# Homework Help: L'hopital's rule

1. Oct 22, 2007

### rdougie

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

(a) Explain why L'Hopital's rule does not apply to the problem
lim$$_{x\rightarrow0}$$ [ (x$$^{2}$$sin(1/x)) / sinx ]

(b) Find the limit.

2. Relevant equations

lim $$_{x\rightarrow0}$$ xsin(1/x) = 0 , by the Squeezing Theorem.

lim $$_{x\rightarrow0}$$ sin (1/x) Does Not Exist because it oscillates between -1 and 1.

lim $$_{x\rightarrow0}$$ x$$^{2}$$sin(1/x) = 0 by the Squeezing Theorem.

lim$$_{x\rightarrow0}$$sinx/x = 1

3. My attempt(s) at a solution

I wrote the original problem
lim$$_{x\rightarrow0}$$ [ (x$$^{2}$$sin(1/x)) / sinx ]

as
lim$$_{x\rightarrow0}$$ sin (1/x) / lim$$_{x\rightarrow}$$(1/x) * lim$$_{x\rightarrow0}$$ (sinx/x).

Since the limit of the numerator doesn't exist, and lim$$_{x\rightarrow0}$$(1/x) is +$$\infty$$, and lim$$_{x\rightarrow0}$$ sinx/x = 1, then the limit of the problem doesn't exist, right?

2. Oct 22, 2007

### NeoDevin

Try thinking of the original problem as

$$\lim_{x\rightarrow 0} \frac{x\sin(x)}{\frac{\sin(x)}{x}}$$

3. Oct 22, 2007

### rdougie

Where did sin(1/x) go?

4. Oct 22, 2007

### NeoDevin

Sorry

$$\lim_{x\rightarrow 0} \frac{x\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)}{\frac{\sin(x)}{x}}$$

5. Oct 22, 2007

### rdougie

So now the limit is 0 if I use the Squeezing Theorem for the numerator, and the "lim sinx/x=0" for the denominator? Am I thinking about this correctly or am I just trying to plug and play?

6. Oct 23, 2007

### NeoDevin

the limit is zero for the numerator, but check the list you posted in the first post again, and see what the limit for $\frac{\sin(x)}{x}$ is.

7. Oct 23, 2007

### rdougie

ooh sorry lim sinx/x = 1.
ok thx!

8. Oct 23, 2007

### HallsofIvy

So far you haven't said anything about
(a) Explain why L'Hopital's rule does not apply to the problem
limx->0 [ (xsin(1/x)) / sinx ]

9. Oct 23, 2007

### NeoDevin

I think you usually use L'Hopital's rule to get that result in the first place though.

This seems like a poorly though out question to me, as any expression could be modified to make use of L'Hopitals rule, by multiplying by $\frac{x}{x}$, or $\frac{e^{-1/x}}{e^{-1/x}}$ Then taking the derivative will give you the original result.

In answer to the question a, I would say that L'hopital's rule applies, either to the expression itself as it's written, or to the denominator when you rewrite it.

10. Oct 23, 2007

### ZioX

L'hopitals rule DOES apply (okay maybe it doesn't, but it would, if it could)! The numerator is defined on R except at 0. The denominator is defined on all of R. Both are differentiable on their respective natural domains. The derivative of the denominator is nonzero in a deleted nbd of 0. Does limit of the quotient of the derivatives exist though?

You'll want to use the sequential criterion to show that the limit does not exist.

Last edited: Oct 23, 2007
11. Oct 23, 2007

### rdougie

lim x^2 = 0; lim sin(1/x) DNE; lim sinx = 0; 0 * DNE / 0 isnt one of the indeterminant forms.

thanks for the help, everbody :)

12. Oct 23, 2007

### tommygun101

hey,..

l' hopitals rule doesnt apply here because sin(1/x) and cos(1/x) oscilate rapidly at x near zero 1/x is a simple pole at x = 0,... and derivatives of all orders dont get rid of the sin(1/x) and higher derivatives give the term 1/x^n which tends to infinity as x -> 0.

at least i think so

13. Oct 23, 2007

### ZioX

Not quite. x^2sin(1/x) -> 0 (product of bounded function and one going to zero) so we have 0/0 which is one of the indeterminate forms. Did you even read anything I wrote previously?