THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

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

Solution to Homework 1

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. Domestic consumers in Hong Kong are usually billed for their water charges at 4-monthly intervals
according to the meter readings taken. The charges payable are calculated on a tariff structure
which consists of 4 tiers with progressively increasing prices. The tariff is so constructed to discour-
age excessive and unnecessary use of water:

ˆ the first tier of 12 cubic metres is free of charge;

ˆ the second tier of 31 cubic metres is charged at $4.16 per cubic metre;
ˆ the third tier of 19 cubic metres is charged at $6.45 per cubic metre; and
ˆ the fourth tier for any consumption above the level of 62 cubic metres is charged at $9.05 per
cubic metre.

(Source: Water Supplies Department, HKSAR)

Let x ≥ 0 be the number of cubic meters of water used by a family during a billing period and let
C(x) be the water charges (in dollars). Write down the function C(x) explicitly.
Ans:



 0 if 0 ≤ x ≤ 12




 4.16(x − 12) if 12 < x ≤ 43;


C(x) =
6.45(x − 43) + 4.16 × 31 if 43 < x ≤ 62;








9.05(x − 62) + 6.45 × 19 + 4.16 × 31 if 62 < x




 0 if 0 ≤ x ≤ 12




 4.16x − 49.92 if 12 < x ≤ 43;


=
6.45x − 148.39 if 43 < x ≤ 62;








9.05x − 309.59 if 62 < x

 3

2. Let f : R → R be a function defined by f (x) = x + 5 + |x + 2|.

(a) Rewrite f : R → R as a piecewise-defined function as the following:

 if x ≥ ;
f (x) =
if x < .


(b) By (a), draw the graph of the function f (x).

Ans:
(a) Rewrite f : R → R as a piecewise-defined function as the following:

 2x + 7 if x ≥ −2
f (x) =
3 if x < −2


(b)
 4

3. Let f : R → R be a function defined by

1


 e− x if x > 0;



f (x) = 1 if x = 0;




x2 − x + 1 if x < 0.


(a) Evaluate lim f (x), lim f (x) and f (0).

x→0− x→0+
(b) Does lim f (x) exist? Why?
x→0

Ans:

(a)

lim f (x) = lim− x2 − x + 1 = 1

x→0− x→0
1
lim f (x) = lim− e− x = 0
x→0+ x→0
f (0) = 1

(b) Since lim f (x) = 1 ̸= 0 = lim f (x), lim f (x) does not exist.
x→0− x→0+ x→0
 5

3x − 2−x
4. Let f (x) = . Evaluate each of the following limits.
4x + 2−x
(a) lim f (x)
x→0
(b) lim f (x)
x→∞
(c) lim f (x)
x→−∞

Ans:

(a) Note that lim 3x − 2−x = 0 and lim 4x + 2−x = 2 ̸= 0, so

x→0 x→0

3x − 2−x
lim f (x) = lim
x→0 x→0 4x + 2−x
lim (3x − 2−x )
x→0
=
lim (4x + 2−x )
x→0
0
=
2
= 0

(b)

3x − 2−x
lim f (x) = lim
x→∞ x→∞ 4x + 2−x
(3x − 2−x )/4x
= lim
x→∞ (4x + 2−x )/4x
3
( )x − 8−x
= lim 4
x→∞ 1 + 8−x
0 3
= (∵ lim ( )x = lim 8−x = 0)
1 x→∞ 4 x→∞
= 0

(c)

3x − 2−x
lim f (x) = lim
x→−∞ x→−∞ 4x + 2−x
(3x − 2−x )/2−x
= lim
x→−∞ (4x + 2−x )/2−x

6x − 1
= lim x
x→−∞ 8 + 1
−1
= (∵ lim 6x = lim 8x = 0)
1 x→−∞ x→∞
= −1

Remark: You may plot the graph of the function f (x) and see what happens!
 6

5. Let f : R → R be a function defined by

ax2 + bx


 2
if x > 0;
 2x + 3x



f (x) =

 2 if x = 0;



ex

if x < 0.

where a and b are real numbers.

Given that lim f (x) exists and lim f (x) = 1. Find the values of a and b.
x→0 x→∞
Ans:
Firstly,

lim f (x) = 1
x→∞
2
ax + bx
lim = 1
x→∞ 2x2 + 3x
b
a+
lim x = 1
x→∞ 3
2+
x
a = 1

Also, give that lim f (x) exists, so we have

x→0

lim f (x) = lim f (x)

x→0− x→0+
x2 + bx
lim− ex = lim+ (Put a = 1)
x→0 x→0 2x2 + 3x
x+b
lim ex = lim
x→0 − x→0 2x + 3
+

b
1 =
3
b = 3
 7

6. (Optional) Evaluate each of the following limits.

√3
x−3
(a) lim
x→27 x − 27
√
4 + 9x2
(b) lim
x→−∞ x
|x − 1|
(c) lim 2
x→1− x − 1

Ans:

(a)
√ √ √ √
3
x−3 x − 3 ( 3 x)2 + 3 3 x + 32
3

lim = lim · √ √
x→27 x − 27 x→27 x − 27 ( 3 x)2 + 3 3 x + 32
√
( 3 x)3 − 33
= lim √ √
x→27 (x − 27)(( 3 x)2 + 3 3 x + 32 )
x − 27
= lim √ √
x→27 (x − 27)(( 3 x)2 + 3 3 x + 32 )
1
= lim √ √
x→27 (( 3 x)2 + 3 3 x + 32 )
1
=
27
Recall: (a − b)(a2 + ab + b2 ) = a3 − b3
√
(b) Note that when x < 0, x = − x2 .
√ √
4 + 9x2 4 + 9x2
lim = √
lim
x→−∞ x x→−∞ − x2
r
4 + 9x2
= lim −
x→−∞ x2
r
4
= lim − +9
x→−∞ x2
= −3

(c) Note that x − 1 < 0 when x < 1. Therefore, |x − 1| = −(x − 1) when x < 1. Then,

|x − 1| −(x − 1)
lim = lim
x→1− x2 − 1 x→1− (x − 1)(x + 1)
−1
= lim−
x→1 x + 1
1
= −
2
 8

7. (Optional) Evaluate each of the following limits.

 3x
4
(a) lim 1 +
x→∞ x−2
 
3x + 2
(b) lim x ln
x→∞ 3x + 1
Ans:
(a)
 3x  12( x−2
4 )+6
4 1
lim 1+ = lim 1+ x−2
x→∞ x−2 x→∞
4
  x−2 !12  6
1 4
1
= lim 1 + x−2 1 + x−2
x→∞
4 4

= e12

(b)
   x
3x + 2 3x + 2
lim x ln = lim ln
x→∞ 3x + 1 x→∞ 3x + 1
 x
1
= lim ln 1 +
x→∞ 3x + 1
  13 (3x+1)− 13
1
= lim ln 1 +
x→∞ 3x + 1
3x+1 ! 13 3x+1 !− 31
 
 
1 1
= lim ln  1+ 1+ 
x→∞ 3x + 1 3x + 1
1
= ln(e 3 · 1)
1
=
3