L'Hôpital's rule

L'Hôpital's rule
Procedure of differential calculus for evaluating indeterminate forms such as 0/0 and ∞/∞ when they result from attempting to find a limit.

It states that when the limit of f(x)/g(x) is indeterminate, under certain conditions it can be obtained by evaluating the limit of the quotient of the derivatives of f and g (i.e., f′(x)/g′(x)). If this result is indeterminate, the procedure can be repeated. It is named for the French mathematician Guillaume de L'Hôpital (1661–1704), who purchased the formula from his teacher the Swiss mathematician Johann Bernoulli (1667–1748).

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • L'Hôpital's rule — Guillaume de l Hôpital, after whom this rule is named. In calculus, l Hôpital s rule pronounced: [lopiˈtal] (also called Bernoulli s rule) uses derivatives to help evaluate limits involving indeterminate forms. Application …   Wikipedia

  • L'Hopital's rule — or L Hospital s rule noun Etymology: Guillaume de l Hôpital died 1704 French mathematician Date: 1944 a theorem in calculus: if at a given point two functions have an infinite limit or zero as a limit and are both differentiable in a neighborhood …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • rule — /roohl/, n., v., ruled, ruling. n. 1. a principle or regulation governing conduct, action, procedure, arrangement, etc.: the rules of chess. 2. the code of regulations observed by a religious order or congregation: the Franciscan rule. 3. the… …   Universalium

  • Guillaume de l'Hôpital — Guillaume François Antoine, Marquis de l Hôpital (1661 ndash; February 2, 1704) was a French mathematician. He is perhaps best known for the rule which bears his name for calculating the limiting value of a fraction whose numerator and… …   Wikipedia

  • L'Hôpital , Marquis Guillaume François Antoine de — (1661–1704) French mathematician L Hôpital, a Parisian by birth, began his career as a cavalry officer. However, he was forced to resign because of his short sightedness and devoted the rest of his life to mathematical study and research. To this …   Scientists

  • L'Hospital's rule — noun see L Hopital s rule …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Chain rule — For other uses, see Chain rule (disambiguation). Topics in Calculus Fundamental theorem Limits of functions Continuity Mean value theorem Differential calculus  Derivative Change of variables Implicit differentiation …   Wikipedia

  • Guillaume-Francois-Antoine de l'Hopital —     Guillaume François Antoine de L Hôpital     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Guillaume François Antoine de L Hôpital     Marquis de Sainte Mesme and Comte d Entremont, French mathematician; b. at Paris, 1661; d. at Paris, 2 February, 1704. Being the …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Limit of a function — x 1 0.841471 0.1 0.998334 0.01 0.999983 Although the function (sin x)/x is not defined at zero, as x becomes closer and closer to zero, (sin x)/x becomes arbitrarily close to 1. It is said that the limit of (sin x)/x as x approache …   Wikipedia

  • Indeterminate form — In calculus and other branches of mathematical analysis, an indeterminate form is an algebraic expression obtained in the context of limits. Limits involving algebraic operations are often performed by replacing subexpressions by their limits; if …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”