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Evaluating an infinity times zero limit via L'Hopital's Rule

Evaluate the limit:

lim⁡x→∞xsin⁡(1x)\lim_{x \to \infty} x \sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)

Note that as x→∞x \to \infty, this expression has the indeterminate form ∞⋅0\infty \cdot 0. Rewrite the expression as a quotient so that L'Hopital's Rule can be applied, then compute the limit.

Hint

Rewrite xsin⁡(1/x)x\sin(1/x) as sin⁡(1/x)1/x\dfrac{\sin(1/x)}{1/x} to turn the ∞⋅0\infty \cdot 0 form into a 0/00/0 form, then differentiate numerator and denominator separately (using the chain rule) before applying L'Hopital's Rule.

Step-by-step solution

The original limit has the form ∞⋅0\infty \cdot 0, which is not directly a form L'Hopital's Rule applies to. Rewrite it as a quotient: xsin⁡(1/x)=sin⁡(1/x)1/xx\sin(1/x) = \dfrac{\sin(1/x)}{1/x}. As x→∞x \to \infty, sin⁡(1/x)→0\sin(1/x) \to 0 and 1/x→01/x \to 0, so this is now the indeterminate form 0/00/0, and L'Hopital's Rule applies.

Differentiate numerator and denominator separately: the derivative of sin⁡(1/x)\sin(1/x) is cos⁡(1/x)⋅(−1/x2)\cos(1/x) \cdot (-1/x^2) by the chain rule, and the derivative of 1/x1/x is −1/x2-1/x^2. So the limit becomes lim⁡x→∞−cos⁡(1/x)/x2−1/x2=lim⁡x→∞cos⁡(1/x)\lim_{x\to\infty} \dfrac{-\cos(1/x)/x^2}{-1/x^2} = \lim_{x\to\infty} \cos(1/x). As x→∞x \to \infty, 1/x→01/x \to 0, so cos⁡(1/x)→cos⁡(0)=1\cos(1/x) \to \cos(0) = 1.

Identifying the indeterminate form before rewriting

Hint
Step-by-step solution

The original limit was infinity times zero. As x approaches infinity, x grows without bound while sine of one over x approaches zero, giving this indeterminate product form. This form cannot be handled directly by L'Hopital's Rule, which is why the expression needed to be rewritten as a quotient first. Rewriting it as sine of one over x divided by one over x converted it into the zero over zero form.

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