Calculus Examples

$lim_{x \to 0} \frac{x^{4} - 4 x^{3} + x^{2}}{x^{3} + x^{2} + x}$

Step 1

Apply L'Hospital's rule.

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Step 1.1

Evaluate the limit of the numerator and the limit of the denominator.

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Step 1.1.1

Take the limit of the numerator and the limit of the denominator.

$\frac{lim_{x \to 0} x^{4} - 4 x^{3} + x^{2}}{lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} + x^{2} + x}$

Step 1.1.2

Evaluate the limit of the numerator.

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Step 1.1.2.1

Split the limit using the Sum of Limits Rule on the limit as $x$ approaches $0$ .

$\frac{lim_{x \to 0} x^{4} - lim_{x \to 0} 4 x^{3} + lim_{x \to 0} x^{2}}{lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} + x^{2} + x}$

Step 1.1.2.2

Move the exponent $4$ from $x^{4}$ outside the limit using the Limits Power Rule.

$\frac{{(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{4} - lim_{x \to 0} 4 x^{3} + lim_{x \to 0} x^{2}}{lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} + x^{2} + x}$

Step 1.1.2.3

Move the term $4$ outside of the limit because it is constant with respect to $x$ .

$\frac{{(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{4} - 4 lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} + lim_{x \to 0} x^{2}}{lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} + x^{2} + x}$

Step 1.1.2.4

Move the exponent $3$ from $x^{3}$ outside the limit using the Limits Power Rule.

$\frac{{(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{4} - 4 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{3} + lim_{x \to 0} x^{2}}{lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} + x^{2} + x}$

Step 1.1.2.5

Move the exponent $2$ from $x^{2}$ outside the limit using the Limits Power Rule.

$\frac{{(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{4} - 4 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{3} + {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2}}{lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} + x^{2} + x}$

Step 1.1.2.6

Evaluate the limits by plugging in $0$ for all occurrences of $x$ .

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Step 1.1.2.6.1

Evaluate the limit of $x$ by plugging in $0$ for $x$ .

$\frac{0^{4} - 4 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{3} + {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2}}{lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} + x^{2} + x}$

Step 1.1.2.6.2

Evaluate the limit of $x$ by plugging in $0$ for $x$ .

$\frac{0^{4} - 4 \cdot 0^{3} + {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2}}{lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} + x^{2} + x}$

Step 1.1.2.6.3

Evaluate the limit of $x$ by plugging in $0$ for $x$ .

$\frac{0^{4} - 4 \cdot 0^{3} + 0^{2}}{lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} + x^{2} + x}$

Step 1.1.2.7

Simplify the answer.

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Step 1.1.2.7.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 1.1.2.7.1.1

Raising $0$ to any positive power yields $0$ .

$\frac{0 - 4 \cdot 0^{3} + 0^{2}}{lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} + x^{2} + x}$

Step 1.1.2.7.1.2

Raising $0$ to any positive power yields $0$ .

$\frac{0 - 4 \cdot 0 + 0^{2}}{lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} + x^{2} + x}$

Step 1.1.2.7.1.3

Multiply $- 4$ by $0$ .

$\frac{0 + 0 + 0^{2}}{lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} + x^{2} + x}$

Step 1.1.2.7.1.4

Raising $0$ to any positive power yields $0$ .

$\frac{0 + 0 + 0}{lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} + x^{2} + x}$

Step 1.1.2.7.2

Add $0$ and $0$ .

$\frac{0 + 0}{lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} + x^{2} + x}$

Step 1.1.2.7.3

Add $0$ and $0$ .

$\frac{0}{lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} + x^{2} + x}$

Step 1.1.3

Evaluate the limit of the denominator.

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Step 1.1.3.1

Split the limit using the Sum of Limits Rule on the limit as $x$ approaches $0$ .

$\frac{0}{lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} + lim_{x \to 0} x^{2} + lim_{x \to 0} x}$

Step 1.1.3.2

Move the exponent $3$ from $x^{3}$ outside the limit using the Limits Power Rule.

$\frac{0}{{(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{3} + lim_{x \to 0} x^{2} + lim_{x \to 0} x}$

Step 1.1.3.3

Move the exponent $2$ from $x^{2}$ outside the limit using the Limits Power Rule.

$\frac{0}{{(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{3} + {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2} + lim_{x \to 0} x}$

Step 1.1.3.4

Evaluate the limits by plugging in $0$ for all occurrences of $x$ .

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Step 1.1.3.4.1

Evaluate the limit of $x$ by plugging in $0$ for $x$ .

$\frac{0}{0^{3} + {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2} + lim_{x \to 0} x}$

Step 1.1.3.4.2

Evaluate the limit of $x$ by plugging in $0$ for $x$ .

$\frac{0}{0^{3} + 0^{2} + lim_{x \to 0} x}$

Step 1.1.3.4.3

Evaluate the limit of $x$ by plugging in $0$ for $x$ .

$\frac{0}{0^{3} + 0^{2} + 0}$

Step 1.1.3.5

Simplify the answer.

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Step 1.1.3.5.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 1.1.3.5.1.1

Raising $0$ to any positive power yields $0$ .

$\frac{0}{0 + 0^{2} + 0}$

Step 1.1.3.5.1.2

Raising $0$ to any positive power yields $0$ .

$\frac{0}{0 + 0 + 0}$

Step 1.1.3.5.2

Add $0$ and $0$ .

$\frac{0}{0 + 0}$

Step 1.1.3.5.3

Add $0$ and $0$ .

$\frac{0}{0}$

Step 1.1.3.5.4

The expression contains a division by $0$ . The expression is undefined.

Undefined

$\frac{0}{0}$

Step 1.1.3.6

The expression contains a division by $0$ . The expression is undefined.

Undefined

$\frac{0}{0}$

Step 1.1.4

The expression contains a division by $0$ . The expression is undefined.

Undefined

$\frac{0}{0}$

Step 1.2

Since $\frac{0}{0}$ is of indeterminate form, apply L'Hospital's Rule. L'Hospital's Rule states that the limit of a quotient of functions is equal to the limit of the quotient of their derivatives.

$lim_{x \to 0} \frac{x^{4} - 4 x^{3} + x^{2}}{x^{3} + x^{2} + x} = lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\frac{d}{d x} [x^{4} - 4 x^{3} + x^{2}]}{\frac{d}{d x} [x^{3} + x^{2} + x]}$

Step 1.3

Find the derivative of the numerator and denominator.

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Step 1.3.1

Differentiate the numerator and denominator.

$lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\frac{d}{d x} [x^{4} - 4 x^{3} + x^{2}]}{\frac{d}{d x} [x^{3} + x^{2} + x]}$

Step 1.3.2

By the Sum Rule, the derivative of $x^{4} - 4 x^{3} + x^{2}$ with respect to $x$ is $\frac{d}{d x} [x^{4}] + \frac{d}{d x} [- 4 x^{3}] + \frac{d}{d x} [x^{2}]$ .

$lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\frac{d}{d x} [x^{4}] + \frac{d}{d x} [- 4 x^{3}] + \frac{d}{d x} [x^{2}]}{\frac{d}{d x} [x^{3} + x^{2} + x]}$

Step 1.3.3

Differentiate using the Power Rule which states that $\frac{d}{d x} [x^{n}]$ is $n x^{n - 1}$ where $n = 4$ .

$lim_{x \to 0} \frac{4 x^{3} + \frac{d}{d x} [- 4 x^{3}] + \frac{d}{d x} [x^{2}]}{\frac{d}{d x} [x^{3} + x^{2} + x]}$

Step 1.3.4

Evaluate $\frac{d}{d x} [- 4 x^{3}]$ .

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Step 1.3.4.1

Since $- 4$ is constant with respect to $x$ , the derivative of $- 4 x^{3}$ with respect to $x$ is $- 4 \frac{d}{d x} [x^{3}]$ .

$lim_{x \to 0} \frac{4 x^{3} - 4 \frac{d}{d x} [x^{3}] + \frac{d}{d x} [x^{2}]}{\frac{d}{d x} [x^{3} + x^{2} + x]}$

Step 1.3.4.2

Differentiate using the Power Rule which states that $\frac{d}{d x} [x^{n}]$ is $n x^{n - 1}$ where $n = 3$ .

$lim_{x \to 0} \frac{4 x^{3} - 4 (3 x^{2}) + \frac{d}{d x} [x^{2}]}{\frac{d}{d x} [x^{3} + x^{2} + x]}$

Step 1.3.4.3

Multiply $3$ by $- 4$ .

$lim_{x \to 0} \frac{4 x^{3} - 12 x^{2} + \frac{d}{d x} [x^{2}]}{\frac{d}{d x} [x^{3} + x^{2} + x]}$

Step 1.3.5

Differentiate using the Power Rule which states that $\frac{d}{d x} [x^{n}]$ is $n x^{n - 1}$ where $n = 2$ .

$lim_{x \to 0} \frac{4 x^{3} - 12 x^{2} + 2 x}{\frac{d}{d x} [x^{3} + x^{2} + x]}$

Step 1.3.6

By the Sum Rule, the derivative of $x^{3} + x^{2} + x$ with respect to $x$ is $\frac{d}{d x} [x^{3}] + \frac{d}{d x} [x^{2}] + \frac{d}{d x} [x]$ .

$lim_{x \to 0} \frac{4 x^{3} - 12 x^{2} + 2 x}{\frac{d}{d x} [x^{3}] + \frac{d}{d x} [x^{2}] + \frac{d}{d x} [x]}$

Step 1.3.7

Differentiate using the Power Rule which states that $\frac{d}{d x} [x^{n}]$ is $n x^{n - 1}$ where $n = 3$ .

$lim_{x \to 0} \frac{4 x^{3} - 12 x^{2} + 2 x}{3 x^{2} + \frac{d}{d x} [x^{2}] + \frac{d}{d x} [x]}$

Step 1.3.8

Differentiate using the Power Rule which states that $\frac{d}{d x} [x^{n}]$ is $n x^{n - 1}$ where $n = 2$ .

$lim_{x \to 0} \frac{4 x^{3} - 12 x^{2} + 2 x}{3 x^{2} + 2 x + \frac{d}{d x} [x]}$

Step 1.3.9

Differentiate using the Power Rule which states that $\frac{d}{d x} [x^{n}]$ is $n x^{n - 1}$ where $n = 1$ .

$lim_{x \to 0} \frac{4 x^{3} - 12 x^{2} + 2 x}{3 x^{2} + 2 x + 1}$

Step 2

Evaluate the limit.

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Step 2.1

Split the limit using the Limits Quotient Rule on the limit as $x$ approaches $0$ .

$\frac{lim_{x \to 0} 4 x^{3} - 12 x^{2} + 2 x}{lim_{x \to 0} 3 x^{2} + 2 x + 1}$

Step 2.2

Split the limit using the Sum of Limits Rule on the limit as $x$ approaches $0$ .

$\frac{lim_{x \to 0} 4 x^{3} - lim_{x \to 0} 12 x^{2} + lim_{x \to 0} 2 x}{lim_{x \to 0} 3 x^{2} + 2 x + 1}$

Step 2.3

Move the term $4$ outside of the limit because it is constant with respect to $x$ .

$\frac{4 lim_{x \to 0} x^{3} - lim_{x \to 0} 12 x^{2} + lim_{x \to 0} 2 x}{lim_{x \to 0} 3 x^{2} + 2 x + 1}$

Step 2.4

Move the exponent $3$ from $x^{3}$ outside the limit using the Limits Power Rule.

$\frac{4 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{3} - lim_{x \to 0} 12 x^{2} + lim_{x \to 0} 2 x}{lim_{x \to 0} 3 x^{2} + 2 x + 1}$

Step 2.5

Move the term $12$ outside of the limit because it is constant with respect to $x$ .

$\frac{4 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{3} - 12 lim_{x \to 0} x^{2} + lim_{x \to 0} 2 x}{lim_{x \to 0} 3 x^{2} + 2 x + 1}$

Step 2.6

Move the exponent $2$ from $x^{2}$ outside the limit using the Limits Power Rule.

$\frac{4 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{3} - 12 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2} + lim_{x \to 0} 2 x}{lim_{x \to 0} 3 x^{2} + 2 x + 1}$

Step 2.7

Move the term $2$ outside of the limit because it is constant with respect to $x$ .

$\frac{4 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{3} - 12 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2} + 2 lim_{x \to 0} x}{lim_{x \to 0} 3 x^{2} + 2 x + 1}$

Step 2.8

Split the limit using the Sum of Limits Rule on the limit as $x$ approaches $0$ .

$\frac{4 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{3} - 12 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2} + 2 lim_{x \to 0} x}{lim_{x \to 0} 3 x^{2} + lim_{x \to 0} 2 x + lim_{x \to 0} 1}$

Step 2.9

Move the term $3$ outside of the limit because it is constant with respect to $x$ .

$\frac{4 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{3} - 12 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2} + 2 lim_{x \to 0} x}{3 lim_{x \to 0} x^{2} + lim_{x \to 0} 2 x + lim_{x \to 0} 1}$

Step 2.10

Move the exponent $2$ from $x^{2}$ outside the limit using the Limits Power Rule.

$\frac{4 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{3} - 12 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2} + 2 lim_{x \to 0} x}{3 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2} + lim_{x \to 0} 2 x + lim_{x \to 0} 1}$

Step 2.11

Move the term $2$ outside of the limit because it is constant with respect to $x$ .

$\frac{4 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{3} - 12 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2} + 2 lim_{x \to 0} x}{3 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2} + 2 lim_{x \to 0} x + lim_{x \to 0} 1}$

Step 2.12

Evaluate the limit of $1$ which is constant as $x$ approaches $0$ .

$\frac{4 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{3} - 12 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2} + 2 lim_{x \to 0} x}{3 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2} + 2 lim_{x \to 0} x + 1}$

Step 3

Evaluate the limits by plugging in $0$ for all occurrences of $x$ .

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Step 3.1

Evaluate the limit of $x$ by plugging in $0$ for $x$ .

$\frac{4 \cdot 0^{3} - 12 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2} + 2 lim_{x \to 0} x}{3 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2} + 2 lim_{x \to 0} x + 1}$

Step 3.2

Evaluate the limit of $x$ by plugging in $0$ for $x$ .

$\frac{4 \cdot 0^{3} - 12 \cdot 0^{2} + 2 lim_{x \to 0} x}{3 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2} + 2 lim_{x \to 0} x + 1}$

Step 3.3

Evaluate the limit of $x$ by plugging in $0$ for $x$ .

$\frac{4 \cdot 0^{3} - 12 \cdot 0^{2} + 2 \cdot 0}{3 {(lim_{x \to 0} x)}^{2} + 2 lim_{x \to 0} x + 1}$

Step 3.4

Evaluate the limit of $x$ by plugging in $0$ for $x$ .

$\frac{4 \cdot 0^{3} - 12 \cdot 0^{2} + 2 \cdot 0}{3 \cdot 0^{2} + 2 lim_{x \to 0} x + 1}$

Step 3.5

Evaluate the limit of $x$ by plugging in $0$ for $x$ .

$\frac{4 \cdot 0^{3} - 12 \cdot 0^{2} + 2 \cdot 0}{3 \cdot 0^{2} + 2 \cdot 0 + 1}$

Step 4

Simplify the answer.

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Step 4.1

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 4.1.1

Raising $0$ to any positive power yields $0$ .

$\frac{4 \cdot 0 - 12 \cdot 0^{2} + 2 \cdot 0}{3 \cdot 0^{2} + 2 \cdot 0 + 1}$

Step 4.1.2

Multiply $4$ by $0$ .

$\frac{0 - 12 \cdot 0^{2} + 2 \cdot 0}{3 \cdot 0^{2} + 2 \cdot 0 + 1}$

Step 4.1.3

Raising $0$ to any positive power yields $0$ .

$\frac{0 - 12 \cdot 0 + 2 \cdot 0}{3 \cdot 0^{2} + 2 \cdot 0 + 1}$

Step 4.1.4

Multiply $- 12$ by $0$ .

$\frac{0 + 0 + 2 \cdot 0}{3 \cdot 0^{2} + 2 \cdot 0 + 1}$

Step 4.1.5

Multiply $2$ by $0$ .

$\frac{0 + 0 + 0}{3 \cdot 0^{2} + 2 \cdot 0 + 1}$

Step 4.1.6

Add $0 + 0$ and $0$ .

$\frac{0 + 0}{3 \cdot 0^{2} + 2 \cdot 0 + 1}$

Step 4.1.7

Add $0$ and $0$ .

$\frac{0}{3 \cdot 0^{2} + 2 \cdot 0 + 1}$

Step 4.2

Simplify the denominator.

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Step 4.2.1

Raising $0$ to any positive power yields $0$ .

$\frac{0}{3 \cdot 0 + 2 \cdot 0 + 1}$

Step 4.2.2

Multiply $3$ by $0$ .

$\frac{0}{0 + 2 \cdot 0 + 1}$

Step 4.2.3

Multiply $2$ by $0$ .

$\frac{0}{0 + 0 + 1}$

Step 4.2.4

Add $0$ and $0$ .

$\frac{0}{0 + 1}$

Step 4.2.5

Add $0$ and $1$ .

$\frac{0}{1}$

Step 4.3

Divide $0$ by $1$ .

$0$