Calculus Volume 1 · free preview

L'Hôpital's Rule

Indeterminate forms 0/0 and infinity/infinity yield to L'Hôpital's rule, which replaces the quotient with the ratio of derivatives, resolving limits that resist algebra and ranking the growth hierarchy of functions.

1. The rule and its justification

The rule and its justification

2. Standard applications

Standard applications

3. The growth hierarchy proved

The growth hierarchy proved

4. Other indeterminate forms

Other indeterminate forms

5. What L'Hôpital differentiates

L'Hôpital's rule evaluates lim f/g for 0/0 by taking which expression?

6. One application

What is lim x to 0 of (e^x - 1)/x, a 0/0 form, after one application of L'Hôpital's rule?

7. Repeated application

lim x to 0 of (1 - cos x)/x^2 requires two applications of L'Hôpital's rule. What is the final value?

8. Product form reduction

The limit lim x to 0 from the right of x ln x is the indeterminate product 0 times infinity. Which rewriting puts it into a L'Hôpital form?

9. Exponential dominance

What does L'Hôpital's rule show about lim x to infinity of e^x over x^n for positive n?

10. When the rule does not apply

For which of these limits is L'Hopital's rule NOT applicable, even though it may look tempting?

11. Single application limit

lim x to 0 of sin(3x)/x is 0/0. After one application of L'Hôpital's rule the limit becomes lim of 3 cos(3x) over 1. What number is this limit? Answer with a number.

12. Log over power

lim x to infinity of (ln x)/x^2 is infinity/infinity. After one application the numerator becomes 1/x. What does the denominator become? Answer like 2x.

13. Number of applications for x cubed

To evaluate lim x to infinity of e^x/x^3 by L'Hôpital's rule, the denominator must be differentiated until constant. How many applications are needed? Answer with a number.

14. Value of x to the x at zero

lim x to 0 from the right of x ln x equals 0, so lim x to 0 from the right of x^x equals e to what power? Answer with a number.

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