L'Hospital's Rule
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AP Calculus AB › L'Hospital's Rule
Find $\displaystyle \lim_{x\to 0}\frac{\sin(x^2)}{x^2}$.
$1$
$\dfrac{1}{2}$
$-1$
$0$
$2$
Explanation
$0/0$ form; L'Hôpital: $\frac{2x \cos(x^2)}{2x} = \cos(x^2) \to 1$. Or $\frac{\sin(u)}{u} \to 1$, $u = x^2$, adjusted. Mistake: thinking it's $\sin x / x$. Another: substitution error. Strategy: variable substitution for inner functions.
Evaluate $\displaystyle \lim_{x\to 0}\frac{1-\cos(x^2)}{x^4}$.
$0$
$1$
$2$
$\dfrac{1}{4}$
$\dfrac{1}{2}$
Explanation
$0/0$; twice L'Hôpital: derivative $ \sin(x^2) \cdot 2x / 4x^3 $, adjust; better identity $ 1 - \cos u = \frac{u^2}{2} $ approx, u=$x^2$, gives $ \frac{1}{2} $. Mistake: using $1 - \cos x$. Error: insufficient applications. Strategy: use trig identities before rule.
Evaluate $\displaystyle \lim_{x\to 0}\frac{e^{x}-1-x}{x^2}$.
$-\dfrac{1}{2}$
$\dfrac{1}{2}$
$2$
$1$
$0$
Explanation
Lim $(e^x$ - 1 - $x)/x^2$ as x→0 is 0/0, L'Hôpital twice yields 1/2. A temptation is confusing with first-order approximation. The correct step uses $e^x$ Taylor: $x^2$/2 term. This highlights second-order expansion. Verification matches 1/2. A transferable strategy is systematic Taylor use for exponentials.
Compute $\displaystyle \lim_{x\to 0}\frac{\ln(1+3x)-3x}{x^2}$.
$-9$
$\dfrac{9}{2}$
$0$
$3$
$-\dfrac{9}{2}$
Explanation
Evaluating lim (ln(1+3x) - $3x)/x^2$ as x→0 gives 0/0, requiring L'Hôpital's Rule. Derivatives are 3/(1+3x) - 3 over 2x, still 0/0; second derivatives yield $-9/(1+3x)^2$ over 2, which is -9/2 at x=0. One might wrongly plug in after the first step, thinking it's resolved. The key is recognizing the need for two applications due to the quadratic behavior. Taylor series for ln(1+3x) confirms the -9/2 limit. A transferable strategy is to use L'Hôpital's Rule for logarithmic indeterminates, applying it multiple times and cross-checking with series expansions.
A decay model requires $\lim_{x\to0}\frac{\ln(1+7x)-7x}{x^2}$. What is the limit?
$-49$
$-\frac{49}{2}$
$7$
$\frac{49}{2}$
$0$
Explanation
The expression ln(1 + 7x) - 7x approaches 0 as x approaches 0, creating a 0/0 indeterminate form. Applying L'Hôpital's Rule once gives (7/(1 + 7x) - 7)/(2x) = -49x/((1 + 7x)(2x)), which is still 0/0. Applying it again yields -49/(2(1 + 7x)) - 343x/(2(1 + 7x)²), which equals -49/2 when x = 0. A common error is forgetting that ln(1 + u) ≈ u - u²/2 for small u, which explains why the second-order term dominates. The strategy is to remember that when logarithms appear with their linear approximations subtracted, the limit often involves the coefficient squared divided by 2.
As $x\to 0$, a damping factor is $\frac{\tan x - x}{x^3}$. What is the limit?
$\dfrac{1}{2}$
$\dfrac{1}{3}$
$1$
$\dfrac{2}{3}$
$0$
Explanation
This limit has the indeterminate form 0/0 since both tan(x) - x and x³ approach 0 as x → 0. Applying L'Hôpital's Rule once gives (sec²(x) - 1)/(3x²), which can be rewritten as tan²(x)/(3x²) using the identity sec²(x) - 1 = tan²(x). This is still 0/0, so applying L'Hôpital's Rule again yields 2tan(x)sec²(x)/(6x). One more application gives 2sec²(x)(sec²(x) + 2tan²(x)sec²(x))/6, which evaluates to 2(1)(1 + 0)/6 = 1/3 as x → 0. A common error is not recognizing that sec²(x) - 1 = tan²(x), which simplifies the calculation. For functions like tan(x) - x near x = 0, expect the leading term in the Taylor expansion to be x³/3.
Evaluate $\displaystyle \lim_{x\to 0}\frac{e^{x^2}-1}{x^2}$.
$2$
$-1$
$1$
$0$
$\dfrac{1}{2}$
Explanation
Indeterminate 0/0; L'Hôpital gives (2x $e^{x²}$)/(2x) = $e^{x²}$ → 1. Equivalent to $(e^v$ -1)/v → 1, v=x². Tempting wrong: assuming 0. Another error: wrong derivative. Strategy: recognize standard limits in disguised forms.
Find $\displaystyle \lim_{x\to 0}\frac{1-\cos(9x)}{x^2}$
$81$
$\dfrac{81}{2}$
$162$
$9$
$0$
Explanation
Lim $\frac{1 - \cos(9x)}{x^2}$ as $x \to 0$ is 0/0, apply L'Hôpital twice. Derivatives lead to $\frac{81}{2}$ via scaling the standard $\frac{1}{2}$ limit by $9^2$. A wrong move is forgetting the square, getting 9. The conceptual step uses $\frac{1 - \cos(kx)}{x^2} = \frac{k^2}{2}$. This generalizes trigonometric limits. A transferable strategy is leveraging known limits with substitutions for efficiency.
Find $\displaystyle \lim_{x\to 0}\frac{\ln(1+x)-\sin x}{x^2}$.
$1$
$-1$
$0$
$\dfrac{1}{2}$
$-\dfrac{1}{2}$
Explanation
The limit $\frac{\ln(1+x) - \sin x}{x^2}$ is $0/0$, L'Hôpital twice gives $-1/2$. Wrongly adding terms positively. Taylor: $-x^2/2$. The step notes opposing series. It evaluates to $-1/2$. A transferable strategy is combining different function series.
Evaluate $\displaystyle \lim_{x\to 0}\frac{1-\cos(2x)}{x^2}$.
$1$
$4$
$0$
$8$
$2$
Explanation
The limit $\frac{1 - \cos(2x)}{x^2}$ is $0/0$, L'Hôpital twice or standard form gives $2$. Temptingly, ignoring coefficient yields $\frac{1}{2}$. The step scales by $4/2 = 2$. This uses trig identity. Verification is $2$. A transferable strategy is coefficient adjustment in limits.