L'Hôpital's rule - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

L'Hôpital's rule is a mathematical rule that can calculate limits of an indeterminate form using derivatives. When the rule is used (it can be used multiple times), it turns an indeterminate form into a value that can be solved.

L'Hôpital's rule states that for functions $f$ and $g$ which are continuous over an interval, if $\lim _{x\to c}f(x)=\lim _{x\to c}g(x)=0{\text{ or }}\pm \infty$ and $g'(x)\neq 0$ and $\lim _{x\to c}{\frac {f'(x)}{g'(x)}}$ exists, then

$\lim _{x\to c}{\frac {f(x)}{g(x)}}=\lim _{x\to c}{\frac {f'(x)}{g'(x)}}$

When the rule is used, it usually simplifies the limit or changes it to a limit that can be solved.

v t e Calculus
Precalculus	Binomial theorem Concave function Continuous function Factorial Finite difference Free variables and bound variables Graph of a function Linear function Radian Rolle's theorem Secant Slope Tangent
Limits	Indeterminate form Limit of a function One-sided limit Limit of a sequence Order of approximation (ε, δ)-definition of limit
Differential calculus	Derivative Second derivative Partial derivative Differential Differential operator Mean value theorem Notation Leibniz's notation Newton's notation Rules of differentiation linearity Power Sum Chain L'Hôpital's Product General Leibniz's rule Quotient Other techniques Implicit differentiation Inverse functions and differentiation Logarithmic derivative Related rates Stationary points First derivative test Second derivative test Extreme value theorem Maximum and minimum Further applications Newton's method Taylor's theorem Differential equation Ordinary differential equation Partial differential equation Stochastic differential equation
Integral calculus	Antiderivative Arc length Riemann integral Basic properties Constant of integration Fundamental theorem of calculus Differentiating under the integral sign Integration by parts Integration by substitution trigonometric Euler Tangent half-angle substitution Partial fractions in integration Quadratic integral Trapezoidal rule Volumes Washer method Shell method Integral equation Integro-differential equation
Vector calculus	Derivatives Curl Directional derivative Divergence Gradient Laplacian Basic theorems Line integrals Green's Stokes' Gauss'
Multivariable calculus	Divergence theorem Geometric Hessian matrix Jacobian matrix and determinant Lagrange multiplier Line integral Matrix Multiple integral Partial derivative Surface integral Volume integral Advanced topics Differential forms Exterior derivative Generalized Stokes' theorem Tensor calculus
Sequences and series	Arithmetico-geometric sequence Types of series Alternating Binomial Fourier Geometric Harmonic Infinite Power Maclaurin Taylor Telescoping Tests of convergence Abel's Alternating series Cauchy condensation Direct comparison Dirichlet's Integral Limit comparison Ratio Root Term
Special functions and numbers	Bernoulli numbers e (mathematical constant) Exponential function Natural logarithm Stirling's approximation
History of calculus	Adequality Brook Taylor Colin Maclaurin Generality of algebra Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Infinitesimal Infinitesimal calculus Isaac Newton Fluxion Law of Continuity Leonhard Euler Method of Fluxions The Method of Mechanical Theorems
Lists	Differentiation rules List of integrals of exponential functions List of integrals of hyperbolic functions List of integrals of inverse hyperbolic functions List of integrals of inverse trigonometric functions List of integrals of irrational functions List of integrals of logarithmic functions List of integrals of rational functions List of integrals of trigonometric functions Secant Secant cubed List of limits Lists of integrals
Miscellaneous topics	Complex calculus Contour integral Differential geometry Manifold Curvature of curves of surfaces Tensor Euler–Maclaurin formula Gabriel's horn Integration Bee Proof that 22/7 exceeds π Regiomontanus' angle maximization problem Steinmetz solid