# What is the limit lim_(x->0)sin(x)/x?

Oct 11, 2014

${\lim}_{x \to 0} \sin \frac{x}{x} = 1$. We determine this by the use of L'Hospital's Rule.

To paraphrase, L'Hospital's rule states that when given a limit of the form ${\lim}_{x \to a} f \frac{x}{g} \left(x\right)$, where $f \left(a\right)$ and $g \left(a\right)$ are values that cause the limit to be indeterminate (most often, if both are 0, or some form of $\infty$), then as long as both functions are continuous and differentiable at and in the vicinity of $a$, one may state that

${\lim}_{x \to a} f \frac{x}{g} \left(x\right) = {\lim}_{x \to a} \frac{f ' \left(x\right)}{g ' \left(x\right)}$

Or in words, the limit of the quotient of two functions is equal to the limit of the quotient of their derivatives.

In the example provided, we have $f \left(x\right) = \sin \left(x\right)$ and $g \left(x\right) = x$. These functions are continuous and differentiable near $x = 0$, $\sin \left(0\right) = 0$ and $\left(0\right) = 0$. Thus, our initial f(a)/g(a) = 0/0 = ?. Therefore, we should make use of L'Hospital's Rule. $\frac{d}{\mathrm{dx}} \sin \left(x\right) = \cos \left(x\right) , \frac{d}{\mathrm{dx}} x = 1$. Thus...

${\lim}_{x \to 0} \sin \frac{x}{x} = {\lim}_{x \to 0} \cos \frac{x}{1} = \cos \frac{0}{1} = \frac{1}{1} = 1$