MATH 137 PRACTICE ASSIGNMENT 2.9, 2.10, 3.1, 3.

2 SOLUTIONS

1. You leave for Montreal on Friday morning at 10am. You eventually make it to your destination at
6pm. After a long weekend of partying you leave the next Monday morning at 10am taking the exact
same route and arriving back in Waterloo at 6pm.
Show that there is at least one time between 10am and 6pm where you will be at the same spot on
the road on Friday and Monday.

Solution: Let d1 (t) represent the distance from your house in Waterloo on the Friday. Let d2 (t)
represent the distance from your house in Waterloo on the Monday. In both cases t = 0 will
correspond to 10am and be measured in hours.
Finally, let M > 0 represent the distance between Waterloo and Montreal.
The function g(t) = d1 (t) − d2 (t) satisfies

g(0) = d1 (0) − d2 (0) = 0 − M = −M

and
g(8) = d1 (8) − d2 (8) = M − 0 = M

We see that g(0) < 0 and g(8) > 0 and so by IVT there is some number c with 0 < c < 8 such that
g(c) = 0. This means that

g(c) = 0 = d1 (c) − d2 (c) ⇒ d1 (c) = d2 (c)

i.e. the distance from your house is the same (and thus you are at the same spot on the route) at
the exact time t = c.

2. Consider the polynomial p(x) = x6 + x − 1.

(a) Prove that the polynomial has a root between x = 0 and x = 1.

1
(b) Find an interval of length that contains a root of p(x).
2
Solution:

(a) First, we note that p(x) is continuous because it is a polynomial. Also, since p(0) = −1 < 0
and p(1) = 1 > 0, we can conclude that there exists a point c ∈ (0, 1) so that p(c) = 0 by the
IVT. That is, p(x) has a root between x = 0 and x = 1.
 
1 1 31
(b) Checking the midpoint of the interval in part (a), x = , we see that p = − < 0, so by
2 2  64
1 1 1
the IVT there exists a root between x = and x = 1. Also, the interval , 1 is length , so
2 2 2
1
this interval is an interval of length that contains a root of p(x).
2
3. For each function below, determine if the EVT applies to the function on the given domain. If it
does, find the points where f achieves its global max or global min. If the EVT does not apply, then
determine if f achieves its global max/min or not.
(
x2 0≤x≤2
(a) f (x) = 2
(x − 4) 2 < x ≤ 3
(
ex x<0
(b) f (x) = −x
e x≥0
(c) f (x) = 4 for x ∈ [−1, 6]
(
sin(x) 0 ≤ x < π2
(d) f (x) =
cos(x − π2 ) π2 < x ≤ π
|x|
(e) f (x) = for x ∈ [−2, 2]
x
Solution:

For each function we require:

• continuity
• a closed interval
If either of those don’t hold then we cannot guarantee, at least not based on the EVT, that we will
achieve a global max and min. It is possible that we do actually achieve one or the other but it would
not be due to having satisfied the EVT.

(a) YES
This function is continuous on the closed interval [0, 3]. Note that at x = 2 the left side gives
us f (2) = 4 and limx→2+ (x − 4)2 = 4.
Thus the EVT guarantees there are two values c and d such that f (x) ≤ f (c) and f (d) ≤ f (x)
for all x ∈ [0, 3]. In this case we actually have f (x) ≤ 4 and 0 ≤ f (x) so that c = 2 and d = 0.
(b) NO
This function is continuous for all real numbers. However we are not looking at a closed interval
and so, by the EVT, we are not guaranteed to achieve an global max/min.
This particular function does have a global max at x = 0 but does not have a global min.
(c) YES
The function f (x) = k for any real number k is continuous for all x. Since we are looking at
the closed interval [−1, 6] the the EVT guarantees that f will achieve a global max and min. In
this particular case the max and min are the same and are achieved for all values of x.
(d) NO
Here the function is not continuous at x = π2 since it is not defined there. Thus, by the EVT
we are not guaranteed it achieves a max and min on the interval [0, π].
If we had changed the definition to not being a strict inequality at π2 then we would have had
a continuous function and a closed interval. h π
Now, for the second part of the question: we see that sin(x) is increasing on 0, and
2
 π   π i
cos x − is decreasing on , π . Therefore, a global minimum is achieved x = 0 and
2 2
x = π, and a global maximum is not achieved.
 (e) NO
The interval [−2, 2] is closed, however the function |x|
x
is not continuous at x = 0 and so, by the
EVT, we are not guaranteed to achieve a global max nor a global min.
Note that for this function we actually do achieve both a global max and a global min. Any
x ∈ (0, 2] achieves the max and any x ∈ [−2, 0) achieves the min.

4. Let f and g be continuous on [a, b]. For each statement below argue why it is true or provide a
counterexample.

(a) If h = f + g then h achieves its global max and min on [a, b].
(b) If h = f g then h achieves its global max and min on [a, b].
f
(c) If h = then h achieves its global max and min on [a, b].
g
(d) If h = g ◦ f then h achieves its global max and min on [a, b].

Solution:

(a) This statement is true. Since both f (x) and g(x) are continuous on [a, b] then by Continuity of
Sums the function h(x) is continuous on [a, b] and thus by the EVT it achieves its max and min
on [a, b].
(b) This statement is true. Since both f (x) and g(x) are continuous on [a, b] then by Continuity of
Products the function h(x) is continuous on [a, b] and thus by the EVT it achieves its max and
min on [a, b].
(c) This statement is false in general. For example f (x) = x and g(x) = x2 are both continuous
f (x) 1
on [−1, 1] but h(x) = = is not continuous on [−1, 1] and so (at least by the EVT) we
g(x) x
are not guaranteed that it achieves its max and min. Indeed this function achieves neither as
limx→0+ h(x) = ∞ and limx→0− h(x) = −∞.
1
(d) This statement is false in general. For example let f (x) = x2 for x ∈ R and g(x) = x−4 for x ∈ R
1
where x 6= 4. These are both continuous on [1, 3] but h(x) = g(f (x)) = x2 −4 is not continuous
at x = 2. This means that (at least by the EVT) we are not guaranteed that it achieves its
max and min on [1, 3]. Indeed this function does not achieve either since limx→2+ h(x) = ∞ and
limx→2− h(x) = −∞.

5. For the displacement function, s(t) = −9.8t2 +30t+12, determine the instantaneous velocity at t = 1.

Solution:

−9.8(1 + h)2 + 30(1 + h) + 12 − (−9.8(1)2 + 30(1) + 12)

v(t0 ) = lim
h→0 h
2
−9.8 − 19.6h − 9.8h + 30 + 30h + 12 + 9.8 − 30 − 12
= lim
h→0 h
10.4h − 9.8h2
= lim
h→0 h
= lim 10.4 − 9.8h
h→0
= 10.4
6. For each of the following, determine the value of f 0 (a) using the definition of the derivative.
(a) f (x) = x4 , a = 2
√
(b) f (x) = x − 2, a = 9
3
(c) f (x) = 2 , a = −3
x +7
(d) (BONUS)
1
f (x) = √ √ ,a=7
x−3+ x+2
Solution:

(a)
(2 + h)4 − 24
f 0 (2) = lim
h→0 h
16 + 32h + 24h2 + 8h3 + h4 − 16
= lim
h→0 h
= lim 32 + 24h + 8h + h3
2
h→0
= 32
(b)
p √
(9 + h) − 2 − 9 − 2
f 0 (9) = lim
√h √
h→0
√ √
7+h− 7 7+h+ 7
= lim ·√ √
h→0 h 7+h+ 7
7+h−7
= lim √ √

h→0 h 7+h+ 7
1
= lim √ √

h→0 7+h+ 7
1
= √
2 7
(c)
3 3
0 (−3+h)2 +7
− (−3)2 +7
f (−3) = lim
h→0
 h 
1 1 1
= 3 lim − ·
h→0 (−3 + h)2 + 7 16 h
2
 
3 16 − [(−3 + h) + 7] 1
= lim ·
16 h→0 (−3 + h)2 + 7 h
2
 
3 16 − (9 − 6h + h + 7) 1
= lim ·
16 h→0 (−3 + h)2 + 7 h
2
 
3 6h − h 1
= lim 2
·
16 h→0 (−3 + h) + 7 h
3 6−h
= lim
16 h→0 (−3 + h)2 + 7
9
=
128
(d)

√ 1√
− √ 1√
7−3+ 7+2
0 (7+h)−3+ (7+h)+2
f (7) = lim
h→0 h
1√ 1√ 1 1
√
4+h+ 9+h
−
4+h+ 9+h 5
√ + 5
= lim · 1√ 1
h→0 h √
4+h+ 9+h
+ 5
√ 1√ 1
− 25
(4+h)+2 4+h 9+h+(9+h)
= lim  
h→0 1√ 1
h √
4+h+ 9+h
+ 5
√ √
1 (13+2h)−2 4+h 9+h 1
√ √
(13+2h)+2 4+h 9+h
· √ √
(13+2h)−2 4+h 9+h
− 25
= lim  
h→0 1√
h
4+h+ 9+h
+ 51
√
√ √
(13+2h)−2 4+h 9+h 1
169+52h+4h2 −4(4+h)(9+h)
− 25
= lim  
h→0 1√
h √
4+h+ 9+h
+ 15
√ √
(13+2h)−2 4+h 9+h 1
169+52h+4h2 −144−52h−4h2
− 25
= lim  
h→0 1√ 1
h √
4+h+ 9+h
+ 5
√ √
(13+2h)−2 4+h 9+h 1
− 25
= lim  25 
h→0 1√ 1
h √
4+h+ 9+h
+ 5
√ √
(12 + 2h) − 2 4 + h 9 + h
= lim  
h→0
25h √4+h+1 √9+h + 51
√ √ √ √
2 (6 + h) − 4 + h 9 + h (6 + h) + 4 + h 9 + h
= lim   · √ √
25 h→0 h √ 1 √ +5 1 (6 + h) + 4 + h 9+h
4+h+ 9+h

2 (6 + h)2 − (4 + h)(9 + h)
= lim   √ √
25 h→0 h √ 1√
+ 1
6+h+ 4+h 9+h


4+h+ 9+h 5
2 −h
= lim   √ √
25 h→0 h √ 1√
+ 1
6+h+ 4+h 9+h


4+h+ 9+h 5
2 −1
= · 1

1
25 5
+ (6 + 6)
5
1
= −
60
7. Determine the equation of the tangent line to f (x) = −4x3 + 3x − 1 at x = −2 using the definition
of the derivative.
Solution:
−4(−2 + h)3 + 3(−2 + h) − 1 − (−4(−2)3 + 3(−2) − 1)
f 0 (−2) = lim
h→0 h
2 3
−4(−8 + 12h − 6h + h ) − 6 + 3h − 1 − (32 − 6 − 1)
= lim
h→0 h
−45h + 24h2 − 4h3
= lim
h→0 h
= lim −45 + 24h − 4h2
h→0
= −45

We also have that f (−2) = 25, so the equation of the tangent is y = 25 − 45(x + 2), or y = −45x − 65.

8. Show that f (x) = | sin x| is continuous but not differentiable for any x ∈ {kπ, k ∈ Z}.

Solution: To show continuity, we simply notice that f (x) is the composition of two continuous
functions, namely |x| and sin(x), so it is continuous everywhere. Alternatively, we could note that
| sin(kπ)| = |0| = 0 for all k ∈ Z. Now let k0 ∈ Z. Then

lim f (x) = lim | sin(x)|

x→k0 π − x→k0 π −
= 0

and

lim f (x) = lim | sin(x)|

x→k0 π + x→k0 π +
= 0

so
lim f (x) = f (x) = 0
x→k0 π

meaning f (x) is continuous for any k0 ∈ Z.

Now the derivative, if it exists, would be

| sin(k0 π + h)| − | sin(k0 π)| | sin(k0 π) cos h + cos(k0 π) sin h| − |0|

lim = lim
h→0 h h→0 h
|(0) · cos h + (1) · sin h|
= lim
h→0 h
| sin h|
= lim
h→0 h

Looking at the left-hand and right-hand separately:

| sin h| − sin h
lim− = lim− (since for any h ∈ (−π, 0) , we know that sin h < 0).
h→0 h h→0 h
= −1
while
| sin h| sin h
lim+ = lim+ (since for any h ∈ (0, π) , we know that sin h > 0).
h→0 h h→0 h
= 1

So the limit does not exist, and thus f (x) is not differentiable for any x ∈ {kπ, k ∈ Z}.