Trigonometric Limits

more examples of limits

Substitution Theorem for
Trigonometric Functions
laws for evaluating limits
 Theorem A. For each point c in function’s
domain:

lim sin x = sin c, lim cos x = cos c,

x→c x→c
lim tan x = tan c, lim cot x = cot c,
x→c x→c
lim csc x = csc c, lim sec x = sec c.
x→c x→c
 Theorem A. For each point c in function’s
domain:

lim sin x = sin c, lim cos x = cos c,

x→c x→c
lim tan x = tan c, lim cot x = cot c,
x→c x→c
lim csc x = csc c, lim sec x = sec c.
x→c x→c

Proof. Prove first that

lim sin x = 0, lim cos x = 1.

x→0 x→0
Is it obvious?

lim sin x = 0, lim cos x = 1.

x→0 x→0

y=cos(x)
y=sin(x)
Is it obvious?

lim sin x = 0, lim cos x = 1.

x→0 x→0

y=cos(x)
y=sin(x)

No. The picture is not precise.

Is it obvious?

lim sin x = 0, lim cos x = 1.

x→0 x→0

y=cos(x)
y=sin(x)

No. The picture is not precise.

Use definitions of sin(x) and cos(x).
 Use The One-Sided Squeeze Theorem. If
f (x) ≤ g(x) ≤ h(x) near c and lim f (x) =
x→c+
lim h(x) = Lright, then y=h(x)
x→c+ L
y=g(x)
y=f(x)

lim g(x) = Lright c

x→c+

Also, if lim f (x) = lim h(x) = Lleft, then

x→c− x→c− y=h(x)
y=g(x) L

lim g(x) = Lleft y=f(x)

x→c− c
 Use The One-Sided Limits.

lim g(x) = L
x→c

⇔ lim g(x) = lim g(x) = L

x→c− x→c+

And other Limits Theorems.

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)], e.t.c.

x→c x→c x→c
 A
An estimate from geometry:
1

t)
os&(&
sin(t)
t

c&
0 < AB < AC < arcAC

1
& &
-
2%
& %
t>0 cos(t) B C
O t<0

or,
√ p
0 < sin(t) < 2 1 − cos(t) < t
 A
An estimate from geometry:
1

t)
os&(&
sin(t)
t

c&
0 < AB < AC < arcAC

1
& &
-
2%
& %
t>0 cos(t) B C
O t<0

or,
√ p
0 < sin(t) < 2 1 − cos(t) < t

By the Right-Sided Squeeze Theorem

lim sin(x) = 0, lim (1 − cos(x)) = 0,

x→0+ x→0+
Similarly,

lim sin(x) = 0, lim (1 − cos(x)) = 0.

x→0− x→0−
 Similarly,

lim sin(x) = 0, lim (1 − cos(x)) = 0.

x→0− x→0−

The left and the right limits are equal, thus

lim sin(x) = 0, lim(1 − cos(x)) = 0

x→0 x→0
 Similarly,

lim sin(x) = 0, lim (1 − cos(x)) = 0.

x→0− x→0−

The left and the right limits are equal, thus

lim sin(x) = 0, lim(1 − cos(x)) = 0

x→0 x→0

or,

lim sin(x) = 0, lim cos(x) = 1.

x→0 x→0
EXAMPLES
 EXAMPLE 1. Evaluate limit

lim θ tan(θ)
θ→π/4

Since θ = π/4 is in the domain of the function

θ tan(θ)
 EXAMPLE 1. Evaluate limit

lim θ tan(θ)
θ→π/4

Since θ = π/4 is in the domain of the function

θ tan(θ) we use Substitution Theorem to substitute
π/4 for θ in the limit expression:
π  π  π π
lim θ tan θ = tan = ·1= .
θ→π/4 4 4 4 4
 EXAMPLE 2. Evaluate limit
cos2(θ)
lim .
θ→π/2 1 − sin(θ)

Since at θ = π/2 the denominator of cos2(θ)/(1 −

sin(θ)) turns to zero, we can not substitute π/2 for
θ immediately.
 EXAMPLE 2. Evaluate limit
cos2(θ)
lim .
θ→π/2 1 − sin(θ)

Since at θ = π/2 the denominator of cos2(θ)/(1 −

sin(θ)) turns to zero, we can not substitute π/2 for
θ immediately. Instead, we rewrite the expression
2
using sin (θ) + cos2(θ) = 1:
2
1 − sin (θ) (1 − sin(θ))(1 + sin(θ))
lim = lim
θ→π/2 1 − sin(θ) θ→π/2 (1 − sin(θ))
Finally,
(1 − sin(θ))(1 + sin(θ))
lim
θ→π/2 (1 − sin(θ))
Finally,
(1 − sin(θ))(1 + sin(θ))
lim
θ→π/2 (1 − sin(θ))
 1 − sin(θ) 
= lim lim (1 + sin(θ))
θ→π/2 1 − sin(θ) θ→π/2
Finally,
(1 − sin(θ))(1 + sin(θ))
lim
θ→π/2 (1 − sin(θ))
 1 − sin(θ) 
= lim lim (1 + sin(θ))
θ→π/2 1 − sin(θ) θ→π/2

= 1 · (1 + sin(π/2)) = 2.
Special Trigonometric Limits
sin(x)/x →? as x → 0
Theorem B1.
sin x
lim = 1.
x→0 x

Theorem B2.
1 − cos x
lim = 0.
x→0 x
 Proof B1. A fact from geometry: (t > 0)
area(OAB)≤area(ODB)≤area(ODC)

cos2(t)t/2 ≤ sin(t) cos(t)/2 ≤ t/2.

dividing by cos(t)t/2 get

sin t 1
cos t ≤ ≤
t cos t
Right-Sided Squeeze Theorem:
sin t
lim =1
t→0+ t
 The same inequality holds for t < 0:
sin t 1
cos t ≤ ≤
t cos t
Left-Sided Squeeze Theorem:
sin t
lim =1
t→0− t
The left and the right limits are equal, thus,
sin t
lim =1
t→0 t
 Proof B2. By multiplying numerator and
denominator with (1 + cos x)
1 − cos x (1 − cos x) (1 + cos x)
lim = lim
x→0 x x→0 x (1 + cos x)
 Proof B2. By multiplying numerator and
denominator with (1 + cos x)
1 − cos x (1 − cos x) (1 + cos x)
lim = lim
x→0 x x→0 x (1 + cos x)
2 2
(1 − cos x) sin x
= lim = lim
x→0 x(1 + cos x) x→0 x(1 + cos x)
 Proof B2. By multiplying numerator and
denominator with (1 + cos x)
1 − cos x (1 − cos x) (1 + cos x)
lim = lim
x→0 x x→0 x (1 + cos x)
2 2
(1 − cos x) sin x
= lim = lim
x→0x(1 + cos x) x→0 x(1 + cos x)
Using B1 write
 
sin x limx→0[sin x]
= lim = 0.
x→0 x limx→0[1 + cos x]
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLE 3. Evaluate limit
tan t
lim
t→0 t
 EXAMPLE 3. Evaluate limit
tan t
lim
t→0 t
Recalling tan t = sin t/ cos t, and using B1:
sin t
= lim
t→0 (cos t)t
 EXAMPLE 3. Evaluate limit
tan t
lim
t→0 t
Recalling tan t = sin t/ cos t, and using B1:
sin t h sin t i 1
= lim = lim lim
t→0 (cos t)t t→0 t t→0 cos t
 EXAMPLE 3. Evaluate limit
tan t
lim
t→0 t
Recalling tan t = sin t/ cos t, and using B1:
sin t h sin t i 1 1
= lim = lim lim =1· =1
t→0 (cos t)t t→0 t t→0 cos t 1
EXAMPLE 4. Evaluate limit (Can’t use B1 !):
sin(3t)
lim
t→0 t
 EXAMPLE 4. Evaluate limit (Can’t use B1 !):
sin(3t)
lim
t→0 t
multiply both numerator and denominator with 3:
sin(3t)
= lim 3
t→0 3t
 EXAMPLE 4. Evaluate limit (Can’t use B1 !):
sin(3t)
lim
t→0 t
multiply both numerator and denominator with 3:
sin(3t)
= lim 3
t→0 3t
Now, t → 0 as 3t → 0, so
 
sin(3t) sin x
= lim 3 = 3. lim =1
3t→0 3t x→0 x

B1 applies (with a substitution x = 3t).

EXAMPLE 5. Evaluate limit
1 − cos t
lim
t→0 sin t
 EXAMPLE 5. Evaluate limit
1 − cos t
lim
t→0 sin t
Divide both numerator and denominator with t:
1 − cos t
= lim t
t→0 sin t
t
 EXAMPLE 5. Evaluate limit
1 − cos t
lim
t→0 sin t
Divide both numerator and denominator with t:
1 − cos t
= lim t
t→0 sin t
t
Use B1 and B2:
0
= = 0.
1