THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS
MATH1520C University Mathematics for Applications 2023-24 Second Term

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

1


 e− x if x > 0;



f (x) = 1 if x = 0;




 2
x 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
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x2 − 8x + 15
3. Let f (x) = .
|x − 3|
(a) Find the maximum domain of the function f (x).
(b) Rewrite f : R → R as a piecewise-defined function as the following:

 if ;
f (x) =
if .


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

(d) Does lim f (x) exist? Why?
x→3
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3x − 3−x
4. Let f (x) = . Evaluate each of the following limits.
3x + 5−x
(a) lim f (x)
x→0
(b) lim f (x)
x→∞
(c) lim f (x)
x→−∞
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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→∞
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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
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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