ISC Class 12 • 2024 • 4 Marks

Calculus: Indeterminate Forms & L'Hopital's Rule

Official examination question with verified M1/A1 mark scheme and step-by-step mathematical reasoning.

Problem Statement

Evaluate: $\lim_{x \to 0} \left( \frac{1}{x} - \frac{1}{\sin x} \right)$

Verified Solution & Marking Scheme

Combine fractions to convert (∞ - ∞) form to 0/0 form
$\lim_{x \to 0} \left( \frac{\sin x - x}{x \sin x} \right)$ As $x \to 0$, numerator $\to 0 - 0 = 0$ and denominator $\to 0 \times 0 = 0$, giving an indeterminate form of $\frac{0}{0}$.
First application of L'Hopital's Rule
Differentiating numerator and denominator with respect to $x$: $= \lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\cos x - 1}{\sin x + x \cos x}$ At $x = 0$, numerator is $1 - 1 = 0$ and denominator is $0 + 0 = 0$ (still $\frac{0}{0}$).
Second application of L'Hopital's Rule and limit evaluation
Differentiating again: $= \lim_{x \to 0} \frac{-\sin x}{\cos x + (\cos x - x \sin x)} = \lim_{x \to 0} \frac{-\sin x}{2\cos x - x \sin x}$ Substituting $x = 0$: $= \frac{-\sin 0}{2\cos 0 - 0 \sin 0} = \frac{0}{2(1) - 0} = \frac{0}{2} = 0$
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