THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

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

Homework 3

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. Evaluate the following limits.

2 1
(a) lim y(e y − 1) (Hint: Let x = .)
y→+∞ y
3x − 1
(b) lim (Hint: Let ax = e(ln a)x for any a > 0.)
x→0 2x − 1
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2. The size of a bird population t years (t ≥ 0) after the introduction of a new food source can be
modelled by the function
P (t) = 5000(12 + 8e−0.1t + te−0.1t ).
(a) What is the population at the time when the new food source is introduced?
(b) What will eventually happen to the bird population in the long run?
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3. The amounts (in grams) of chemical A and chemical B t hours (t ≥ 0) after the beginning of an
experiment can be modelled by the functions

10 3t
pA (t) = and pB (t) =
t+1 10
respectively. Show that the amounts of chemical A and chemical B will be the same at some time.
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4. Your good friend Peter is hopelessly confused. His answers were marked incorrect by his lecturer,
but he just couldn’t understand. Write a note to your friend helping him out.
e3x − 1
(a) Let f (x) = . Peter wrote
x
“Since f (x) is undefined at x = 0, lim f (x) does not exist.”
x→0
2
x − 2x − 3
(b) Let f (x) = . Peter wrote
x−3
“As x tends to 3, x − 3 tends to 0 and f (x) tends to infinity. Therefore, lim f (x) does not
x→3
exist.”
(c) Let  2
 x +1 if x ≥ 0;
f (x) =
2x if x < 0.


Peter wrote

“ lim− f (x) = lim− 2x = 1 and lim+ f (x) = lim+ x2 + 1 = 1.

x→0 x→0 x→0 x→0

We have lim− f (x) = lim+ f (x) and so f (x) is continuous at x = 0.”

x→0 x→0
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5. 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?
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6. 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
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x|x − 1|
7. (Optional) Let f (x) = .
x2 − 1
(a) Find the domain of the function f (x).
(b) Evaluate lim f (x) and lim f (x).
x→∞ x→−∞

(c) Does lim f (x) exist? Why?

x→1
(d) Does lim f (x) exist? Why?
x→−1

(Hint: To answer (b) to (d), it may be easier to rewrite f (x) as a piecewise defined function.)