Indeterminate Forms and l'Hopital's Rule

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves evaluating the limit as x approaches infinity of the expression ((2x+1)/(2x-1))^(sqrt(x)), which presents an indeterminate form of type (∞/∞)^∞. Participants are exploring the application of logarithms and L'Hôpital's rule to resolve the limit.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss taking the natural logarithm of both sides to simplify the limit. There is confusion regarding the resulting form after applying logarithms and whether it leads to a suitable indeterminate form for L'Hôpital's rule. Some participants question the interpretation of the limit as (∞/∞) versus (1^∞).

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their attempts and clarifying misunderstandings about the limit forms. Some guidance has been provided regarding the use of logarithms and the interpretation of the limit, but no consensus has been reached on the next steps.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of indeterminate forms and the application of L'Hôpital's rule, with some expressing uncertainty about their approaches and the mathematical expressions involved.

Reefy
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Homework Statement


Lim as x→∞ of ((2x+1)/(2x-1))^(sqrtx)

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution



When I initially plugged in ∞ for my x, I get (∞/∞)^∞, correct?

If so, should I just let y=((2x+1)/(2x-1))^(sqrtx) and take the limit of both sides using ln?

That's what I attempted to do and I got lim x→∞ of (sqrtx)(ln((2x+1)/(2x-1))^(sqrtx)) = (inf)(ln(∞/∞)) which I can't make any sense of.
 
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Reefy said:

Homework Statement


Lim as x→∞ of ((2x+1)/(2x-1))^(sqrtx)

Homework Equations



The Attempt at a Solution



When I initially plugged in ∞ for my x, I get (∞/∞)^∞, correct?

If so, should I just let y=((2x+1)/(2x-1))^(sqrtx) and take the limit of both sides using ln?

That's what I attempted to do and I got lim x→∞ of (sqrtx)(ln((2x+1)/(2x-1))^(sqrtx)) = (inf)(ln(∞/∞)) which I can't make any sense of.
Hello Reefy. Welcome to PF !

I'm not sure what you mean by: "take the limit of both sides using ln?"

You should consider taking the natural log of both sides of
[itex]\displaystyle <br /> y=\left(\frac{2x+1}{2x-1}\right)^\sqrt{x}\ .[/itex]​
Then see if you can get a suitable indeterminate form so that you can use L'Hôpital's rule .
 
SammyS said:
Hello Reefy. Welcome to PF !

I'm not sure what you mean by: "take the limit of both sides using ln?"

You should consider taking the natural log of both sides of
[itex]\displaystyle <br /> y=\left(\frac{2x+1}{2x-1}\right)^\sqrt{x}\ .[/itex]​
Then see if you can get a suitable indeterminate form so that you can use L'Hôpital's rule .

Thanks, I've been lurking for awhile and decided to make an account.

What I meant is exactly what you said lol. I wrote:

lim as x→∞ of lny = lim as x→∞ of ln((2x+1)/(2x-1))^(√x)

When I brought the √x down I got, lim as x→∞ of (√x)(ln((2x+1)/(2x-1)) = (∞) times ln(∞/∞).

Should I be getting ln (∞/∞) or am I doing something wrong? If it's correct, I don't know what to do from there on

Edit: How do I write out the equations and functions like you did so it can be clearer?
 
Reefy said:

Homework Statement


Lim as x→∞ of ((2x+1)/(2x-1))^(sqrtx)


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



When I initially plugged in ∞ for my x, I get (∞/∞)^∞, correct?
No. Your answer can't be ∞/∞, as that is indeterminate. Now, since (2x + 1)/(2x -1) → 2 as x → ∞, what you really have is [1], which is another indeterminate form.
Reefy said:
If so, should I just let y=((2x+1)/(2x-1))^(sqrtx) and take the limit of both sides using ln?

That's what I attempted to do and I got lim x→∞ of (sqrtx)(ln((2x+1)/(2x-1))^(sqrtx)) = (inf)(ln(∞/∞)) which I can't make any sense of.

That should be lim(x→∞) [√x * ln((2x+1)/(2x-1))]. Keep in mind that the expression here is different from what you started with - it's the log of that expression. Any limit you get will be the log of what you should have for the original expression.
 
Reefy said:
Thanks, I've been lurking for awhile and decided to make an account.

What I meant is exactly what you said lol. I wrote:

lim as x→∞ of lny = lim as x→∞ of ln((2x+1)/(2x-1))^(√x)

When I brought the √x down I got, lim as x→∞ of (√x)(ln((2x+1)/(2x-1)) = (∞) times ln(∞/∞).

Should I be getting ln (∞/∞) or am I doing something wrong? If it's correct, I don't know what to do from there on

Edit: How do I write out the equations and functions like you did so it can be clearer?
Last question first:

Those mathematical expressions are written using something called LaTeX. Here are some links which may help you with LaTeX.

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=617570&highlight=latex

https://www.physicsforums.com/misc/howtolatex.pdf

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=514469

To get to the online LaTeX editor, click the Big Ʃ icon above the "Advanced" message box -- the box in which you compose your posts.

Now for the main subject. (I see that Mark44 has answered your post while I was composing the above.) I'll just make one point.

Write [itex]\displaystyle \ \ \ln\left(\frac{2x+1}{2x-1}\right)\ \ \ \text{ as }\ \ \ \ln(2x+1)-\ln(2x-1)\ .[/itex]
 
Mark44 said:
No. Your answer can't be ∞/∞, as that is indeterminate. Now, since (2x + 1)/(2x -1) → 2 as x → ∞, what you really have is [1], which is another indeterminate form.


That should be lim(x→∞) [√x * ln((2x+1)/(2x-1))]. Keep in mind that the expression here is different from what you started with - it's the log of that expression. Any limit you get will be the log of what you should have for the original expression.

Oops, I meant to take out that √x from the exponent. Thanks for pointing that out. I also tried the other way you showed with 1^∞ but didn't know what to do.

SammyS said:
Last question first:

Those mathematical expressions are written using something called LaTeX. Here are some links which may help you with LaTeX.

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=617570&highlight=latex

https://www.physicsforums.com/misc/howtolatex.pdf

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=514469

To get to the online LaTeX editor, click the Big Ʃ icon above the "Advanced" message box -- the box in which you compose your posts.

Now for the main subject. (I see that Mark44 has answered your post while I was composing the above.) I'll just make one point.

Write [itex]\displaystyle \ \ \ln\left(\frac{2x+1}{2x-1}\right)\ \ \ \text{ as }\ \ \ \ln(2x+1)-\ln(2x-1)\ .[/itex]


Oh, I forgot that I can rewrite the natural log. Lemme see if I can get the write answer now.
 

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