7 Indeterminate Forms

INTRODUCTION
Lt f ( x )
f (x)
We know that if Lt f (x), Lt g(x) both exist and Lt g(x) ≠ 0, then Lt = x→c . The
x→c x→c x→c x→c g( x ) Lt g( x )
x→c

question arises, what happens if Lt g(x) = 0. It is easy to see that if Lt g(x) = 0, then the
x→c x→c

f (x)
necessary condition for Lt to exist (finitely) is that Lt f (x) = 0.
x→c g( x ) x→c

f (x)
In fact, if Lt exists, say l, then
x→c g( x )
f (x) f (x)
Lt f (x) = Lt . g(x) = Lt · Lt g(x) = l. 0 = 0.
x→c x→c g( x ) x → c g( x ) x → c

f (x) 0
If Lt f (x) = 0 = Lt g(x), then is said to assume indeterminate form as x → c.
x→c x→c g( x ) 0
∞
We also have some other indeterminate forms such as , ∞ – ∞, 0.∞, 0°, ∞° and 1∞
∞
etc.

0
7.1 INDETERMINATE FORM
0
L’ Höpital’s rule
If f (x), g(x) are differentiable and g′(x) ≠ 0 for all x in (c – δ, c + δ ) except possibly at x = c,
f ′ (x) f (x) f ′ (x)
Lt f (x) = 0 = Lt g(x) and Lt exists (finitely or infinitely), then Lt = Lt .
x→c x→c x→c g ′(x) x→c g(x) x → c g ′(x)
(We accept it without proof.)
Remark. L’ Höpital’s rule remains valid when Lt is replaced by one sided limits
x→c
Lt or Lt .
x→c − x→c +

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES
Example 1. Evaluate the following limits :
x 4 − 256 cos x 1 − tan x
(i) Lt (ii) Lt (iii) Lt . (I.S.C. 2009)
x→ 4 x 2 − 16 π π π cos 2x
x→ −x x→
2 2 4
INDETERMINATE FORMS A-317

Solution. (i) Lt
x→ 4
x 4 − 256
x 2 − 16
( 00 form, use L’Höpital’s rule )
4x 3 − 0
= Lt = Lt 2x2 = 2.42 = 32.
x→ 4 2x − 0 x→ 4

(ii) Lt
x→
π
cos x
π
−x
( 00 form, use L’Höpital’s rule )
2 2
− sin x π
= Lt = Lt sin x = sin = 1.
x→
π −1 x→
π 2
2 2

(iii) Lt
x→
π
1 − tan x
cos 2 x ( 00 form, use L’Höpital’s rule )
4

0 − sec 2 x sec 2 x
= Lt = Lt
x→
π − sin 2 x . 2 x → 2 sin 2 x
π
4 4
π
sec 2 2
= 4 = ( 2 ) = 2 = 1.
π 2 .1 2
2 sin
2
Example 2. Evaluate the following limits :
1 3
sin x – x + x x e x – log (1 + x)
(i) Lt 6 (I.S.C. 2001) (ii) Lt .
x→0 x3 x→0 x2
1 3
sin x – x + x
Solution. (i) Lt
x→0 x3
6
( 00 form, use L’Höpital’s rule )
1 2
cos x – 1 + x
=
x→0
Lt
3x 2
2
( 00 form )
= Lt
x→0
– sin x + x
6x ( 00 form )
– cos x + 1 – 1 + 1
= Lt = = 0.
x→0 6 6

(ii) Lt
x→0
x e x – log (1 + x )
x2 ( 00 form, use L’Höpital’s rule )
1
x . ex + ex . 1 −
= Lt 1+ x
x→0 2x
1
( x + 1) e x −
= Lt
x→0 2x
1+ x
( 00 form, use L’Höpital’s rule )
1 1
( x + 1) . e x + e x . 1 + (0 + 1) . 1 + 1 +
(1 + x ) 2 1 = 3.
= Lt =
x→0 2 2 2

Example 3. Evaluate the following limits :

1 + log x − x e x + e − x + 2 cos x − 4
(i) Lt (ii) Lt .
x→ 1 1 − 2x + x 2 x→0 x4

Solution. (i) Lt
x →1
1 + log x − x
1 − 2x + x2
( 00 form, use L’Höpital’s rule )
1
0+ −1
x 1− x 1 1
= Lt = Lt = Lt =− .
x →1 0 − 2 + 2 x x → 1 − 2 x (1 − x ) x →1 – 2 x 2
A-318 UNDERSTANDING ISC MATHEMATICS - XII

(ii) Lt
x→0
e x + e − x + 2 cos x − 4
x4
( 00 form, use L’Höpital’s rule )
= Lt
x→0
e x − e – x − 2 sin x
4x3 ( 00 form )
= Lt
x→0
e x + e – x − 2 cos x
12 x 2 ( 00 form )
= Lt
x→0
e x − e – x + 2 sin x
24 x
( 00 form )
e x + e – x + 2 cos x 1+1+ 2 1
= Lt = = .
x→0 24 24 6
Example 4. Evaluate the following limits :
sin x log (1 + x 3 )
(i) Lt (ii) Lt .
x→ π + x−π x→0 sin 3 x

Solution. (i) Lt
x→π +
sin x
x−π
( 00 form, use L’Höpital’s rule )
cos x
= Lt = Lt 2 x − π cos x = 0.
x→π + 1 x→π +
( x − π) −1 2 ⋅ 1
2
It may be noted that x − π is not defined on the left of π so that the left limit does not
exist.
log(1 + x 3 ) log(1 + x 3 ) ⎛ x ⎞ 3
(ii) Lt = Lt ⋅
x→0 sin 3 x x→0 x3 ⎝ sin x ⎠
log(1 + x 3 ) ⎛Q Lt x
= 1⎞
= Lt 3
. 13 ⎝ x → 0 sin x ⎠
x→0 x
= Lt
x→0
log(1 + x 3 )
x3
0
0 (
form, use L’Höpital’s rule )
1
⋅ 3x 2
1 + x3 1 1
= Lt = Lt = = 1.
x→0 3x 2 x→0 1 + x 3 1+ 0
Example 5. Evaluate the following limits :
x − tan −1 x 1 + sin x − cos x + log (1 − x)
(i) Lt (I.S.C. 2011) (ii) Lt .
x→0 x − sin x x→0 x tan 2 x

Solution. (i) Lt
x→0
x − tan −1 x
x − sin x
0
0 (
form, use L’Höpital’s rule )
1
1−
= Lt 1 + x2
x → 0 1 − cos x
( 00 form )
0 − ( −1) (1 + x 2 ) –2 . 2 x 2x
= Lt = Lt
x→0 sin x x → 0 (1 + x 2 ) 2 sin x

⋅⎛
2 x ⎞ 2
= Lt = .1 = 2.
x → 0 (1 + x 2 ) 2 ⎝ sin x ⎠ (1 + 0) 2
1 + sin x − cos x + log (1 − x ) 1 + sin x − cos x + log (1 − x ) ⎛ x ⎞ 2
(ii) Lt = Lt ⋅
x→0 x tan 2 x x→0 x3 ⎝ tan x ⎠
1 + sin x − cos x + log (1 − x ) 2 ⎛ x ⎞
= Lt .1 ⎜Q Lt = 1⎟
x→0 x3 ⎝ x→0 tan x ⎠

= Lt
x→0
1 + sin x − cos x + log (1 − x )
x3 (0
0
form )
1
cos x + sin x + ( − 1)
= Lt
x→0 3x2
1 − x
( 00 form )
1
− sin x + cos x −
= Lt
x→0 6x
(1 − x ) 2
2
( 00 form )
− cos x − sin x −
(1 − x ) 3 −1− 0 − 2 1
= Lt = = − .
x→0 6 6 2
INDETERMINATE FORMS A-319

Example 6. What is the fallacy in the following use of L’ Höpital’s rule ?

x 3 + 3x − 4 3x 2 + 3 6x 3
Lt = Lt = Lt =
x→1 2x 2 + x − 3 x → 1 4x + 1 x→1 4 2

3x 2 + 3 0
Solution. The function is not of the form as x → 1, therefore, L’Höpital’s rule
4x + 1 0
3x 2 + 3
is not applicable to evaluate Lt .
x →1 4x + 1
In fact, we have
3x 2 + 3 3.12 + 3 6 x 3 + 3x − 4 6
Lt = = and hence Lt = .
x →1 4x + 1 4.1 + 1 5 x →1 2x 2 + x − 3 5

EXERCISE 7.1
Evaluate the following (1 to 13) limits :
x 4 − 81 (1 + x )n − 1
1. (i) Lt (ii) Lt .
x→3 x − 3 x→0 x
sin ax ex − e2
2. (i) Lt (ii) Lt .
x →0 sin bx x→2 x−2
x ex ex − 1
3. (i) Lt (ii) Lt .
x→0 1 − e x x→0 tan 2 x
e x − (1 + x ) x 2 − x log x + log x − 1
4. (i) Lt (ii) Lt .
x→0 x2 x →1 x−1
cos x − 1 8 −2
x x
5. (i) Lt (ii) Lt .
x → 0 cos 2 x − 1 x→0 4x
x − tan x −
2 tan x − x
1
6. (i) Lt (ii) Lt .
x → 0 x − sin x x→0 2 x − sin −1 x
log sec 2 x cos 2 x − cos x
7. (i) Lt (ii) Lt .
x →0 log sec x x→0 sin 2 x
x − sin x e x − e − x − 2 log(1 + x )
8. (i) Lt (ii) Lt .
x→0 x3 x→0 x sin x
e x + e − x + 2 cos x − 4 x + 2 cos x − 2
2
9. (i) Lt (ii) Lt .
x→0 x3 x→0 x sin 3 x
log(1 − x ) − 1
(tan x ) 2
10. (i) Lt (ii) Lt .
x→0 π x→0 log (1 + x 2 )
tan x
2
e x − e – x − 2x e x − e sin x
11. (i) Lt (I.S.C. 2013) (ii) Lt .
x→0 x − sin x x → 0 x − sin x
log (1 − x 2 ) e x sin x − x − x 2
12. (i) Lt (ii) Lt .
x→0 log cos x x→0 x3
3x − 2x (1 + x )n − nx − 1
13. (i) Lt (ii) Lt , n > 1.
x→0+ x x→0 x2
14. What is the fallacy in the following use of L’Höpital’s rule ?
x3 − x2 − x − 2 3x 2 − 2x − 1 6x − 2 6
Lt = Lt = Lt = Lt =1
x→2 x 3 − 3x 2 + 3x − 2 x → 2 3x 2 − 6x + 3 x → 2 6x − 6 x → 2 6

7.2 INDETERMINATE FORM ∞

∞
L’ Höpital’s rule
If f (x), g(x) are differentiable and g’(x) ≠ 0 for all x in (c – δ, c + δ ) except possibly at x = c,
f ′( x ) f (x) f ′( x )
Lt f (x) → ∞, Lt g(x) → ∞ and Lt exists (finitely or infinitely), then Lt = Lt .
x→c x→c x→c g ′( x ) x → c g( x ) x → c g ′( x )

(We accept it without proof.)

Analogously, we have L’Höpital’s rule when x → – ∞.
A-320 UNDERSTANDING ISC MATHEMATICS - XII

7.2.1 Indeterminate forms ∞ – ∞ and 0. ∞

0
These may be handled by first transforming to one of the forms or ∞
∞ . See examples 3 and
0
4 (below).

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES
Example 1. Evaluate the following limits :
tan x e x + 3x 3
(i) Lt (ii) Lt .
x→
π tan 3x x →∞ 4e x + 2x 2
2

tan x
Solution. (i) Lt
π tan 3 x
( ∞∞ form, use L’Höpital’s rule)
x→
2
sec 2 x cos 2 3 x ( 4 cos 3 x − 3 cos x ) 2
= Lt 2
= Lt 2
= Lt
x→
π sec 3 x . 3 x → π 3 cos x x → π 3 cos 2 x
2 2 2
( 4 cos 2 x − 3) 2 ( 4.0 − 3) 2 9
= Lt = Lt = = 3.
π 3 π 3 3
x→ x→
2 2
e x + 3x 3
(ii) Lt
x →∞ 4e x + 2x 2
( ∞∞ form)
e x + 9x 2
= Lt
x →∞ 4e x + 4x
( ∞∞ form)
e x + 18 x
= Lt
x →∞ 4e x + 4
( ∞∞ form)
e x + 18
= Lt
x →∞ 4e x
( ∞∞ form)
ex 1
= Lt = .
x →∞ 4e x 4

Example 2. Evaluate the following limits :

log (x − c)
(i) Lt (ii) Lt log sin 2x sin x .
x→c + log (e x − e c ) x→0+

log ( x − c)
Solution. (i) Lt
x→c + log ( e x − e c )
( ∞∞ form)
1
ex − ec
= Lt +
x→c 1
x −c = Lt
x → c + ( x − c) e x
( 00 form)
⋅ ex
e −e
x c
ex 1 1
= Lt + x = Lt = = 1.
x → c e .1 + ( x − c ) e x x→c + 1 + x − c 1

(ii) Lt
x→0+
log sin 2 x sin x = Lt
log sin x
x → 0 + log sin 2 x
( ∞∞ form)
1
⋅ cos x
sin x cos x 2 sin x cos x
= Lt + = Lt ⋅
x→0 1 x → 0 + sin x 2 cos 2 x
⋅ cos 2 x ⋅ 2
sin 2 x
cos 2 x 1
= Lt + = = 1.
x → 0 cos 2 x 1
Example 3. Evaluate the following limits :
⎛ x 1 ⎞
(ii) Lt ⎛⎝ cosec x – ⎞⎠
1
(i) Lt ⎜ − ⎟
x → 1 ⎝ x − 1 log x ⎠ x→0 x
⎛ 1 cot x ⎞ ⎛ π ⎞
(iii) Lt ⎜ − ⎟ (iv) Lt ⎜ x tan x − sec x ⎟ . (I.S.C. 2010)
⎝
x→0 x2 x ⎠ x→
π ⎝ 2 ⎠
2
INDETERMINATE FORMS A-329

7. Evaluate the following limits :

πx 1
tan
(i) Lt ( 2 − x ) 2 (ii) Lt x x − 1 .
x →1 x →1

Hint. (ii) Let x = 1 + t, so that when x → 1, t → 0.

1 1
x –1 t
∴ Lt x = Lt (1 + t ) .
x →1 t→0

ANSWERS

EXERCISE 7.1
a 1
1. (i) 108 (ii) n. 2. (i) (ii) e2. 3. (i) – 1 (ii) .
b 2
1 1 1
4. (i) (ii) 2. 5. (i) (ii) log 2. 6. (i) – 2 (ii) 1.
2 4 2
3 1 1
7. (i) 4 (ii) – . 8. (i) (ii) 1. 9. (i) 0 (ii) .
2 6 12
2 1
10. (i) – (ii) 1. 11. (i) 2 (ii) 1. 12. (i) 2 (ii) .
π 3
n(n − 1) 3x 2 − 2x − 1 0
13. (i) 0 (ii) . 14. is not of the form as x → 2.
2 3x 2 − 6x + 3 0

EXERCISE 7.2
1. (i) 0 (ii) – ∞. 2. (i) 0 (ii) 0. 3. (i) 0 (ii) 1.
1
4. (i) 0 (ii) 5. 5. (i) 0 (ii) 2. 6. (i) − (ii) 0.
π
1 1 1 1 1 π
7. (i) (ii) . 8. (i) (ii) . 9. (i) (ii) .
2 2 2 2 2 4
2
10. (i) 0 (ii) – . 11. (i) 0 (ii) 0. 12. (i) 0 (ii) 0.
3
2 2 2c
13. (i) 0 (ii) 0. 14. (i) (ii) . 15. (i) 1 (ii) .
π π π

EXERCISE 7.3
1
1. (i) 1 (ii) e. 2. (i) 1 (ii) 1. 3. (i) (ii) 1.
e
1
4. (i) 1 (ii) 1. 5. (i) 1 (ii) . 6. (i) e (ii) e5.
e

EXERCISE 7.4
1 1
1. (i) 2 (ii) 1. 2. – 2; – 1. 3. a = ,b=– .
2 2
2
4. a = 1, b = 2, c = 1. 5. (i) 0 (ii) a. 6. (i) 1 (ii) – .
π
7. (i) e1/3 (ii) e10. 8. e–1.

CHAPTER TEST
2 1 2 1 1
1. (i) (ii) – . 2. (i) – (ii) – 2. 3. (i) – (ii) – .
π 2 3 4 3
1 1 1 1
4. (i) 0 (ii) . 5. (i) – (ii) – . 6. (i) (ii) 0.
3 3 6 3
7. (i) e2/π (ii) e.