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 $x = 0$:
$= \frac{-\sin 0}{2\cos 0 - 0 \sin 0} = \frac{0}{2(1) - 0} = \frac{0}{2} = 0$