5
$\begingroup$

I was reading that, when trying to solve something like:

$$\lim_{x\to\infty} f(x)g(x)$$

I can rewrite is as:

$$\lim_{x\to\infty} \frac{f(x)}{\frac{1}{g(x)}}$$

and use L'Hospital's Rule to solve. And, if this doesn't work, I can try using the other function as the denominator:

$$\lim_{x\to\infty} \frac{g(x)}{\frac{1}{f(x)}}$$

So I wondered: are there well-known quotients of functions that don't work in either case and, if so, how do I then solve them?

An example that doesn't submit to this process is:

$$\lim_{x\to\infty} x.x$$

But obviously L'Hospital's Rule would not be necessary in this case.

  • 7
    Something like $\sqrt{1+x^2}/x$?2012-08-22
  • 2
    Maybe [this thread](http://math.stackexchange.com/q/59842/5363) is of interest to you.2012-08-22
  • 0
    @AsafKaragila Fixed! :)2012-08-22
  • 0
    @DavidMitra Ha! That example is perfect.2012-08-22
  • 0
    @t.b. Thanks, that's exactly the sort of thing I wanted to see.2012-08-22

2 Answers 2

1

Functions that have general tendencies to have L'Hopital's not solve anything such as the $e$ function. For example, $$f(x) = \frac{e^{x} - e^{-x}}{e^{-x}+e^{x}}$$ If you were to apply L'Hopital's you would go in a circle of deriving it again and again. Although this problem could be solved with algebra, it still does suit your question.

0

Usually, $f(x)g(x)$ needs to be converted to a fraction when it is of the indeterminate form: $0\cdot\infty$. Examples:

1) $ \lim \limits_{x\to\infty} x\cdot\sin{\frac{1}{x}}=...=1.$

2) $ \lim \limits_{x\to\infty} x^2\cdot\sin{\frac{1}{x}}=...=\infty.$

3) $ \lim \limits_{x\to\infty} x\cdot\sin{\frac{1}{x^2}}=...=0.$

4) $ \lim \limits_{x\to 0} x\cdot\sin{\frac{1}{x}}=...=0.$ (Note: it is not indeterminate, so there is no need to convert to a fraction).