Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Single Variable Calculus (MTH 111)
Hints for Exercise Sheet 4
1. To be discussed in the tutorial session
In (1) and (2), I ⊆ R is an open interval and a ∈ I.
(1) Show that the following are equivalent for any f : I −→ R:
(a) f is differentiable at a; and
(b) There exists f ∗ : I −→ R which is continuous at a and satisfies the following:
f (x) − f (a) = f ∗ (x)(x − a), ∀x ∈ I.
Consequently, f ′ (a) = f ∗ (a).

Solution. We first prove (1a) =⇒ (1b). Define the function


 f (x) − f (a)
∗ def if x ̸= a
f (x) = x−a . (1.1)
f ′ (a) if x = a.
Since f is differentiable at a, so lim f ∗ (x) = f ′ (a) = f ∗ (a), hence f ∗ is continuous at a.
x→a

Now we prove (1b) =⇒ (1a). Since f ∗ is continuous at a, so f ∗ (a) = lim f ∗ (x) =

x→a
f (x) − f (a)
lim . Hence f is differentiable at a and furthermore, one has f ′ (a) = f ∗ (a).
x→a x−a
(2) Suppose that f, g : I −→ R are differentiable at a ∈ I. Show the following:
(a) f ± g is differentiable at a and (f ± g)′ (a) = f ′ (a) ± g ′ (a).
(b) f g is differentiable at a and (f g)′ (a) = f ′ (a)g(a) + f (a)g ′ (a).
(c) If g(a) ̸= 0, there exists r > 0 such that (a − r, a + r) ⊆ I and g vanishes nowhere in
(a − r, a + r).
(d) Let g be as above in (2c). Then g1 : (a − r, a + r) −→ R is differentiable at a and
 ′
1 g ′ (a)
(a) = − .
g g(a)2
f
(e) Let g be as above in (2c). The function : (a − r, a + r) −→ R is differentiable at a and
 ′ g
′ ′
f g(a)f (a) − f (a)g (a)
(a) = .
g g(a)2
Sketch of the proof. All the statements (2a)-(2e) can be proved directly from the definition.
So the routine verification is left as an exercise.

In (3) and (4), we let I, J ⊆ R be open intervals, a ∈ I, f : I −→ J and g : J −→ R.

(3) Show that if f is differentiable at a and g is differentiable at f (a), then g◦f is also differentiable
at a and
(g ◦ f )′ (a) = g ′ (f (a))f ′ (a).

Solution. Using (1), we obtain two functions f ∗ and g ∗ such that f ∗ is continuous at a, g ∗
is continuous at f (a) and
∀x ∈ I, f (x) = f (a) + f ∗ (x)(x − a), (1.2)
1
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and
∀y ∈ J, g(y) = g(f (a)) + g ∗ (y)(y − f (a)) (1.3)
From (1.2) and (1.3), it follows that, for all x ∈ I, we have
g(f (x)) = g(f (a)) + g ∗ (f (x))(f (x) − f (a)) = g(f (a)) + g ∗ (f (x))f ∗ (x)(x − a).
From the continuity of f ∗ at a and that of g ∗ at f (a), the continuity of (g ∗ ◦ f )f ∗ at a is clear.
Hence g ◦ f is differentiable at a and (g ◦ f )′ (a) = g ∗ (f (a))f ∗ (a) = g ′ (f (a))f ′ (a).

g(f (x)) − g(f (a)) g(y) − g(f (a))

lim = lim .
x→a f (x) − f (a) y→f (a) y − f (a)
(4) Assume that f is continuous at a, g is differentiable at f (a) and ∀x ∈ I, g(f (x)) = x. Show
1
that, if g ′ (f (a)) ̸= 0 then f must be differentiable at a and f ′ (a) = ′ .
g (f (a))
Solution. Let {xn }∞
n=1 be a sequence in I \ {a} such that xn −−−→ a. This yields that ∀n ∈ N,
n→∞
f (xn ) ̸= f (a), otherwise, we would obtain g(f (xn )) = g(f (a)) =⇒ xn = a. Then
f (xn ) − f (a) 1
lim = lim x −a
n→∞ xn − a n→∞ n
f (xn ) − f (a)
1
= lim (1.4)
n→∞ g(f (xn )) − g(f (a))

f (xn ) − f (a)
As f is continuous at a, f (xn ) −−−→ f (a). Hence from (1.4), it follows that
n→∞

f (xn ) − f (a) 1
−−−→ ′ ,
xn − a n→∞ g (f (a))

since g ′ (f (a)) ̸= 0.
(5) Let I ⊆ R be an open interval and f : I −→ R be differentiable. Suppose that a, b ∈ I such
that a < b.
f (b) − f (a)
(a)∗ Assume that f ′ (a) ̸= . Then show that for any real number λ strictly in
b−a
f (b) − f (a)
between f ′ (a) and , there exists ξ ∈ (a, b) such that f ′ (ξ) = λ. (Hint: Use
b−a
IVT and MVT on appropriate functions.)
Solution. Consider the function φ : [a, b] −→ R defined as follows:

 f (x) − f (a)
def if x ̸= a
φ(x) = x−a .
f ′ (a) if x = a
Clearly φ is continuous on [a, b]. From IVT, we obtain that λ = φ(c), for some c ∈ (a, b).
We now apply MVT on f restricted to [a, c] to obtain ξ ∈ (a, c) such that
f (c) − f (a)
= f ′ (ξ).
c−a
Thus λ = f ′ (ξ).
f (b) − f (a)
(b) Assume that f ′ (b) ̸= . Then show that for any real number λ strictly in
b−a
f (b) − f (a)
between f ′ (b) and , there exists ξ ∈ (a, b) such that f ′ (ξ) = λ.
b−a
Sketch of the proof. Proceed in the exactly similar way to that of (5a).
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(c) Using (5a) and (5b) show that, if f ′ (a) ̸= f ′ (b), then for every real number λ strictly in
between f ′ (a) and f ′ (b), there exists ξ ∈ (a, b) such that f ′ (ξ) = λ.
f (b) − f (a) f (b) − f (a)
Solution. The main idea is to invoke . If is equal to f ′ (a) or
b−a b−a
f (b) − f (a)
f ′ (b) then the conclusion is immediate from (5b) or (5a) respectively. If ̸=
b−a
′ ′ ′ ′
f (a), f (b) then any number λ strictly in between f (a) and f (b) must lie strictly in
f (b) − f (a) f (b) − f (a)
between either f ′ (a) and or f ′ (b) and . The (5a) or (5b) applies,
b−a b−a
as the case may be.
(d) If f ′ is nowhere vanishing on I then show that f is strictly monotone.
Sketch of the proof. It follows from (5c) that either f ′ is strictly negative everywhere
in I or strictly positive everywhere in I.

(6) (a) Give an example showing that the MVT does not hold even if there is a single point in
the interior where the function is not differentiable.
Sketch of the proof. How about the function |x| on [−1, 1]?
(b) Consider the following functions on [0, 1]:
def def
f (x) = 3x4 − 2x3 − x2 + 1 and g(x) = 4x3 − 3x2 − 2x.
f ′ (x) f (1) − f (0)
Show that for no x ∈ (0, 1), ′ = . How do you reconcile this with that
g (x) g(1) − g(0)
you are supposed to obtain from Cauchy’s form of MVT?
Sketch of the proof. The verification is left as an exercise. For the second part, can
you see that g ′ has a zero in (0, 1)?
y−x y y − x
(7) (a) Using MVT prove that, for 0 < x < y, < log < .
y x x
def
Solution. We use the MVT for the function f : [x, y] −→ R, f (t) = log t, to obtain
y−x
a point c ∈ (x, y) such that log y − log x = . Since y1 < 1c < x1 , the conclusion is
c
immediate.
 x 
1 e −1
(b) Using MVT prove that, for x > 0, 0 < log < 1.
x x
def
Solution. Consider the function f : R −→ R, f (x) = xex − ex + 1. Clearly f ′ (x) =
xex + ex − ex = xex > 0, for all x > 0. Hence, for any x > 0, one obtains from MVT
x
that f (x) − f (0) > 0, which implies that f (x) > 0. Therefore, for any x > 0, ex > e x−1 .
Similarly, it can be established that ∀x > 0, ex > 1 + x.

(8) Consider an open interval I ⊆ R and a ∈ I. Find with proper justification whether the
following statement is true or false:

If f : I −→ R continuous on I and differentiable on I \ {a} and lim f ′ (x) exists then f

x→a
must be differentiable at a.
def
Solution. Put ℓ = lim f ′ (x). Let ε > 0. Then there exists δ > 0 such that
x→a

∀t ∈ I \ {a} ∩ (a − δ, a + δ), |f ′ (t) − ℓ| < ε (1.5)

Consider x ∈ I \ {a} ∩ (a − δ, a + δ). We apply MVT on f restricted to the closed and bounded
interval whose end points are a and x to obtain a point ξ lying strictly in between a and x
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such that f (x) − f (a) = f ′ (ξ)(x − a). Clearly ξ ∈ I \ {a} ∩ (a − δ, a + δ). Hence from (1.5) it
now follows that  
 f (x) − f (a)
− ℓ = |f ′ (ξ) − ℓ| < ε.


 x−a
Thus f is differentiable at a, and furthermore f ′ (a) = ℓ.

(9) Let p(x) be nonzero polynomial with real coefficient. Evaluate the following:
1
1 −
 
lim p e x.
x→0+ x

Sketch of the proof. For any nonnegative integer n, using L’Hospital’s rule, show that
xn
lim x = 0. Next show the following:
x→∞ e

def 1
Suppose f : (0, ∞) −→ R. Consider f ◦ φ, where φ : (0, 1) −→ R is defined by φ(x) = .
x
Then lim f (φ(x)) exists if and only if lim f (x) exists, and furthermore they are equal.
x→0 x→∞
1
1 −
From this, deduce that, for any nonnegative integer n, lim n e x = 0. The rest is left as
x→0+ x
an exercise.

2. Additional exercises
(1) Let I ⊆ R be an interval and f : I −→ R. Assume that f satisfies the intermediate value
property, i.e., whenever x, y ∈ I with x < y and f (x) ̸= f (y) and α is a number strictly in
between f (x) and f (y), there exists c ∈ (x, y) such that f (c) = α. Show that f can have only
essential discontinuities.
(2) Let I ⊆ R be an open interval and f : I −→ R be differentiable. Show that, if f ′ is monotone
then f ′ is continuous.
(3) Let I ⊆ R an open interval and f : I −→ R be continuous and strictly monotone. Assume
that f is differentiable at a and f ′ (a) ̸= 0. Show that f −1 is differentiable at f (a). Can you
find the derivative of f −1 at f (a)?
(4) Consider the following function:
 1
 −
def
f : R −→ R, f (x) = e x if x ≥ 0 . (2.1)
0 if x < 0


Show that f is infinitely differentiable everywhere.

(5) Let α ∈ R and f : (α, ∞) −→ R be differentiable. Show that if lim f (x) and lim f ′ (x) both
x→∞ x→∞
exist then lim f ′ (x) = 0.
x→∞
(6)∗ Let f : R −→ R be a differentiable function. Assume that there exists α ∈ (0, 1) such that
∀x ∈ R, |f ′ (x)| ≤ α. Show that there exists a unique x0 ∈ R such that f (x0 ) = x0 . (Hint:
For any x ∈ R, study the behaviour of the sequence x, f (x), f (f (x)), f (f (f (x))), . . . )