Assignment – 1

(Concept of Limit, Continuity and Differentiability)

Each of Question 1–4 gives a function ƒ(x) and numbers L, c, and ε > 0. In each case, find an open interval about c
f (x ) − L < ε
on which the inequality holds. Then give a value for δ > 0 such that for all x satisfying
0 < x − c < δ ⇒ f (x ) − L < ε

1. ƒ(x) = 2x - 2, L = —6, c = —2, ε = 0.02

2. ƒ(x) = (x – 7)1/2, L = 4, c = 23, ε = 1

3. ƒ(x) = x2, L = 4, c = —2, ε = 0.5
4. ƒ(x) = 120/x, L = 5, c = 24, ε = 1

Using the Formal Definition in questions 5–8, where given a function ƒ(x), a point c, and a positive number ε . Find a
0 < x − c < δ ⇒ f (x ) − L < ε
number δ > 0 such that for all x,
5. ƒ(x) = —3x — 2, c = —1, ε = 0.03

x2 − 4
f (x ) = , c = 2, ε = 0.05
6. x−2

f (x ) = 1 − 5 x , c = −3, ε = 0.5
7.
4
f (x ) = , c = 2, ε = 0.4
8. x

x−a
, x<0
{ 2
a+1
9. For what values of a is g(x) = continuous at every x ?
x + a, x > 0

Use limits to determine the equations for all asymptotes of the functions in 10-12:

x2 + x − 6 1 − x2
y= 2 y= 2 x2 + 9
10. x + 2x − 8 11. x +1 12. y =
9x 2 + 1
13. The accompanying figure shows the velocity v = ds/dt = ƒ(t) measured in m/sec of a body moving along a
coordinate line.

(a) When does the body reverse direction?

(b) When (approximately) is the body moving at a constant speed?

(c) Graph the body’s speed for 0 ≤ t ≤ 10 .

(d) Graph the acceleration, where defined.

In Questions 14–15, find the linearization L(x) of ƒ(x) at x = a.

1
f (x ) = x + , a = 1
14. x 15. f (x) = ta n x, at x = − π /4

1
16. Find equation of all lines having slope (—1) that tangent to the curve y = .
x −1

{x 1/3, x < 0
x 2/3, x ≥ 0
17. Determine if the piecewise-defined function is differentiable at the origin g(x) =

18. Find the values of a and b that make the function differentiable for all x values

{bx 2 − 3,x ≤ − 1
a x + b, x > − 1
g(x) =