Chapter 13

LIMITS AND DERIVATIVES

13.2 Solved Examples

Short Answer Type

⎡ 1 2 (2 x − 3) ⎤
Example 1 Evaluate lim ⎢ − 3
x →2 x − 2
⎣ x − 3 x 2 + 2 x ⎥⎦

Solution We have

⎡ 1 2 (2 x − 3) ⎤ ⎡ 1 2(2 x − 3) ⎤
lim ⎢ − 3 −
x − 3 x 2 + 2 x ⎥⎦ =
lim ⎢ ⎥
x →2
⎣ x − 2 x →2
⎣ x − 2 x ( x − 1) (x − 2 ⎦

⎡ x ( x − 1) − 2 (2 x − 3) ⎤
= xlim
→2 ⎢ ⎥
⎣ x ( x − 1) ( x − 2) ⎦

⎡ x 2 − 5x + 6 ⎤
= x →2 ⎢
lim ⎥
⎣ x (x − 1) (x − 2) ⎦

⎡ ( x − 2) ( x − 3) ⎤
= lim
x →2 ⎢ x ( x − 1) ( x − 2) ⎥
[x – 2 ≠ 0]
⎣ ⎦

⎡ x − 3 ⎤ −1
= lim =
x →2 ⎢ x ( x − 1) ⎥
⎣ ⎦ 2
 2+ x− 2
Example 2 Evaluate lim
x →0 x
Solution Put y = 2 + x so that when x → 0, y → 2. Then
1 1
2+ x− 2 y 2 − 22
lim = lim
x →0 x y→ 2 y − 2

1 1
1 2 −1 1 − 2 1
= (2) = ⋅2 =
2 2 2 2

x n − 3n
Example 3 Find the positive integer n so that lim = 108 .
x →3 x −3
Solution We have

x n − 3n
lim = n(3)n – 1
x →3 x −3
Therefore, n(3)n – 1 = 108 = 4 (27) = 4(3)4 – 1
Comparing, we get n= 4
Example 4 Evaluate lim (sec x − tan x)
π
x→
2

π π
Solution Put y = − x . Then y → 0 as x → . Therefore
2 2
π π
lim (sec x − tan x) = lim [sec( − y ) − tan ( − y)]
π y→0 2 2
x→
2

= lim (cosec y − cot y )

y→0

⎛ 1 cos y ⎞
= lim ⎜ −
y→0 ⎝ sin y sin y ⎟⎠

⎛ 1 − cos y ⎞
= lim ⎜
y→0 ⎝ sin y ⎟⎠
 y ⎛ y 1 − cos y ⎞
2 sin 2 since , sin 2 =
2 ⎜ 2 2 ⎟
= lim
y →0 y y ⎜ ⎟
2sin cos ⎜ sin y = 2sin y cos y ⎟
2 2 ⎝ 2 2 ⎠

y
= lim tan =0
y 2
→0
2

sin (2 + x) − sin(2 − x)
Example 5 Evaluate lim
x →0 x
Solution (i) We have

(2 + x + 2 − x ) (2 + x − 2 + x )
2cos sin
sin (2 + x) − sin(2 − x) 2 2
lim = lim
x→ 0 x x→ 0 x

2cos 2 sin x
= lim
x →0 x

sin x ⎛ sin x ⎞
= 2 cos2 lim = 2cos 2 ⎜⎝ as xlim = 1⎟
x →0 x →0 x ⎠
Example 6 Find the derivative of f (x) = ax + b, where a and b are non-zero constants,
by first principle.
Solution By definition,

f ( x + h ) − f ( x)
f ′(x) = lim
h →0 h

a ( x + h) + b − ( ax + b ) bh
= lim
h →0
= lim =b
h h→ 0 h

Example 7 Find the derivative of f (x) = ax 2 + bx + c, where a, b and c are none-zero

constant, by first principle.
Solution By definition,

f ( x + h ) − f ( x)
f ′(x) = lim
h →0 h
 a ( x + h)2 + b ( x + h) + c − ax 2 − bx − c
= hlim
→0 h

bh + ah 2 + 2axh
= lim
h →0
= lim
h→0
ah + 2ax + b = b + 2ax
h
Example 8 Find the derivative of f (x) = x3, by first principle.
Solution By definition,
f ( x + h ) − f ( x)
f ′(x) = lim
h →0 h

( x + h) 3 − x 3
= lim
h →0 h

x 3 + h 3 + 3 xh ( x + h ) − x3
= lim
h →0 h

= lim
h→0
(h 2 + 3x (x + h)) = 3x2

1
Example 9 Find the derivative of f (x) = by first principle.
x
Solution By definition,
f (x + h) − f (x)
f ′(x) = lim
h →0 h

1⎛ 1 1⎞
= lim ⎜ − ⎟
h →0 h ⎝ x + h x⎠

−h −1
= lim = 2.
h →0 h ( x + h) x x
Example 10 Find the derivative of f (x) = sin x, by first principle.
Solution By definition,
f (x + h) − f (x)
f ′(x) = lim
h →0 h
 sin ( x + h ) − sin x
= hlim
→0 h

⎛ 2x + h ⎞ h
2cos ⎜
⎝ 2 ⎟⎠
sin
2
= lim
h →0 h
2⋅
2

h
(2 x + h) sin
⋅ lim 2
= lim cos
h →0 2 h →0 h
2
= cos x.1 = cos x
Example 11 Find the derivative of f (x) = xn , where n is positive integer, by first
principle.
Solution By definition,
f ( x + h ) − f ( x)
f ′(x) =
h

( x + h ) n − xn
=
h
Using Binomial theorem, we have (x + h)n = nC0 xn + nC1 xn – 1 h + ... + n Cn h n

( x + h ) n − xn
Thus, f ′(x) = lim
h →0 h

h ( nx n −1 + ... + h n −1 ]
= lim = nx n – 1.
h →0 h
Example 12 Find the derivative of 2x4 + x.
Solution Let y = 2x4 + x
Differentiating both sides with respect to x, we get
dy d d
= (2 x4 ) + ( x)
dx dx dx
= 2 × 4x4 – 1 + 1x0
 = 8x3 + 1
d
Therefore, (2 x4 + x) = 8x3 + 1.
dx
Example 13 Find the derivative of x2 cosx.
Solution Let y = x2 cosx
Differentiating both sides with respect to x, we get
dy d 2
= ( x cos x)
dx dx

d d 2
= x
2
(cos x ) + cos x (x )
dx dx
= x2 (– sinx) + cosx (2x)
= 2x cosx – x2 sinx
Long Answer Type

2sin 2 x + sin x − 1
Example 14 Evaluate limπ
x→ 2sin 2 x − 3sin x + 1
6

Solution Note that

2 sin2 x + sin x – 1 = (2 sin x – 1) (sin x + 1)
2 sin2 x – 3 sin x + 1 = (2 sin x – 1) (sin x – 1)

2sin 2 x + sin x − 1 (2sin x − 1) (sin x + 1)

Therefore, lim = lim
x→
π 2sin 2 x − 3sin x + 1 x→
π (2sin x − 1) (sin x − 1)
6 6

sin x + 1
= lim (as 2 sin x – 1 ≠ 0)
x→
π sin x − 1
6

π
1 + sin
6
= = –3
π
sin −1
6
 tan x − sin x
Example 15 Evaluate lim
x →0 sin 3 x
Solution We have

⎛ 1 ⎞
sin x ⎜ −1
tan x − sin x ⎝ cos x ⎟⎠
lim = xlim
x →0 sin 3 x →0 sin 3 x

1 − cos x
= lim
x →0 cos x sin 2 x

x
2 sin 2 1
= lim 2 = .
x →0 ⎛ x x⎞ 2
cos x ⎜ 4 sin 2 ⋅ cos 2 ⎟
⎝ 2 2⎠

a + 2x − 3x
Example 16 Evaluate lim
x →a 3a + x − 2 x

a + 2x − 3x
Solution We have lim
x →a 3a + x − 2 x

a + 2x − 3x a + 2 x + 3x
= lim ×
x →a 3a + x − 2 x a + 2 x + 3x

a + 2x − 3x
( )( )
= lim
x →a 3a + x − 2 x a + 2x + 3x

lim
( a − x) ( 3a + x + 2 x )
= x →a
( a + 2 x + 3x )( 3a + x − 2 x )( 3a + x + 2 x )
(a − x) ⎡⎣ 3 a + x + 2 x ⎤⎦
( )
= lim
x →a a + 2 x + 3 x ( 3a + x − 4 x )
 4 a 2 2 3
= = = .
3 × 2 3a 3 3 9

cos ax − cos bx
Example 17 Evaluate lim
x →0 cos cx − 1

⎛ (a + b ) ⎞ (a − b) x
2sin ⎜ x⎟ sin
⎝ 2 ⎠ 2
Solution We have lim
x →0 sin 2 cx
2
2

(a + b ) x (a − b) x
2sin ⋅ sin x2
lim 2 2 ⋅
=
x →0 x2 sin 2
cx
2

2
( a + b) x (a − b ) x ⎛ cx ⎞ 4
sin sin ⎜⎝ ⎟⎠ × 2
= lim
2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 c
x →0 (a + b ) x ⎛ 2 ⎞ (a − b ) x 2 2 cx
⋅⎜ ⋅ sin
2 ⎝ a + b ⎟⎠ 2 a−b 2

⎛a + b a −b 4 ⎞ a2 − b2
= ⎜⎝ × × 2⎟ =
2 2 c ⎠ c2

( a + h) 2 sin ( a + h ) − a 2 sin a
Example 18 Evaluate lim
h →0 h

( a + h) 2 sin ( a + h ) − a 2 sin a
Solution We have lim
h →0 h

( a 2 + h 2 + 2 ah ) [sin a cos h + cos a sin h ] − a 2 sin a

= lim
h →0 h

a 2 sin a (cos h − 1) a 2 cos a sin h

= lim [ + + ( h + 2 a ) (sin a cos h + cos a sin h )]
h →0 h h
 ⎡ 2 2 h ⎤
⎢ a sin a ( −2sin 2 ) h ⎥ a 2 cos a sin h
lim ⎢ 2 ⋅ ⎥ + lim + lim ( h + 2 a ) sin (a + h )
h →0 h 2 h →0 h h→0
= ⎢ ⎥
⎣⎢ 2 ⎥⎦

= a 2 sin a × 0 + a2 cos a (1) + 2a sin a

= a2 cos a + 2a sin a.
Example 19 Find the derivative of f (x) = tan (ax + b), by first principle.
f (x + h) − f (x)
Solution We have f ′(x) = lim
h →0 h

tan ( a ( x + h) + b ) − tan ( ax + b )
= lim
h →0 h

sin ( ax + ah + b) sin ( ax + b )
−
cos ( ax + ah + b ) cos ( ax + b )
= hlim
→0 h

sin ( ax + ah + b ) cos ( ax + b ) − sin ( ax + b ) cos (ax + ah + b )

= hlim
→0 h cos ( ax + b ) cos ( ax + ah + b )

a sin ( ah )
= lim
h →0 a ⋅ h cos ( ax + b ) cos ( ax + ah + b)

a sin ah
= lim lim [as h → 0 ah → 0]
h →0 cos ( ax + b ) cos ( ax + ah + b ) ah→ 0 ah

a
= = a sec2 (ax + b).
cos (ax + b)
2

Example 20 Find the derivative of f ( x) = sin x , by first principle.

Solution By definition,

f ( x + h ) − f ( x)
f ′(x) = lim
h →0 h
 sin (x + h) − sin x
= lim
h →0 h

( sin ( x + h ) − sin x )( sin ( x + h ) + sin x )

( )
= lim
h →0 h sin ( x + h ) + sin x

sin ( x + h ) − sin x
= lim
h →0 h ( sin ( x + h ) + sin x )
⎛ 2x + h⎞ h
2 cos ⎜
⎝ 2 ⎟⎠
sin
2
= lim
h →0
2⋅
h
2
(
sin ( x + h) + sin x )
cos x 1
= = cot x sin x
2 sin x 2

cos x
Example 21 Find the derivative of .
1 + sin x

cos x
Solution Let y =
1 + sin x
Differentiating both sides with respects to x, we get

dy d ⎛ cos x ⎞
dx ⎜⎝ 1 + sin x ⎟⎠
=
dx

d d
(1 + sin x) (cos x) − cos x (1 + sin x )
dx dx
=
(1 + sin x) 2

(1 + sin x) ( − sin x ) − cos x (cos x)

=
(1 + sin x)2
 − sin x − sin 2 x − cos 2 x
=
(1 + sin x) 2

− (1 + sin x) −1
= 2 =
(1 + sin x) 1 + sin x
Objective Type Questions
Choose the correct answer out of the four options given against each Example 22 to 28
(M.C.Q.).
sin x
Example22 lim is equal to
x →0 x + cos x )
(1

1
(A) 0 (B) (C) 1 (D) –1
2
Solution (B) is the correct answer, we have

x x
2sin cos
sin x 2 2
lim = lim
x →0 x (1 + cos x ) x →0 ⎛ 2 x⎞
x ⎜ 2cos ⎟
⎝ 2⎠

x
tan
1 2 = 1
= lim
2 x→0 x 2
2

1 − sin x
Example23 lim is equal to
π cos x
x→
2

(A) 0 (B) –1 (C) 1 (D) does not exit

Solution (A) is the correct answer, since

⎡ ⎛π ⎞⎤
1 − sin x ⎢1 − sin ⎜⎝ 2 − y⎟⎠ ⎥ ⎛ π ⎞
lim = lim ⎢ ⎥ ⎜ taking − x = y⎟
x→
π cos x y→0
⎢ cos ⎛⎜ π − y⎞⎟ ⎥ ⎝ 2 ⎠
2
⎢⎣ ⎝2 ⎠ ⎥⎦
 y
2sin 2
1 − cos y lim 2
= lim
y→0
= y→0 y y
sin y 2 sin cos
2 2

y
= lim tan =0
y→0 2

| x|
Example 24 lim is equal to
x →0 x

(A) 1 (B) –1 (C) 0 (D) does not exists

Solution (D) is the correct answer, since
| x| x
R.H.S = lim = =1
x →0 + x x

| x| −x
and L.H.S = lim– = = −1
x →0 x x

Example 25 lim [ x − 1] , where [.] is greatest integer function, is equal to

x →1

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 0 (D) does not exists

Solution (D) is the correct answer, since

R.H.S = lim [ x − 1] = 0
x →1 +

and L.H.S = lim [ x − 1] = –1

x →1 −

1
Example 26 lim x sin is equals to
x →0 x

1
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) (D) does not exist
2
Solution (A) is the correct answer, since
1
lim x = 0 and –1 ≤ sin ≤ 1, by Sandwitch Theorem, we have
x →0 x
 1
lim x sin = 0
x →0 x

1 + 2 + 3 + ... + n
Example 27 nlim , n ∈ N, is equal to
→∞ n2

1 1
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) (D)
2 4

1 + 2 + 3 + ... + n
Solution (C) is the correct answer. As xlim
→∞ n2

n ( n + 1) 1⎛ 1⎞ 1
= nlim lim ⎜ 1+ ⎟=
→∞ 2n2
= x →∞ 2⎝ n⎠ 2

⎛ π⎞
Example 28 If f(x) = x sinx, then f ′ ⎜⎝ ⎟⎠ is equal to
2

1
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) –1 (D)
2
Solution (B) is the correct answer. As f′ (x) = x cosx + sinx

⎛ π⎞ π π π
So, f ′⎜ ⎟ = cos + sin = 1
⎝ 2⎠ 2 2 2

13.3 EXERCISE
Short Answer Type
Evaluate :

x2 − 9 4x 2 − 1 x+ h − x
lim
1. lim 2. 2x − 1 3. lim
x −3
1
x →3 x→ h →0 h
2

1 1 5 5
( x + 2) 3 − 2 3 (1 + x) 6 − 1 (2 + x) 2 − ( a + 2) 2
4. lim 5. lim 6. lim
x →0 x x→1 (1 + x) 2 − 1 x →a x−a
 x4 − x x2 − 4
7. lim 8. xlim
x→1 x −1 →2 3x − 2 − x + 2

x4 − 4 x7 − 2 x 5 + 1 1 + x3 − 1 − x3
9. lim 10. lim 11. lim
x→ 2 x2 + 3 2 x − 8 x→1 x3 − 3 x2 + 2 x →0 x2

x3 + 27 ⎛ 8x − 3 4x 2 + 1⎞
12. xlim lim − 2 ⎟
1 ⎜
13.
→−3 x 5 + 243 x → ⎝ 2x − 1 4x − 1⎠
2

xn − 2n sin 3 x
14. Find ‘n’, if lim = 80 , n ∈ N 15. lim
x →2 x− 2 x →a sin 7 x

sin2 2 x 1 − cos2 x 2sin x − sin 2 x

16. lim 17. xlim 18. xlim
x →0 sin 2 4 x →0 x2 →0 x3

1 − cos mx 1 − cos 6 x sin x − cos x

lim
19. xlim 20. limπ 21. π π
→0 1 − cos nx
x→ ⎛π ⎞ x→ x−
2 ⎜ − x⎟ 4
3
⎝3 ⎠ 4

3 sin x − cos x sin 2 x + 3 x sin x − sin a

22. limπ π 23. xlim 24. xlim
x→ x−
→0 2 x + tan3 x →a x− a
6
6

cot 2 x − 3 2 − 1 + cos x
25. limπ 26. lim
x→ cosec x − 2 x →0 sin 2 x
6

sin x − 2sin 3x + sin 5x

27. lim
x →0 x

x4 −1 x3 − k 3
28. If lim = lim 2 , then find the value of k.
x→1 x − 1 x →k x − k 2
Differentiate each of the functions w. r. to x in Exercises 29 to 42.

x 4 + x3 + x2 + 1
3
⎛ 1⎞
29. 30. ⎜ x + ⎟ 31. (3x + 5) (1 + tanx)
x ⎝ x⎠
 3x + 4 x5 − cos x
32. (sec x – 1) (sec x + 1) 33. 34.
5x − 7 x + 9
2
sin x

π
x 2 cos
35. 4 36. (ax2 + cotx) (p + q cosx)
sin x

a + b sin x
37. 38. (sin x + cosx) 2 39. (2x – 7)2 (3x + 5)3
c + d cos x

1
40. x2 sinx + cos2x 41. sin3x cos3x 42.
ax + bx + c
2

Long Answer Type

Differentiate each of the functions with respect to ‘x’ in Exercises 43 to 46 using first
principle.
ax + b 2
43. cos (x2 + 1) 44. 45. x 3
cx + d
46. x cosx

Evaluate each of the following limits in Exercises 47 to 53.

( x + y) sec(x + y) − x sec x
47. lim
y→0 y

(sin( α + β) x + sin(α − β) x + sin 2 α x)

48. xlim ⋅x
→0 cos 2βx − cos 2αx

x
1 − sin
tan 3 x − tan x lim 2
49. limπ
π⎞
50. x →π x⎛ x x⎞
x→ ⎛ cos ⎜ cos − sin ⎟
cos ⎜ x + ⎟ 2⎝ 4⎠
4
⎝ 4⎠ 4

| x − 4|
51. Show that lim does not exists
x →4 x −4
 ⎧ k cos x π
⎪⎪ π − 2 x when x ≠
2 π
52. Let f(x) = ⎨ and if lim f ( x) = f ( ) ,
⎪ 3 π x→
π 2
x= 2
⎪⎩ 2
find the value of k.

⎧x + 2 x ≤ –1
53. Let f (x) = ⎨ 2 , find ‘c’ if xlim
→–1
f ( x) exists.
⎩ cx x > −1

Objective Type Questions

Choose the correct answer out of 4 options given against each Exercise 54 to 76
(M.C.Q).
sin x
54. xlim is
→π x −π
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) –1 (D) –2

x2 cos x
55. lim is
x →0 1 − cos x

3 −3
(A) 2 (B) (C) (D) 1
2 2

(1 + x) n − 1
56. lim is
x →0 x
(A) n (B) 1 (C) –n (D) 0

xm − 1
57. lim is
x→1 xn − 1

m m m2
(A) 1 (B) (C) − (D)
n n n2

1 − cos4 θ
58. lim is
x →0 1 − cos6 θ
 4 1 −1
(A) (B) (C) (D) –1
9 2 2
cosec x − cot x
59. xlim
→0
is
x
−1 1
(A) (B) 1 (C) (D) 1
2 2
sin x
60. xlim is
→0 x + 1 − 1− x
(A) 2 (B) 0 (C) 1 (D) –1
sec2 x − 2
61. lim is
π tan x − 1
x→
4

(A) 3 (B) 1 (C) 0 (D) 2

62. lim
( x − 1) ( 2 x − 3)
is
x→1 2 x2 + x − 3

1 −1
(A) (B) (C) 1 (D) None of these
10 10

⎧ sin[ x]
⎪ , [ x] ≠ 0
63. If f (x) = ⎨ [ x] , where [.] denotes the greatest integer function ,
⎪ 0 ,[ x ] = 0
⎩

then lim
x →0
f ( x) is equal to

(A) 1 (B) 0 (C) –1 (D) None of these

| sin x |
64. lim is
x →0 x
(A) 1 (B) –1 (C) does not exist(D) None of these

⎧ x2 − 1, 0 < x < 2
65. Let f (x) = ⎨ , the quadratic equation whose roots are xlim f ( x) and
⎩ 2 x + 3, 2 ≤ x < 3
→2 –

lim f ( x) is
x →2 +
 (A) x2 – 6x + 9 = 0 (B) x2 – 7x + 8 = 0
(C) x2 – 14x + 49 = 0 (D) x2 – 10x + 21 = 0

tan 2 x − x
66. lim is
x →0 3 x − sin x

1 −1 1
(A) 2 (B) (C) (D)
2 2 4

⎛1⎞
67. Let f (x) = x – [x]; ∈ R, then f ′ ⎜⎝ ⎟⎠ is
2

3
(A) (B) 1 (C) 0 (D) –1
2

1 dy
68. If y = x+ , then at x = 1 is
x dx

1 1
(A) 1 (B) (C) (D) 0
2 2

x−4
69. If f (x) = , then f ′(1) is
2 x

5 4
(A) (B) (C) 1 (D) 0
4 5

1
1+ dy
x2
70. If y = , then is
1 dx
1− 2
x

− 4x −4 x 1 − x2 4x
(A) (B) (C) (D)
(x − 1)2
2
x2 −1 4x x −12

sin x + cos x dy
71. If y = , then at x = 0 is
sin x − cos x dx
 1
(A) –2 (B) 0 (C) (D) does not exist
2
sin( x + 9) dy
72. If y = , then at x = 0 is
cos x dx
(A) cos 9 (B) sin 9 (C) 0 (D) 1

x2 x100
73. If f (x) = 1 + x + + ... + , then f ′(1) is equal to
2 100

1
(A) (B) 100 (C) does not exist (D) 0
100

xn − a n
74. If f ( x) = for some constant ‘a’, then f ′(a) is
x− a

1
(A) 1 (B) 0 (C) does not exist (D)
2
75. If f (x) = x100 + x99 + ... + x + 1, then f ′(1) is equal to
(A) 5050 (B) 5049 (C) 5051 (D) 50051
76. If f (x) = 1 – x + x – x ... – x + x , then f ′(1) is euqal to
2 3 99 100

(A) 150 (B) –50 (C) –150 (D) 50

Fill in the blanks in Exercises 77 to 80.

tan x
77. If f (x) = , then lim
x →π
f ( x) = ______________
x−π

78. lim ⎛⎜ sin mx cot

x ⎞
x →0 ⎝
⎟ = 2 , then m = ______________
3⎠

x x2 x 3 dy
79. if y = 1 + + + + ... , then = ______________
1! 2! 3! dx

x
80. lim = ______________
x →3+ [ x]