TITLE: Evaluate $ \lim_{x \to 0} \left( {\frac{1}{x^2}} - {\frac{1} {\sin^2 x} }\right) $
QUESTION [8 upvotes]: $$\lim_{x\to0}\left({\frac{1}{x^2}}-{\frac{1}{\sin^2x}}\right)$$
Using the L'Hospital Rule I obtained the value $-1/4$, but the answer is given to be $-1/3$. I can't find the mistake. Here's what I did; please point out the mistake.
\begin{align}
\lim_{x\to0}\left({\frac{1}{x^2}}-{\frac{1}{\sin^2x}}\right)&=\lim_{x\to0}\frac{(\sin x+x)(\sin x-x)}{(x\sin x)(x\sin x)} \\[1ex]
&=\lim_{x\to0}\left(\frac{\sin x+x}{x\sin x}\right)\lim_{x\to0}\left(\frac{\sin x-x}{x\sin x}\right) \\[1ex]
&=\lim_{x\to0}\left(\frac{\cos x+1}{\sin x+x\cos x}\right)\lim_{x\to0}\left(\frac{\cos x-1}{\sin x+x\cos x}\right) \\[1ex]
&=\lim_{x\to0}\:(\cos x+1)\,\lim_{x\to0}\left(\frac{\cos x-1}{(\sin x+x\cos x)^2}\right) \\[1ex]
&=\lim_{x\to0}\frac{-\sin x}{(\sin x+x\cos x)(2\cos x-x\sin x)} \\[1ex]
&=-\lim_{x\to0}\left[\frac{1}{1+\cos x\left(\frac{x}{\sin x}\right)}\right]\left(\frac{1}{2\cos x-x\sin x}\right) \\[1ex]
&=-\frac{1}{2}\left[\lim_{x\to0}\,\frac{1}{1+\cos x}\right] \\[1ex]
&=-\frac{1}{4}
\end{align}

REPLY [2 votes]: Your mistake probably comes from your third row, because the left limit does not exist and you may not apply L'Hospital there (and the other limit is $0$).

What you can do instead (notice the asymmetry):
$$\lim_{x\to0}\frac{\sin^2x-x^2}{x^2\sin^2x}=\lim_{x\to0}\frac{\sin^2x-x^2}{x^4}=\lim_{x\to0}\frac{\sin x+x}{x}\lim_{x\to0}\frac{\sin x-x}{x^3}
\\=2\lim_{x\to0}\frac{\cos x-1}{3x^2}=-2\lim_{x\to0}\frac{\sin x}{6x}=-\frac13.$$