Solving for t->0+: L'Hospital's Rule

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating the limit of the expression \(\lim_{t \to 0^+} \left[\frac{t^3 \ln(t)}{3} + \frac{t^3}{9}\right]\). Participants are exploring the behavior of the logarithmic function as \(t\) approaches zero and its interaction with polynomial terms.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster questions why the limit evaluates to zero, expressing confusion over the indeterminate form \(0 \cdot -\infty\) and whether L'Hospital's Rule is the correct method to apply. Other participants confirm the appropriateness of L'Hospital's Rule and suggest alternative approaches like the squeeze theorem.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some confirming the use of L'Hospital's Rule as a valid approach. There is an exploration of different methods to understand the limit, but no consensus has been reached on a single approach.

Contextual Notes

There is a focus on the behavior of logarithmic and polynomial functions as \(t\) approaches zero, with participants discussing the implications of the indeterminate form and the limits of various expressions involving \(t\) and \(\ln(t)\).

johnhuntsman
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lim__[[t^3 ln(t)] / 3] + (t^3)/9
t->0+

^ in case that's difficult to read here's this.

Now what I don't understand is how this comes out to be 0. I would think that ln(t) as t approaches 0 would be -∞ (since ln(t) keeps getting bigger and bigger in the - direction as t approaches o). You would multiply that by 0 (since t^3 as t approaches 0 gets closer and closer to 0). 0 * -∞ should be indeterminate. 0 * -∞ over 3 (i.e., the term: [t^3 ln(t)] / 3]) should also be indeterminate. I understand how (t^3)/9 is 0. Is this problem meant to be solved with L'Hospital's Rule?

P.S. I've used L'Hospital's rule on it already and it does come out to zero. I just want to check with the people here to see if that is whatI'm supposed to do.
 
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johnhuntsman said:
lim__[[t^3 ln(t)] / 3] + (t^3)/9
t->0+

^ in case that's difficult to read here's this.

Now what I don't understand is how this comes out to be 0. I would think that ln(t) as t approaches 0 would be -∞ (since ln(t) keeps getting bigger and bigger in the - direction as t approaches o). You would multiply that by 0 (since t^3 as t approaches 0 gets closer and closer to 0). 0 * -∞ should be indeterminate. 0 * -∞ over 3 (i.e., the term: [t^3 ln(t)] / 3]) should also be indeterminate. I understand how (t^3)/9 is 0. Is this problem meant to be solved with L'Hospital's Rule?

P.S. I've used L'Hospital's rule on it already and it does come out to zero. I just want to check with the people here to see if that is whatI'm supposed to do.

Yes, Hospital's rule is appropriate for this question. Something else you could've done was use the squeeze theorem.
 
Alright thanks. I appreciate it.
 
johnhuntsman said:
lim__[[t^3 ln(t)] / 3] + (t^3)/9
t->0+

^ in case that's difficult to read here's this.

Now what I don't understand is how this comes out to be 0. I would think that ln(t) as t approaches 0 would be -∞ (since ln(t) keeps getting bigger and bigger in the - direction as t approaches o). You would multiply that by 0 (since t^3 as t approaches 0 gets closer and closer to 0). 0 * -∞ should be indeterminate. 0 * -∞ over 3 (i.e., the term: [t^3 ln(t)] / 3]) should also be indeterminate. I understand how (t^3)/9 is 0. Is this problem meant to be solved with L'Hospital's Rule?

P.S. I've used L'Hospital's rule on it already and it does come out to zero. I just want to check with the people here to see if that is whatI'm supposed to do.

For any fixed power p > 0 we have
\lim_{x \rightarrow 0+} x^p \ln(x) = 0, so things like
x^{1/10} \ln(x), \; \sqrt{x} \ln(x),\; x \ln(x), \ldots
all → 0 as x → 0+. It might help to write
x^p \ln(x) = \ln \left(x^{x^p}\right) \text{ for } x > 0.

RGV
 

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