LIMIT, CONTINUITY & DIFFERENTIABILITY

EXERCISE - 3: PREVIOUS YEAR IIT QUESTIONS

Single Answers Questions

­ sin [x]
1. For real number y, let [y] denotes the greatest integer less ° , [x] z 0
5. If f (x) ® [x] where [x] denotes the
than or equal to y. Then the function. ° 0, [x] 0
¯

tan S ª¬ x – S º¼ greatest integer less than or equal to x, then

f x 2 is. (1981)
1 x lim f (x) equals (1985)
x o0

(a) discontinuous at some x (a) 1 (b) 0

(b) continuous at all x, but the derivative f c (x) does not (c) –1 (d) None of these

exist for some x. 6. If f (x) = x ( x  (x  1), then (1985)

(c) f c(x) exist for all x but the derivative f cc(x) does not
(a) f (x) is continuous but not differentiable at x = 0
exist for some x.
(b) f (x) is differentiable at x = 0
(d) f cc(x) exists for all x.
(c) f (x) is not differentiable at x = 0

log (1  ax)  log (1  bx) (d) None of the above

2. The function f (x) is not
x 7. The set of all points where the function,
defined at x = 0. The value which should be assigned to f
x
at x = 0, so that it is continuous at x = 0, is (1983) f (x) = is differentaible, is (1987)
1 x
(a) a – b (b) a + b
(c) log a + log b (d) None of these (a) (–f, f) (b) [0, f)
3. If f (a) = 2, f’ (a) = 1, g (a) = –1, g’ (a) = 2, then the value of (c) (–f, 0) ‰(0, f) (d) (0, f)

g(x) f (a)  g(a) f (x) 1

lim is (1983) 8. If f (x) x  1, then on the interval [0, S] (1989)
xoa x a 2

(a) tan [f (x)] and 1/f (x) are both continuous

1
(a) –5 (b) (b) tan [f (x)] and 1/f (x) are both discontinuous
5
(c) tan [f (x)] and f–1 (x) are both continuous
(c) 5 (d) None of these
(d) tan [f (x)] is continuous but 1/f (x) is not continuous
­ 1 2 n ½
4. l im ® 2
 2
 ... ¾ is equal to : (1984) 1
n of ¯1  n 1 n 1  n2 ¿ (1  cos2 x)
2
9. The value of lim
xo0
(1991)
x
1
(a) 0 (b) –
2 (a) 1 (b) –1
(c) 0 (d) None of these
1
(c) (d) none of these
2
 LIMIT, CONTINUITY & DIFFERENTIABILITY

16. Let f (x) be defined for all x > 0 and be differentiable.

§ 2x  1 ·
10. The function f (x) = [x] cos ¨ ¸ S, [.] denotes the
© 2 ¹ §x· +
f (x) satisfy f ¨ ¸ = f (x) – f (y)  x, y R and f (e) = 1,
greatest integer function, is discontinuous at (1993) © y¹
(a) all x (b) all integer points then (1999)
(c) no x (d) x which is not an integer
§1·
11. Let [.] denotes the greatest integer function and (a) f (x) is bounded (b) f ¨ ¸ o0 as x o0
©x¹
f (x) = [tan2 x], then : (1993)
(c) x f (x) o1 as x o0 (d) f (x) = 1n x
(a) lim f (x) does not exist x o 0
x o0 17. Let f : R o R be any function. Define g : R o R by
(b) f (x) is continuous at x = 0 g (x) = | f (x)| for all x. Then g is : (2000)

(c) f (x) is not differentiable at x = 0 (a) onto if f is onto

(d) f c (0) = 1 (b) one-one if f is one-one

(c) continuous if f is continuous
1  cos 2 (x  1)
12. lim (1998) (d) differentiable if f is differentiable
x o1 x 1
x
§ x 3 ·
(a) exists and it equals 2 18. For x R, xlim ¨
of x  2
¸ is equal to (2000)
© ¹
(b) exists and it equals – 2 (a) e (b) e–1
(c) does not exist because x – 1 o0 (c) e–5 (d) e5
(d) does not exist because left hand limit is not equal to
right hand limit sin S cos 2 x
19. l im equals (2001)
x o0 x2
x tan 2x – 2 x tan x
13. l im (1999)
x o0 1– cos 2x
2 (a) –S (b) S
(c) S/2 (d) 1
(a) 2 (b) –2
20. Let f : R o R be a function defined by f (x) = max {x, x3}. The
1 1 set of all points where f (x) is not differentiable is :
(c) (d) 
2 2 (2001)
14. The function f (x) = [x]2 – [x2] (where [x] is the greatest (a) {–1, 1} (b) {–1, 0}
integer less than or equal to x), is discontinuous at (c) {0, 1} (d) {–1, 0, 1}
(1999) 21. The left hand derivative of f (x) = [x] sin (S x) at x = k, k is an
(a) all integers integer is (2001)
(b) all integers except 0 and 1 (a) (–1)k (k – 1) S (b) (–1)k–1 (k – 1) S
(c) all integers except 0 (c) (–1)k kS (d) (–1)k–1 kS
(d) all integers except 1 22. Which of the following functions is differentiable at x = 0?
15. The function f (x) = (x2 – 1) |x2 – 3x + 2| + cos (|x|) is not (2001)
differentiable at x : (1999) (a) (cos |x|) + |x| (b) cos (|x|) – |x|
(a) –1 (b) 0 (c) sin (|x|) + |x| (d) sin (|x|) – |x|
(c) 1 (d) 2
LIMIT, CONTINUITY & DIFFERENTIABILITY

23. The domain of the derivative of the functions 1

29. If lim [1  x log (1  b 2 )] x 2b sin 2 T, b > 0 and

xo0
­ tan 1 x, if | x | d 1
° (2002) T(–S, S], then the value of Tis (2011)
f (x) ®1 is
° (| x | 1), if | x |! 1
¯2 S S
(a) r (b) r
4 3
(a) R – {0} (b) R – {1}
(c) R – {–1} (d) R – {–1, 1} S S
(c) r (d) r
6 2
(cos x  1) (cos x  e x )
24. The integer n for which lim is a
x o0 xn ­ 2 S
°x cos , x z 0, x  R,
finite non-zero number, is (2002) 30. Let f (x) ® x then f is (2012)
°
¯ 0, x 0
(a) 1 (b) 2
(c) 3 (d) 4 (a) differentiable both at x = 0 and x = 2
25. Let f : R o R be such that f (1) = 3 and f c (1) = 6, then (b) differentiable at x = 0 but not differentiable at x = 2
(c) not differentiable at x = 0 but differentiable at x = 2
1/ x
§ f 1 x · (d) differentiable neither at x = 0 nor at x = 2
lim ¨ ¸¸ equals : (2002)
x o0 ¨
© f 1 ¹
§ x2  x 1 ·
31. If xlim ¨  ax  b ¸ 4, then (2012)
of
© x  1 ¹
1
(a) 1 (b) e2 (a) a = 1, b = 4 (b) a = 1, b = –4

(c) e2 (d) e3 (c) a = 2, b = –3 (d) a = 2, b = 3

32. Let D (a) and E(a) be the roots of the equation
{(a  n) nx  tan x} sin nx
26. If lim 0, where n is non zero 3
1  a 1 x2  1 a 1 x  6
1  a 1 0,
xo0 x2
real number, then a is equal to (2003) where a > –1. Then, lim D(a) and alim
o 0
E(a) are (2012)
a o0

n 1 5 1
(a) 0 (b) (a)  and 1 (b)  and  1
n 2 2

7 9
1 (c)  and 2 (d)  and 3
(c) n (d) n  2 2
n
(1  cos 2x) (3  cos x)
27. Let f (x) = | |x| – 1|, then points where f (x), is not differentiable 33. lim is equal to (2013)
xo0 x tan 4x
is/(are) : (2005)
1 1
(a) 0 (b) 1 (a)  (b)
4 2
(c) ± 1 (d) 0, ± 1
(c) 1 (d) 2
Multiple Answers Questions
28. The value of l im ((sin x)1/x + (1/x)sin x), where x > 0 is
x o0 34. If x + |y| = 2y, then y as a function of x is (1984)
(a) defined for all real x
(2006) (b) continuous at x = 0
(a) 0 (b) –1 (c) differentiable for all x

(c) 1 (d) 2 dy 1
(d) such that for x < 0
dx 3
 LIMIT, CONTINUITY & DIFFERENTIABILITY

35. The function f (x) = 1 + |sin x| is (1986) (a) g is differentiable but gc is not continuous
(a) continuous no where (b) g is differentiable while f is not
(b) continuous everywhere (c) both f and g are differentiable
(c) differentiable at x = 0 (d) g is differentiable and gc is continuous
(d) not differentiable at infinite number of points 41. The function
36. Let [x] denote the greatest integer less than or equal to x. f (x) = max {(1 – x), (1 + x), 2}, x  (–f, f) is (1995)
If f (x) = [x sin Sx], then f (x) is (1986) (a) continuous at all points
(a) continuous at x = 0 (b) continuous in (–1, 0) (b) differentiable at all points
(c) differentiable at x = 1 (d) differentiable in (–1, 1) (c) differentiable at all points except at x = 1 and x = –1
(d) continuous at all points except at x = 1 and x = –1,
­ | x  3 |, x t1
° 2 where it is discontinuous
37. The function f (x) ® x 3x 13 is (1988)
°   , x 1 42. Let h(x) = min {x, x2} for every real number of x. Then
¯4 2 4
(1998)
(a) continuous at x = 1 (b) differentiable at x = 1
(a) h is continuous for all x
(c) discontinuous at x = 1 (d) differentiable at x = 3
(b) h is differentiable for all x
38. The following functions are continuous on (0, S) (1991)
(c) hc (x) = 1, for all x > 1
x 1 (d) h is not differentiable at two values of x.
(a) tan x (b) ³0 t sin t dt
43. If f (x) = min {1, x2, x3}, then (2006)
(a) f (x) is continuous  x  R
­ 3S
°° 1, 0 d x d (b) f (x) > 0,  x > 1
4
(c) ®
2
° 2sin x, 3S (c) f (x) is continuous but not differentiable  x  R
x S
°̄ 9 4
(d) f (x) is not differentiable at two points.

­ S x2
a  a2  x2 
°° x sin x, 0 x d 2 44. Let L lim 4 , a ! 0 . If L is finite, them
(d) ® x o0 x4
° S sin (S  x), S x S
°̄ 2 2 (2009)
(a) a = 2 (b) a = 1
­° 0, x  0
39. Let f (x) = ® 2 then for all x (1994) 1 1
°̄ x , x t 0 (c) L (d) L
64 32
(a) f c is differentiable (b) f is differentiable 45. Let f : R o R be a function such that f (x + y) = f (x) + f(y),
(c) f c is continuous (d) f is continuous  x, y R. If f (x) is differentiable at x = 0, then (2011)
(a) f (x) is differentiable only in a finite interval containing
­ 1
° x sin , x z 0 zero
40. Let g(x) = x f (x), where f (x) = ® x .
°¯ 0, x 0 (b) f (x) is continuous  x R
(c) f’(x) is constant  x R
At x = 0 (1994)
(d) f (x) is differentiable except at finitely many points
LIMIT, CONTINUITY & DIFFERENTIABILITY

Match the Columns

­ S S 49. Match the conditions/expressions in Column I with
° x  2 , xd
2
° statement in Column II. (1992)
°  cos x,  S x d 0,
46. If f (x) ® then (2011) Column I Column II
° 2
° x  1, 0  x d1 (A) sin (S[x]) (p) differentiable everywhere
° ln x, x !1
¯ (B) sin {S(x–[x])} (q) nowhere differentiable
(r) not differentiable at 1 and –1

S 50. In the following, [x] denotes the greatest integer less than
(a) f (x) is continuous at x  or equal to x. (2007)
2
Column I Column II
(b) f (x) is not differentiable at x = 0
(c) f (x) is differentiable at x = 1 (A) x |x| (p) continuous in (–1, 1)

3 (B) |x| (q) differentiable in (–1, 1)

(d) f (x) is differentiable at x 
2 (C) x + [x] (r) strictly increasing (–1, 1)
47. For every integer n, let an and bn be real numbers. Let (s) not differentiable at least at
function f : R o R be given by
(D) | x – 1| + | x + 1| one point in (–1, 1)
­ a n  sin Sx, for x  [2n, 2n  1] Fill in the Blanks
f (x) ® , for all
¯b n  cos Sx, for x  (2n  1, 2n)
Sx
integers n. 51. lim (1  x) tan ... (1978)
x o1 2
If f is continuous, then which of the following hold(s) for
all n ? (2012)
­(x 3  x 2  16x  20) / (x  2) 2 , if x z 2
(a) an–1 – bn–1 = 0 (b) an – bn = 1 52. Let f (x) ®
¯ k, if x 2
(c) an – bn + 1 = 1 (d) an–1 – bn = –1
Assertion and Reason If, f(x) is continuous for all x, then k = ... (1981)

(A) If both assertion and reason are correct and reason is the
­ 2 § 1 ·
correct explanation of assertion. ° x – 1 sin ¨ ¸– x if x z 1
53. Let f (x) = ® © x –1 ¹
(B) If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not ° –1 if x 1
¯
the correct explanation of assertion.
(C) If assertion is true but reason is false. be a real valued function. Then the set of points where
(D) If assertion is false but reason is true. f (x) is not differentiable is............ (1981)
54. A discontinuous function y = f (x) satisfying x2 + y2 = 4 is
48. Let f and g be real valued functions defined on interval
given by f (x) = ... . (1982)
(–1,1) such that g”(x) is continuous, g(0) z 0, g’ (0) = 0,
g’’(0) z 0, and f (x) = g (x) sin x.
­ x
°° 1
, xz0
Assertion : lim
x o0
[g(x) cot x – g (0) cosec x] = f’’ (0). 55. For the function f (x) = ®1+e x ;
°
and °̄ 0 , x 0
Reason : f’ (0) = g (0). (2008)
the derivative from the right f c (0+) = ...........
and the derivative from the left f c (0–) = .......... (1983)
 LIMIT, CONTINUITY & DIFFERENTIABILITY

Subjective Problems
­sin x , x z nS, n 0, r 1, r 2 ...
56. If f (x) = ® ;
¯ 2 otherwise § x 1 ·
65. Evaluate the following limit lim ¨ 2 ¸ (1978)
x o1 2x  7x  5
© ¹

­ x 2 1 , x z 0 ,2
° § Sx ·
66. Evaluate lim (1  x) tan ¨ ¸ (1978)
g(x) = ® 4 , x 0 x o1
© 2 ¹
° 5, x 2
¯
­ x 1
°° 2x 2  7x  5 , when x z 1
then l im g( f (x)) is ............ (1986) 67. Find f’ (1) if f (x) ® (1979)
x o0 1
°  , when x 1
°̄ 3
ª§ 4 § 1 · 2 ·º
« ¨ x sin ¨ ¸  x ¸ » x  sin x
©x¹
57. lim « © ¹» ... . (1987) 68. Evaluate lim (1979)
x of « (1 | x |3 ) » x o0 x  cos 2 x
« »
¬ ¼
(a  h) 2 sin (a  h)  2
sin a
69. Evaluate lim
h o0
(1980)
(1988) h

58. ABC is an isosceles triangle inscribed in a circle of radius 70. If f (x + y) = f (x) + f (y) for all x and y. If the function f is
r. If AB = AC and h is the altitude from A to BC, then the continuous at x = 0, then show that f is continuous for all x.
(1981)
triangle ABC has perimeter P 2 ( 2hr  h 2  2hr ) 71. Determine the values a, b, c, for which the function

A
and area A = ... . Also, lim ... . (1989)
h o0 P3 ­ sin (a  1) x  sin x
° , for x  0
°° x
x4
§x6· f (x) ® c, for x 0
59. lim ¨ ¸ .... . (1991) °
° (x  bx )  x , for x ! 0
2 1/ 2 1/ 2
x of x  1
© ¹
°̄ bx 3/ 2
60. Let f(x) = x |x|. The set of points, where f (x) is twice
differentiable is ... . (1992)
is continuous at x = 0. (1982)
1/ x 2
§ 1  5x 2 · x
1
61. lim ¨ ¸ ... . (1996) 72. Use the formula lim log e a, to find
x o0 1  3x 2
© ¹ x o0 x

§ S · 2x  1
62. Let f (x) = [x] sin ¨¨ ¸¸ ; where [.] denotes the greatest lim (1982)
x o 0 (1  x)1/ 2  1
© x 1 ¹
integer function. The domain of f is ............ and the points
of discontinuity of f in the domain are ........... . (1996) ­1  x, 0 d x d 2
73. Let f (x) ® ;
¯3  x, 2  x d 3
log (1  2h)  2 log (1  h)
63. lim ... . (1997)
h o0 h2 Determine the form of g(x) = f [f (x)] and hence find the
points of discontinuity of g, if any. (1983)
True/False

64. If lim
xoa
[f (x) g(x)] exists, then both lim
xo
f(x) and lim
xo
g(x)
exist. (1981)
LIMIT, CONTINUITY & DIFFERENTIABILITY

80. Find the values of a and b, so that the function

­ x2
°° , 0 d x 1
2 ­ x +a 2 sin x , 0d x S / 4
74. Let f (x) ®
° 2x 2  3x  3 , 1 d x d 2 °
f x ®2 x cot x +b , S / 4dx dS / 2
°̄ 2 °a cos 2x – bsin x , S / 2  x d S
¯

Discuss the continuity of f, f’ and and f’’ on [0, 2].

is continuous for 0 d x d S. (1989)
(1983)
75. Let f (x) = x3 – x2 – x + 1 and

­
­ max {f (t); 0 d t d x} 0 d x d 1 °1– cos 4x
g(x) ® , x0
¯ 3  x, 1  x d 2 ° x2
°
81. Let f x ® , x 0
Discuss the continuity and differentiability of the function °
° 2
, x!0
g (x) in the interval (0, 2). (1985) ° 16  x  4
¯
76. Let f (x) be defined in the interval [–2, 2] such that

­ –1 , – 2 d x d 0 Determine the value of a, if possible, so that the function

f x ®
¯x – 1, 0  x d 2 is continuous at x = 0 (1990)

g (x) = f (|x|) + | f (x)| S

Find lim {tan (  x)} .
1/ x
82. (1993)
xo0 4
Test the differentiability of g (x) in (–2, 2) (1986)
77. Let g (x) be a polynomial of degree one and f (x) be defined

­ a / sin x S
­ g x xd0 ° 1+ sin x , – x0
°° 6
1/ x °
by f x ®ª 1  x º 83. Let f x ® b , x 0
°« » x!0 °
¯° ¬ 2  x ¼ S
°e tan 2x/tan 3x , 0x
¯ 6

Find the continuous functions f (x) satisfying.

f c (1) = f (–1) (1987) Determine a & b so that f is continuous at x = 0 (1994)

78. Let R be the set of real numbers and f : R o R be such that

­ §¨ 1  1 ¸·
for all x and y in R in R |f(x) – f(y)|d (x – y)3. Prove that f (x) ° xe © |x| x ¹ , x z 0
84. Let f (x) ® Test whether
is a constant. (1988) °¯ 0, x 0
79. Draw the graph of the function y = [x] + |1 – x|, –1 d x d 3.
Determine the points, if any, where this function is not (a) f (x) is continuous at x = 0
differentiable, where [x] denotes greatest integer < x. (b) f (x) is differentiable at x = 0 (1997)
(1989)
 LIMIT, CONTINUITY & DIFFERENTIABILITY

85. Determine the values of x for which the following function 88. If a function f : [–2a, 2a] o R is an odd function such that
fails to be continuous or differentiable f (x) = f (2a – x) for x  [a, 2a] and the left hand derivative
at x = a is 0 then find the left hand derivative at x = –a.
­ 1  x, x 1 (2003)
°
f (x) ® (1  x) (2  x), 1 d x d 2 Justify your answer..
° 3  x, x!2
¯
­ 1 § x  c · 1
(1997) °b sin ¨ 2 ¸ ,  2 x  0
° © ¹
86. Let D R. Prove that a function f : R oR is differentiable ° 1
89. f (x) ® , x 0
at Dif and only if there is a function g : R oR which is ° 2
° eax/ 2  1 1
continuous at Dand satisfies f (x) – f (D) = g (x) (x–D) for all ° , 0x
¯ x 2
x R. (2001)

­° x  a if x0
87. Let f x ®
°̄ x – 1 if xt0 1
If f (x) is differentiable at x = 0 and |c| < , then find the
2

value of a and prove that 64b2 = (4 – c2). (2004)

­° x  1 if x0
and g x ® 2 ,
°̄ x – 1  b if xt0

where a and b are non-negative real numbers. Determine

the composite function gof. If (gof ) (x) is continuous for
all real x determine the values of a and b, is gof differentiable
at x = 0 ? Justify your answer. (2002)
LIMIT, CONTINUITY & DIFFERENTIABILITY

ANSWER KEY
Previous Year IIT Questions
1. (d) 2. (b) 3. (c) 4. (b) 5. (d) 6. (b) 7. (a) 8. (b) 9. (d) 10. (c)
11. (b) 12. (d) 13. (c) 14. (d) 15. (d) 16. (d) 17. (c) 18. (c) 19. (b) 20. (d)
21. (a) 22. (d) 23. (d) 24. (c) 25. (c) 26. (d) 27. (d) 28. (c) 29. (d) 30. (b)
31. (b) 32. (b) 33. (d) 34. (a,b,d) 35. (b,d) 36. (a,b,d) 37. (a,b) 38. (b,c) 39. (b,c,d) 40. (a,b)
41. (a,c) 42. (a,c,d) 43. (a,b,c) 44. (a,c) 45. (b,c) 46. (a,b,c,d) 47. (b,d) 48. (a) 49. A–p; B–r

2
50. A – p,q,r; B–p,s; C–r,s; D–p,q 51. 52. 7 53. {0}
S

­ 4  x2 ;2d x d 0
54. Although many such piecewise discontinuous functions are possible, one of them is f (x) °®
°̄ 4  x 2
;0xd2

1
55. 0, 1 56. 1 57. –1 58. h ( 2hr  h 2 ),
128r

59. e5 60. x R – {0} 61. e2 62. ( – f, –1) ‰ [0, f), I – {0} where I is the set of integer n except n = –1

1 2 2
63. –1 64. False 65.  66. 67. f c(1)  68. 0 69. a2 cos a + 2 a sin a
3 S 9
­ 4  x, 2  x d 3
3 1 °
71. a  ,c and b  R  0 72. 2 A n 2 73. g(x) ® 2  x, 0 d x d 1, discontinuous at x = {1, 2}
2 2 ° 2  x, 1  x d 2
¯
74. f and f ’ are continuous and f ” is discontinuous at x = {1, 2} 75. Continuous and differentiable on (0, 2) – {1}

76. not differentiable at x = 0, 1

­§ 2 2 1 ·
°¨ 3 ln 3  9 ¸ x , x d 0
°© ¹
77. f x ® 1/ 2 79. x = 0, 1, 2, 3
° §1 x · , x !0
° 2 x
¯ © ¹
S –S 2
80. a ,b 81. not possible 82. e2 83. a ,b e2 / 3 84. (a) Yes (b) No
6 12 3
85. f is continuous and differentiable at all points except at x =2
­ x  a 1 if x –a
° 2
°° x  a –1  b if a d x 0
87. g f x ® 2 a = 1, b = 0, gof differentiable at x = 0
°x  b if 0 d x d1
° 2
°̄ x – 2  b if x !1
88. 0 89. a = 1

Dream on !!
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