# Math Help - Does l'hospitals rule apply here?

1. ## Does l'hospitals rule apply here?

I'm asked to evaluate the limit as x approaches pi/2 from the left of sec(7x)cos(3x). Would l'hospitals rule apply here or am I going about this wrong?

2. You can apply it anywhere but it is not necessary helpful.
$sec(7x)cos(3x) = \frac{cos(3x)}{cos(7x)}$

$lim_{x=\frac{\pi}{2}} \frac{cos(3x)}{cos(7x)} = lim_{x=\frac{\pi}{2}} \frac{-3sin(3x)}{-7sin(7x)} = \frac{-3sin(3\frac{\pi}{2})}{-7sin(7\frac{\pi}{2})} = \frac{3}{7}$

3. Well the reason I ask is that we just covered l'hospitals rule and this was on the homework we received, so I think perhaps we're supposed to use it if it applies

4. Well it applies that's what I showed you.
( diff(cos(u)) = -sin(u)du)

5. Originally Posted by vincisonfire
You can apply it anywhere but it is not necessary helpful.
$sec(7x)cos(3x) = \frac{cos(3x)}{cos(7x)}$

$lim_{x=\frac{\pi}{2}} \frac{cos(3x)}{cos(7x)} = lim_{x=\frac{\pi}{2}} \frac{-3sin(3x)}{-7sin(7x)} = \frac{-3sin(3\frac{\pi}{2})}{-7sin(7\frac{\pi}{2})} = \frac{3}{7}$

And how did you do that last step, simplifying to just 3/7 when the two terms following 3 and 7 in the num. and denom. are different?

6. Originally Posted by fattydq
And how did you do that last step, simplifying to just 3/7 when the two terms following 3 and 7 in the num. and denom. are different?
The value of $\sin{\frac{a\pi}{2}}$, assuming a is always a nonzero integer, will always equal 1, since sine is a periodic function. Go on, try it. So, he or she basically just canceled out 1 and 1 from the fraction.

7. Ahh thanks to both of you

8. Originally Posted by EightballLock
The value of $\sin{\frac{a\pi}{2}}$, assuming a is always a nonzero integer, will always equal 1, since sine is a periodic function. Go on, try it. So, he or she basically just canceled out 1 and 1 from the fraction.
Not quite... Depending on the remainder in the division of $a$ by 4, $\sin\frac{a\pi}{2}$ can take the values 0, 1 or -1. Go on, try it .
In the present case, the explanation is that $\frac{7\pi}{2}=\frac{3\pi}{2}+\frac{4\pi}{2}=\frac {3\pi}{2}+2\pi$ and $\sin(x+2\pi)=\sin x$ for any $x$ (i.e. sine is periodic, with period $2\pi$). (By the way, $\sin\frac{3\pi}{2}=-1$).