Practice Problems

A. Determine if each function is continuous. If the function is not continuous, find the x-axis
location of each discontinuity and classify each discontinuity as infinite or removable.
x7 x2 x2
1) f ( x)  2 2) f ( x)  3) f ( x)  2
x x2 x 1 x  x6
x x
2
x2  5x  4
4) f ( x)   5) f ( x)   x3  3x 2 6) f ( x) 
x x 1
x4 x2
7) f ( x)  8) f ( x)  3
x 2 x  4x
Answers:
1) Infinite discontinuities at: x = -, x = 
2) Infinite discontinuity at: x = -
3) Removable discontinuity at: x =-  Infinite discontinuity at: x = 
4) Removable discontinuity at: x = 
5) Continuous
6) Removable discontinuity at: x = -
7) Removable discontinuity at: x = 
8) Removable discontinuity at: x =  Infinite discontinuities at: x = , x = 0
B. Determine whether f(x) is continuous at the given value of x.

 x 1 , 0  x  3
9) f ( x)   , x=3

5  x , 3  x  5
2 x  3, x<1
10) f ( x)   2 x=1
 x , x  1
2 x, x2
11) f ( x)   2 , x=2
 x - 4 x  1, x2
Functions: Applications
1. A right triangle has one side x and a hypotenuse of 10 meters. Find the area of the triangle as
a function of x.
1
Ans. A  x   100  x 2
2
2. A rectangle has an area equal to 100 cm2 and a width x. Find the perimeter as a function of x.
 100 
Ans. P  x   2  x  
 x 
3. Find the area of a square as a function of its perimeter x.
2
x x2
Ans. A  x     
4 16
4. A right circular cylinder has a radius r and a height equal to twice r. Find the volume of the
cylinder as a function of r.
Ans. V (r )  2  r 3
5. Express the length L of the chord of a circle, with given radius r = 10 cm , as a function of the
arc length s.(see figure below).

 s 
L( s )  20sin  
 20 

 s 
6. L( s )  20sin  
 20 
d  9  x2  25   7  x 
2
Ans.