# Indeterminate Forms of Type $\frac{\infty}{\infty}$

## Related calculator: Limit Calculator

Similarly there are limit of functions that represent indeterminate form of type $\frac{\infty}{\infty}$, but can't be calculated using algebraic manipulations.

However, there is corresponding L'Hopital's Rule that allows to handle indeterminate form of type $\frac{\infty}{\infty}$.

Second L'Hopital’s Rule. Suppose ${f{{\left({x}\right)}}}$ and ${g{{\left({x}\right)}}}$ are differentiable on ${\left({a},{b}\right]}$ and ${g{'}}{\left({x}\right)}\ne{0}$ on ${\left({a},{b}\right]}$. If $\lim_{{{x}\to{a}}}{f{{\left({x}\right)}}}=\infty$ and $\lim_{{{x}\to{a}}}{g{{\left({x}\right)}}}=\infty$, then $\lim_{{{x}\to{a}}}\frac{{{f{{\left({x}\right)}}}}}{{{g{{\left({x}\right)}}}}}=\lim_{{{x}\to{a}}}\frac{{{f{'}}{\left({x}\right)}}}{{{g{'}}{\left({x}\right)}}}$ if the limit on the right side exists (or is $\infty$ or $-\infty$ ).

It is especially important to verify the conditions before using L'Hopital's Rule.

Second L'Hopital’s Rule is also valid for one-sided limits and for limits at infinity or negative infinity; that is, "${x}\to{a}$" can be replaced by any of the following symbols: ${x}\to{{a}}^{+}$, ${x}\to{{a}}^{{-{}}}$, ${x}\to\infty$, ${x}\to-\infty$.

Example 1. Find $\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{\ln{{\left({x}\right)}}}}}{{\sqrt{{{x}}}}}$.

Since $\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}{\left({\ln{{\left({x}\right)}}}\right)}=\infty$ and $\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\sqrt{{{x}}}=\infty$ then we can apply L'Hopital's Rule:

$\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{\ln{{\left({x}\right)}}}}}{{\sqrt{{{x}}}}}=\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{\left({\ln{{\left({x}\right)}}}\right)}'}}{{{\left(\sqrt{{{x}}}\right)}'}}=\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{\frac{{1}}{{x}}}}{{\frac{{1}}{{{2}\sqrt{{{x}}}}}}}=\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{2}}{{\sqrt{{{x}}}}}={0}$.

Sometimes we need to apply L'Hopital's rule more than once.

Example 2. Find $\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{{e}}^{{x}}}}{{{{x}}^{{2}}}}$.

Since $\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}{{e}}^{{x}}=\infty$ and $\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}{{x}}^{{2}}=\infty$ then we can use L'Hopital's Rule:

$\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{{e}}^{{x}}}}{{{{x}}^{{2}}}}=\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{\left({{e}}^{{x}}\right)}'}}{{{\left({{x}}^{{2}}\right)}'}}=\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{{e}}^{{x}}}}{{{2}{x}}}$.

Since ${{e}}^{{x}}\to\infty$ and ${2}{x}\to\infty$ as ${x}\to\infty$ then we still have indeterminate form of type $\frac{{\infty}}{{\infty}}$ and we apply L'Hopital's rule once more:

$\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{{e}}^{{x}}}}{{{2}{x}}}=\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{\left({{e}}^{{x}}\right)}'}}{{{\left({2}{x}\right)}'}}=\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{{e}}^{{x}}}}{{2}}=\infty$.

Example 3. Find $\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{1}+\frac{{1}}{{x}}}}{{{x}+{1}}}$.

If we blindly attempt to apply L'Hopital's Rule, we will get that $\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{\left({1}+\frac{{1}}{{x}}\right)}'}}{{{\left({x}+{1}\right)}'}}=\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{1}-\frac{{1}}{{{x}}^{{2}}}}}{{{1}}}={1}$.

THIS IS WRONG! We can't apply L'Hopital's rule because $\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}{\left({1}+\frac{{1}}{{x}}\right)}={1}$ and we don't have indeterminate form.

In fact $\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{1}+\frac{{1}}{{x}}}}{{{x}+{1}}}=\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{\frac{{{x}+{1}}}{{x}}}}{{{x}+{1}}}=\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{1}}{{x}}={0}$.

Example 3 shows what can go wrong if you use L'Hopital's Rule without thinking checking conditions of theorem.

Now let's see what will be if we ignore condition that limit of ratio of derivatives should exist.

Example 4. Calculate $\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{x}+{\sin{{\left({x}\right)}}}}}{{x}}$.

We have indeterminate form here, so can apply L'Hopital's Rule:

$\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{\left({x}+{\sin{{\left({x}\right)}}}\right)}'}}{{{x}'}}=\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{1}+{\cos{{\left({x}\right)}}}}}{{1}}$.

Since ${\cos{{\left({x}\right)}}}$ oscillates infinitely many times as ${x}\to\infty$ then $\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}{\cos{{\left({x}\right)}}}$ doesn't exist. Therefore $\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}{\left({1}+{\cos{{\left({x}\right)}}}\right)}$ doesn't exist.

However, initial limit exist: $\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{x}+{\sin{{\left({x}\right)}}}}}{{x}}=\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}{\left({1}+\frac{{\sin{{\left({x}\right)}}}}{{x}}\right)}={1}$.

So, we need to be sure that limit of ratio of derivative exists, otherwise L'Hopital's Rule is inapplicable.

Other limits can be found using L'Hopital's Rule but are more easily found by other methods. So when evaluating any limit, you should consider other methods before using L'Hopital's Rule.

Example 5. Find $\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{{x}}^{{2}}-{4}}}{{{2}{{x}}^{{2}}-{2}}}$.

Applying L'Hopital's Rule gives $\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{{x}}^{{2}}-{4}}}{{{2}{{x}}^{{2}}-{2}}}=\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{\left({{x}}^{{2}}-{4}\right)}'}}{{{\left({2}{{x}}^{{2}}-{2}\right)}'}}=\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{2}{x}}}{{{4}{x}}}=\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{1}}{{2}}=\frac{{1}}{{2}}$.

But it is more natural to use algebraic manipulations: $\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{{x}}^{{2}}{\left({1}-\frac{{4}}{{{x}}^{{2}}}\right)}}}{{{{x}}^{{2}}{\left({2}-\frac{{2}}{{{x}}^{{2}}}\right)}}}=\lim_{{{x}\to\infty}}\frac{{{1}-\frac{{4}}{{{x}}^{{2}}}}}{{{2}-\frac{{2}}{{{x}}^{{2}}}}}=\frac{{1}}{{2}}$.