Zahmoul Khalil

2022-2023

Function of a real variable

Exercise 1. Determine the domain of definition of each of the following functions :

x
a) f (x) = √ √ , b) f (x) = ln(1 + x3 ) + x − 1,
2
1+x − 1+x
ln(x) q
c) f (x) = , d) f (x) = |x + 2| − |2x − 4|,
E(x2 ) − 4
x2 + 2 1
 
e) f (x) = 4 2
, f ) f (x) = tan(πx) cos ,
x + 2X + 1 x
p
g) f (x) = exp( x2 − 2x − 3).
Correction 1. √ √
a) f (x) is well defined iff 1 + x2 − 1 + x 6= 0, 1 + x2 > 0 and 1 + x > 0. Then,
Df = [−1, +∞[r{0, 1}.
b) f (x) is well defined iff 1 + x3 > 0. Then,
Df =] − 1, +∞[.
c) f (x) is well defined iff x > 0 and x2 ∈
/ [4, 5[. Then,
√
Df =]0, +∞[r[2, 5[.
d) f (x) is well defined iff |x + 2| − |2x − 4| > 0. Then,
2
Df = [ , 6].
3
e) f (x) is well defined iff x4 + 2X 2 + 1 6= 0. Then,
Df = R.
f) f (x) is well defined iff πx ∈
/ { π2
+ kπ, k ∈ Z} and x 6= 0. Then,
1
Df = R∗ r { + k, k ∈ Z}.
2
g) f (x) is well defined iff x2 − 2x − 3 > 0. Then,
Df =] − ∞, −1] ∪ [3, +∞[.

Exercise 2. Calculate the following limits :

√
x − ln(1 + x) 2x − x2 + 1
a) lim , b) lim ,
x→0 x x→+∞ 3x + 1
p e3x + 4x + 1
c) lim x2 − 3x − 2x, d) lim ,
x→+∞ x→+∞ 4e3x + e−x + ex
−2x2 + 2
e) lim .
x→+∞ 3x2 + 2x + 1
1
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Correction 2.
x − ln(1 + x) ln(1 + x)
a) lim = lim 1 − = 0.
x→0 x x→0 xq
√
2x − x2 + 1 2 − 1 + x1 1
b) lim = lim 1 = .
x→+∞ 3x + 1 x→+∞ 3+ 3
r x
p 3
c) lim x2 − 3x − 2x = lim x( 1 − − 2) = −∞.
x→+∞ x→+∞ x
e3x + 4x + 1 1 + 43 e3x 1
3x + e3x 1
d) lim = lim 1 1 = .
x→+∞ 4e3x + e−x + ex x→+∞ 4 + 4x + 4
e e2x
2 2
−2x + 2 −2 + x2 −2
e) lim 2
= lim 2 1 = .
x→+∞ 3x + 2x + 1 x→+∞ 3 + 3
x + x2

Exercise 3. Determine, using the L’Hôpital’s rule, the following limits :

ln(2 + x) + x + 1
(1) lim .
x→−1 x+1
1 − cos(3x)
(2) lim .
x→0 x2
Correction 3.
1
ln(2 + x) + x + 1 +1
(1) lim = lim 2+x = 2.
x→−1 x+1 x→−1 1
1 − cos(3x) 3 sin(3x) 9 cos(3x) 9
(2) lim 2
= lim = lim = .
x→0 x x→0 2x x→0 2 2

  
Exercise 4. We consider the function f : x 7→ 1
x 2 − sin 1
x defined on R∗ .
(1) Show that f (x) > x1 , ∀x > 0. Deduce that lim0+ f (x).
(2) Show that f (x) 6 x1 , ∀x < 0. Deduce that lim0− f (x).
 
1
Correction 4. Since −1 6 sin x 6 1, ∀x 6= 0, then :
1 −1 1
(1) For x > 0, we have x 6 f (x) 6 x . Thus, +∞ = lim0+ x 6 lim0+ f (x). Then,
lim f (x) = +∞.
0+
−1
(2) For x < 0, we have x 6 f (x) 6 x1 . Thus, −∞ = lim0− 1
x > lim0− f (x). Then,
lim f (x) = −∞.
0−

Exercise 5. For each of the following functions, determine if it is continuous on R

 x
 e −x  −2x + 1

if x<0 if x<0
a) f (x) = cos2 (πx) if 06x61 , b) g(x) = ex if 06x61 .
1 + lnxx if x>1 ex2 if x>1
 

Correction 5.
a) The functions ex − x, cos2 (πx) and 1 + lnxx are continuous respectively over the intervals
] − ∞, 0[, [0, 1] and ]1, +∞[. Moreover, lim0− f (x) = lim0− ex − x = 1 and lim0+ f (x) =
lim0+ cos2 (πx) = 1, then f is continuous at 0. Moreover, lim1− f (x) = lim1− cos2 (πx) = 1
and lim1+ f (x) = lim1+ 1 + lnxx = 1, then f is continuous at 1. Hence, f is continuous on R.
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b) The functions −2x+1, ex and ex2 are continuous respectively over the intervals ]−∞, 0[, [0, 1]
and ]1, +∞[. Moreover, lim0− f (x) = lim0− −2x + 1 = 1 and lim0+ f (x) = lim0+ ex = 1, then
f is continuous at 0. Moreover, lim1− f (x) = lim1− ex = e and lim1+ f (x) = lim1+ ex2 = e,
then f is continuous at 1. Hence, f is continuous on R.

Exercise 6. Check if the following functions are extendable by continuity on R :

 
1
(1) f (x) = sin(x) sin x .
 −x

1 ex +e
(2) f (x) = x ln 2 .
1 2
(3) f (x) = 1−x − 1−x2
.
Correction 6.
(1) f is a function defined and continuous on R∗ . Moreover,
1
 
lim f (x) = lim sin(x) sin = 0 < +∞,
0 0 x
 
1
because −1 6 sin x 6 1 and lim0 sin(x) = 0. Then, f is extendable by continuity on R.
(2) f is a function defined and continuous on R∗ . Moreover,
  ex −e−x
ex +e−x 2
ln 2
ex +e−x
2
lim f (x) = lim = lim = 0 < +∞.
0 x 00 1
Then, f is extendable by continuity on R.
(3) f is a function defined and continuous on R r {−1, 1}. Moreover,
1 2 −1
lim f (x) = lim − 2
= lim = ±∞.
−1± −1 1 − x
± 1−x −1 1 + x
±

Then, f is not extendable by continuity on R.

Exercise 7.
(1) Let f be a continuous function over an interval [a, b]. Show that there exists c ∈ [a, b]
such that
2f (a) + 3f (b) = 5f (c).
(2) Show that the equation x4 + 4x2 + x − 1 = 0 admits a solution in ]0, 1[.
Correction 7.
(1) Let g(x) = 2f (a) + 3f (b) − 5f (x). The function g is continuous over [a, b] and g(a)g(b) =
6(g(a) − g(b))(g(b) − g(a)) 6 0. Then, according to the intermediate value theorem, there
exists c ∈ [a, b] such that g(c) = 0. Hence, 2f (a) + 3f (b) = 5f (c).
(2) Let g(x) = x4 +4x2 +x−1. The function g is continuous over [0, 1] and g(0)g(1) = −5 < 0.
Then, according to the intermediate value theorem, there exists c ∈]0, 1[ such that g(c) = 0.

Exercise 8. Let f : R → R be a function defined by :

(  
1
(x − 1)3 cos 1−x if x 6= 1
f (x) =
0 if x=1
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(1) Show that f is of class C 1 on R.

(2) Is f of class C 2 on R ?
Correction 8.
 
1
(1) . The function (x − 1)3 cos 1−x is continuous on R r {1}. Moreover,
1
 
lim(x − 1)3 cos = 0 = f (0),
1 1−x
 
1
because −1 6 cos 1−x 61 and lim1 (x − 1)3 = 0. Then, f is continuous on R.

1
. The function (x − 1)3 cos 1−x is differentiable on R r {1} and its derivative is
   
1 1
3(x − 1)2 cos 1−x + (x − 1) sin 1−x . Moreover,
f (x) − f (1) 1
 
lim = lim(x − 1)2 cos = 0 = f 0 (1),
1 x−1 1 1−x
 
1
because −1 6 cos 1−x 6 1 and lim1 (x − 1)2 = 0. Then, f is differentiable on R
and
(    
1 1
0 3(x − 1)2 cos 1−x + (x − 1) sin 1−x si x 6= 1
f (x) =
0 si x = 1
   
1 1
. The function 3(x − 1)2 cos 1−x + (x − 1) sin 1−x is continuous on R r {1}.
Moreover,
1 1
   
lim 3(x − 1)2 cos + (x − 1) sin = 0 = f 0 (0).
1 1−x 1−x
   
1 1
because −1 6 cos 1−x 6 1, −1 6 sin 1−x 6 1 and lim1 (x−1)2 = lim1 (x−1) = 0.
So, f 0 is continuous over R. Thus, f is of class C 1 on R.
0
   
(2) Since the limit lim1 f (x)−f
x−1
(1) 1
= lim1 3(x−1) cos 1−x 1
+sin 1−x does not exist, therefore
0 2
f is not differentiable in 1. Thus, f is not of class C on R.

Exercise 9.
(1) Determine the reals α and β such that the function f defined below is of class C 1 on R.
ex

if x60
f (x) =
αx + β if x>0
(2) Determine the reals α,β and γ such that the function f defined below is of class C 2 on R.
ex

si x 6 0
f (x) = 2
αx + βx + γ si x > 0
Correction 9.
(1) Since f is continuous in 0, then lim0− f (x) = lim0+ f (x). Thus, β = 1. Moreover, f 0 is
continuous in 0, then lim0− f 0 (x) = lim0+ f 0 (x). Thus, α = 1.
(2) Since f is continuous in 0, then lim0− f (x) = lim0+ f (x). Thus, γ = 1. Moreover, f 0 is
continuous in 0, then lim0− f 0 (x) = lim0+ f 0 (x). Thus, β = 1. Moreover, f 00 is continuous
in 0, then lim0− f 00 (x) = lim0+ f 00 (x). Thus, α = 21 .
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Exercise 10. Calculate the n-derivative of the following functions :

(1) f (x) = xn−1 ln(x), n > 1.
x2 +1
(2) g(x) = x+1 .
(3) h(x) = (3x2 + 5x + 2)e−x .
Correction 10.
n n−1
X X n! (−1)n−k+1 (n − k − 1)!
(1) f (n) (x) = Cnk (xn−1 )(k) (ln(x))(n−k) = Cnk xn−1−k =
k=0 k=0
(n − k − 1)! xn−k
n
1X
C k (−1)n−k+1 .
x k=0 n
n (n−k)
1 (−1)n n! (−1)n−1 n! (−1)n−2 n!
X 
(2) g (n) (x) = Cnk (x2 +1)(k) = (x2 +1) +2x +2 .
k=0
x+1 (x + 1)n+1 (x + 1)n (x + 1)n−1
n
Cnk (3x2 +5x+2)(k) (e−x )(n−k) = (3x2 +5x+2)(−1)n e−x +n(6x+5)(−1)n−1 e−x +
X
(3) h(n) (x) =
k=0
6n(n − 1)(−1)n−2 e−x .

Exercise 11.
(1) Show that if x ∈ R such that sin(x) − x cos(x) = 0, then cos(x) 6= 0.
(2) Study the hypotheses of Rolle’s theorem for the function f defined on [0, 1] by
π


x sin x si 0 < x 6 1
f (x) =
0 si x = 0
(3) Deduce that the equation tan(x) = x, admits a solution in ]π, +∞[.
Correction 11.
(1) Since cos(x) = 0 iff x = π2 + kπ, k ∈ Z, and since sin(x) − x cos(x) = ±1 6= 0. Hence, if
sin(x) − x cos(x) = 0, we have cos(x) 6= 0.
(2) Since :
. The function x sin πx
is continuous over ]0.1]. Moreover, lim0 x sin πx = 0 = f (0),

because −1 6 sin πx 6 1 and lim0 x = 0. So f is continuous on [0, 1].

. The function f is differentiable on ]0, 1[.
. f (0) = f (1) = 0.
Then, there exists c ∈ [0, 1], such that f 0 (c) = sin πc − πx cos πc = 0.

(3) Since there exists c
∈ [0, 1], such that f 0 (c) = sin π π π




c − x cos c = 0. So, according to
question 1), tan πc = πc .

Exercise 12. Using the finite increment theorem, show that :

(1) | sin(x)| < |x|.
(2) ∀x ∈ R∗ , we have 1 + x < ex < xex + 1.
Correction 12.
(1) The function sin(x) is continuous and differentiable over R and sin0 (x) = cos(x). Therefore,
according to finite increments inequality, |sin(x) − sin(0)| 6 | cos(x)|.|x − 0|, ∀x ∈ R.
Thus, |sin(x)| 6 |x|, ∀x ∈ R.
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(2) Let x > 0 and f (y) = ex , ∀y ∈]0, x[. The function f is continuous over [0, x] and
differentiable over ]0, x[, so according to the finite increments theorem, there exists
c ∈]0, x[ such that (ex − e0 ) = ec (x − 0). Since ex − 1 = xec ∈]x, xex [ (because x > 0 and
the function f is increasing), then ex ∈]x + 1, xex + 1[.