Trigonometric Limits

more examples of limits

Substitution Theorem for

Trigonometric Functions
laws for evaluating limits

Theorem A. For each point c in functions

domain:
lim sin x = sin c,

xc

lim tan x = tan c,

xc

lim csc x = csc c,

xc

lim cos x = cos c,

xc

lim cot x = cot c,

xc

lim sec x = sec c.

xc

Theorem A. For each point c in functions

domain:
lim sin x = sin c,

xc

lim tan x = tan c,

xc

lim csc x = csc c,

xc

lim cos x = cos c,

xc

lim cot x = cot c,

xc

lim sec x = sec c.

xc

Proof. Prove first that

lim sin x = 0,

x0

lim cos x = 1.

x0

Is it obvious?
lim sin x = 0,

x0

y=sin(x)

lim cos x = 1.

x0

y=cos(x)

Is it obvious?
lim sin x = 0,

x0

lim cos x = 1.

x0

y=sin(x)

No. The picture is not precise.

y=cos(x)

Is it obvious?
lim sin x = 0,

x0

lim cos x = 1.

x0

y=sin(x)

y=cos(x)

No. The picture is not precise.

Use definitions of sin(x) and cos(x).

Use The One-Sided Squeeze Theorem. If

f (x) g(x) h(x) near c and lim f (x) =
xc+

lim h(x) = Lright, then

xc+

y=h(x)
L

y=g(x)
y=f(x)

lim g(x) = Lright

xc+

Also, if lim f (x) = lim h(x) = Lleft, then

xc

xc

y=h(x)
y=g(x) L

lim g(x) = Lleft

xc

y=f(x)
c

Use The One-Sided Limits.

lim g(x) = L

xc

lim g(x) = lim g(x) = L

xc

xc+

And other Limits Theorems.

lim[f (x) + g(x)] = lim f (x) + lim g(x),

xc

xc

xc

lim[f (x)g(x)] = [lim f (x)][lim g(x)],

xc

xc

xc

e.t.c.

0 < AB < AC < arcAC

t>0
O

t<0

or,
p
0 < sin(t) < 2 1 cos(t) < t

cos(t)

sin(t)

t)
os&(&
c&
&
1
&
&
2%

An estimate from geometry:

0 < AB < AC < arcAC

t>0
O

cos(t)

t<0

or,
p
0 < sin(t) < 2 1 cos(t) < t
By the Right-Sided Squeeze Theorem
lim sin(x) = 0,

x0+

lim (1 cos(x)) = 0,

x0+

sin(t)

t)
os&(&
c&
&
1
&
&
2%

An estimate from geometry:

Similarly,
lim sin(x) = 0,

x0

lim (1 cos(x)) = 0.

x0

Similarly,
lim sin(x) = 0,

x0

lim (1 cos(x)) = 0.

x0

The left and the right limits are equal, thus

lim sin(x) = 0,

x0

lim(1 cos(x)) = 0

x0

Similarly,
lim sin(x) = 0,

x0

lim (1 cos(x)) = 0.

x0

The left and the right limits are equal, thus

lim sin(x) = 0,

x0

lim(1 cos(x)) = 0

x0

or,
lim sin(x) = 0,

x0

lim cos(x) = 1.

x0

EXAMPLES

EXAMPLE 1. Evaluate limit

lim tan()
/4

Since = /4 is in the domain of the function

tan()

EXAMPLE 1. Evaluate limit

lim tan()
/4

Since = /4 is in the domain of the function

tan() we use Substitution Theorem to substitute
/4 for in the limit expression:



lim tan = tan

= 1= .
4
4
4
4
/4

EXAMPLE 2. Evaluate limit

cos2()
lim
.
/2 1 sin()
Since at = /2 the denominator of cos2()/(1
sin()) turns to zero, we can not substitute /2 for
immediately.

EXAMPLE 2. Evaluate limit

cos2()
lim
.
/2 1 sin()
Since at = /2 the denominator of cos2()/(1
sin()) turns to zero, we can not substitute /2 for
immediately. Instead, we rewrite the expression
2
using sin () + cos2() = 1:
2

1 sin ()
(1 sin())(1 + sin())
lim
= lim
(1 sin())
/2 1 sin()
/2

Finally,
(1 sin())(1 + sin())
lim
(1 sin())
/2

Finally,
(1 sin())(1 + sin())
lim
(1 sin())
/2
 1 sin() 
= lim
lim (1 + sin())
/2 1 sin()
/2

Finally,
(1 sin())(1 + sin())
lim
(1 sin())
/2
 1 sin() 
= lim
lim (1 + sin())
/2 1 sin()
/2
= 1 (1 + sin(/2)) = 2.

Special Trigonometric Limits

sin(x)/x ? as x 0

Theorem B1.
lim

x0

sin x
x

= 1.

Theorem B2.
lim

x0

1 cos x
x

= 0.

Proof B1. A fact from geometry: (t > 0)

area(OAB)area(ODB)area(ODC)
cos2(t)t/2 sin(t) cos(t)/2 t/2.
dividing by cos(t)t/2 get
cos t

sin t
t

1
cos t

Right-Sided Squeeze Theorem:

lim

t0+

sin t
t

=1

The same inequality holds for t < 0:

cos t

sin t
t

1
cos t

Left-Sided Squeeze Theorem:

lim

t0

sin t
t

=1

The left and the right limits are equal, thus,

lim
t0

sin t
t

=1

Proof B2. By multiplying numerator and

denominator with (1 + cos x)
lim

x0

1 cos x
x

= lim

x0

(1 cos x) (1 + cos x)
x

(1 + cos x)

Proof B2. By multiplying numerator and

denominator with (1 + cos x)
lim

x0

1 cos x
x

= lim

(1 cos x) (1 + cos x)

x0

= lim

x0

(1 cos x)
x(1 + cos x)

(1 + cos x)

= lim

x0

sin x
x(1 + cos x)

Proof B2. By multiplying numerator and

denominator with (1 + cos x)
lim

x0

1 cos x
x

= lim

(1 cos x) (1 + cos x)

x0

= lim

(1 cos x)

(1 + cos x)

= lim

sin x

x0 x(1 + cos x)
x(1 + cos x)
Using B1 write


sin x
limx0[sin x]
= lim
= 0.
x0 x
limx0[1 + cos x]
x0

EXAMPLES

EXAMPLE 3. Evaluate limit

tan t
lim
t0
t

EXAMPLE 3. Evaluate limit

tan t
lim
t0
t
Recalling tan t = sin t/ cos t, and using B1:
sin t
= lim
t0 (cos t)t

EXAMPLE 3. Evaluate limit

tan t
lim
t0
t
Recalling tan t = sin t/ cos t, and using B1:
h
i
sin t
sin t
1
= lim
= lim
lim
t0 (cos t)t
t0 t
t0 cos t

EXAMPLE 3. Evaluate limit

tan t
lim
t0
t
Recalling tan t = sin t/ cos t, and using B1:
h
i
sin t
sin t
1
1
= lim
= lim
=1 =1
lim
t0 (cos t)t
t0 t
t0 cos t
1

EXAMPLE 4. Evaluate limit (Cant use B1 !):

sin(3t)
lim
t0
t

EXAMPLE 4. Evaluate limit (Cant use B1 !):

sin(3t)
lim
t0
t
multiply both numerator and denominator with 3:
sin(3t)
= lim 3
t0
3t

EXAMPLE 4. Evaluate limit (Cant use B1 !):

sin(3t)
lim
t0
t
multiply both numerator and denominator with 3:
sin(3t)
= lim 3
t0
3t
Now, t 0 as 3t 0, so


sin(3t)
sin x
= lim 3
= 3.
lim
=1
x0 x
3t0
3t
B1 applies (with a substitution x = 3t).

EXAMPLE 5. Evaluate limit

1 cos t
lim
t0
sin t

EXAMPLE 5. Evaluate limit

1 cos t
lim
t0
sin t
Divide both numerator and denominator with t:
1 cos t
t
= lim
sin t
t0
t

EXAMPLE 5. Evaluate limit

1 cos t
lim
t0
sin t
Divide both numerator and denominator with t:
1 cos t
t
= lim
sin t
t0
t
Use B1 and B2:

0
= = 0.
1