[Math] How many times do you have to use L’Hôpital’s rule

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I'm looking for cases like $$\lim_{x \to 0} \frac {1-\cos(x)}{x^2}$$ that will not give you the answer the first time you use L'Hôpital's rule on them. For example in this case it will result in a number $\frac{1}{2}$ the second time you use L'Hôpital's rule. I want examples of limits like $\lim_{x \to c} \frac {f(x)}{g(x)}$ so that you have to use L'Hôpital's rule $5$ times, $18$ times, or say $n$ times on them to get an answer. Another question is about the case in which you use L'Hôpital's rule as many times as you want but you always end with $\lim_{x \to 0} \frac {0}{0}$. Does this case exist?

Best Answer

Sure. Do you want $18$ times? Then consider the limit$$\lim_{x\to0}\frac{x^{18}}{x^{18}}$$or the non-trivial example$$\lim_{x\to0}\frac{\sin(x^{18})}{1-\cos(x^9)}.$$For the case in which you always get $\frac00$, consider the function$$\begin{array}{rccc}f\colon&\mathbb{R}&\longrightarrow&\mathbb{R}\\&x&\mapsto&\begin{cases}e^{-1/x^2}&\text{ if }x\neq0\\0&\text{ if }x=0\end{cases}\end{array}$$and the limit$$\lim_{x\to0}\frac{f(x)}{f(x)}$$or the non-trivial example$$\lim_{x\to0}\frac{f(x)}{f(x^2)}.$$

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