Evaluate the following limits in Exercises 1 to 22.
0
Explanation
This limit involves trigonometric functions and uses the standard limits from Theorem 5 in the textbook. The key insight is to convert cosec x - cot x into a form where we can apply the standard limits. By expressing both terms with a common denominator of sin x, we get (1 - cos x)/sin x. Multiplying by x/x allows us to split this into two familiar limits: (1 - cos x)/x and x/sin x. Using the theorem that lim(x→0) (1 - cos x)/x = 0 and lim(x→0) sin x/x = 1 (which means lim(x→0) x/sin x = 1), we get = 0.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Express cosec x - cot x in terms of sin x and cos x: cosec x - cot x = 1/sin x - cos x/sin x = (1 - cos x)/sin x
Step 2: Multiply and divide by x: (1 - cos x)/sin x = (1 - cos x)/x × x/sin x
Step 3: Apply the limit: lim(x→0) (cosec x - cot x) = lim(x→0) [(1 - cos x)/x] × lim(x→0) [x/sin x]
Step 4: Using Theorem 5: lim(x→0) (1 - cos x)/x = 0 and lim(x→0) sin x/x = 1, so lim(x→0) x/sin x = 1
Step 5: Therefore, lim(x→0) (cosec x - cot x) = = 0