IM
Apr 6, 2026
How to prove that the derivative of sin x is cos x using the limit definition?
I'm in a calculus class and we proved that using the limit definition of the derivative:
But the proof uses the identity and then relies on two special limits:
How are these two limits proved? They seem to rely on geometric arguments about the unit circle. Could someone show the complete geometric proof?
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1 Answer
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Dr. Nour HassanApr 6, 2026 AcceptedHere is the complete geometric proof of both limits.
**Theorem 1:** $\displaystyle \lim_{h \ o 0} \frac{\sin h}{h} = 1$
**Proof (geometric):**
Consider the unit circle. Let $h$ be a small positive angle in radians. Draw the following three areas:
1. Area of triangle $\ riangle OAB$ where $A = (1,0)$ and $B = (\cos h, \sin h)$: $\frac12 \sin h$
2. Area of sector $OAB$: $\frac12 h$
3. Area of triangle $OAC$ where $C = (1, \ an h)$: $\frac12 \ an h$
From the diagram, for $0 < h < \pi/2$:
$$\frac12 \sin h \leq \frac12 h \leq \frac12 \ an h$$
Multiplying by $2$:
$$\sin h \leq h \leq \ an h = \frac{\sin h}{\cos h}$$
Dividing by $\sin h > 0$:
$$1 \leq \frac{h}{\sin h} \leq \frac{1}{\cos h}$$
Taking reciprocals (reversing inequalities):
$$\cos h \leq \frac{\sin h}{h} \leq 1$$
By the Squeeze Theorem, as $h \ o 0^+$, $\cos h \ o 1$, so $\frac{\sin h}{h} \ o 1$. The same argument works for $h \ o 0^-$ by symmetry.
**Theorem 2:** $\displaystyle \lim_{h \ o 0} \frac{\cos h - 1}{h} = 0$
**Proof:**
\begin{align*}
\lim_{h \ o 0} \frac{\cos h - 1}{h} &= \lim_{h \ o 0} \frac{(\cos h - 1)(\cos h + 1)}{h(\cos h + 1)} \\
&= \lim_{h \ o 0} \frac{\cos^2 h - 1}{h(\cos h + 1)} \\
&= \lim_{h \ o 0} \frac{-\sin^2 h}{h(\cos h + 1)} \\
&= -\lim_{h \ o 0} \frac{\sin h}{h} \cdot \frac{\sin h}{\cos h + 1} \\
&= -1 \cdot \frac{0}{2} = 0
\end{align*}
With both limits established, the derivative follows directly:
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dx}\sin x &= \lim_{h \ o 0} \frac{\sin(x+h) - \sin x}{h} \\
&= \lim_{h \ o 0} \frac{\sin x \cos h + \cos x \sin h - \sin x}{h} \\
&= \sin x \cdot \lim_{h \ o 0} \frac{\cos h - 1}{h} + \cos x \cdot \lim_{h \ o 0} \frac{\sin h}{h} \\
&= \sin x \cdot 0 + \cos x \cdot 1 = \cos x
\end{align*}
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