Math 106, Spring 2022

Quiz 2 Learning Objectives

1 Lesson Objectives

4. Definition and Interpretation of the Derivative

• You should know the definition of the derivative, be able to explain where it comes from, and be
able to use it.

• You should be able to interpret the derivative in context.

• You should understand that, if f is a nice function, the tangent line to the graph of f (x) at x = a
is a very good approximation for f near x = a. (We’ll talk more about what “nice” means next
time.) You should be able to apply this to make reasonable approximations.

5. The Derivative as a Function, Di↵erentiability

• You should be able to compute the derivative function f 0 using the limit definition.

• If you are given the graph of a function f , you should be able to sketch a rough graph of f 0 .

• You should understand what it means for a function to be di↵erentiable, both graphically and
algebraically. (Note: understanding such a concept includes also understanding how a function
could not be di↵erentiable.)

6. Limits

• You should understand the concept of a limit (both two-sided and one-sided) and be able to use
graphical and numerical methods to guess limits.

• You should understand how vertical asymptotes can be characterized in terms of limits.

7. More Limits and continuity

• You should understand the idea of continuity, both intuitively and in terms of the limit definition.

• You should be able to use limits to classify discontinuities as removable discontinuities, jump
discontinuities, vertical asymptotes, or other. (You should know examples of each type of discon-
tinuity.)
⇣⇡⌘ ⇣⇡⌘
• You should be comfortable reasoning about limits like lim sin and lim x3 sin .
x!0 x x!0 x

8. Limits, continuity and di↵erentiability

• You should understand graphically what’s happening when we “factor and cancel” to calculate
x2 4
limits like lim , and you should recognize when it is appropriate to use this technique to
x!2 x 2
calculate limits.

1
Name: JHED:

Quiz 2: Practice Quiz 1, Math 106, Spring 2022

1. Define (
x2 x<1
f (x) = .
ax + b x 1
(Note: this should feel similar in a lot of ways to the project work from Project 2! Make sure that you
use limits to justify your work!)

(a) For this part, assume a = 1, b = 1. Sketch the function f (x). What can you say about the
(dis)continuity of f ?

(b) Keeping a = 1, find the value of b that makes f continuous everywhere.

(c) Now let’s go back to general constants a and b. If we want f to be both continuous and di↵eren-
tiable everywhere, what values do we need to choose for a and b?

(d) Sketch a graph of the function f (x) now that you have solved for the constants a and b.
2. For each of the following statements, circle the correct option, and briefly explain in your own words.

(a) “Whether lim f (x) exists or not, depends on the value of f (a)”. This statement is true
x!a

i. always

ii. sometimes

iii. never

(b) “Whether f is continuous at a point a or not, depends on the value of f (a)”. This statement is
true

i. always

ii. sometimes

iii. never

(c) “Whether f 0 (a) exists or not, depends on the value of f (a)”. This statement is true

i. always

ii. sometimes

iii. never
Name: JHED:

Quiz 2: Practice Quiz 2, Math 106, Spring 2022

1. For each case, sketch an example of a function satisfying the required conditions (no need to give an
explicit formula for the function), or explain why there are no examples.

(a) A function f1 such that f 0 (0) = 1.

(b) A function f2 which has a vertical asymptote at x = 0 and such that f 0 (5) = 0.

(c) A function f3 which is continuous at x = 2 and has a vertical asymptote at x = 2.

(d) A function f4 which is continuous at x = 2 and has a horizontal asymptote at y = 2.

(e) A function f5 which has a removable discontinuity at x = 3 and such that f 0 (3) = 0.
2. The graphs of two functions f and g are given below.

3 f 3 g

2 2

1 1

3 2 1 1 2 3 3 2 1 1 2 3

1 1

2 2

Evaluate each limit; if the limit does not exist, explain why.

(a) lim g(x)

x! 1

f (x)
(b) lim
x!0 g(x)

f (x)
(c) lim
x! 1 g(x)
Name: JHED:

Quiz 2: Practice Quiz 3, Math 106, Spring 2022

x2 1
1. Consider the functions f (x) = x 1 and g(x) = .
x+1

(a) Are f and g the same function? Justify your answer.

(b) Find any discontinuities of f and g, and classify them.

(c) Sketch the graphs of f (x) and g(x) (separately), making sure to label key values.

(d) Use your sketch of f (x), and your understanding of the relation between f 0 and the graph of f ,
to find the value of f 0 (3).

(e) Use the limit definition of the derivative to find f 0 (3).

2. Indicate next to each graph which of the following assertions are true:

1 limx!0 f (x) exists;

2 limx!0 f (x) = 1;

3 limx!0 f (x) = 0.

4 limx!1 f (x) exists;

5 limx!1 f (x) = 1;

6 limx!1 f (x) = 0

f (x) = x sin(x) f (x) = sin(1/x)

x x

f (x) = x + sin(x)

x
Name: JHED:

Quiz 2: Practice Quiz 1, Math 106, Spring 2022

1. Define (
x2 x<1
f (x) = .
ax + b x 1
(Note: this should feel similar in a lot of ways to the project work from Project 2! Make sure that you
use limits to justify your work!)

(a) For this part, assume a = 1, b = 1. Sketch the function f (x). What can you say about the
(dis)continuity of f ?
Sample Solution. We can see from the sketch that f has a jump discontinuity at x = 1, and is
continuous everywhere else.
(b) Keeping a = 1, find the value of b that makes f continuous everywhere.

Sample Solution. We can “fix” the problem of the discontinuity by shifting the line part to the
right by 1, so, making the line part equal to x; then, b = 0.
Alternatively, we can also find
f (1) = 1 + b,
lim f (x) = lim x2 = 1,
x!1 x!1

lim f (x) = lim+ x + b = 1 + b,

x!1+ x!1

and set them equal to each other, so 1 + b = 1 and we must have b = 0.

(c) Now let’s go back to general constants a and b. If we want f to be both continuous and di↵eren-
tiable everywhere, what values do we need to choose for a and b?
Sample Solution. The only issue with f being continuous and di↵erentiable happens at x = 1.

For f to be continuous at x = 1, we need to have

f (1) = a + b.

We also need
lim f (x) = lim x2 = 1
x!1 x!1

and
lim f (x) = lim ax + b = a + b
x!1+ x!1+

to be equal to each other, so we get the condition a + b = 1.

For f to be di↵erentiable at x = 1, we need

f (x) f (1) x2 (a + b) x2 (1) (x + 1)(x 1)

lim = lim = lim = lim = lim x + 1 = 2
x!1 x 1 x!1 x 1 x!1 x 1 x!1 x 1 x!1

and
f (x) f (1) ax + b (a + b) a(x 1)
lim+ = lim+ = lim+ =a
x!1 x 1 x!1 x 1 x!1 x 1
to be equal to each other, so 2 = a. Then, since a + b = 1, we get that b = 1.
(d) Sketch a graph of the function f (x) now that you have solved for the constants a and b.

Sample Solution.
2. For each of the following statements, circle the correct option, and briefly explain in your own words.

(a) “Whether lim f (x) exists or not, depends on the value of f (a)”. This statement is true
x!a

i. always

ii. sometimes

iii. never

Sample Solution. This is never true; when we find the limit of f at x = a we look at the values
of f (x) as x gets very close (but not equal to) a, so the exact value f (a) is never considered.

(b) “Whether f is continuous at a point a or not, depends on the value of f (a)”. This statement is
true

i. always

ii. sometimes

iii. never

Sample Solution. This is always true, since we need to check if lim f (x) = f (a) which depends
x!a
on what f (a) is.

(c) “Whether f 0 (a) exists or not, depends on the value of f (a)”. This statement is true

i. always

ii. sometimes

iii. never

Sample Solution. This is always true. A possible explanation is that for f 0 (a) to exist, f has to be
continuous at a (we know this is not enough, but it is needed) and that depends on the value of f at
a.

We can also remember that, in order to write down the limit definition of the derivative of f at a, we
need to include the term f (a) in the numerator.
Name: JHED:

Quiz 2: Practice Quiz 2, Math 106, Spring 2022

1. For each case, sketch an example of a function satisfying the required conditions (no need to give an
explicit formula for the function), or explain why there are no examples.
Sample Solution. There are many possible correct sketches for this question.

(a) A function f1 such that f 0 (0) = 1.

Sample Solution. We need a sketch where the tangent line at x = 0 has slope 1. One example
is:

(b) A function f2 which has a vertical asymptote at x = 0 and such that f 0 (5) = 0.
Sample Solution. We need a sketch where the tangent line at x = 5 has slope 0 (it’s a horizontal
line), and with a vertical asymptote at the y-axis. One example is:
(c) A function f3 which is continuous at x = 2 and has a vertical asymptote at x = 2.

Sample Solution. This is not possible! Having a vertical asymptote at x = 2 means that
lim f (x) = ±1 or lim+ f (x) = ±1. Then, it’s not possible for lim f (x) = f (2), and so f can’t
x!2 x!2 x!2
be continuous at x = 2.

(d) A function f4 which is continuous at x = 2 and has a horizontal asymptote at y = 2.

Sample Solution. An example is:

(e) A function f5 which has a removable discontinuity at x = 3 and such that f 0 (3) = 0.
Sample Solution. This is not possible! if f has a removable discontinuity at x = 3, then f is
not continuous at x = 3, and so it can’t be di↵erentiable.
2. The graphs of two functions f and g are given below.

3 f 3 g

2 2

1 1

3 2 1 1 2 3 3 2 1 1 2 3

1 1

2 2

Evaluate each limit; if the limit does not exist, explain why.

(a) lim g(x)

x! 1

Sample Solution. 1

f (x)
(b) lim
x!0 g(x)
Sample Solution. When x approaches 0, f (x) is equal to 2, and g(x) gets arbitrarily close to
f (x)
0, so looks like “ 20 ” and we need to be more careful.
g(x)
When we approach 0 from the left, f (x) is equal to 2 and g(x) gets arbitrarily small but always
f (x) f (x)
positive, so will get arbitrarily large ( lim = +1).
g(x) x!0 g(x)

When we approach 0 from the right, f (x) is equal to 2 and g(x) gets arbitrarily small but always
f (x) f (x)
negative, so will get arbitrarily “large in the negatives” ( lim = 1).
g(x) x!0 g(x)
+

f (x)
Then the limit lim does not exist.
x!0 g(x)
 f (x)
(c) lim
x! 1 g(x)
Sample Solution. lim f (x) does not exist, so we need to study the two sided limits of the
x! 1
quotient.
f (x) 1
lim = =1
x! 1 g(x) 1
f (x) 2
lim = =2
x! 1+ g(x) 1
f (x)
so lim does not exist.
x! 1 g(x)
Name: JHED:

Quiz 2: Practice Quiz 3, Math 106, Spring 2022

x2 1
1. Consider the functions f (x) = x 1 and g(x) = .
x+1

(a) Are f and g the same function? Justify your answer.

Sample Solution. The functions are not the same, since f is defined everywhere, but g is not
defined at x = 1.

(b) Find any discontinuities of f and g, and classify them.

Sample Solution. We can tell if a function h is continuous at a point c by checking 3 things:

• h is defined at x = c

• lim h(x) exists, and

x!c

• lim h(x) = h(c).

x!c

The function f is defined for all numbers, and

lim f (x) = lim x 1=c 1 = f (c)

x!c x!c

for any c, so f is always continuous.

The function g is undefined at x = 1, so it can’t be continuous at x = 1. For any other value

c, g will be defined and
x2 1 c2 1
lim g(x) = lim = = g(c)
x!c x!c x + 1 c+1
so g is continuous everywhere except for x = 1. To classify the discontinuity we need to take
the limit from the left and from the right as x ! 1.

x2 1 (x + 1)(x 1)
lim = lim = lim x 1= 2
x! 1 x+1 x! 1 x+1 x! 1

x2 1 (x + 1)(x 1)
lim + = lim + = lim x 1= 2
x! 1 x+1 x! 1 x+1 x! 1+

Then, the function has a removable discontinuity at x = 1.

(c) Sketch the graphs of f (x) and g(x) (separately), making sure to label key values.

Sample Solution.

(d) Use your sketch of f (x), and your understanding of the relation between f 0 and the graph of f ,
to find the value of f 0 (3).
Sample Solution. f 0 (3) is the slope of the tangent line to f at x = 3. Since f is a line, the
tangent will be the same line, which has slope
f (4) f (2) 3 1
= =1
4 2 2
so f 0 (3) = 1.

(e) Use the limit definition of the derivative to find f 0 (3).

Sample Solution.
f (3 + h) f (3) 3+h 1 (3 1) h
f 0 (3) = lim = lim = lim = lim 1 = 1
h!0 h h!0 h h!0 h h!0

This checks out with part c!

2. Indicate next to each graph which of the following assertions are true:

1 limx!0 f (x) exists;

2 limx!0 f (x) = 1;

3 limx!0 f (x) = 0.

4 limx!1 f (x) exists;

5 limx!1 f (x) = 1;

6 limx!1 f (x) = 0

f (x) = x sin(x) f (x) = sin(1/x)

x x

f (x) = x + sin(x)

Sample Solution. For the top left graph: 1 and 3

For the top right graph: 4 and 6
For the bottom graph: 1, 3, 4, and 5
 • You should understand precisely what we mean when we write lim f (x) = 1 or lim f (x) = 1.
x!a x!a
In particular, you should understand that, in both of these cases, lim f (x) does not exist, but that
x!a
saying lim f (x) = 1 or lim f (x) = 1 is giving more specific information about the function’s
x!a x!a
behavior near x = a.

• You should be comfortable with algebraic methods for determining whether a limit is ±1.

? Project 2

• Project 2 is all about limits, continuity and di↵erentiability. The project learning objectives are
covered by the learning objectives above.