Exercise Solution HW2 (2.

8)

3. Match the graph of each function in (a)-(d) with the graph of its derivative in I-IV. Give reasons
for your choices.

Sol.
(a)’=II, since from left to right, the slopes of the tangents to graph (a) start out negative, become
0, then positive, then 0, then negative again. The actual function values in graph II follow the
same pattern.
(b)’=IV, since from left to right, the slopes of the tangents to graph (b) start out at a fixed positive
quantity, then suddenly become negative, then positive again. The discontinuities in graph IV
indicate sudden changes in the slopes of the tangents.
(c)’=I, , since the slopes of the tangents to graph (c) are negative for x < 0 and positive for x > 0,
as are the function values of graph I.
(d)’=III, since from left to right, the slopes of the tangents to graph (d) are positive, then 0, then
negative, then 0, then positive, then 0, then negative again, and the function values in graph III
follow the same pattern.

14. The graph (from the US Department of Energy) shows how driving speed affects gas mileage. Fuel
economy F is measured in liters per 100 km and speed v is measured in kilometers per hour.
(a) What is the meaning of the derivative F ′ (v)?
(b) Sketch the graph of F ′ (v)
(c) At what speed should you drive if you want to save on gas?

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 Sol.
(a)
F’(v) is the instantaneous rate of change of fuel economy with respect to speed.
(b)
(Note that the graph should change from positive to negative at about v = 50.)

(c)
To save on gas, drive at the speed where F is a maximum and F ′ is 0, which is about 50 mi/h.

43. The graph of f is given. State, with reasons, the numbers at which f is not differentiable.

Sol.
f is not differentiable at x = 1, because f is not defined there.
f is also not differentiable at x = 5, because the graph has a vertical tangent there.

44. The graph of f is given. State, with reasons, the numbers at which f is not differentiable.

Sol.
f is not differentiable at x = −2 and x = 3, because the graph has corners there.
f is also not differentiable at x = 1, because there is a discontinuity there.

47. The graphs of a function f and its derivative f ′ are shown. Which is bigger, f ′ (−1) or f ′′ (1)?

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 Sol.
The first thing is to determine which of the two line is f (or f ′ .
Call the curve with the positive y-intercept(red curve) g and the other curve(blue curve) h.
Notice that g has a maximum (horizontal tangent) at x = 0, but h = 0, so h cannot be the
derivative of g. Also notice that where g is positive, h is increasing. Thus, h = f and g = f ′ .
Now, by observing the slope of the tangent lines, we see that f ′ (−1) < 0 and f ′′ (1) > 0.
Thus f ′′ (1) > f ′ (−1).

48. The graphs of a function f and its derivative f ′ are shown. Which is bigger, f ′ (−1) or f ′′ (−1)?

Sol.
Call the curve with the smallest positive x-intercept(blue curve) g and the other curve(red one) h.
Notice that where g is positive in the first quadrant, h is increasing. Thus h = f and g = f ′ .
Again, by observing the slope of the tangent lines, we see that f ′ (−1) > 0 and f ′′ (1) ≈ 0.
Thus f ′′ (1) < f ′ (−1).

49. The figure shows the graphs of f, f ′ , and f ′′ . Identify each curve, and explain your choices.

Sol.
a = f, b = f ′ , c = f ′′ .
We can see this because where a has a horizontal tangent, b = 0, and where b has a horizontal
tangent, c = 0. We can immediately see that c can be neither f nor f ′ , since at the points where
c has a horizontal tangent, neither a nor b is equal to 0.

58. (a) If g(x) = x2/3 , show that g ′ (0) does not exist.
(b) If a ̸= 0, find g’(a).
(c) Show that y = x2/3 has a vertical tangent line at (0, 0).
Sol.
(a)
g(x) − g(0) x2/3 − 0 1
g ′ (0) = lim = lim = lim 1/3 , which does not exist.
x→0 x−0 x→0 x x→0 x

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 (b)

g(x) − g(a) x2/3 − a2/3 (x1/3 − a1/3 )(x1/3 + a1/3 )

g ′ (a) = lim = lim = lim 1/3
x→a x−a x→a x−a x→a (x − a1/3 )(x2/3 + x1/3 a1/3 + a2/3 )
x1/3 + a1/3 2a1/3 2 2
= lim = = 1/3 or a−1/3
x→a x2/3 + x1/3 a1/3 + a2/3 3a2/3 3a 3
(c)
g(x) = x2/3 is continuous at x = 0 and limx→0 |g ′ (x)| = limx→0 2
3|x|1/3
= ∞.
This shows that g has a vertical tangent line at x = 0.

63. Derivatives of Even and Odd Functions Recall that a function f is called even if f (−x) = f (x) for
all x in its domain and odd if f (−x) = −f (x) for all such x. Prove each of the following.
(a) The derivative of an even function is an odd function.
(b) The derivative of an odd function is an even function.
Sol.
(a)
If f is even, then

f (−x + h) − f (−x) f (−(x − h)) − f (−x) f (x − h) − f (x)

f ′ (−x) = lim = lim = lim
h→0 h h→0 h h→0 h
f (x − h) − f (x) f (x + ∆x) − f (x) ′
= − lim = − lim = −f (x)
h→0 −h ∆x→0 ∆x
Therefore, f ′ is odd.
(b)
If f is odd, then

f (−x + h) − f (−x) f (−(x − h)) − f (−x) −f (x − h) + f (x)

f ′ (−x) = lim = lim = lim
h→0 h h→0 h h→0 h
f (x − h) − f (x) f (x + ∆x) − f (x) ′
= lim = lim = f (x)
h→0 h ∆x→0 ∆x
Therefore, f ′ is even.