THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS
MATH1520A/B University Mathematics for Applications 2023-24 First Term

Homework 4

Name: Student No.:

Class:

I acknowledge that I am aware of University policy and regulations on hon-

esty in academic work, and of the disciplinary guidelines and procedures appli-
cable to breaches of such policy and regulations, as contained in the website
http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/

Signature Date

Instructions:

Optional question will NOT be counted. However, you are still encouraged to attempt ALL
questions for your own good.

Points will only be awarded for answers with sufficient justifications.

Please submit your work to Gradescope. For each question, you must indicate exactly
which page(s) its answer is located. Otherwise, your work cannot be marked.
 2

1. Let f (x) be a function defined by

 2
 x +1 if x ≥ 0,
f (x) =
ex if x < 0.


(a) Show that f (x) is continuous at x = 0.

(b) Is f (x) differentiable at x = 0? Why?
 3

2. Suppose that 
 ax + b if x ≥ 0,
f (x) =
e2x if x < 0,


where a and b are real numbers.

Given that f is differentiable at x = 0. Find the values of a and b.
ex − 1
(Hint: f is differentiable at x = 0 implies that f is continuous at x = 0. Also, lim = 1.)
x→0 x
 4

dy
3. Find if
dx
√ 1
(a) y = 3
x− √
4
x

(b) y = ex (x2 + 3x)

(c) y = x2 sin x + ex

ex
(d) y =
x2
+3
x cos x
(e) y =
x+1
 5

4. The diagram below shows the graph of a differentiable function f (x).

Draw the graph of the derivative function f ′ (x) on the same diagram.
 6

5. Let f (x) = x2 + 3x + 4.
(a) Find the equation of the tangent line to the graph of f (x) at x = −3.
(b) i. Let a ∈ R. Find the equation of the tangent line to the graph of f (x) at x = a. Express
your answer in terms of a.
ii. Hence, find the equation(s) of the tangent line(s) to the graph of f (x) passing through
(3, 18).
 7

6. (Optional) To prevent the disaster in the previous homework, your good friend Peter seeks your
help to proofread his work before the submission. Determine whether Peter is correct in each of
the following questions.

(a) Let f (x) be a function defined by

 x
 e if x ≥ 0,
f (x) =
1 if x < 0.


Is f differentiable at x = 0? Why?

Peter’s answer:
Yes. When x ≥ 0, we have f (x) = ex , and so f ′ (x) = ex . Then, f is differentiable at x = 0
and f ′ (0) = 1.

(b) Let f (x) = x|x|. Is f differentiable at x = 0? Why?

Peter’s answer:
No. Since the function y = |x| is not differentiable at x = 0, f (x) = x|x| is not differentiable
at x = 0.