Applied Analysis A 2023

JM Robbins

Problem Sheet # 3
Due: Monday 9 November

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1. Practice with composition [15 marks]

(a) Let i(x) = x denote the identity function, and let f : R → R be an

arbitrary function. Show that

f ◦ i = i ◦ f = f.

(b) Let fc (x) = c denote the constant function equal to c for all x, and
f : R → R be an arbitrary function. Show that

fc ◦ f = fc , f ◦ fc = ff (c) .

(c) Define the function fa,m : R → R by

fa,m (x) = axm ,

where a ∈ R and m is a positive integer. Show that

fa,m ◦ fb,n = fc,p

for some c and p, which you should determine in terms of a, b, m and n.

2. Suppose that f : R → R is continuous. Let g(x) = f (ax) for some fixed

a ∈ R, and let h(x) = f (x2 ). Using the fact that constant functions and
the identity function are continuous along with Propositions 6.3.3 and 6.3.4
from the Lecture Notes, explain why the functions g and h are continuous.
[10 marks]

Suggestion: Show that the functions g and h can built from f , i and fa . For
example, note that the function given by the product of fa and i, namely fa i,
is given by (fa i)(x) = ax.

3. (a) Suppose you climb a mountain, setting off from the base at 6am and
reaching the summit at 6pm, where you camp for the night. The next
morning, you set off from the summit at 6 am and reach the base at 6
pm, having followed the same path as the day before. Show that there
is at least one time between 6 am and 6 pm when you were at the same
 place on both days. [5 marks]

Suggestion: Let x1 (t) and x2 (t) denote your positions on Days 1 and 2,
and apply the Intermediate Value Theorem to y = x1 − x2 .

(b) Show that the equation

sin(πx/2) = x2 − 1

has a solution in the interval (0, 1) (you may assume that sin x is con-
tinuous). [5 marks]

Suggestion: Apply the Intermediate Value Theorem to 1−x2 +sin(πx/2).

(c) Suppose f : R → R has the following property: If a 6= b and f (a) 6=

f (b), then for any u in the interval between f (a) and f (b), there exists
a c in the interval between a and b such that f (c) = u. Is f necessarily
continuous? If so, this would be a converse to the Intermediate Value
Theorem. It may be helpful to assume (as is the case) that the trigono-
metric functions sin x and cos x are continuous. [15 marks].

Suggestion: The function from Example 6.2.2 e) from the Lecture Notes
provides a counterexample. As shown in the notes, it is not continuous.
Show that it has the stated property.

4. Let
f : [0, ∞) → R; x 7→ f (x) = x1/2 .

(a) Show that f is continuous at all x0 ≥ 0. [15 marks]

√ √
Suggestion: You want to √ show
√
that √ x −√ x0 | is small when |x − x0 |
|
is small. The identity ( x − x0 )( x + x0 ) = x − x0 is useful.

(b) Using the preceding result and Definition 7.2.1 for the derivative, show
that for x0 > 0,
1
f 0 (x0 ) = √ .
2 x0
[15 marks]
√ √ √
Suggestion:
√ Evaluate g(h) = ( x0 + h− x0 )/h. The identity ( √x0 + h−
√ √
x0 )( x0 + h + x0 ) = h is useful. You can use the fact that x0 + h
is continuous in h for h > −x0 , which follows from part a).

(c) With f as above and x0 > 0, evaluate

r(h) = f (x0 + h) − f (x0 ) − f 0 (x0 )h

 and show that
lim r(h) → 0.
[15 marks]

Suggestion: See part b)

(d) Using the approximation

√ f (x0 + h) ≈ f (x0 ) + f 0 (x0 )h, find the approx-
imate value of 4.1. [5 marks]
√
Suggestion: Let f (x) = x, x0 = 4 and h = 0.1.