L'Hospital rule: Difference between revisions

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This rule tells us that if we have a quotient <math>f(x)/g(x)</math> and '''the limit results in an indeterminate form''' <math>0/0</math> or <math>\infty/\infty</math>, then we can safely assume that the limit of the quotient <math>f/g</math> is equal to the limit of <math>f'/g'</math>. That is, '''the limit of the quotient of the derivatives'''. All under the condition that the functions are differentiable. If the limit of <math>f'/g'</math> also results in an indeterminate form, we can apply l'Hospital again.
This rule tells us that if we have a quotient <math>f(x)/g(x)</math> and '''the limit results in an indeterminate form''' <math>0/0</math> or <math>\infty/\infty</math>, then we can safely assume that the limit of the quotient <math>f/g</math> is equal to the limit of <math>f'/g'</math>. That is, '''the limit of the quotient of the derivatives'''. All under the condition that the functions are differentiable. If the limit of <math>f'/g'</math> also results in an indeterminate form, we can apply l'Hospital again.


One would naturally think that this rule can be applied to any limit. No, it can't. Think about this: suppose that we have <math>\lim_{x \ \to \ a} f(x)/g(x) = n</math>, where <math>n \neq 0</math>. From this we can already conclude one thing, the limits of both functions can't be equal to each other. Otherwise the limit would be <math>n/n = 1</math>. Now with derivatives we can find critical, maximum or minimum points of a function. For other points there is no relationship between a function and its derivative. If at <math>x = a</math> the limit of a function is some number, what guarantees that its derivative have the same limit? Nothing. When does a function's limit is zero? When we are calculating a limit that coincides with the function's root or when it coincides with an asymptote. We learn that when <math>f'(x) = 0</math> that point is either a maximum, minimum or an inflection point. In case both functions go to infinity, the natural question is: which one is faster or slower? This naturally suggests analysing their respective derivatives. I hope this makes it clear why l'Hospital applies to a very specific case of limits.
One would naturally think that this rule can be applied to any limit. No, it can't. Think about this: suppose that we have <math>\lim_{x \ \to \ a} f(x)/g(x) = n</math>, where <math>n \neq 0</math>. From this we can already conclude one thing, the limits of both functions can't be equal to each other. Otherwise the limit would be <math>n/n = 1</math>. Now with derivatives we can find critical, maximum or minimum points of a function. For other points there is no relationship between a function and its derivative. If at <math>x = a</math> the limit of a function is some number, what guarantees that its derivative have the same limit? Nothing. When does a function's limit is zero? When we are calculating a limit that coincides with the function's root or when it coincides with an asymptote. We learn that when <math>f'(x) = 0</math> that point is either a maximum, minimum or an inflection point. In case both functions go to infinity, the natural question is: which one is faster or slower? This naturally suggests analysing their respective derivatives. That's the idea of this rule, to analyse how fast one function is going to the same point in comparison to the other. I hope this makes it clear why l'Hospital applies to a very specific case of limits.


One may naturally think that we can extend the rule to multivariable functions. No, we can't. '''We don't have an equivalent to the l'Hospítal rule for two or more variables.''' The reason for this lies in the fact that multiple paths lead to different limits with two or more variables. For multivariable functions there doesn't exist the concept of a derivative that is detached from direction. Suppose that we have a quotient <math>f(x,y)/g(x,y)</math> and an indeterminate form with a limit. We cannot consider <math>f'(x,y)/g'(x,y)</math> because while it may happen that the same path leads both functions to an indeterminate form, we don't have a tool to treat all paths at the same time.
One may naturally think that we can extend the rule to multivariable functions. No, we can't. '''We don't have an equivalent to the l'Hospítal rule for two or more variables.''' The reason for this lies in the fact that multiple paths lead to different limits with two or more variables. For multivariable functions there doesn't exist the concept of a derivative that is detached from direction. Suppose that we have a quotient <math>f(x,y)/g(x,y)</math> and an indeterminate form with a limit. We cannot consider <math>f'(x,y)/g'(x,y)</math> because while it may happen that the same path leads both functions to an indeterminate form, we don't have a tool to treat all paths at the same time.

Revision as of 03:31, 7 April 2022

This rule tells us that if we have a quotient [math]\displaystyle{ f(x)/g(x) }[/math] and the limit results in an indeterminate form [math]\displaystyle{ 0/0 }[/math] or [math]\displaystyle{ \infty/\infty }[/math], then we can safely assume that the limit of the quotient [math]\displaystyle{ f/g }[/math] is equal to the limit of [math]\displaystyle{ f'/g' }[/math]. That is, the limit of the quotient of the derivatives. All under the condition that the functions are differentiable. If the limit of [math]\displaystyle{ f'/g' }[/math] also results in an indeterminate form, we can apply l'Hospital again.

One would naturally think that this rule can be applied to any limit. No, it can't. Think about this: suppose that we have [math]\displaystyle{ \lim_{x \ \to \ a} f(x)/g(x) = n }[/math], where [math]\displaystyle{ n \neq 0 }[/math]. From this we can already conclude one thing, the limits of both functions can't be equal to each other. Otherwise the limit would be [math]\displaystyle{ n/n = 1 }[/math]. Now with derivatives we can find critical, maximum or minimum points of a function. For other points there is no relationship between a function and its derivative. If at [math]\displaystyle{ x = a }[/math] the limit of a function is some number, what guarantees that its derivative have the same limit? Nothing. When does a function's limit is zero? When we are calculating a limit that coincides with the function's root or when it coincides with an asymptote. We learn that when [math]\displaystyle{ f'(x) = 0 }[/math] that point is either a maximum, minimum or an inflection point. In case both functions go to infinity, the natural question is: which one is faster or slower? This naturally suggests analysing their respective derivatives. That's the idea of this rule, to analyse how fast one function is going to the same point in comparison to the other. I hope this makes it clear why l'Hospital applies to a very specific case of limits.

One may naturally think that we can extend the rule to multivariable functions. No, we can't. We don't have an equivalent to the l'Hospítal rule for two or more variables. The reason for this lies in the fact that multiple paths lead to different limits with two or more variables. For multivariable functions there doesn't exist the concept of a derivative that is detached from direction. Suppose that we have a quotient [math]\displaystyle{ f(x,y)/g(x,y) }[/math] and an indeterminate form with a limit. We cannot consider [math]\displaystyle{ f'(x,y)/g'(x,y) }[/math] because while it may happen that the same path leads both functions to an indeterminate form, we don't have a tool to treat all paths at the same time.

Proof of l'Hospital

Links for the proofs:

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