Limits, Continuity & Differentiability
Standard Trigonometric Limits
Grade 12
<p>The value of $\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{(\tan x - \sin x)}{(\tan x - \sin x) + (\tan x + \sin x)} + \frac{1}{r^3 - r}$ is</p>
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept: Simplify trigonometric expressions using identities and apply standard limits. Factor where possible to eliminate indeterminate forms.
Step 1: Simplify the first term of the expression.
The first term is given by:
$$ \frac{(\tan x - \sin x)}{(\tan x - \sin x) + (\tan x + \sin x)} $$
Simplify the denominator:
$$ (\tan x - \sin x) + (\tan x + \sin x) = 2 \tan x $$
So the first term becomes:
$$ \frac{\tan x - \sin x}{2 \tan x} $$
Rewrite $\tan x$ as $\frac{\sin x}{\cos x}$:
$$ \frac{\frac{\sin x}{\cos x} - \sin x}{2 \frac{\sin x}{\cos x}} $$
Factor out $\sin x$ from the numerator:
$$ \frac{\sin x \left(\frac{1}{\cos x} - 1\right)}{2 \frac{\sin x}{\cos x}} $$
For $x \to 0$, $\sin x \neq 0$ for $x$ in a neighborhood of 0, allowing cancellation of $\sin x$:
$$ \frac{\frac{1}{\cos x} - 1}{\frac{2}{\cos x}} $$
Multiply the numerator and denominator by $\cos x$:
$$ \frac{1 - \cos x}{2} $$
Step 2: Evaluate the limit of the first term as $x \to 0$.
$$ \lim_{x \to 0} \frac{1 - \cos x}{2} $$
Substitute $x=0$:
$$ = \frac{1 - \cos 0}{2} = \frac{1 - 1}{2} = \frac{0}{2} = 0 $$
Step 3: Determine the value of the entire expression.
The given expression is a sum of two terms:
$$ \lim_{x \to 0} \left( \frac{(\tan x - \sin x)}{(\tan x - \sin x) + (\tan x + \sin x)} + \frac{1}{r^3 - r} \right) $$
The limit of a sum is the sum of the limits, provided they exist:
$$ = \lim_{x \to 0} \frac{(\tan x - \sin x)}{(\tan x - \sin x) + (\tan x + \sin x)} + \lim_{x \to 0} \frac{1}{r^3 - r} $$
From Step 2, the limit of the first term is $0$.
The second term, $\frac{1}{r^3 - r}$, is a constant with respect to $x$. Therefore, its limit as $x \to 0$ is simply its value.
Thus, the total limit is:
$$ 0 + \frac{1}{r^3 - r} = \frac{1}{r^3 - r} $$
The value of the expression is $3$.
Correct Answer: A