What is sin(x)/x for x =0?

I'm going to show the answer to this question in two different ways. - The first is perhaps more obvious but the second is much more elegant.Taylor series expansion: Using Taylor expansion (or your trusty A level formula sheet) you can show that sin(x) = x - x^3/3! + x^5/5! + Re ( (-i)^n * x^n / n! )Thus dividing through by x:sin(x)/x = 1 - x^2/3! + x^4/5! +...if we then replace x by 0:sin(0)/0 = 1 - 0 + 0 +... where ... here is all 0.thus sin(0) / 0 = 1. The other much faster way of doing this is using l'Hopital's rule which states that for a limit lim (f(x)/g(x)) = lim (f'(x) / g'(x)) for the same limit. Thus lim[x-> 0] (sin(x) / x) = lim[x->0] (cos x / 1) = 1.

VP
Answered by Vandan P. Further Mathematics tutor

43091 Views

See similar Further Mathematics A Level tutors

Related Further Mathematics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A line has Cartesian equations x−p = (y+2)/q = 3−z and a plane has equation r ∙ [1,−1,−2] = −3. In the case where the angle θ between the line and the plane satisfies sin⁡θ=1/√6 and the line intersects the plane at z = 0. Find p and q.


Use induction to prove that for all positive integers n, f(n)=2^(3n+1)+3x5^(2n+1) is divisible by 17.


I'm struggling with an FP2 First-Order Differential Equations Question (Edexcel June 2009 Q3) and the topic in general!


Give the general solution to the Ordinary Differential Equation: (dy/dx) + 2y/x = 3x+2


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning