MATH 313

1. True or False. The two functions f and g defined by (x) = 3x + 3 for x real and
g(t) = 3t + 3 for t real and positive are equal?
Answer :
False. Two functions are equal if their rules are equal and their domains are
the same.

2. If functions f and g have domains Df and Dg respectively, then the domain

of f / g is given by
(A) the union of Df and Dg
(B) the intersection of Df and Dg
(C) the intersection of Df and Dg without the zeros of function g
(D) None of the above
Answer :
(C). Division by zero is not allowed in mathematics. Students tend to forget
this point.

3. True or False. The graph of f(x) and that of f(x + 2) are the same
Answer :
False. The graph of f(x + 2) is that of f(x) shifted 2 units to the left.

4. Let the closed interval [a , b] be the domain of function f. The domain of f(x
- 3) is given by
(A) the open interval (a , b)
(B) the closed interval [a , b]
(C) the closed interval [a - 3 , b - 3]
(D) the closed interval [a + 3 , b + 3]
Answer :
(D). The graph of f(x - 3) is that of f(x) shifted 3 units to the right. To shift
the closed interval [a , b] to the right you need to add 3 units to the
endpoints a and b of the interval.

5. Let the interval (a , +infinity) be the range of function f. The range of f(x) - 4
is given by
(A) the interval (a - 4 , +infinity)
MATH 313

(B) the interval (a + 4, +infinity)

(C) the interval (a, +infinity)
(C) None of the above
Answer :
(A). If the range of f is given by the interval (a , +infinity), we can write the
following inequality

f(x) > a
add - 4 to both sides on the inequality to obtain
f(x) - 4 > a - 4
The last inequality suggests that the range of f(x) - 4 is (a - 4, +infinity)

6. True or False. The equation y = | x | , with y >= 0, represents y as a function

of x.
Answer :
True.

7. True or False. The equation x = | y | , with x >= 0, represents y as a function

of x.
Answer :
False. Solve for y to find that y = | x | or y = -| x |; for one value of the
independent variable x we have two values of the dependent variable y.

8. True or False. The domain of a function is the set of all real values for which
the function is real valued.
Answer :
True.

9. True or False
The sign of the first derivative of a given function f informs you on the
interval(s) where f(x) is positive, negative or equal to zero.
Answer :
False.
The sign of the first derivative informs you on the interval(s) where f is
increasing, decreasing or constant.

10.True or False. The sign of the second derivative of a given function f informs
you on the concavity of the graph of f.
MATH 313

Answer :
True.

11.True or False. Any value of x that makes the denominator of rational

function f equal to zero, represents a vertical asymptote to the graph of f.
Answer :
False.
Not always. Let f(x) = (x + 3) / (x 2 -9).
Factor the denominator and simplify to obtain f(x) = 1 / (x - 3)
Although x = - 3 makes the denominator equal to 0 there is no vertical
asymptote at x = - 3; in fact there is a hole.

12.True or False. A horizontal asymptote may intersect the graph of the

function.
Answer :
True.
Example: f(x) = sin x / x

13.True or False. The x intercepts of the graph of a function corresponds to the

zeros of the function.
Answer : True

14.True or False. A graph cannot cut its vertical asymptote.

Answer :
True.