Physics Problem Set Limit of Functions

Peter Vuong
September 15th 2014
Mr.Demesie

Questions: Page 60, 61 #24, 27, 34, 37, Page 69#15, 17, 36.

24.

f ( x )=a x

Point (1, a)

We start with the slope of the secant line which is also knownas thedifference key quotient

f ( x) =

[ f ( x +h )f ( x ) ]
h

Since f ( x )=a x 3 , we canthis value find out what f ( x+ h ) is equivalent .

f ( x ) =a x

f ( x +h )=a ( x+ h )3
We can use this above equationit into the slope of the secant line which will
eventually let us find the slope of the tangent line of f ( x ) .This isbecause h is also x ,
which is assumed be a very small value .This makes sense because thetangent line of a
function occurs whenthe limit isapproaching zero ; thus obviously being a small value .
f ( x +h )=a ( x+ h )( x +h )2
f ( x +h )=a ( x+ h ) ( x 2 +2 xh+h2 )
f ( x +h )=a ( x 3+2 x 2 h+ x h2 +h x 2 +2 x h2 +h3 )
Here we can collect like terms :

f ( x +h )=a ( x 3+3 x 2 h+3 x h2 +h 3 )

Since the slope of the secant line is f ( x +h )f ( x ) , we are :

f ( x )= 3 x h+3 x h + h
h

2
2
f ( x )= h ( 3 x +3 xh+ h )
h

H cancels since we factored it out .

ms=3 x 2+3 xh+h 2
ms=slope of secant line ; mt=slope of tangent line
2

mt =lim 3 x +3 xh+h =3 x

h 0

Since ( 1, a ) isa coordinate point , we can say that a isalso y o that 1 is x o .

Rule :
y y 1=m(x x1 )
y a=a x3 ( xx 1 )
But first derivative rule states that if f ( x )=x n ,

df ( x )
=n x n1
dx

ya=3 a x 2 ( x1 )
y=3 a ( 1 ) ( x1 )+ a
y=3 ax2a
The equation for the line tangent the graph of f ( x )=a x 3 at point ( 1, a ) is y=3 ax2 a .
27.
So here we just fill in the table. Our initial position has to be assumed at

x o=2 .

f ( x )=x 33 x
f ( x o +h )=( x o +h )33 ( x o +h )
3
2
2
2
2
3
f ( x o +h )=( x +2 x h+ x h + h x +2 x h + h )( 3 x o +3 h )

f ( x o +h )=( x 3 +3 x 2 h+3 x h2+ h3 )3 x o 3 h

m s=

3 x 2 h+3 x h2+ h33 h

h

m s=

h ( 3 x 2+3 xh+h23 )
h

mt=lim 3 x 2+3 xh+ h23=3 x 23

h 0

So we all our valuesinto our new equation 3 x 2+3 xh+ h23

Table 1.3:

x0
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

0.1000
0.0100
0.0010
0.0001
-0.0001
-0.0010
-0.0100
-0.1000

f ( x 0+ h )f ( x 0 )
h
9.61
9.0601
9.006001
9.00060001
8.99939999
8.993999
8.9401
8.41

b) So we essentially already this this part in part a) when we found out our equation
to sub in these values.
Slope of the tangent line:
2

mt=lim 3 x +3 xh+ h 3
h 0

mt=3 x 3
2

m t=3 ( 2 ) 3

mt=9
The point ( 2,2 ) is whenthe slope of the tangent line is practically 0. There isno x .
34.
When two line are perpendicular their slope are the negative reciprocals of one
another. However, these line are parallel so their slopes are equivalent to each
other. It makes sense because if you had two horizontal lines that were parallel they
must have the same slope; same idea for any other parallel lines.
Instead of using the slope of the secant line we can just use first derivative since it
is much simpler and faster:

First derivate :
2

f ( x )=x +2 x +3
df ( x )
=2 x+2
x
Recall here that the 3 disappears becauseit is a CONSTANT , it has no slope like y=3.

Since the two lines areat tangency :

y=6 x +1
dy
=6 ( 1is a constant )
dx
df ( x ) dy
=
x
dx
2 x +2=6
x=2
Since we know they intersect at x=2 we just need to find the corresponding y value
now.

f ( 2 )= (2 ) +2 ( 2 ) +3
f ( 2 )=4+ 4+ 3
f ( 2 )=11
the tangent line of f ( x ) is y=6 x +1 at ( 2,11 )
However when we sub x=2 into

y=6 x +1, we get y=13. Thus , theequation must be y=6 x1.

Proof:

y=6 x +1

y=mx +b
11=6 ( 2 )+ b
1=b
37.
Information we need to fulfill:

Quadratic formula a x2 +bx +c where the y intercept is 0,5, contains point ( 1,2 )
has a tangent with slope 3 when x=2.
So since the y-intercept is obviously at the point x=0, we can let x=0 in the
quadratic formula.
2

a x + bx+ c
f ( 0 )=a+b +5
As a result, c = 5.

f ( 1 ) also equals2.
2=a+b +5
3=a+ b
Since c is a constant ,the first derivative ignores it .

mt=2ax +b
mt=3 when x=2
3=2 a (2)+b
3=4 a+ b
b=34 a
Since

3=a+ b ; a=3b

a=3( 34 a )
a=33+ 4 a
a=6 +4 a
3 a=6
a=2
b=34 ( 2 )=5
a=2, b=5, c=5
f ( x )=a x 2 +bx +c
f ( x )=2 x 25 x+5
Pages 69 onward:
15.
2

lim
h0

h 1

h1

If you 0 you obviously just end up with 0,but if we factor we can get the proper answer .

( h+1 )( h1 )
h1

 we are ( h+1 ) ( 0+1 )=1

17.

lim

x 2

x 2x6
x +2

The limit is obviously when x=2 becausethe denominator cannot reach0.

So when we sub In the value as x approaches -2, we get

0
.
0

(2 )2 (2 ) 6=0 ; (2+2 ) =0
However we can factor this expression to find a new indicated limit, assuming it
actually exist.
Factor:

x 2x6=( x3 ) ( x+2 )

( x+ 2 ) cancelswe are ( x3 )
Now we x=2 as it approachesthe limit :

(23 )=5
The new limit is x=5.
36.
This question is very similar to the one above:

lim
x4

x2
x4

If we x=4, we will get 0. 42=0. 44=0.

However, when we factor the expression we can find a new indicated limit, if
it exists:
1
1
1
x2
Now we are
.
= ( indicated limit )
( x +2 ) ( x 2 )
x +2 4+ 2 4