MATH201 INTRODUCTION TO ANALYSIS

Worksheet for week 13: The Derivative

Lecture sessions 1/2
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1. Let a > b > 0, and n ∈ N, n ≥ 2. Prove that a1/n − b1/n < (a − b)1/n . [Hint: Show that f (x) =
x1/n − (x − 1)1/n is decreasing for x ≥ 1, and evaluate f at 1 and a/b.] [3]

1 1
Proof. Let f (x) := x1/n −(x−1)1/n . Then f 0 (x) = n1 (x n −1 −(x−1) n −1 ). We note that n ≥ 2, so 1− n1 ≥ 21 .
1 1
This implies that x1− n > (x − 1)1− n when x > 1. Hence f 0 (x) < 0 when x > 1. An analogous result as
question number 13 of exercise 6.2 for f 0 (x) < 0 implies that f (x) is strictly decreasing when x ≥ 1. For
a > b > 0, we get ab > 1 so that f ( ab ) = ( ab )1/n − ( ab − 1)1/n < f (1) = 1, i.e. a1/n − b1/n < (a − b)1/n .

2. Let h(x) = 0 for x < 0, and h(x) = 1 for x ≥ 0.

(a) prove that there does not exist a function f : R → R such that f 0 (x) = h(x) for all x ∈ R. [Hint:
Darboux’s Theorem]. [2]

Proof. If there exists a function f such that f 0 (x) = h(x) for all x ∈ R. Consider I := [a, b], where
a < 0 and b > 0. Then f 0 (a) = h(a) = 0 and f 0 (b) = h(b) = 1. Let k be such that 0 < k < 1. Darboux’s
Theorem implies that there exists at least one point c in (a, b) such that 0 < f 0 (c) = h(c) = k < 1. A
contradiction.

(b) Give examples of two functions, not differing by a constant, whose derivatives equal h(x) for all x 6= 0.
[2]

Solution. Let f1 (x) := 0 for x < 0 and f1 (x) := x for x ≥ 0; f2 (x) := 1 for x < 0 and f2 (x) := x + 2
for x ≥ 0, then f1 (x) and f2 (x) are not differing by a constant, but f10 (x) = f20 (x) = h(x) for x 6= 0.

√
3. Show that if x > 0, then 1 + 21 x − 18 x2 ≤ 1 + x ≤ 1 + 21 x. [3]

√ √ x
Proof. Let f (x) := 1 + x. Apply Taylor’s Theorem to f (x) at x0 = 0, then 1+x = 1+ 2 + R1 (x),
f 00 (c) 2 − 23 − 32
where R1 (x) = 2! x = − 18 (1 2
+ c) x for some c satisfying 0 ≤ c < x. Since (1 + c) > 0, then for
√
x > 0, R1 (x) < 0. Hence 1 + x ≤ 1 + 12 x for x > 0.
√ 000 5
Similarly, 1 + x = 1 + x2 − 18 x2 + R2 (x),where R2 (x) = f 3!(d) x3 = 16
1
(1 + d)− 2 x3 for some d between 0
5 √
and x. Since (1 + d)− 2 > 0, then for x > 0, R2 (x) > 0. Hence 1 + 21 x − 18 x2 ≤ 1 + x for x > 0.