limit is .

(Here is an incorrect solution: Observe that x goes to infinity, and x

goes to infinity as well, so x x goes to = . Incorrect. For

example, f (x) = x goes to infinity, and g(x) = x + x1 goes to infinity as well,
but f (x) g(x) does not go to infinity.)
!

17

Problem 12: (#3.4.29 and #3.4.30 from [Stewart].)

Evaluate the limits
(i) limx x sin x1 ,

(ii) limx x sin x1 .

Solution to (i).
This problem cannot be determined directly by a product rule
"
(
) !
1
lim x lim sin
x
x
x
because x while sin x1 0 as x . Thus we need to do further
work to understand this limit. We can rearrange it as:
lim x sin

sin x1
1
= lim
.
x x x1

A standard trick (compare with problem 20 below) lets us rewrite this:

lim

sin x1
1
x

= lim

t0+

sin t
,
t

provided that second limit exists. (The intuition is clear: as x , x1

0+ .) Of course, that second limit is the standard trigonometric limit, so we
learn that:
1
lim x sin = 1.
x
x
Solution to (ii).
This limit can be determined using Part (i):
lim

x sin

1
x

lim x1/2 x sin

1
x

1
1
lim lim x sin
x
x x
= 01
=

= 0.

!
18

Problem 13: (#3.4.41 from [Stewart].)

Find a formula for a function f (x) which has all of the following properties:
limx f (x) = 0,
limx3 f (x) = ,

limx0 f (x) = ,
limx3+ f (x) = .

f (2) = 0,

Solution:
This, like a very large part of mathematics, is basically an unpredictable
exercise in inspired guessing. Here is an approach to thinking about how to
guess the right answer. We begin with two observations:
If the function is a rational function (that is, a quotient of polynomials) then as long as the denominator has degree at least one more
than the numerator, then the first condition will be satisfied.
The second observation is that it is quite easy to satisfy the requirements for vertical asymptotes by putting appropriate factors in the
denominator. For example, because both the left and right limits at
x = 0 are , well need a factor of x2 in the denominator (dealing
with the minus sign later).
These two observations suggest a guess of the form:
f (x) =

??
.
3)

x2 (x

So what do we need on the top line for a successful outcome? We need, for
the top line:
A polynomial p(x) of degree less than or equal to 2.
We need p(0) > 0 (so we get limx0 f (x) = ).
We need p(3) < 0 (in order to get the required vertical asymptote
behaviour at x = 3).
We also need that p(2) = 0.
We can easily find a linear function with these properties, the simplest being:
p(x) = 2 x .
So our final guess is:
f (x) =

2x
.
x2 (x 3)
19

Lets whack that into MATLAB, and see what we get:

5
4
3
2
1
0
1
2
3
4
5
5

As required.
!

20

Problem 14 : (#3.4.71 from [Stewart].)

Using the definitions, prove that
lim f (x) = lim f (1/t)

t0+

and that
lim f (x) = lim f (1/t) .

t0

(The meaning of these equations is that when either limit exists, then so
does the other one, and then the given limits are equal.)
Solution:
Well concentrate on the first equation. The second is proved in the same
way with some minor changes. For clarity well split the statement into two
directions.
Case 1: Assume that the limit limx f (x) exists and equals L. Prove
limt0+ f (1/t) exists as well and equals L.
Well start by writing out what we are assuming is true: For every > 0
there exists a positive M such that x > M implies |f (x) L| < . Call this
assumption ().
5 %Our
5 is to find a rule such that whenever 0 < t 0 < , then
& task
5f 1 L5 < .
t
The rule we need is: = M1 . Because if 0 < t <
5 % &
5
by Assumption (), 5f 1t L5 < .

1
M ,

then

1
t

> M , so,

Case 2: Assume that the limit limt0+ f (1/t) exists and equals L. Prove
limx f (x) exists as well and equals L.
So, what we are assuming
5 % 1 & is: For
5 every > 0, there exists a > 0, such
5
that if 0 < t < , then f t L5 < . Call this assumption ().
Our task in this case is to find a rule M > 0 such that whenever x > M
then |f (x) L| < . The rule we need is M = 1 . For if x > 1 , then
0 < x1 < , so by Assumption (),
5 !
5
"
5
5
1
5
|f (x) L| = 5f
L55
1/x
< .
!

21