L'Hôpital's Rule

Apply L'Hôpital's rule to evaluate indeterminate forms for AP Calculus AB.

L'Hôpital's rule resolves 00\frac{0}{0} and ∞∞\frac{\infty}{\infty} indeterminate forms by differentiating numerator and denominator.

The Rule

If lim⁡x→af(x)g(x)\lim_{x \to a} \frac{f(x)}{g(x)} gives 00\frac{0}{0} or ∞∞\frac{\infty}{\infty}:

lim⁡x→af(x)g(x)=lim⁡x→af′(x)g′(x)\lim_{x \to a} \frac{f(x)}{g(x)} = \lim_{x \to a} \frac{f'(x)}{g'(x)}

(if the right side exists).

Worked Examples

lim⁡x→0sin⁡xx=lim⁡x→0cos⁡x1=1\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\sin x}{x} = \lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\cos x}{1} = 1.

lim⁡x→∞x2ex=lim⁡2xex=lim⁡2ex=0\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{x^2}{e^x} = \lim \frac{2x}{e^x} = \lim \frac{2}{e^x} = 0.

lim⁡x→0ex−1x=lim⁡ex1=1\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{e^x - 1}{x} = \lim \frac{e^x}{1} = 1.

When NOT to Use

  • Form is not indeterminate. 50\frac{5}{0} is not 00\frac{0}{0} — it's just ±∞\pm\infty.
  • Apply algebraic simplification first when possible.

Practice Problems

    1. lim⁡x→01−cos⁡xx2\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{1 - \cos x}{x^2}.
    1. lim⁡x→∞ln⁡xx\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{\ln x}{x}.
    1. lim⁡x→1x3−1x−1\lim_{x \to 1} \frac{x^3 - 1}{x - 1} (L'H or factor?).

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Key Takeaways

  • ✓

    Only for 00\frac{0}{0} or ∞∞\frac{\infty}{\infty}.

  • ✓

    Differentiate top and bottom separately (not quotient rule).

  • ✓

    May need to apply multiple times.

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