Math 135 Business Calculus Spring 2009

Exam 1 Solutions
1. (20 points) The graph of a function f is shown. y

(a) Determine the value of each of the following limits, if it 5

exists. If it does not exist, explain why not. 4
(i) lim f (x)
x→−2 3
As x approaches −2 from either side, the func-
tion values get closer and closer to 2, so 2

lim f (x) = 2. 1
x→−2
(ii) lim f (x) x
x→−1
–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 1 2 3 4 5
As x approaches −1 from the left, the function –1
values get unboundedly large, so the left-hand limit –2
is
lim − f (x) = ∞. –3
x→−1
As x approaches −1 from the right, the function –4
values get unboundedly large negative, so the right- –5
hand limit is
lim f (x) = −∞.
x→−1+
It follows that the two-sided limit lim f (x) does
x→−1
not exist.
(iii) lim− f (x) and lim+ f (x)
x→2 x→2
As x approaches 2 from the left, the function values approach 2, so the left-hand limit is
lim f (x) = 2.
x→2−

As x approaches 2 from the right, the function values approach 3, so the right-hand limit is
lim f (x) = 3.
x→2+

(iv) lim f (x)

x→2
Since the one-sided limits lim− f (x) and lim+ f (x) are not equal, then the two-sided limit
x→2 x→2
lim f (x) does not exist.
x→2

(b) Determine whether or not the function is continuous at each of the following numbers. If it is
continuous, explain why it is using the definition. If is not continuous, explain why it is not using the
definition.
(i) a = −2
For a = −2, the function value is f (−2) = 1 while the limit as x approaches −2 is
lim f (x) = 1. Since
x→−2
lim f (x) 6= f (−2),
x→−2
then f is not continuous at −2.
(ii) a = 2
Since the limit lim f (x) does not exist, then f is not continuous at 2.
x→2
page 2 Math 150A Exam 1 Solutions

2. (10 points) Find each limit, if it exists, and indicate how your are computing the limit. If a limit does not
exist, state why not.
(a) lim (2x3 − x2 + 7x)
x→1
Since the function 2x3 − x2 + 7x is a polynonial, then the limit can be computed by evaluating
the function at x = 1, so
lim (2x3 − x2 + 7x) = 2(1)3 − (1)2 + 7(1) = 8.
x→1

Alternatively, using the Limit Properties, we have

lim (2x3 − x2 + 7x) = lim (2x3 ) − lim x2 + lim 7x
x→1 x→1 x→1 x→1
≥ ¥3 ≥ ¥2
= 2 lim x − lim x + 7 lim x
x→1 x→1 x→1
3 2
= 2(1) − (1 ) + 7(1) = 8
x2 + 2x − 35
(b) lim
x→−7 x+7
Since the limit of the denominator is 0, we cannot apply the Limit Properties. Instead, we can
simplify the function algebraically first:
x2 + 2x − 35 (x + 7)(x − 5)
lim = lim = lim (x − 5)
x→−7 x+7 x→−7 x+7 x→−7

Now, since x − 5 is a polynomial, we can evaluate the limit by direct substitution:

x2 + 2x − 35
lim = lim (x − 5) = −7 − 5 = −12.
x→−7 x+7 x→−7

3. (8 points) Based on data from Major League Baseball, the average price of a ticket to a major league
baseball game can be approximated by
p(x) = 0.03x2 + 0.56x + 8.63,
where x is the number of years after 1991 and p(x) is in dollars.
(a) Find p(14) − p(4) and interpret this result.
To evaluate p(4) and p(14), substitute t = 4 and t = 14 into the function:
p(4) = 0.03(42 ) + 0.56(4) + 8.63 = 11.35
p(14) = 0.03(142 ) + 0.56(14) + 8.63 = 22.35
p(4) is the average price of a ticket to a baseball game at t = 4, in 1995, and p(14) is the average
price of a ticket at t = 14, in 2005. Then p(14) − p(4) is the increase in the average price of a ticket
form 1995 to 2005.
p(14) − p(4)
(b) Find and interpret this result.
14 − 4
p(14) − p(4) 22.35 − 11.35 11
= = = 1.10
14 − 4 14 − 4 10
This is the average rate of change per year in the average price of a ticket to a baseball game from
1995 to 2005. It tells us that the ticket price increased by $1.10 per year, on average, over this time
interval.
Math 150A Exam 1 Solutions page 3

4. (12 points) Given the function f (x) = 5x2 − 2x + 1, find f 0 (x) using the definition of the derivative.
f (x + h) − f (x)
f 0 (x) = lim
h→0 h
[5(x + h)2 − 2(x + h) + 1)] − [5x2 − 2x + 1]
= lim
h→0 h
[5(x2 + 2xh + h2 ) − 2x − 2h + 1] − 5x2 + 2x − 1
= lim
h→0 h
2
10xh + 5h − 2h h(10x + 5h − 2)
= lim = lim
h→0 h h→0 h
= lim (10x + 5h − 2) = lim 10x + lim 5h − lim 2
h→0 h→0 h→0 h→0
= 10x + 0 − 2 = 10x − 2
5. (10 points) Find the equation of the tangent line to the graph of f (x) = 3x − x2 at x = 1. The graph of
f (x) = 3x − x2 is shown in the figure. Graph this tangent line.

First, find the derivative f 0 (x): y

d 4
f 0 (x) = (3x − x2 ) = 3 − 2x
dx
The slope of the tangent line to the graph at x = 1 is the 3
derivative at x = 1. So
2
mtangent = f 0 (1) = 3 − 2(1) = 1.
When x = 1, then y = f (1) = 3(12 ) − 1 = 2. So the tangent 1
line passes through the point (1, 2). Then, substituting into
the point-slope formula for a line, the equation of the tangent x
line is –2 –1 1 2 3 4
y − y0 = m(x − x0 )
–1
y − 2 = 1(x − 1)
y =x+1 –2
page 4 Math 150A Exam 1 Solutions

6. (24 points) Find the derivatives of the following functions. Show each of your steps in calculating these
derivatives and indicate which differentiation rules are being applied.
√
(a) y = (2x5 + 1) x + 1
√
First, apply the Product Rule. To differentiate the second factor x + 1 = (x + 1)1/2 , we need
to apply the Extended Power Rule.
µ ∂
dy d √ d
= (2x5 + 1) · x + 1 + (2x5 + 1) · (x + 1)1/2
dx dx dx
∑ ∏
4
√ 5 1 −1/2 d
= (10x ) x + 1 + (2x + 1) 2 (x + 1) (x + 1)
dx
√
= 10x4 x + 1 + (2x5 + 1)( 12 )(x + 1)−1/2 (1)
√
= 10x4 x + 1 + 12 (2x5 + 1)(x + 1)−1/2
x3 + 2
(b) h(x) =
2x2 + 1
Apply the Quotient Rule.
µ ∂
d 3 d
(x + 2) · (2x2 + 1) − (x3 + 2) · (2x2 + 1)
dx dx
h0 (x) =
(2x2 + 1)2
(3x2 )(2x2 + 1) − (x3 + 2)(4x)
=
(2x2 + 1)2
6x + 3x − 4x4 − 8x
4 2
2x4 + 3x2 − 8x
= =
(2x2 + 1)2 (2x2 + 1)2
(c) y = (x3 + x2 + x)7
Apply the Extended Power Rule.
dy d 3
= 7(x3 + x2 + x)6 · (x + x2 + x)
dx dx
= 7(x3 + x2 + x)6 (3x2 + 2x + 1)
(d) y = (5 − x)3 (3x − 1)4
First, apply the Product Rule. To differentiate each of the factors, apply the Extended Power
Rule. µ ∂ µ ∂
dy d 3 4 3 d 4
= (5 − x) · (3x − 1) + (5 − x) · (3x − 1)
dx dx dx
µ ∂ µ ∂
2 d 4 3 3 d
= 3(5 − x) (5 − x) · (3x − 1) + (5 − x) · 4(3x − 1) (3x − 1)
dx dx
= 3(5 − x)2 (−1)(3x − 1)4 + (5 − x)3 (4)(3x − 1)3 (3)
= −3(5 − x)2 (3x − 1)4 + 12(5 − x)3 (3x − 1)3
Math 150A Exam 1 Solutions page 5

7. (16 points) Given the function f (x) = 4 + 3x − x3 .

(a) Find the critical values.
First, find the derivative f 0 (x).
d
f 0 (x) =
(4 + 3x − x3 ) = 3 − 3x2
dx
Second, set the derivative equal to 0 and solve for x.
f 0 (x) = 3(1 − x2 ) = 0
3(1 − x)(1 + x) = 0
x=1 or x = −1
The critical values are x = −1 and x = 1.
(b) Use f 0 (x) to determine where the function is increasing or decreasing and to find the relative maxima
and minima.
Plot the critical values on a number line. This divides the number line into three intervals.
Choose a test value in each interval and determine whether f 0 (x) is positive or negative at each test
value.
f decreasing increasing decreasing
incr/decr
–2 0 2
f' – – – – –1 + + + + 1 – – – –
+/–
° ¢° ¢
f 0 (−2) = 3 1 − (−2) 1 + (−2) < 0
f 0 (0) = 3(1 − 0)(1 + 0) > 0
f 0 (2) = 3(1 − 2)(1 + 2) < 0
This tells us that f is decreasing for x < −1, increasing for −1 < x < 1, and decreasing for x > 1.
From the First-Derivative Test, it follows that f (−1) is a relative minimum and f (1) is a relative
maximum.
(c) Sketch a graph of the function. Indicate the relative maxima and minima on the graph.
y
6 relative
x y = f (x)
5 maximum
−4 56
4
−3 22
3
−2 6
relative 2
−1 2 minimum
1
0 4
x
–6 –5 –4 –3 –2 –1 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 6
–1
2 2
–2
3 −14 –3
4 −48 –4

–5

–6