Question:medium

The value of \(\lim_{x \to 1} \frac{\sum_{k=1}^{100} x^k - 100}{x - 1}\) is

Show Hint

Use \(\lim_{x \to 1} \frac{x^n - 1}{x - 1} = n\).
Updated On: Jun 19, 2026
  • -5050
  • 0
  • 5050
  • None of these
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

We need to evaluate the limit:

\(\lim_{x \to 1} \frac{\sum_{k=1}^{100} x^k - 100}{x - 1}\)

This expression can be interpreted using the formula for the sum of a geometric series. The series \(\sum_{k=1}^{n} x^k\) is a geometric series with the first term \(a = x\) and common ratio \(r = x\). The formula for the sum of the first \(n\) terms of a geometric series is:

\(S_n = \frac{x(x^n - 1)}{x - 1}\)

For our problem, \(n = 100\), so we have:

\(\sum_{k=1}^{100} x^k = \frac{x(x^{100} - 1)}{x - 1}\)

Substituting this into the original expression, we get:

\(\lim_{x \to 1} \frac{\frac{x(x^{100} - 1)}{x - 1} - 100}{x - 1}\)

Simplifying the expression inside the limit:

\(= \frac{x(x^{100} - 1) - 100(x - 1)}{(x - 1)^2}\)

Now we evaluate this limit using L'Hopital's Rule, which is applicable because both the numerator and the denominator tend to 0 as \(x \to 1\). Taking derivatives of the numerator and the denominator:

\(\text{Numerator: } \frac{d}{dx}[x(x^{100} - 1) - 100(x - 1)] = \frac{d}{dx}[x^{101} - x - 100x + 100] = 101x^{100} - 101\) \(\text{Denominator: } \frac{d}{dx}[(x - 1)^2] = 2(x - 1)\)

Applying L'Hopital's Rule:

\(\lim_{x \to 1} \frac{101x^{100} - 101}{2(x - 1)}\)

We simplify further using L'Hopital's Rule again, as the new expression also gives a \(\frac{0}{0}\) form when evaluated at \(x = 1\).

\(\text{Numerator: } \frac{d}{dx}[101x^{100} - 101] = 10100x^{99}\) \(\text{Denominator: } \frac{d}{dx}[2(x - 1)] = 2\)

Now the limit becomes:

\(\lim_{x \to 1} \frac{10100x^{99}}{2} = \frac{10100 \times 1}{2} = 5050\)

Hence, the value of the limit is 5050.

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