Summer 2023 Calculus I – Quiz 1

1. Evaluate lim f(x), where

x→0

sin(π/2x) if x = 1/n for some non-zero integer n,
f(x) =
x∥1/x∥ otherwise.

Here, ∥x∥ denotes the integer closest to x.

DNE since x ⌊1/x⌋ = 1 − x{1/x} → 1 as x → 0 by sandwich theorem. On the other hand,

every interval around 0 contains infinitely many reciprocals of integers at which the
function assumes the value 0, ±1.

2. Find the number of distinct real zeros (roots) of f(x) = 2x4 + x2 + 4x − 2.

f(−2), f(1) > 0 and f(0) < 0. Since f is continuous, it has at least 2 roots by IVT.

f ′ = 8x3 + 2x + 4, f ′′ (x) = 24x2 + 2 > 0.

By MVT, f ′′ > 0 implies f ′ is increasing. This means f ′ can have at most 1 zero. Since
f ′ (0) > 0 and f ′ (−1) < 0, it does have a zero in (−1, 0) by IVT. This shows f ′ has exactly
one root. By MVT again, it follows that f has at most 2 roots. Therefore, f has exactly
two roots.

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3. Find A for which


 1 − cos x if x ̸= 0
f(x) = 2 − cos(1/x)

 A if x = 0.

is differentiable at x = 0.

Taking A = 0 and using sandwich theorem, it follows that f ′ (0) exists since 1/(2 −
cos(1/x)) is bounded.

4. Why is the following argument incomplete?

There is no function g(x) defined on R whose derivative equals


x if x ⩾ 0
f(x) =
1 − x if x < 0,
since

x2 /2 if x ⩾ 0
g(x) = 2
x − x /2 if x < 0.

is defined for all x, but g ′ (x) ̸= f(x) for x = 0.

Correct this argument using Darboux’s Theorem, which states that if f ′ is defined for all x in [a, b],
then it has the intermediate value property (IVP) on [a, b].

This shows that one particular choice of g given above fails the claim. One should show
that no g has the property that g ′ = f for all x. The correct version should be
There is no function g whose derivative equals f(x) since f(x) does not have IVP
on, say, [−1/2, 1/2].

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5. True or False? (Explain in either case)

f(1 + h2 ) − f(1)
(a) If lim exists, then f ′ (1) exists.
h→0 h
False. Take f = |x|.

(b) If lim f(x4 − x2 ) exists, then so does lim f(x).

x→0 x→0

False since x − x → 0 as x → 0. Take f = |x|/x for example.

4 2 −

(c) If lim f(x) exists, then so does lim f(xsin(1/x)).

x→0 x→0

False. Take f(x) = 0 for x ̸= 0 and f(0) = 1.

(d) If f ′ (−1) < 0 and f ′ (1) > 0, then f ′ (c) = 0 for some c ∈ (−1, 1).
False. Take f = |x|.

(e) There is a function f defined on R, is discontinuous at every point, yet f(x)(1 − f(x)) is
differentiable everywhere.
f = 1 on Q and 0 otherwise.

(f) There is a function f defined on R, is discontinuous at every point, yet f2 (x) is differentiable
everywhere.
f = -1 on Q and 1 otherwise.

(g) There is a function f differentiable on R, yet f ′ (x) is not continuous at least for one x ∈ R.
f = x2 sin(1/x) for x ̸= 0, and f(0) = 0.

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6. Find the points on x3 y + y4 = x2 where the tangent is horizontal.

Differentiating wrt x gives

2 x − 3x 2 y
3x2 y + x3 y ′ + 4y3 y ′ = 2x =⇒ y ′ = =0
x3 + 4y3

if 2x = 3x2 y. If x = 0 then y = 0, hence y ′ is not defined. Hence x ̸= 0 and we get

y = 2/3x and inserting this in the given equation we get
r
2x2 16 16 6 16 2
+ 4
= x2 =⇒ x6 = =⇒ x = ± ,y = .
3 81x 27 27 3x

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7. Find the indicated asymptotes of f(x). (Need to prove your claims.)
x(x − 3)
(a) √ , vertical, horizontal, slant.
x2 − x
Vertical at 1 since
√ √
(x − 3) x −x(x − 3)
lim f = lim+ √ = −∞, lim− f = lim− √ = 0,
x→1+ x→1 x−1 x→0 x→0 1−x
and slant at ±∞ since
f x(1 − 3/x)
lim = lim = ±1,
x→±∞ |x| 1 − 1/x
p
x→±∞ x

and
 x−3   1 − 3/x 
lim (f − ±x) = lim x √ ∓ 1 = lim x ± p ∓1
x→±∞ x→±∞ x2 − x x→±∞ 1 − 1/x
 1 − 3/x 
= ± lim x p −1
x→±∞ 1 − 1/x
p
1 − 3/x − 1 − 1/x 1
= ± lim ·p
x→±∞ 1/x 1 − 1/x
√
1 − 3x − 1 − x 1
= ± lim · lim p
x→0 x−0 x→±∞ 1 − 1/x
 1  5
= ± −3 + √ =∓ .
2 1 − x x=0 2

Slant asymptotes can be written as |x − 5/2|.

(x − 1)(x − 3)
(b) √ , vertical
x2 − x
Only at x = 0 since
√
(x − 3) x − 1
lim f = lim+ √ = 0, lim f = +∞.
x→1+ x→1 x x→0−

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 √
(x − 3) x − 1
(c) √ , vertical, horizontal, slant
x3 + x
No vertical since no zeros in the denominator in [1, ∞), horizontal is y = 1 at ∞ since
p
(1 − 3/x) 1 − 1/x
lim f = lim p = 1.
x→∞ x→∞ 1 + 1/x2

√
(d) x2 − 3x + 1, slant
Slant are y = |x − 3/2| at ±∞ since

lim (f − |x − 3/2|) = lim (x − 3/2)2 + 1 − 9/4 − |x − 3/2|

p

x→±∞ x→±∞
q
1 − 4(x−53/2)2 − 1
= lim
x→±∞ 1/|x − 3/2|
p
1 − 5x2 /4 − 1 dp
= lim = 1 − 5x2 /4 = 0.
x→0 x dx x=0

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 √
3
(e) x3 − x2 − x + 1, slant
Slant at ±∞ is y = x − 1/3 since

f p
lim = lim 3 1 − 1/x − 1/x2 + 1/x3 = 1,
x→±∞ x x→±∞

and
f3 − x3 −1 − 1/x + 1/x2 1
lim (f − x) = lim 2 2
= lim 2
=− .
x→±∞ x→±∞ f + xf + x x→±∞ (f/x) + f/x + 1 3

x5 − x4 − 19x3 + 13x2 + 78x − 72

(f) , vertical
x2 − 1
Note that
x4 − 19x2 − 6x + 72
f(x) =
x+1
̸ 1. Since the numerator is not zero at x = −1, f(x) tends to ±∞ as x → −1± .
for x =
Thus , f has vertical asymptote only at x = −1.