GRE Subject Test: Math : L'Hospital's Rule

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #33 : New Concepts

Evaluate the following limit:

Possible Answers:

The limit does not exist

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When we evaluate the limit using normal methods, we get , an indeterminate form. So, to evaluate the limit, we must use L'Hopital's Rule, which states that when we receive the indeterminate form of the type above (or ):

So, we must find the derivative of the top and bottom functions:

The derivatives were found using the following rules:

Now, rewrite the limit and evaluate:

Example Question #34 : New Concepts

Evaluate the limit:

Possible Answers:

The limit does not exist

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When evaluating the limit using normal methods, we get the indeterminate form . When this occurs, or when  occurs, we must use L'Hopital's Rule to evaluate the limit. The rules states 

So, we must find the derivative of the numerator and denominator:

The derivatives were found using the following rules:

Now, using the above formula, evaluate the limit:

Example Question #11 : L'hospital's Rule

Find the limit if it exists.

Hint: Apply L'Hospital's Rule.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Through direct substitution, we see that the limit becomes

which is in indeterminate form.

As such we can use l'Hospital's Rule, which states that if the limit 

is in indeterminate form, then the limit is equivalent to

Taking the derivatives we use the power rule which states 

Using the power rule the limit becomes 

As such the limit exists and is

Example Question #22 : Limits

Find the limit if it exists.

Hint: Apply L'Hospital's Rule.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Through direct substitution, we see that the limit becomes

which is in indeterminate form.

As such we can use l'Hospital's Rule, which states that if the limit 

is in indeterminate form, then the limit is equivalent to

Taking the derivatives we use the trigonometric rule which states 

 

where  is a constant.

Using l'Hospital's Rule we obtain

And through direct substitution we find

As such the limit exists and is

Example Question #21 : L'hospital's Rule

Evaluate the following limit:

Possible Answers:

The limit does not exist

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When evaluting the limit using normal methods, we find that the indeterminate form  is reached. When this (or ) happens, we use L'Hopital's Rule to evaluate the limit:

So, we must find the derivative of the numerator and denominator:

When we plug these into the formula and evaluate the limit we get:

Example Question #41 : New Concepts

Find  using L'Hospital's Rule.

 

Possible Answers:

None of the other choices

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We being by attempted to plug in  into our given function.

 

 

Since this would yield , we can use L'Hospital's Rule to help us find the limit.

Replace the numerator and the denominator of our function with their respective derivatives, and we get

 

 

 

Hence the answer is .

 

Example Question #21 : Limits

Find the limit:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

By substituting the value of , we will find that this will give us the indeterminate form .  This means that we can use L'Hopital's rule to solve this problem.

L'Hopital states that we can take the limit of the fraction of the derivative of the numerator over the derivative of the denominator.  L'Hopital's rule can be repeated as long as we have an indeterminate form after every substitution.

Take the derivative of the numerator.

Take the derivative of the numerator.

Rewrite the limit and use substitution.

The limit is .

Example Question #43 : New Concepts

Find the limit if it exists

Hint: Use L'Hospital's rule

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Directly evaluating for  yields the indeterminate form

we are able to apply L'Hospital's rule which states that if the limit is in indeterminate form when evaluated, then

As such the limit in the problem becomes

Evaluating for  again yields the indeterminate form

So we apply L'Hospital's rule again

Evaluating for  yields

As such

 

and thus

Example Question #21 : L'hospital's Rule

Find the limit if it exists

Hint: Use L'Hospital's rule

 

 
Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Directly evaluating for  yields the indeterminate form

we are able to apply L'Hospital's rule which states that if the limit is in indeterminate form when evaluated, then

As such the limit in the problem becomes

Evaluating for  yields

As such

 

and thus

Example Question #44 : New Concepts

Evaluate the following limit:

Possible Answers:

The limit does not exist

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When we evaluate the limit using normal methods, we arrive at the indeterminate form . When this occurs, to evaluate the limit, we must use L'Hopital's Rule, which states that

So, we must find the derivative of the top and bottom functions:

The derivatives were found using the following rule:

Now, rewrite the limit and evaluate it:

 

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