NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
SEMESTER 2, 2023/2024
MA2002 Calculus Tutorial 3 (12/02 – 16/02)
T UTORIAL PART I
This part will be discussed during the tutorial session. Solution of selected questions (indi-
cated by ♦ ) from this part will be provided to demonstrate proper presentation of solution.
2x, if 0 ≤ x < 1,
1. Consider the function f (x) = 1, if x = 1,
−2x + 4, if 1 < x < 2.
♦
(i) Determine whether f (1) and lim f (x) exist. Is f continuous at x = 1?
x→1
(ii) Determine whether f (2) and lim− f (x) exist. Is f continuous at x = 2?
x→2
2. For each of the following functions, determine whether it is continuous at x = 1. Give a
proof if it is continuous, and state the type of discontinuity otherwise.
2
1
, if x 6= 1, x − x , if x 6= 1,
(a) ♦ f (x) = x −1 (b) ♦ f (x) = x2 − 1
2,
if x = 1.
1, if x = 1.
x, if x is rational,
(c) f (x) =
1, if x is irrational.
3. Show that each of the following equations has at least one real root.
♦
p 10
(a) sin x + x + 1 = 0. (b) x −3 = .
x −5
4. Using the definition of derivative, find the slope of the function’s graph at the given point.
Then find an equation for the tangent line of the graph there.
(a) ♦
f (x) = 4 − x 2 , at (−1, 3). (b) f (x) = x 3 , at (2, 8).
5. Is there a straight line that is tangent to both the curves y = x 2 and y = x 2 − 2x + 2? If so,
find its equation. If not, why not?
♦
6. Show that the function f (x) = |x + 2| is not differentiable at x = −2.
1
MA2002 CALCULUS TUTORIAL 3 2
♦
7. Let (
x2, if x ≤ 2,
f (x) =
mx + b, if x > 2.
Find the values of m and b that make f differentiable everywhere.
8. Find the derivatives of the following functions.
x2 − 4
µ
1
¶
♦ 2
(a) y = (x + 1) x + 5 + , (b) ♦ g (x) = ,
x x + 0.5
p
1+x −4 x x3 + x
(c) v = , (d) f (x) = 4 .
x x −2
T UTORIAL PART II
This part consists of relatively difficult questions to promote independent learning and in-
culcate critical thinking abilities. The questions will not be discussed during the tutorial
session. You may attempt them after you have gained a good understanding of the ques-
tions in Part I. The complete solution of this part will be provided later.
1. If a and b are positive numbers, prove that the equation
a b
+ =0
x 3 + 2x 2 − 1 x 3 + x − 2
has at least one solution in the interval (−1, 1).
2. Find the value of a for which the function
(
x 2 − 1, if x < 3,
f (x) =
2ax, if x ≥ 3,
is continuous at x = 3. For this value of a, is f differentiable at x = 3? Justify your answer.
3. (i) Let g be a function satisfying |g (x)| ≤ x 2 for −1 ≤ x ≤ 1. Show that g is differentiable
at x = 0 and find g ′ (0).
(ii) Show that the function
(
x 2 sin(1/x), if x 6= 0,
g (x) =
0, if x = 0,
is differentiable at x = 0 and find g ′ (0).
MA2002 CALCULUS TUTORIAL 3 3
Answers to Part I:
1. (a) yes, yes, no, (b) no, yes, no.
2. (a) infinite discontinuity, (b) removable discontinuity, (c) continuous.
4. (a) m = 2, y = 2x + 5, (b) m = 12, y = 12x − 16.
1
5. yes, y = x − .
4
7. m = 4, b = −4.
1 x2 + x + 4 1 3
8. (a) 3x 2 + 10x + 2 − , (b) , (c) − + 2x − 2 ,
x2 (x + 0.5)2 x 2
x 6 + 3x 4 + 6x 2 + 2
(d) − .
(x 4 − 2)2