Question #47ab6

2 Answers
Oct 5, 2017

The limit is 2.

Explanation:

L'Hopital's Rule is one way to get the answer. The given limit

#lim_{x->0}(1-cos(2x))/(x^2)# is a "#0/0# indeterminate form" (since both the top and bottom approach zero as #x# approaches zero).

This is a situation where L'Hopital's Rule can be used. Differentiating the top and bottom individually to create a new fraction, the original limit will equal the following limit (if the following limit exists):

#lim_{x->0}(2sin(2x))/(2x)=lim_{x->0}(sin(2x))/x#.

This is, once again, a #0/0# indeterminate form. L'Hopital's Rule can again be used to say it will equal the following limit (if the following limit exists):

#lim_{x->0}(2cos(2x))/1#.

But this limit exists because the function in question is continuous. The limit can be evaluated by substitution: #lim_{x->0}2cos(2x)=2cos(0)=2*1=2#.

Putting these things together implies that #lim_{x->0}(1-cos(2x))/(x^2)=2#.

Another way to get the answer is to use the Taylor (a.k.a. Maclaurin) series for the cosine function expanded about 0. That is, the fact that #cos(z)=1-z^2/(2!)+z^4/(4!)-z^6/(6!)+cdots# for all #z#.

This implies that #(1-cos(2x))/(x^2)=(1-(1-(2x)^2/(2!)+(2x)^4/(4!)-(2x)^6/(6!)+cdots))/(x^2)#

#=(2x^2-2/3 x^4+4/45 x^6-cdots)/(x^2)=2-2/3 x^2+4/45 x^4-cdots# for all #x !=0#.

But the value at #x=0# is irrelevant for the value of the original limit (the original function is undefined at 0). We can say that

#lim_{x->0}(1-cos(2x))/(x^2)=lim_{x->0}(2-2/3 x^2+4/45 x^4-cdots)#

This last function is continuous at #x=0#, so the value of this last function at zero is relevant. We can evaluate the limit by substitution of #x=0# to get

#lim_{x->0}(1-cos(2x))/(x^2)=lim_{x->0}(2-2/3 x^2+4/45 x^4-cdots)=2-0+0-0+0-cdots=2#

Oct 5, 2017

# 2.#

Explanation:

We use the Standard Limit : #lim_(theta to 0) sintheta/theta=1.#

Recall that, #1-cos2x=2sin^2x.#

#:." The Reqd. Lim.="lim_(x to 0)(1-cos2x)/x^2,#

#=lim(2sin^2x)/x^2,#

#=lim2(sinx/x)^2,#

#=2(1)^2,#

#=2.#