Calculus I

Tutorial #3 (07–11 Nov 2022)

Topics:

• Continuous Functions

• Derivatives

• Higher Derivatives

Problem 1. The greatest integer function The function whose value at any number x
is the greatest integer less than or equal to x is called the greatest integer function or
the integer floor function. It is denoted by bxc or, in some books, [x].

Its graph looks as follows.

Investigate a continuity of the function bxc.

Problem 2. Removable discontinuity Give an example of a function f (x) that is

continuous for all values of x except x = 2, where it has a removable discontinuity.
Explain how you know that f is discontinuous at x = 2, and how you know the
discontinuity is removable.

Problem 3. Show that there is a root of the equation (1 − x)3 = sin x in the interval
(0, 1).

Problem 4. Explain why the equation x3 − 15x + 1 = 0 has at least three solutions
in the interval [−4, 4].

Problem 5. Show that the two graphs y = ex and y = −x intersect.

1
Problem 6.

(a) The graph in the accompanying figure is made of line segments joined end to end.
At which points of the interval [-4, 6] is f 0 not defined? Justify your answer.

(b) Graph the derivative of f . The graph should show a step function.

Problem 7. Compare the right-hand and left-hand derivatives to show that the fol-
lowing function is not differentiable at the point P .

Each figure in Problems 8 and 9 shows the graph of a function over a closed interval
D. At what domain points does the function appear to be

(a) differentiable?

(b) continuous but not differentiable?

(c) neither continuous nor differentiable?

Justify your answers.

2
Problem 8.

Problem 9.

Problem 10.

(a) Let f (x) be a function satisfying |f (x)| ≤ x2 for −1 ≤ x ≤ 1. Show that f is

differentiable at x = 0 and find f 0 (0).

(b) Show that 

x2 sin 1 , x 6= 0
f (x) = x
0, x = 0,
is differentiable at x = 0 and find f 0 (0).

√
s−1
Problem 11. For f (s) = √ , find f 0 .
s+1

3
 1
Problem 12. For y = , find y 0 .
(x2
− 1)(x2 + x + 1)
 
1
2
Problem 13. For g(t) = (t + 1) t + 5 + , find g 0
t

Problem 14. Find the first and second derivatives of the function
1 5
r= 2
− .
3s 2s

Problem 15. Find the first and second derivatives of the function
 
1 + 3z
w= (3 − z).
3z

Additional Problems (if time allows)

Problem 16. For what values of a and b is

(
ax + b, x ≤ −1,
g(x) =
ax3 + x + 2b, x > −1,

differentiable for all values of x?

Problem 17. Discuss the geometry of the resulting graph of the function g above.