MATHEMATICS 101

TUTORIAL 1 (SOLUTIONS TO ASSIGNMENT PROBLEMS)

Total marks: 25

MODULE 5 – LINEAR AND MATRIX ALGEBRA 1

Exercise 13.2 (page 841)

Vector operations

Question 20 [5 marks]

Find | a |, a + b, a – b, 2a, 3a + 4b if a = − 3, − 4, − 1 and b = 6, 2, − 3 .

Solution

(a) |a|= (−3) 2 + (−4) 2 + (−1) 2 = 26

[1]

(b) a + b = − 3, − 4, − 1 + 6, 2, − 3 = 3, − 2, − 4
[1]

(c) a – b = − 3, − 4, − 1 – 6, 2, − 3 = − 9, − 6, 2
[1]

(d) 2a = 2 × − 3, − 4, − 1 = − 6, − 8, − 2
[1]

(e) 3a + 4b = 3 × − 3, − 4, − 1 + 4 × 6, 2, − 3
= − 9, − 12, − 3 + 24, 8, − 12 = 15, − 4, − 15
[1]

Courtesy Mr. Rajesh Gunesh

Question 38 [5 marks]

Suppose that a and b are nonzero vectors that are not parallel and c is any vector in the plane
determined by a and b. Give a geometric argument to show that c can be written as c = sa + tb
for suitable scalars s and t. Then give an argument using components.

Solution

(Geometric)

c
a sa

tb
b
Fig. 1 Fig. 2

[2]

(Algebraic)

Since two non-parallel vectors can only define a two-dimensional plane, the grounds of the
argument rest on the Cartesian plane (two-dimensional space).

From theory, any pair of non-zero and non-parallel vectors a and b always form a basis for R2,
that is, any other vector c can always be expressed as a linear combination of a and b.

In Fig. 2 above, the vector equation of the line segment represented by c is given by

c = a + t(b – a) …………………………… Eq. (I)

where t is a scalar.

Eq. (I) can be further simplified as

c = (1 – t)a + tb

It is obvious that we can always find a scalar s such that s = 1 – t.

Thus, c = sa + tb.
[3]

Courtesy Mr. Rajesh Gunesh

 MODULE 2 – INTRODUCTORY CALCULUS

Exercise 1.3 (page 47)

New functions from old functions

Question 28 [10.5 marks]

1
Use the graph of f (Fig. 5) to sketch the graph of y = . Which features of f are the most
f ( x)
1
important in sketching y = ? Explain how they are used.
f ( x)
y

p 0 q x
1

(a, b)

Fig. 5

Solution

Features to be considered

1. There are 3 x-intercepts on the graph of y = f (x ) (at the points (p, 0), (1, 0) and (q, 0)),
1
that is where the value of y or f (x ) is zero. On the graph of y = , y will be
f ( x)
undefined so that there will now be three vertical asymptotes at these values of x (x = p,
x = 1 and x = q).
[1.5]

2. The maximum at (0, 1) and the minimum at (a, b) on y = f (x ) respectively become a

1
minimum at (0, 1) and a maximum at (a, 1 ) on y = .
b f ( x)
[2]

Courtesy Mr. Rajesh Gunesh

3. The behaviour of y on either side of each vertical asymptote is studied by calculating
the respective limits (as shown below)

Vertical asymptote x = p

1 1
lim− = −∞ lim+ = +∞
x→ p f ( x) x→ p f ( x)
[1]

Vertical asymptote x = 1

1 1
lim− = +∞ lim+ = −∞
x →1 f ( x) x →1 f ( x)
[1]

Vertical asymptote x = q

1 1
lim− = −∞ lim+ = +∞
x→q f ( x) x→q f ( x)
[1]

Furthermore,
1 1
lim =0 lim =0
x → −∞ f ( x) x → +∞ f ( x)
[1]

1
The following sketch of shows all the features of y = discussed above.
f ( x)

y
x=1
x=q
x=p

1
x
0 1
(a, 1 )
b

[3]

Courtesy Mr. Rajesh Gunesh

Question 32 [4.5 marks]

Given that f ( x) = 1 + x and g ( x ) = 1 − x , find f + g, f – g, fg and f/g and state their domains.

Solution

Note f (x ) is real for x ≥ −1 and that g (x ) is real for x ≤ 1 , that is,

Df : { x ≥ −1 } and Dg : { x ≤ 1 }.

(a) ( f + g ) x = f ( x) + g ( x) = 1 + x + 1 − x
D(f + g) = Df ∩ Dg = {x ∈ R | − 1 ≤ x ≤ 1 }
[1]
(b) ( f − g ) x = f ( x) − g ( x) = 1 + x − 1 − x
D(f – g) = Df ∩ Dg = {x ∈ R | − 1 ≤ x ≤ 1 }
[1]
(c) ( fg ) x = f ( x) g ( x) = 1 + x 1 − x = 1 − x 2

D(fg) = Df ∩ Dg = {x ∈ R | − 1 ≤ x ≤ 1 }
[1]
f ( x) 1+ x
(d) ( f g)x = =
g ( x) 1− x
D(f/g) = Df ∩ Dg – {x | x = 1} = {x ∈ R | − 1 ≤ x < 1 }
[1.5]

Note

Marks are awarded for presentation, setting out, mathematical reasoning and expression.

Courtesy Mr. Rajesh Gunesh