MATH 131-CALCULUS I: HOMEWORK 6

Due: Wednesday, March 25

(1) State the formal definition of the following; give an example of a function satisfying
it in each case.
(a) limx→a+ f (x) = ∞,
(b) limx→a− f (x) = ∞,
(c) limx→a+ f (x) = −∞,
(d) limx→a− f (x) = −∞,
(e) limx→∞ f (x) = ∞,
(f) limx→∞ f (x) = −∞,
(g) limx→−∞ f (x) = ∞,
(h) limx→−∞ f (x) = −∞,
(2) Let f (x) and g(x) be functions such that limx→a f (x) = L > 0 and limx→a g(x) = 0.
Suppose moreover that g(x) > 0 on a deleted neighborhood of a. Prove that

f (x)
lim = ∞.
x→a g(x)

d
(3) Using the definition of derivatives, prove that [cos x] = sin x.
dx
(4) Using the quotient rule and the derivatives of sin x and cos x, verify the following:
d
(a) [cot x] = − csc2 x,
dx
d
(b) [sec x] = sec x tan x,
dx
d
(c) [csc x] = − csc x cot x.
dx
x+3
(5) Find the equation of the line tangent to the curve y = at x = 2.
1−x
(6) Show that the equation x3 − 15x + 1 = 0 has three roots in the interval [−4, 4]
(7) Prove all the differentiation rules except the product rule (which was done in class),
and the power rule. You may use limit laws freely.
d n
(8) Prove the power rule for derivative [x ] = nxn−1 , assuming that n is an integer.
dx
1
2

(9) For which values of a and b is the following function continuous?


 ax + 2b if x ≤ 0
g(x) = x2 + 3a − b if 0 < x ≤ 2
3x − 5 if x > 2


(10) Let h(x) be the function defined as follows:

 2
x if x ∈ Q
h(x) =
x3 if x ∈ R \ Q
Determine all the points where h(x) is differentiable. Prove your answer.