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Thread: undertermined formed with lhospital rule

  1. #1

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    undertermined formed with lhospital rule

    Using LHopital's Rule, I am to calculate;
    (a) (ln(x))/x with limitation of x to infinity
    (b) x*ln(x) with limitation of x to 0+

    for (a) I did the normal differentiation which gives a 1/x if I'm not wrong. 1/x is a horrible answer to deal with coz in this case, it becomes 1/infinity. Anyone who can clarify?

    for (b) I obtained (1+ln(x)) with limit of x to positive. replacing x by positive, I get an incredibly large answer. :Sick

  2. #2
    Frenzied Member MaximilianMayrhofer's Avatar
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    Re: undertermined formed with lhospital rule

    The Limit of ln(x) is indeed 0 for x -> infinity. However, the question asks for the limit of ln(x)/x.

    [d/dx][ln(x)/x]

    = {x[1/x] - ln(x)}/x^2

    =[1 - ln(x)]/x^2

    As x -> infinity, ln(x) approaches infinity as well, meaning that the numerator approaches negative infinity. However, as the denominator is x^2, it approaches infinity much faster than the numerator, meaning that the limit is 0- for this function.

    As for b)

    [d/dx][x*ln(x)]

    = x[1/x] + ln(x)

    = 1 + ln(x)

    As x -> 0+, ln(x) -> negative infinity, hence the limit of b) is negative infinity.

  3. #3

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    Re: undertermined formed with lhospital rule

    oh my god. what a careless mistake from me in the differentiation.
    thx man.

  4. #4
    Frenzied Member MaximilianMayrhofer's Avatar
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    Re: undertermined formed with lhospital rule

    No problem

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