Limits involving exponential functions

In summary, when using L'Hopital's rule to evaluate limits of the form 0^0, it is important to note that the exponential function is continuous, so the limit can be moved inside the function. However, this does not necessarily mean that lim(x->a) e^f(x) = e^f(a), as f(x) may have issues at a. This can be shown through the limit definition of a continuous function.
  • #1
ahmadmz
62
0

Homework Statement



I was studying L'Hopital's rule and how to deal with indeterminate forms of the type 0^0.

It's not clear to me how lim e^f(x) = e^lim f(x).

In wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27H%C3%B4pital%27s_rule" (under other indeterminate forms)
it says "It is valid to move the limit inside the exponential function because the exponential function is continuous".

But that would mean lim(x->a) e^f(x) = e^f(a).

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


 
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  • #2
[tex]\lim_{x \rightarrow a}e^{f(x)} = e^{\lim_{x \rightarrow a} f(x)}[/tex]


But for limx->af(x)=f(a) would only occur if f(x) is continuous at x=a
 
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  • #3
Remember that f(x) may have issues at a, as mentioned above, even when it is part of e^f(x). You can move the limit inside the exponential, because the exponential itself doesn't have problem spots ("is continuous everywhere"), so it is only the f(x) inside that you have to deal with regarding the limit.
 
  • #4
Yea it makes sense, but is there some way to show this as a proof?
For instance the basic limit properties such as lim(f + g) = lim f + lim g are proved.
 
  • #5
It should be straightforward to show from the limit definition of "continuous function" that if g is continuous at L and [tex]\lim_{x\rightarrow a} f(x) = L[/tex], then [tex]\lim_{x\rightarrow a} g(f(x)) = g(L)[/tex].
 

Related to Limits involving exponential functions

1. What is an exponential function?

An exponential function is a mathematical function in which the independent variable appears in the exponent. It can be written in the form f(x) = ab^x, where a is the initial value and b is the growth factor.

2. How do you find the limit of an exponential function?

To find the limit of an exponential function, you can use the rules of limits and evaluate the function at the limiting value. For example, to find the limit of f(x) = 2^x as x approaches infinity, you would plug in infinity for x and the result would be infinity.

3. What happens to the limit of an exponential function as the exponent approaches infinity?

If the base of the exponential function is greater than 1, the limit will approach infinity as the exponent approaches infinity. If the base is between 0 and 1, the limit will approach 0. If the base is equal to 1, the limit will equal 1.

4. Can an exponential function have a negative limit?

Yes, an exponential function can have a negative limit if the base is between 0 and 1 and the exponent approaches negative infinity. In this case, the limit will approach 0 from the negative side.

5. How do you use L'Hopital's rule to evaluate limits involving exponential functions?

L'Hopital's rule states that if the limit of a function f(x) as x approaches a is of the form 0/0 or infinity/infinity, then the limit of f(x)/g(x) is equal to the limit of f'(x)/g'(x) as x approaches a. This rule can be used to evaluate limits involving exponential functions by taking the derivative of both the numerator and denominator and then evaluating the limit again.

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