Engineering Mathematics - I

Prof. Jitendra Kumar

Department of Mathematics
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Lecture - 03
Indeterminate Forms Part - 1

Welcome to the lectures on Engineering Mathematics-I. and today’s topic is Indeterminate

Forms.

(Refer Slide Time: 00:26)

So, these are the concepts we will be covering today. So indeterminate forms, L'Hospital's
rules which is very fundamental principle to determine a such forms and some worked out
examples.
(Refer Slide Time: 00:40)

So, before I start to indeterminate forms let me just introduce your recall from the previous
lecture, the generalized mean value theorem or the Cauchy mean value theorem which was
discussed in previous lecture.

So, there we have seen that if there are two functions f and g continuous in closed interval
and differentiable in open interval (a, b) and g ' the derivative of g does not vanish anywhere
inside the interval then there exist a point c in open interval (a, b) such that this quotient here

f ( b )−f (a)
g ( b )−g(a)

is equal to the ratio of the derivatives at that point c. So, this generalized mean value theorem
will be used today to prove sum of the results.
(Refer Slide Time: 01:36)

And what are the indeterminate forms. So, for example, if we consider this

sin ( x−1 )
x−1

this ratio of sin and x minus 1 or we can consider like

2
x −1
.
x−1

So, we want to evaluate these when x=1. So, if we substitute x=1 simply we are getting here
0 and divided by0; similarly here as well we are getting 0/ 0. So, in these cases we cannot just
simply substitute x=1 and get the value of these expressions given here or for example, we
have

1−cos x
x

and we want to see that what will happen to this expression when x=0.

So, if we put x=0 here. So, 1−cos 0 is again 1 so, 0 and divided by 0. So, we have another
0/ 0 form which cannot be evaluated directly by substituting x=0. So, the question is that
when f and g both tend to 0; what happened to the ratio f ( x ) / g( x). These are the situations
which we have considered in these examples in each of them f ( x) and g( x) both tend to 0.
And now we want to see that what will happen to these expressions. And, in today’s lecture
we will see that for example, this form here

(x ¿−1)
sin ¿
x−1

when we take the limit as x goes to 1. Because we cannot simply substitute as x=1 in this
expression, but we can talk about the limit.

So, the

( x¿−1)
lim sin ⁡¿
x →1 x−1

will be coming as 1 whereas, in the second case when

2
x −1
x−1

this 1 can simply get by cancelling this x−1 from the numerator, because this numerator one
can write like x−1 and x+1. So, this x−1 will get cancel with this x−1 and then this limit
will be simply 2. This one

1−cos x
x

one can again evaluate we will see later in the lecture that this limit is 0. So, in these all three
cases we have seen that these forms were 0/ 0 forms, but their limits are different; in the first
case it is 1, here it is 2 and the third one is 0.
(Refer Slide Time: 04:12)

So, what are these indeterminate expressions; we will see now. So, they may appear like in
0/ 0 we have just seen the other possibility is that the numerator and denominator both are ∞.
So, we have the form ∞ / ∞ or the 0 ×∞. There are other indeterminate forms like ∞−∞or in
these exponent form 00, ∞ 0 power infinity. So, all these are the indeterminate form and we
do not know what is the value of for example, ∞ 0 or 1∞ ∞−∞.

So, there was a remark here that these expressions which are different then these which we
are calling indeterminate forms. For example, 0∞ , ∞ ×∞, ∞ +∞, ∞ ∞ or ∞−∞ and note that these
forms are not indeterminate forms and we can directly find the value of these expressions.
For example, this 0∞ : what is the value of 0∞ it is just 0 and ∞ ×∞ will the two very big
numbers when you multiply naturally you will get ∞.

Again here the ∞ +∞again will become ∞ and ∞ ∞ with the same reason this will be also ∞.
And, ∞−∞ we can write rewrite it as 1 over ∞ ∞ and then ∞ ∞ is ∞. So, this will become 1∞
which is 0. So, these forms are not indeterminate forms. So, if we find such expressions
during the calculations we can directly substitute these values. But, we have to be more
careful for such 0/ 0 ∞ ×∞ is 0 ×∞ all these cases. Because, we have to evaluate by some
rules those values and it is not clear that; what is the value of ∞ ×∞ for example.
(Refer Slide Time: 06:29)

So, there is a concept here the L’Hospital’s rule a very fundamental rule for determining such
a indeterminate forms. So, what is this here let us go through the, suppose this f ( x) and g( x)
are two functions and continuous in closed interval [a ,b] and differentiable in open interval
(a , b) and this g prime the derivative of g does not vanish anywhere inside the interval. So,
all these conditions are the conditions of the Cauchy mean value theorem or the generalized
mean value theorem we have just seen today. And, in addition to those conditions if we have
like f ( a )=0 the function is taking value as 0 at a and the second function g is also taking the
value as 0 at this point a. Then we will see in the proof of this L’Hospital’s rule that if you
want to evaluate the limit as x → a, naturally in the setting a from the right hand side the limit
the right limit as x → a f ( x)/ g(x) this ratio which directly we see here which says f (a) is 0.
So, it is like 0/ 0 form.

But if you take this limit and this rule says that this limit, this limiting value is equal to this
limiting value which is the ratio of the derivatives. So, it is a another application of the
derivatives and naturally when this limit the limit of the derivatives exist, otherwise this does
not make sense if the this does not exist. We will come to this point little later and we will see
one example where this limit does not exist, but it does not mean that the limit of f ( x)/ g(x)
does not exist. So, this is the rule here that if such limits exists the limit of the derivatives,
then we this will be equal to the limit of this ratio of the functions.
(Refer Slide Time: 08:31)

So, the proof is pretty simple if we use the L if you use the Cauchy mean value theorem so,
which was summarize today. So, this is the Cauchy mean value theorem when we have two
functions f and g then f ( x )−f (a) and g ( x ) −g(a) will be f ' (ξ)/ g ' (ξ) and the ξ lies
somewhere between a and x. So, we have taken a point here x in the interval, x is naturally
not equal to a and then we have applied this generalized mean value theorem in the interval a
to x ok. So, we know that the value of the function at a; and the value of the function g. So,
for both the functions at a is 0.

So, this here with this expression left hand side will become f ( x)/ g(x). So, what we have
here the f ( x)/ g(x) is equal to f ' (ξ) over g '(ξ) and this ξ belongs to a to x interval. So,
now, you note that if this limit here we take as a x → a and since this is ξ belongs to the open
interval a to x. So, if we x goes to a naturally the ξ will also go to a. So, this is what the next
here. So, if we take the limit here x → a f ( x)/ g(x) and then this will be equal to the limit ξ
goes to a plus because the ξ belongs to the interval a → x.

So, the ξ will go toa+¿. So, from the right side and this derivative here f ' / g ' . And now we
can replace just this ξ by some other name or the most suitable is x in the setting here. So,

lim ¿ this ratio f ( x)/ g(x) is nothing, but the

what we have seen that this x →a+¿ lim ¿. So,
'
¿ x →a+¿ f / g' ¿

this is the proof of this L’Hospital’s rule using the generalized mean value theorem.
(Refer Slide Time: 10:47)

There is a slightly more general form of this L’Hospital’s rule, because if we note here that
we have taken x → a from the right side because we had taken this interval for the functions a
to b. So, this is a more general form this if f and g are two functions differentiable on open
interval I and naturally they are also continuous on the ξ containing this a and this f (a) is 0.
So now, a is somewhere inside the interval not at the boundary. So, if we have f ( a )=0=g(a)
and g' ( x ) ≠ 0 in this interval, if x ≠ a; x=a anything can happen then we do not need such
restrictions on g '. But, other than this x=a the g does not a vanish.

So, in this case also one can easily prove that limit x → a now there is no left or right concept
'
here. So, the limit simply x → a f ( x)/ g is equal to the lim f (x)/ g' ( x) provided the limit on
x →a

the right hand side exist. And, the proof is similar to what we have already done before
because, now we can consider two intervals here in this I. So, a → x when x and taking x> a
and we can also consider another interval x → a when x< a.

So, in these two intervals we will apply the previous result which will establish there that

x → a+¿ in this case is equal to lim ¿. And, then when we apply that result to this interval
x →a+¿ ❑¿

and we will get that x → a from the negative sides of both the limits from the right side. And

from the left side we will get the same result which will conclude that the lim
x →a
f (x)/ g( x) is

equal to the lim

x →a
f ' ( x)/g ' ( x).
(Refer Slide Time: 13:02)

So, another important remark so, this L’Hospital’s rule also hold for the case when the
functions f and g are not defined at x → a. So, what we have taken in the previous two results
that f (a) is 0 and g(a) is 0. So, those at that point the function values was 0, but the same
rule one can apply if for sample function these two functions are not defined exactly at a, but

their limits are 0. So, the limit x → a is 0 and lim

x →a
g( x)=0. So, in this case also we can apply

the same result what we have established earlier another remark.

So, if we realize that the first derivatives are also 0 at a and the derivatives f ' and g ' they
satisfy the conditions that were imposed earlier on functions f and g mainly the continuity
differentiability then applying the L’Hospital’s rule to this ratio. So, we can do we can apply
the L’Hospital’s rule again to this f ' over g ' because the similar situations happening now for
f ' and g '.

Because they both are 0 and then the rule says that this limit here f ' g ' will be equal to the
double derivatives, the ratio of the double derivatives of f and g as x → a. So, the this is
again more generalized form that this limitf / g can be evaluated by the limit of the ratio of f '
g ', but if these two f ' and g ' become 0 as x → a or x=a then we can again apply the
L’Hospital’s rule.

So, the same limit will be equal to the limit of f the second derivative divided by g, the
second derivative as x → aor we can continue this further if for example, the f ' sorry f ' '
here. So, the double derivative of f also vanish at x is equal to a and this double derivative of
g also vanishes at x is equal to a. So, we can further apply this L’Hospital’s rule together
limit of this f double derivative divided by g double derivative.

(Refer Slide Time: 15:32)

So, L’Hospital’s rule is also applicable. So, another generalization here that not necessarily
that x → awe have just discuss that x → a was some finite number, but one can also apply this
result when limitx →+∞ or x →−∞. So, this is a very general rule which we are not proving
here for example, this infinity case, but one can apply the L’Hospital’s rule their too.

So, now the extension of this L’Hospital’s rule to the infinity by infinity form. So, suppose
this f ( x ) → ∞ and g ( x ) → ∞ as x → a or x → ± ∞ similar to the earlier case. But, the now the
differences that we have instead of f ( x ) → 0 g ( x ) → 0 they both are tending to ∞. And, in this
case also we have the same rule that this limit of the ratio of these two functions will be the
limit of the ratio of their derivatives; when this f ( x) and g( x) goes to 0 provided this right
that the limit at the right hand side here this exists.

So, limit f ' / g ' exist. So, what is the general rule now if we include those all results what we
have discussed so far, that they are two they are could be two forms. So, either 0/ 0 form or
∞ / ∞ form. In either case whether x → a or x → ± ∞ the limit of the ratio of the two functions
will be equal to the limit of the ratios of their derivatives.
(Refer Slide Time: 17:20)

So, this is another important remark which I have mentioned before. So, if this limit here
does not exist, if the limit of the derivatives does not exist; it does not mean that the limit of
f / g does not exist which we can see by the simple example. So, if we consider this

x+1
lim ⁡
x →∞ x

So, in this case what is happening if we just see what is the form here; so, x goes to ∞ plus
here something finite. So, the numerator is ∞ and divided by again x goes to ∞. So, we have
the ∞ / ∞form and in this case if we simply apply the L’Hospital’s rule what will happen.

So, here if you take the derivative of the numerator it is a 1+sin x will become cos x and the
limit of the derivative of thisx is 1 and the limit x → ∞. So, here the limit x → ∞ 1+ cos x
since this cos x when x → ∞ is not defined. So, basically this limit here 1+ cos x and as x → ∞
is not defined. So, this limit does not exist, but if we evaluate this in some other ways like

sin x
x → ∞ x+sin x and we rewrite this as1+ . So, we divide this x here to x and then sin x
x

x sin x sin x
and separate it. So, we have + meaning this 1+ and now we can directly evaluate
x x x

sin x
now this limit; so, 1+ .
x
So, when x → ∞. So, if this x → ∞ here and this sin x something finite is sitting there. So,

sin x
something finite and divided by ∞ this will go to 0. So, the second part here as x → ∞
x
will go to 0. So, we have 1+ 0 means this limit is 1. So, if we would have concluded here by
applying the L’Hospital’s rule, because this limit does not exist. And, we could have claimed
that the

x+sin x
lim
x →∞ x

does not exist, but that would have been a wrong conclusions. So, that is what in the rule
every time we have written provided the limit of the ratio of the derivatives exist. So, that is
very important.

(Refer Slide Time: 20:04)

Now, one example here so, let this α , β ∈ R . So, they are the real number and we have this

α tan x + β sin x
f ( x )=
{ x3
1 , x=0
,x≠0

So, in this case we want to find for what values of α and β the functions f is continuous. So,

−π π
the function f is continuous in the interval ( )
, . So, now for the continuity what do we
2 2
 α tan x+ β sin x
need? So, for the continuity of this function this limit of this should be 1,
x3
because at x ≠ 0 the function is defined as 1. So, rest everywhere the function is continuous
the 1 the problem is at x=0.

So, here for x ≠ 0 we have this nice function defined over −π ¿ π the tan. So, it is a
continuous sin is continuous x3 is continuous. So, the function is continuous, the only
problem it could create at x=0. So, we are now setting here that if limit this

α tan x+ β sin x
x→ =1 then this function will become continuous. So, out of this condition
x3
we will compute α and β. So, for what values of α and β this expression here or this limit

α tan x+ β sin x
here is equal to 1. So, now let us compute this limit here . So, when we take
x3
x → 0 the tan 0 is 0 sin 0 is 0 and x 3 is also 0 .

So, we have basically the 0/ 0 form. So, let us apply the L’Hospital’s rule to this expression.
So, if we apply L’Hospital’s rule α and tan x will become sec2 x+ β sin x will become cos x
and divided by 3 x2. So, the x2 x 3 when we take the derivative will become 3 x2 and we take
the limit here x → 0. So now, if you realize what is happening to this function now here. So,
we have the α and then x → 0 this sec x which is 1. So, here you have α + β cos 0 is also 1. So,
we have here α + β divided by 3 x2 and then x → 0. So, here we are getting this 3 x2 is going to
0.

So, we have α + β divided by something which is going to 0. Now, the only possibility to
move further or to have this limit as 1 will be when α + β is equal to 0. Because then we will
get 0/ 0 form and we can further apply the L’Hospital’s rule. But in this case so, what we can

2
α sec x+ β cos x
set to move further that this 2 to have this limit as 1, we can set that α + β is
3x
equal to 0 because when x → 0 then we can move further and apply the L’Hospital’s rule
again. So, applying this L’Hospital’s rule again so, we got already one condition on α + β
which is equal to 0 and now if we apply. So, again so here the derivative of α sin 2 so 2 α sin x.
So, 2 α sorry sec x and the derivative of sec x will be sec x tan x−β because cos x will give
you −sin x.
So, it is a −β sin x and divided by 6 x and now if we check what form we are getting now
here. So, this tan x will make this0 here sin xwill make the 0. So, we are getting 0 in the
numerator and divided by 6 x which is again 0. So, we are getting 0/ 0 form. So, we can apply
the L’Hospital’s rule once again to this expression. So, here limit x → 0. So, here we have this
sec x and tan x . So, the sec x will give 2 sec x sec x tan x . So, then it becomes 4 x 4 alpha and
2 2

sec x sec x tan x and the tan x remain as it is plus this 2 α sec 2 x and then tan x will become
again the derivative sec2 x−β sin x will become cos x and divided by the 6 here because this
was 6 x and derivative is 6.

So, now if we check again what is the value here? So, this sec x 1 tan x will be 0. So, this
expression will become 0 and then here when x → 0 this is like 2 α and then −β. So, this in

2α −β
the numerator we are getting 2 α−β and divided by 6 and the limit x → 0. So, . So, to
6
have this value as 1 we need to set that 2 α−β=6. So, another condition we got that
2 α−β=6. So, if you solve these two equations α + β=0 and 2 α−β=6. So, we will get that
α =2 and β=−2.

So, for these values of α and β this function will become continuous or in other way this limit
here

α tan x+ βsin x
x3

will become as1. The function was defined as 1 at x=0.

(Refer Slide Time: 26:38)

So, these are the references which we have used to prepare these lectures. So, the integral a
Differential and Integral calculus by Piskunov and this is Volume 1; the Kreyszig Advanced
Engineering Mathematics and also the Thomas’ Calculus.

(Refer Slide Time: 26:55)

So, what did we learn today these indeterminate forms, they may take these several forms
like 0/ 0, ∞ / ∞, 0 ×∞, ∞−∞, 00, ∞ 0 1∞. So, what we have learn today how to compute such
limits when we have the 0/ 0 or ∞ / ∞ form. And, the L’Hospital’s rule which was useful to
compute this limit was that whether we have the 0/ 0 or ∞ / ∞form here for the ratio f / g(x).
We can apply this rule which says that this limit will be equal to the limit of the ratios and if
again this f ' and g ' they both becomes or takes the form 0/ 0 or ∞ / ∞ then we can again apply
the rule. And, then we will get this limit is equal to the limit of the ratio of the second
derivatives and so on we can continue further till we get the limit.

But that important point was that these rule is valid when, when those limits exist we cannot
conclude if those limits here of the derivatives do not exists then we cannot conclude that the
original limit does not exist. So, this rule is a very useful rule. In the next lecture we will
learn now how to deal the other forms; for example the 0 ∞, ∞ / ∞ and so on.

Thank you.