1.

7 Limits Involving Trigonometric

Functions
(MAT051 - Calculus 1)

NESTOR G. ACALA, PhD

Mathematics Department
Mindanao State University Main Campus
Marawi City
[email protected]
Limit Theorems Involving the Sine and Cosine Functions

In this section, we will examine limits that involve trigonometric functions. As

the examples in this section will illustrate, computation of trigonometric limits

entails both algebraic manipulations and knowledge of some basic trigonometric

identities.
The following theorems are some simple limit results that are consequences of

continuity.

Theorem.(Limit Theorems) For a real number a in the domain of the

given trigonometric function, we have the following:

lim sin x = sin a; lim csc x = csc a

x→a x→a
lim cos x = cos a; lim sec x = sec a
x→a x→a
lim tan x = tan a; lim cot x = cot a
x→a x→a
 Example. Evaluate lim cos2 x .
x→0

Solution:
 2
2
lim cos x = lim cos x = 12 = 1.
x→0 x→0

Example. lim (1 − sin x).

x→0

Solution:

lim (1 − sin x) = lim 1 − lim sin x = 1 − 0 = 1.

x→0 x→0 x→0
 Example. Evaluate lim x 2 cos(πx).
x→1

Solution:

lim x 2 cos(πx) = lim x 2 · lim cos(πx)

x→1 x→1 x→1
 2
= lim x · lim cos(πx)
x→1 x→1
2
= 1 cos π
= cos π.
 x
Example. Evaluate lim .
x→0 cos x

Solution:

x lim x
x→0
lim =
x→0 cos x lim cos x
x→0
0
=
1
 x
Example. Evaluate lim .
x→0 cos x

Solution:

x lim x
x→0
lim =
x→0 cos x lim cos x
x→0
0
=
1
= .
0
 Theorem.(Special Limits Involving Sine and Cosine Functions)
Let x be an angle measured in radians. Then

sin x 1 − cos x
lim =1 and lim = 0.
x→0 x x→0 x

Note: All thoughout the succeeding discussions, any expression appearing as

angle of a trigonometric function are assumed to be in radians, unless stated

otherwise.
 sin 2x
Example. Evaluate lim .
x→0 3x

0
Solution: Note that direct substitution yields . Also, as x → 0, 2x → 0.
0
2
Moreover, multiplying both numerator and denominator by , we get
3

2
sin 2x sin 2x
lim = lim 32
x→0 3x x→0
3 (3x)
2
3 sin 2x
= lim
x→0 2x
 sin 2x
Example. Evaluate lim .
x→0 3x

0
Solution: Note that direct substitution yields . Also, as x → 0, 2x → 0.
0
2
Moreover, multiplying both numerator and denominator by , we get
3

2
sin 2x sin 2x
lim = lim 32
x→0 3x x→0
3 (3x)
2    
3 sin 2x 2 sin 2x 2 sin 2x 2 2
= lim = lim = lim = (1) = .
x→0 2x 3 x→0 2x 3 2x→0 2x 3 3
 sin 5x
Example. Evaluate lim .
x→0 sin 3x

0
Solution: Again, direct substitution yields . Multiplying the given expression by
0
5
5x
we get
3
3x

sin 5x sin 5x
5 5 lim 5
sin 5x sin 5x 5(1)
= 5x→0 5x =
5
5x 5x
lim = lim · 3 = lim = .
x→0 sin 3x x→0 sin 3x x→0 sin 3x sin 3x 3(1) 3
3x 3 lim 3
3x 3x→0 3x
 4x
Example. Evaluate lim .
x→0 sin x

1
0
x
Solution: Direct substitution yields . Now, multiplying the expression by
0
1, we

x
get

x
4 4x 4 4 4
lim = lim · x = lim = = = 4 .
x→0 sin x x→0 sin x 1 x→0 sin x sin x 1
lim
x x x→0 x
 cos x − 1
Example. Evaluate lim .
x→0 x2

0
Solution: Direct substitution yields . Multiplying both numerator and
0
denominator by cos x + 1, we get

cos x − 1 cos x − 1 cos x + 1

lim 2
= lim ·
x→0 x x→0 x2 cos x + 1
2
cos x − 1
= lim 2
x→0 x (cos x + 1)
Using the identity sin2 x + cos2 x = 1, we further have

cos x − 1 − sin2 x
lim = lim
x→0 x2 x→0 x 2 (cos x + 1)
 2 
sin x 1
= − lim ·
x→0 x2 (cos x + 1)
 2 
sin x 1
= − lim ·
x→0 x (cos x + 1)
1
= −(1)2 ·
1 +1
1
= − .
2
Exercise. Evaluate the following limits:

sin 2x + 1
1. lim 1
x→− 2 6x + 3

sin(1 + x)
2. lim
x→−1 x +1
2 cos(1 − 2x) sin(1 − 2x) + (2x − 1) cos(1 − 2x)
3. lim1
x→ 2 x − 21
tan 2x
4. lim
x→0 x
5. lim+ 3x cot 2x
x→0
tan3 2x
6. lim
x→0 x3
 ASSESSMENT TEST

NAME: SIGNATURE:
SECTION: DATE:
SCORE:
Evaluate each limit:
sin 3t + 4t
1. lim .
t→0 t sec t
cot(πx) sin x
2. lim .
x→0 2 sec x