(Created page with "== L'Hôpital's Rule == The rule has this form: $$\lim_{x \to a} \cfrac{f(x)}{g(x)} = \lim_{x \to a} \cfrac{f'(x)}{g'(x)}$$ === $0/0$ case === * suppose $\lim\limits_{x \to...")
 
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** know that $f(a) = g(a) = 0$, so have  
 
** know that $f(a) = g(a) = 0$, so have  
 
* $\lim\limits_{x \to a} \cfrac{f(x)}{g(x)} = \lim\limits_{x \to a} \cfrac{f'(a)\, (x - a) + \ ...}{g'(a)\, (x - a) + \ ...}$
 
* $\lim\limits_{x \to a} \cfrac{f(x)}{g(x)} = \lim\limits_{x \to a} \cfrac{f'(a)\, (x - a) + \ ...}{g'(a)\, (x - a) + \ ...}$
* can factor $(x - a)$ out, so we have:  
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* can factor $(x - a)$ out, so now we have:  
 
* $\lim\limits_{x \to a} \cfrac{f(x)}{g(x)} = \lim\limits_{x \to a} \cfrac{f'(a) + \ ...}{g'(a) + \ ...}$
 
* $\lim\limits_{x \to a} \cfrac{f(x)}{g(x)} = \lim\limits_{x \to a} \cfrac{f'(a) + \ ...}{g'(a) + \ ...}$
 
* the leading order terms are $f'(a)$ and $g'(a)$, and the rest vanish under the limit
 
* the leading order terms are $f'(a)$ and $g'(a)$, and the rest vanish under the limit
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* so the limit is 0
 
* so the limit is 0
  
To say that one function grows faster than other, we can use the [[Order of Growth|Big-O notation]]
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To say that one function grows faster than other, we can use the [[Orders of Growth|Big-O notation]]
  
  

Revision as of 09:26, 7 December 2015

L'Hôpital's Rule

The rule has this form: $$\lim_{x \to a} \cfrac{f(x)}{g(x)} = \lim_{x \to a} \cfrac{f'(x)}{g'(x)}$$


$0/0$ case

  • suppose $\lim\limits_{x \to a} \cfrac{f(x)}{g(x)} = \cfrac{0}{0}$
  • i.e. $f(a) = 0$ and $g(a) = 0$
  • if $f(x)$ and $g(x)$ are continuous
  • then the rule is $$\lim_{x \to a} \cfrac{f(x)}{g(x)} = \lim_{x \to a} \cfrac{f'(x)}{g'(x)}$$


Can show this using Taylor Expansion about $x = a$:

  • $\lim\limits_{x \to a} \cfrac{f(x)}{g(x)} = \lim\limits_{x \to a} \cfrac{f(a) + f'(a)\, (x - a) + \ ...}{g(a) + g'(a)\, (x - a) + \ ...}$
    • know that $f(a) = g(a) = 0$, so have
  • $\lim\limits_{x \to a} \cfrac{f(x)}{g(x)} = \lim\limits_{x \to a} \cfrac{f'(a)\, (x - a) + \ ...}{g'(a)\, (x - a) + \ ...}$
  • can factor $(x - a)$ out, so now we have:
  • $\lim\limits_{x \to a} \cfrac{f(x)}{g(x)} = \lim\limits_{x \to a} \cfrac{f'(a) + \ ...}{g'(a) + \ ...}$
  • the leading order terms are $f'(a)$ and $g'(a)$, and the rest vanish under the limit


Examples:

  • $\lim\limits_{x \to 0} \cfrac{\sin x}{x} = \lim\limits_{x \to 0} \cfrac{\cos x}{1} = 1$
  • $\lim\limits_{x \to 0} \cfrac{1 - \cos x}{x} = \lim\limits_{x \to 0} \cfrac{\sin x}{1} = 0$


$\infty / \infty$ case

  • suppose $\lim\limits_{x \to a} \cfrac{f(x)}{g(x)} = \cfrac{\infty}{\infty}$
  • i.e. $f(a) = \infty$ and $g(a) = \infty$
  • if $f(x)$ and $g(x)$ are continuous
  • then the rule is $$\lim_{x \to a} \cfrac{f(x)}{g(x)} = \lim_{x \to a} \cfrac{f'(x)}{g'(x)}$$


Example:

  • $\lim\limits_{x \to \infty} \cfrac{\ln x}{\sqrt{x}}$
  • both go to $\infty$, but the rate at which they approach $\infty$ is different
  • by taking the derivative, we can see which one grows faster
  • is this case, $\sqrt{x}$ dominates $\ln x$: it grows much faster
  • so the limit is 0

To say that one function grows faster than other, we can use the Big-O notation


Other Cases

See http://calculus.seas.upenn.edu/?n=Main.LHopitalsRule


Sources