Solving L'Hospital's Rule: Cosx/x^2

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating the limit of the expression (cosx)(1/x^2) as x approaches 0, exploring the application of L'Hospital's Rule and alternative methods for solving the limit. The scope includes mathematical reasoning and limit evaluation techniques.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the limit as lim (cosx)(1/x^2) as x approaches 0 and expresses difficulty in applying L'Hospital's Rule.
  • Another participant proposes a transformation using logarithms and explores the limit of ln(cosx)/x^2, identifying it as an indeterminate form of 0/0.
  • A different approach is suggested involving the limit of (1/x^2) ln(cosx) and differentiating it multiple times to find the limit.
  • One participant claims to have found the limit to be e^(-1/2) after correcting an earlier mistake in their calculations.
  • Another participant acknowledges the simplicity of the final approach presented and appreciates the clarity of the solution.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing methods for approaching the limit, with some finding success through logarithmic manipulation while others struggle with L'Hospital's Rule. No consensus is reached on a single method as the best approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the indeterminate form encountered and the reliance on specific limit properties, such as sin(x)/x approaching 1 as x approaches 0. There are unresolved steps in the application of L'Hospital's Rule and the transformations used.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in limit evaluation techniques, particularly those involving L'Hospital's Rule and logarithmic transformations, may find this discussion beneficial.

KLscilevothma
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Q1) lim (cosx)(1/x^2)
x-->0

I tried to find

lim (1/x^2) ln cos x
x-->0

but got stuck after differentiate it several times.

Thanks in advance
 
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L'Hospital is quite complicated to be applied here...

(cosx)^(1/x^2)=[1-(sinx)^2]^(1/(2*(x^2)))=

={[1-(sinx)^2]^[-1/((sinx)^2)]}^(-((sinx)^2)/(2*(x^2)))

lim {[1-(sinx)^2]^[-1/((sinx)^2)]}^(-((sinx)^2)/(2*(x^2)))=
x->0

=lim {[1-(sinx)^2]^[-1/((sinx)^2)]}^lim(-((sinx)^2)/(2*(x^2)))=
x->0____________________________x->0
=e^(-1/2)=1/sqrt(e);

I used sinx/x -> 1 as x->0 and

lim (1+Xn)^(1/Xn)=e, where
x->0

lim Xn = 0, Xn >0 or Xn <0...
n->infinity

I must remember you L'Hospital's rule :

lim f(x)/g(x)=lim f'(x)/g'(x),
x->a_______x->a

and
lim f(x)=0 or infinity
x->a
lim g(x)=0 or infinity
x->a
...
 
Last edited:
Thank you bogdan!

I just got the answer before viewing your thread. I made a very silly mistake when doing this question at the very beginning.

Here is my approach.
lim (cosx)(1/x2)
x-->0

Let y=(cosx)(1/x2)
take natural log on both sides
ln y = (1/x2) ln cos x

Lim (1/x2) ln cos x
x-->0

=Lim ln(cosx)/x2 (which is an indeterminate form of 0/0)
x-->0

=Lim -sinx/(2xcosx)
x-->0

=Lim -(sinx)/x * 1/(2cosx)
x-->0

=-1/2

Therefore
lim (cosx)(1/x^2) = e-1/2
x-->0
 
Very nice...and simple...
 

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