MH1100/MTH112: Calculus I.

Problem list for Week #6.

This weeks topics:

The definition of the derivative of a function at a point a.
The derivative function.
Differentiability at a point implies continuity at that point.
The tutor will aim to discuss: 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, and other problems.
Problems that I think might be more unusual or difficult than normal are
marked with a ?.

Problem 1:
Use the definition of the derivative to determine the derivative function of
f (x) = x3 3x + 5.
State the domain of the function and the domain of the derivative.
Problem 2 (#2.2.25 from [Stewart]):
Use the definition of the derivative to determine the derivative function of

g(x) = 9 x.
State the domain of the function and the domain of the derivative.
Problem 3 (#2.2.26 from [Stewart]):
Use the definition of the derivative to determine the derivative function of
f (x) =

x2 1
.
2x 3

State the domain of the function and the domain of the derivative.
1

Problem 4 (#2.2.41 from [Stewart]):

Given a certain function f (x), below we have plotted f (x), f 0 (x), and f 00 (x).
Match these functions to the different graphs a, b and c. Justify your answer.

Problem 5 (#2.2.42 from [Stewart]):

Given a certain function f (x), below we have plotted f (x), f 0 (x), and f 00 (x).
Match these functions to the different graphs a, b, c and d. Justify your
answer.

Problem 6 (#2.2.50 from [Stewart]):

Consider the function g(x) = x2/3 .
(i) Show that g(x) is not differentiable at x = 0.
(ii) Calculate g 0 (a) in the case that a 6= 0.
(iii) Show that the curve y = x2/3 has a vertical tangent line at (0, 0).
(iv) Illustrate by graphing g(x) and g 0 (x).

Problem 7 (#2.2.51 from [Stewart]):

Using the definition of derivative, determine the derivative function of the
function
f (x) = |x 6|.
Sketch the graph of f (x) and of f 0 (x).

Problem 8:
Using the definition of derivative, determine the derivative function of the
function
f (x) = |x2 9|.
Sketch the graph of f (x) and of f 0 (x).

Problem 9 (#2.2.53 from [Stewart]):

Consider the function f (x) = x|x|.
(i) Graph this function.
(ii) For what values of x is f (x) differentiable?
(iii) Find a formula for f 0 (x).

Problem 10? (The rational case of the power rule.):

(i) Let q N, and consider f (x) = x1/q . Assume that a > 0. Use the
definition of derivative to determine f 0 (a).
(ii) Let p, q N, and consider f (x) = xp/q . Assume that a > 0. Use the
result of part (i) and the product rule to determine f 0 (a).

Problem 11 (#2.2.54 from [Stewart]):

The left-hand derivative and the right-hand derivative of a function
f (x) at a point a are defined by
f0 (a) = lim

h0

f (a + h) f (a)
h

and f+0 (a) = lim

h0+

f (a + h) f (a)
h

if these limits exist.

(i) Briefly explain why f is differentiable at a if and only if both of these
1-sided derivatives exist and are equal.
(ii) Now consider the function

0
5x
f (x) =
1
5x

if x 0,
if 0 < x < 4,
if x 4.

Determine f0 (4) and f+0 (4).

(iii) Sketch the graph of f (x).
(iv) Where is f discontinuous?
(v) Where does f fail to be differentiable?

Problem 12? (#2.2.55 from [Stewart]):

Use the definition of derivative to prove that:
(i) The derivative of an even function is an odd function.
(ii) The derivative of an odd function is an even function.
Also, try and understand these facts using your geometric intuition and by
considering a few concrete examples.

Problem 13? (related to #5.9 from [Spivak]):

Let F (x) be a function and let a R. Use the - definition of limit to
carefully prove that
lim F (x) = lim F (a + h).
xa

h0

Deduce that the two natural expressions for the derivative of a function f (x)
(a)
(a)
and limh0 f (a+h)f
, give exactly
at a point a, namely limxa f (x)f
xa
h
the same quantity.

Problem 14? (#9.14 from [Spivak]):

Consider the function

f (x) =

x2
0

if x is rational,
if x is irrational.

Prove that f (x) is differentiable at the point x = 0.