MA103 Lab Notes

Indeterminate Forms and L’Hospital’ s Rule (Text: 4.4)

0 ∞ f (x)
The basic indeterminate forms [IFs] are and , arising from lim . L’Hospital’s Rule states that if a
0 ∞ x→a g (x)
f (x) f ′ (x)
limit expression takes one of these two basic forms, then lim = lim ′ when the right hand side exists.
x→a g (x) x→a g (x)

In some cases, repeated applications of L’Hospital’s Rule may be required and the rule can also be applied to one-sided
limits and limits at infinity.
Other indeterminate forms are listed below. Each may be converted to one of the basic forms by the method(s)
indicated. Then, if necessary, L’Hospital’s Rule may be used.
f (x) g (x)
0·∞ Write the product as a quotient: f (x) · g (x) = = .
1/g (x) 1/f (x)
∞−∞ Factor, rationalize, or find a common denominator as appropriate.
0 ∞ 0 g(x)
∞ , 1 , 0 Express with base e: f (x) = eg(x)·ln f (x) = exp [g (x) · ln f (x)].
A common error is to use derivatives when evaluating limits having an indeterminate form which is not one of the
0 ∞
basic forms. L’Hospital’s Rule can only be applied to I.F.’s and ; but not all limits of these forms can be
0 ∞
evaluated by use of the rule. In some cases, techniques previously discussed may have to be employed.
−1
Example: Evaluate lim x(x−1) .
x→1

−1
lim x(x−1) (IF 1∞ )
x→1
(x−1)−1
= lim eln x
x→1
   
ln x 0
= exp lim IF
x→1 x − 1 0
 
H 1/x
= exp lim
x→1 1

= exp(1) = e

Maximum and Minimum Function Values (Text: 4.1)

Formally: Let f be a function defined on interval I. Then f (c), c ∈ I, is the absolute maximum value of f if
f (c) ≥ f (x) for all x ∈ I, and f (d), d ∈ I, is the absolute minimum value of f if f (d) ≤ f (x) for all x ∈ I.
The value f (c) is said to be a relative [or local ] maximum value of f if there is an open interval I1 ⊆ I with
c ∈ I1 and f (c) ≥ f (x) for all x ∈ I1 . We define a relative [local] minimum value of f similarly.

Graphically: Here is an example function defined on R :

Because lim f (x) = ∞, the function does not have an absolute maximum value. The function does have an
x→∞
absolute minimum value of ≃ −10 occurring at x ≃ 3.8 since this is the smallest value the function attains on
its domain. The function also has a relative maximum value of ≃ 2.5 at x ≃ 0.7 and relative minimum value of
≃ −10 at x ≃ 3.8 as these values are greater than and, respectively, less than the surrounding values on some small
interval about the respective point. A local extreme point may be viewed as the “top of a hill” or the “bottom of a
valley” within the big picture.

1
Fermat’ s Theorem tells us that if f has a local extremum at c, then c is a critical number [value, point] of f .
A critical number is defined to be a point c ∈ Domf such that either f ′ (c) does not exist, or f ′ (c) = 0. Note
that the converse of Fermat’s Theorem is not necessarily true – c may be a critical number without being the
location of an extremum.
Depending on the interval on which the function is defined, f may or may not attain absolute extrema. The
Extreme Value Theorem gives us a particular case in which we are guaranteed that the function will have both an
absolute maximum and an absolute minimum value.
Finding Absolute Max./Min (Closed Interval Method):
If f is continuous on [a, b] : i) Find all critical values of f in (a, b).
ii) Evaluate f at all critical values in step 1 and evaluate f (a) and f (b).
iii) The largest value in ii) is the absolute maximum of f
and the smallest is the absolute minimum of f.
x3 x2
Ex. Suppose f (x) = + − 6x + 5 for x ∈ [0, 6]. Find the absolute max. and absolute min. values of f .
3 2
Critical Values of f on [0, 6] :
f ′ (x) = 0 ⇒ x2 + x − 6 = 0 ⇒ (x + 3)(x − 2) = 0 ⇒ x = 2 as x = −3 ∈
/ [0, 6]

7
f (0) = 5 f (2) = − f (6) = 59
3
 
7
∴ f has an absolute maximum at (6, 59) and an absolute minimum at 2, − .
3

Existence Theorems

Earlier in the term, we worked with our first existence theorem, the Intermediate Value Theorem. Recall that the
theorem gives us, as long as required conditions are met, a guarantee of the existence of at least one point within
a given interval having stated properties. We now have a look at some additional existence theorems [the IVT has
been restated as we might be making use of it again this week].
Extreme Value Theorem (EVT; Text: 4.1): If f is a continuous function defined on a closed interval [a, b],
then f will attain an absolute maximum value and an absolute minimum value on [a, b].
Intermediate Value Theorem (IVT; Text: 2.5): Suppose f is continuous on [a, b]. If f (a) < N < f (b),
or f (b) < N < f (a), then there exists c ∈ (a, b) such that f (c) = N .
Mean Value Theorem (MVT; Text: 4.2): If a function f is (i) continuous on [a, b] and (ii) differentiable
f (b) − f (a)
on (a, b), then there exists c ∈ (a, b) such that f ′ (c) = .
b−a
Often we are interested in the roots of a derivative. This involves Rolle’s Theorem, which is a special case of the
MVT: If a function is (i) continuous on [a, b], (ii) differentiable on (a, b), and if (iii) f (a) = f (b), then there exists
c ∈ (a, b) such that f ′ (c) = 0.

Monotonicity and the First Derivative Test

A function f is increasing on interval I if f (a) < f (b) for all a < b ∈ I. Graphically, if f is differentiable, this
means that the slope of the tangent to the curve at x is positive [ i.e., f ′ (x) > 0 ] for all x ∈ I. Similarly, f is
decreasing on I if f (a) > f (b) for all a < b ∈ I; that is, the slope of the tangent to the curve at x is negative
[ f ′ (x) < 0 ] for all x ∈ I.
Recall that c ∈ Domf is a critical number of f if either f ′ (c) = 0 or f ′ (c) does not exist.
First Derivative Test
For the continuous function f defined on [a, b] with a < c < b, where c is a critical number of f , if:
(i) f ′ is positive on (a, c) and negative on (c, b), then a local maximum occurs at x = c;
(ii) f ′ is negative on (a, c) and positive on (c, b), then a local minimum occurs at x = c;
(iii) f ′ does not change sign at c, then no local extremum occurs at x = c.

2
Concavity and the Second Derivative Test

Concavity is a term which describes a general characteristic of the shape of a curve on an interval I. If, on the
entire interval I, the curve looks like part of a smile [ whether it be a full Cheshire grin or just a smirk ], the graph
of the function is said to be concave up on I. If, on the entire interval, the curve looks like part of a frown, then
the graph of the function is concave down on I.
More technically, the graph of f is concave up on the interval I if the curve lies above its tangent lines on I [i.e.,
f ′′ (x) > 0 for all x ∈ I]. Similarly, the graph of f is concave down on interval I if the curve lies below its
tangent lines on I [i.e., f ′′ (x) < 0 for all x ∈ I].
If, at point (a, f (a)) where f is continuous, a curve changes concavity, then (a, f (a)) is called a point of
inf lection.
The Second Derivative Test may be used to determine the nature of extrema in the following manner. Suppose f ′′
is continuous on an open interval containing c [a critical number of f ]. Then:
(i) if f ′ (c) = 0 and f ′′ (c) > 0, then f has a local minimum at x = c;
(ii) if f ′ (c) = 0 and f ′′ (c) < 0, then f has a local maximum at x = c.
If both f ′ (c) = 0 and f ′′ (c) = 0 or if f ′′ (c) does not exist, then the second derivative test makes no conclusion
and an alternative method [such as the first derivative test] must be used to determine the nature of f at c.
Lab Preparation
1. Complete recommended homework found on course outline.
2. Complete WeBWorK homework assignment (link found on MyLearningSpace).

3. Review the Maple Worksheet.