Calculus and its Applications

MATH08058 Solutions and comments August 2022

1. Let the function f be defined by f (x) = e2x + e−x , for all x ∈ R.

(a) Find the unique critical point, and show that f takes on a local minimum there. [5 marks]
(b) Deduce all intervals in R on which f is increasing and all intervals on which it is decreasing.
[3 marks]

(c) Discuss the concavity properties of f , and determine all inflection points if they exist.
[2 marks]
(d) Show that the local minimum found in part (a) is, in fact, an absolute minimum.
[2 marks]

Solution:
(a) Since f is a combination of exponential functions that are differentiable on all of R, it is
differentiable everywhere; hence, critical points are found for f 0 (c) = 0 only. [1 mark]
Since f 0 (x) = 2e2x − e−x , we find
1 1
f 0 (c) = 0 = e−c (2e3c − 1) for e3c = or c = − ln 2 ≈ −0.2310,
2 3
as e−c 6= 0 always. [2 marks]
To show that f takes on a local minimum at this unique critical point, we perform the
Second Derivative Test: given f 00 (x) = 4e2x + e−x , we have
2 1
f 00 (c) = 4e− 3 ln 2 + e 3 ln 2 = 4 · 2−2/3 + 21/3 = 24/3 + 21/3 = 3 · 21/3 > 0,

as required. [2 marks]
(b) Recalling the expression for f 0 from above, as well as that

f 0 (x) = e−x (2e3x − 1), with e−x > 0 always,

we see that f 0 (x) > 0 for x > c and f 0 (x) < 0 for x < c, with c = − 31 ln 2 as above.
[2 marks]
Hence, the function f is increasing on (c, ∞) and decreasing on (−∞, c). [1 mark]

(c) Since f 00 (x) = 4e2x + e−x > 0 for any x ∈ R, the function f is concave up everywhere;
[1 mark]
in particular, as there is no change in concavity, no inflection points exist. [1 mark]
(d) We note that limx→−∞ f (x) = ∞, as e2x → 0 and e−x → ∞ in that limit; similarly,
limx→∞ f (x) = ∞, as e2x → ∞ and e−x → 0 then. Since f is continuous – and, in fact,
concave up everywhere – it follows that f takes on an absolute minimum at the unique
critical point which is located at x = c, by part (a); [2 marks]
see below for the graph of f .

Comment: Standard problem that is similar to practised examples; while students may find part
(d) more challenging, similar problems were covered in live classes.
2.

(a) Find the derivative of g(x) = √1x from first principles, i.e., using only the definition and none
of the rules of differentiation. [5 marks]

(b) Evaluate the following limits, if they exist.

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 Calculus and its Applications
MATH08058 Solutions and comments August 2022

(i) √
lim xe−x/2 ;
x→∞

[4 marks]
(ii)
lim x2 cos 1


x2 .
x→0

[5 marks]

Solution:
g(x+h)−g(x)
(a) We recall that g 0 (x) = limh→0 h , [1 mark]
which implies
√1 √1
√ √
x+h
− x− x+h
x
g 0 (x) = lim √ √= lim
h→0 h h→0 h x + h x
√ √ √ √ 
x− x+h x+ x+h
= lim √ √ ·√ √
h→0 h x+h x x+ x+h
−h
= lim √ √ √ √

h→0 h x + h x x+ x+h
−1 1 1
=√ √ √
=− √ .
x x 2 x 2x x

[4 marks]
(b) (i) Since the limit is of the indeterminate form “∞ · 0”, we rewrite it as
√
√ x
lim xe−x/2 = lim x/2 ,
x→∞ x→∞ e

[1 mark]
∞
which is now indeterminate of the form “∞ ”. [1 mark]
Hence, we can apply L’Hôpital’s Rule to find
√ 1 √1
x 2 x
lim = lim = 0,
x→∞ ex/2 x→∞ 1 ex/2
2

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 Calculus and its Applications
MATH08058 Solutions and comments August 2022

as the numerator goes to zero, while the denominator tends to infinity. [2 marks]
e−x/2
(Note that rewriting the limit as limx→∞ √1
, which is of the form “ 00 ”, is not
x
productive, as L’Hôpital’s Rule achieves no reduction in that case.)
(ii) We apply the Squeeze Theorem: [1 mark]
since −1 ≤ cos
x12 ≤ 1, we can write f (x) ≤ g(x) ≤ h(x), where f (x) = −x2 ,

g(x) = x2 cos x12 , and h(x) = x2 . As

lim f (x) = 0 = lim h(x),

x→0 x→0

[3 marks]
1
2


it follows that limx→0 g(x) = 0 = limx→0 x cos x2 . [1 mark]

Comment: Mostly standard problem that is similar to practised examples; while students may
find part (b)(ii) slightly challenging, similar limits are covered in the textbook.
3. Let the function f be defined on [0, 2π] by f (x) = x − 2 cos x.
(a) Find the value of x ∈ (0, 2π) at which the tangent line to the graph of f has slope 2.
[4 marks]
(b) Give an equation for the tangent line in standard form at that x-value. [4 marks]

Solution:
(a) Since f 0 (x) = 1 + 2 sin x, [1 mark]
0
we need to find c ∈ (0, 2π) such that f (c) = 2 = 1 + 2 sin c, which implies
1 π
or c = sin−1 1


sin c = 2 = ,
2 6
due to the range of the arcsine being [− π2 , π2 ]. [3 marks]
(Note that one can show geometrically that c = 56 π also gives an admissible solution.)
√
(b) To find the equation of the tangent line, we note that f (c) = c−2 cos c = π6 − 3. [1 mark]
Hence, and given mtan = 1 + 2 sin π6 = 2 for the slope, we have

√
√
y − π6 − 3 = 2 x − π6 , which implies 2x − y = π6 + 3

in standard form, as illustrated below. [3 marks]

Comment: Standard problem that is similar to practised examples.

4. As a rocket accelerates by burning its onboard fuel, its mass decreases with time. Suppose
that the initial mass of the rocket at liftoff (including its fuel) is m, the fuel is consumed at rate
r, and the exhaust gases are ejected with constant velocity ve relative to the rocket. A model for
the velocity v(t) of the rocket at time t is given by the equation
 
m − rt
v(t) = −gt − ve ln ,
m

where g is the acceleration due to gravity and t is not too large. If g = 10 m/s2 , m = 30000 kg,
r = 150 kg/s, and ve = 3000 m/s, find the height of the rocket 50 seconds after liftoff. (Round
your answer to the nearest kilometre.) [8 marks]
Solution: We observe that the distance, or height, of the rocket is the integral of its velocity.
[1 mark]

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 Calculus and its Applications
MATH08058 Solutions and comments August 2022

Hence, assuming that the height h0 is zero at time zero, we have

Z 50 h  150 i
h50 = − 10t − 3000 ln 1 − t dt
0 30000
h 10 i50 Z 50  t 
= − t2 − 3000 ln 1 − dt
2 0 0 200

for the height h50 after 50 s. [2 marks]

t
We make the substitution u = 1 − 200 , which implies dt = −200 du. When t = 0, u = 1,
whereas when t = 50, u = 3/4, [2 marks]
which gives

50
Z 3/4
5t2 0

h50 = − + 3000 · 200 ln(u) du
1
h i3/4
= −12500 + 6 · 105 u ln(u) − u)
1
h3 3 i
= −12500 + 6 · 105 ln 43 − + 1


4 4
≈ 8043 m ≈ 8km.

[3 marks]
Comment: Standard problem that is similar to practised examples.
5.
(a) Calculate the area that is enclosed by the graph of f (x) = x2 + 2 and the x-axis between
x = 1 and x = 3 as a limit of Riemann sums at right endpoints. [6 marks]
 π
(b) Find the average value, to two significant digits, of g(x) = tan x on the interval 0, 4 .
[4 marks]

Solution:
(a) We note that ∆x = 3−1 2 2
n = n and xi = 1 + i n . Then, the Riemann sum at right endpoints
Xn
f 1 + 2i


reads Rn = lim n ∆x. [2 marks]
n→∞
i=1

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 Calculus and its Applications
MATH08058 Solutions and comments August 2022

Hence,
n
X
2i

2
Rn = lim f 1+ n
n→∞
i=1
n
n
X 2 h 2i 2 i
= lim 1+ +2
n→∞
i=1
n n
n
2 X 4i 4i2 
= lim 3+ + 2
n→∞ n n n
i=1
h2 8n(n + 1) 8n(n + 1)(2n + 1) i
= lim (3n) + +
n→∞ n 2n2 6n3
8 38
=6+4+ = ,
3 3
as
n n
X n(n + 1) X n(n + 1)(2n + 1)
i= and i2 = .
i=1
2 i=1
6
[4 marks]
The area is shown below for illustration.

(b) The average value gave of a function on [a, b] is

Z b
1
gave = g(x) dx.
b−a a
[1 mark]
Hence,
Z π4 Z π4
1 4
gave = tan x dx = tan x dx
π/4 − 0 0 π 0
√
4 π 4h 2 i
= − ln | cos x| 04 = − ln − ln(1)
π √ π 2
4 2
= − ln ≈ 0.44 .
π 2
[3 marks]

5
 Calculus and its Applications
MATH08058 Solutions and comments August 2022

Comment: Standard problem that is similar to practised examples.

6.

(a) Find a function f and a number a > 0 such that, for all x ≥ a,
Z x
f (t) √
3
dt + 2 = 3 x.
a t

[5 marks]
(b) Determine whether the following integrals converge or diverge.

(i) Z ∞
1
√ dx ;
1 x4 + 6
[4 marks]
(ii) Z ∞
1
dx .
0 x5
[6 marks]

Solution:
(a) We differentiate the given equation on both sides with respect to x, using Part 1 of the
Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to find
f (x) 1
3
= 2 .
x 3x 3
[2 marks]
Hence,
x3 1 7
f (x) = 2 = x3 .
3x 3 3
[1 mark]
To find a, we substitute x = a into the original equation to see
Z a
f (t) √
3
dt + 2 = 3 a,
a t
√
which implies 3 a = 2 or a = 8. [2 marks]
(b) (i) We have Z ∞ Z ∞  Z ∞ 
1 1 1
√ dx ≤ √ dx = dx .
1 x4 + 6 1 x4 1 x2
[2 marks]
R∞ R∞ R∞
Hence, √ 1 dx ≤ 1
dx, and by the comparison test since 1
dx converges
x2 x2
R1 ∞ x41+6 1 1
so does 1
√
x4 +6
dx. [2 marks]
(ii) We know the integral is improper since the upper limit is ∞ and the function is
undefined at x = 0. We hence split the integral into 2 parts, say at 1. [2 marks]
R∞ 1
We know that 1 x5 dx has a finite value, as it is a p-integral with p = 5 > 1.
[1 mark]

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 Calculus and its Applications
MATH08058 Solutions and comments August 2022

However,
Z 1  1  
1 1 −4 1 1
dx = lim − x = lim −1
0 x5 a→0+ 4 a a→0+ 4 a4
diverges. R [2 marks]
∞ 1
Therefore, 0 x5 dx diverges. [1 mark]

Comment: Standard problem that is similar to practised examples.

7. Consider the sequence {an (x)}∞
n=1 given by
(4x + 1)n
an (x) = ,
n3
for some fixed x ∈ R.
(a) When x > 0, does the sequence {an (x)}∞
n=1 converge or diverge? Justify your answer.
[7 marks]
(b) Find all real values of x for which the series
∞
X
an
n=1

converges absolutely. [11 marks]

Solution:
(4x+1)t
(a) Suppose that x > 0, and consider the function f (t) = t3 . [1 mark]
Since x > 0, we have 4x + 1 > 0 and thus, (4x + 1)t → ∞ and t3 → ∞ as t → ∞. Both
(4x + 1)t and t3 are also infinitely differentiable, and all derivatives up to the third derivative
tend to infinity as t → ∞. [2 marks]
Thus, by repeated use of L’ Hôpital’s Rule,
(4x + 1)t ln(4x + 1)
lim f (t) = lim
t→∞ t→∞ 3t2
(4x + 1) (ln(4x + 1))2
t
= lim
t→∞ 6t
(4x + 1)t (ln(4x + 1))3
= lim
t→∞ 6
(ln(4x + 1))3
= lim (4x + 1)t = ∞.
6 t→∞

[3 marks]
Since f (n) = an (x) for every n ∈ N, we then conclude that an (x) → ∞ as n → ∞. Hence,
our sequence diverges when x > 0. [1 mark]
First, consider x = −1/4. Then, an (x)
(b) P = an (−1/4) = 0 for all n, and thus, clearly,
∞ P∞
n=1 |an (−1/4)| = 0 converges, making n=1 an (−1/4) converge absolutely. [2 marks]
Next, assume that x 6= −1/4. Indeed, for such x, we first observe that an (x) 6= 0 for all
n ∈ N, since x 6= −1/4 if and only if 4x + 1 6= 0. We also observe that
an+1 (x) (4x + 1)n+1 n3
= 3
·
an (x) (n + 1) (4x + 1)n
 n 3
= (4x + 1)
n+1
 3
1
= |4x + 1|
1 + n1
→ |4x + 1|,

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 Calculus and its Applications
MATH08058 Solutions and comments August 2022

as n → ∞, using the Algebra of Limits and the fact that 1/n → 0 as n → ∞. Since
0P≤ |4x + 1| < 1 ⇐⇒ −1 < 4x + 1 < 1 ⇐⇒ −1/2 < x < 0, the ratio test tells us that
∞
n=1 an (x) converges absolutely when x ∈ (−1/2, 0) \ {−1/4}. [4 marks]
By contrast, for |4x + 1| > 1, i.e. for x < −1/2 or x > 0, the ratio test tells us that
P ∞
n=1 an (x) diverges, and therefore cannot converge absolutely. [1 mark]
P∞ x = −1/2, 0. In
Finally, consider the endpoints P∞ the former case, an (x) = an (−1/2) =
1
(−1)n /n3 for all n. Thus, n=1 n|a (−1/2)| = n=1 n3 , which converges since it is a p-
series with p = 3 > 1. [2 marks]
3
P∞
In the latter case, an (x) = an (0) = 1/n for all n, which implies that n=1 an (0) again
converges absolutely, by the above. [1 mark]
P∞
In sum, n=1 an (x) hence converges absolutely if and only if −1/2 ≤ x ≤ 0. [1 mark]

Comment: Slightly unusual problem; however, similar problems were covered in live classes.
√
8. Consider the function f (x) = x + 4.
(a) Find the Maclaurin series for f and determine its interval of convergence. (You must express
your Maclaurin series in sigma notation.) [8 marks]
(b) Without using differentiation, evaluate the first 3 non-zero terms of the Maclaurin series for
the function g(x) = f (x) sin(x), up to and including the third power of x. [7 marks]
Hint: You may use the Common Functions Expressed as Taylor Series, as given in the textbook,
without proof.
Solution:
(a) We know that the Maclaurin series for a function f is given by
∞
X f (n) (0) n
x .
n=0
n!

[1 mark]
We observe that
√ h  x i1/2  x 1/2
f (x) = x+4= 4 1+ =2 1+ ,
4 4
and we know that the Maclaurin series for (1 + x/4)1/2 is given by the binomial series
∞  
X 1/2
(x/4)n ,
n=0
n

where
1 1 1 1





−1 − 2 ··· −n+1
 
1/2 2 2 2 2
= ,
n n!
which converges to (1 + x/4)1/2 when |x/4| < 1, i.e., when |x| < 4, and which diverges for
|x/4| > 1 or |x| > 4. [4 marks]
√
Thus, the Maclaurin series for f (x) = 4 + x is given by
∞   ∞  
X 1/2 X 1/2 1−2n n
2 (x/4)n = 2 x ,
n=0
n n=0
n

which converges to f (x) when |x| < 4 and which diverges for |x| > 4. [2 marks]
Hence, the interval of convergence I is (−4, 4). [1 mark]
(Note that one can show that the series also converges at the two end points x = ±4 of I,
which is, however, not expected here.)

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 Calculus and its Applications
MATH08058 Solutions and comments August 2022

(b) From the section Common Functions Expressed as Taylor Series in the textbook, we know
that
∞
X x2n+1
(−1)n
n=0
(2n + 1)!

converges to sin(x) for all x ∈ R. [1 mark]

In part (a), we showed that
∞  
X 1/2
21−2n xn
n=0
n

converges to f (x) for all x ∈ (−4, 4). Thus, for all x ∈ (−4, 4),
∞  ∞
! !
2n+1

X 1/2 1−2n n X
n x
2 x · (−1)
n=0
n n=0
(2n + 1)!

converges to g(x). [2 marks]

Since
x3 x 1 1 3
sin(x) = 0 + x + 0 · x2 − + ... and f (x) = 2 + − x2 + x + ...,
3! 4 64 512
[1 mark]
2 3
we have g(x) = e0 + e1 x + e2 x + e3 x + . . ., where

e0 = 2 · 0 = 0,
1 
e1 = (2 · 1) + · 0 = 2,
4
1   1  1
e2 = (2 · 0) + ·1 + − · 0 = , and
4 64 4
h  1 i  1   1   1  67
e3 = 2 · − + ·0 + − ·1 + ·0 =− .
3! 4 64 512 192
[3 marks]

Comment: Mostly standard problem that is similar to practised examples; students may find
part (a) slightly challenging.