Calculus BC Limits and Continuity Exam No calculators allowed

Directions: Solve each of the following problems, using available space for scratch work. After
examining the form of the choices, decide which is the best of the choices given and select it. Do not
spend too much time on any one problem

In this exam:
(1) Unless otherwise specified, the domain of a function f is assumed to be the set of all real numbers x for
which f (x) is a real number.

For problem 1 use the following table as a reference.

x 9 6 3 1 -3 -6 -9

f (x) 8 2 3 4 1 5 8

g (x) -9 undefined 1 -2 -9 undefined 3

1. Which of the following sets will include a value of 0?

(A) f (g(x)) for -9 ≤ x ≤ 3
(B) f (f(x)) for -3 ≤ x ≤ 3
(C) g (g(x)) for -3 ≤ x ≤ 3
(D) g (f(x)) for -3 ≤ x ≤ 3
(E) g (g(x)) for -9 ≤ x ≤ 3

2
2. Which of the following equalities appropriately show the lim 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 = 0?
𝑥→0
2 2
(A) 𝑥 ≤ 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 ≤ 1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥
2
(B) − 𝑥 ≤ 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 ≤ 𝑥
2 2 2
(C) -𝑥 ≤ 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 ≤𝑥
2
(D) All of the above appropriately show the lim 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 = 0
𝑥→0
2
(E) The lim 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 ≠ 0, so none of these appropriately show the limit
𝑥→0
4
9𝑥 + 1
3. Determine lim 2
𝑥→∞ 𝑥 − 3𝑥 + 5

(A) 1
(B) 3
(C) 9
(D) ∞
(E) Nonexistent
Calculus BC Limits and Continuity Exam No calculators allowed

𝑛
𝑛 𝑥
4. What is true about the value of n for the following function: f (x) = 𝑛
𝑥
I. f (x) is continuous when n is 0
II. lim f (x) = 0 when n > 1
𝑥 → −∞
III. f (x) has a single removable discontinuity when n is a negative multiple of 2

(A) I. and II. only

(B) II. and III. only
(C) I. and III. only
(D) I., II. and III.
(E) none of them are true

3 2
𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 𝑥
5. Determine lim 𝑥−1
𝑥→1
(A) - ∞
(B) + ∞
(C) 2
(D) 4
(E) Does not exist

Consider the following functions:

4 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 − 4 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 − 1
f (x) = 3𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥
g (x) = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥
6. Which of the following is true?
2
I. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = − 3
𝑥→0
II. lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 0
𝑥→0
III. lim 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) = 0
𝑥→0
(A) I. only
(B) II. only
(C) II. and I. only
(D) III. and II. only
(E) III. and I. only
Calculus BC Limits and Continuity Exam No calculators allowed

Use the graph below to answer problem 7: *NOTE: f (x) is the black lines and g (x) is the blue dotted line.
f (x) has a vertical asymptote and a horizontal asymptote as shown:

7. Which of the following will not have a limit that equals zero?
(A) lim 𝑔(𝑓(𝑥))
𝑥→2
(B) lim 𝑓(𝑓(𝑥))
𝑥→1
(C) lim 𝑔(𝑔(𝑥))
𝑥→2
(D) lim 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→1
(E) All of the above approach 0

𝑥
𝑎−𝑐
8. Which of the following represents lim f (x) and lim f (x), respectively. f (x) = 𝑥 .
𝑥 → +∞ 𝑥 → −∞ 𝑏−𝑐
𝑎
(A) - 𝑏
, -1
𝑎
(B) 𝑐
,1
𝑎
(C) 1, 𝑏
𝑐
(D) -1, 𝑎
(E) +∞, -∞

2
3𝑥 +18𝑥+𝑘
9. Assume that lim 2 = 3. Determine the value of k.
𝑥 → −2 𝑥 +6𝑥+8

(A) 24
(B) - 6
(C) 8
(D) 36
(E) 1
Calculus BC Limits and Continuity Exam No calculators allowed

1. When hurricanes develop their projected paths are determined by a set of no less than eight
supercomputer models around the world. Their algorithms are not all the same and their input data is
slightly different. However, the physics that they incorporate is for the most part identical. Assume that
one of the models is using the following function for the average wind speed, f(x), compared to the
distance from the center, d, in miles. The factor π is a specific ratio of the storm's highest wind speeds.
π𝑑
f (d) = 2 1
𝑑 + 𝑑

This model is only true for distances where 0 < d < n. Where n is the hurricane’s diameter.

(A) Determine the lim f (d) to calculate the wind speed at the core. Show your work and explain if
𝑑→0
your result makes sense.

(B) Determine the lim f (d) to calculate the wind speed very far from the storm center. Show your
𝑑→∞
work and Explain if it makes sense.

(C) There is an infinite discontinuity in the function. Show that it is outside the domain of the model.

Clouds are made where there is a high rate of convection. The rate of convection is, in some ways,
affected by the wind speed. The function for convection is given by g(f (d)) where the function g is
2𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛(2𝑥)
defined as: g (x) = 2 . Rain bands are only possible when 0 < g(f (x)) < 1
𝑥
(D) Determine if rain bands are possible in the core, when d = 0. Show your work

(E) Complete the table below. Explain the presence of rain bands in the region 0 < d < 2
d 0 1 2

g(f (d))
*Note: sin (0.1) = 0.10, sin (0.2) = 0.20, sin (0.3) = 0.30, sin (0.4) = 0.39, sin (0.5) = 0.48, sin (0.6) = 0.56
sin(0.7) = 0.64, sin(0.8) = 0.72, sin(0.9) = 0.78, sin (1) = 0.84, (any others please ask me for)
Calculus BC Limits and Continuity Exam No calculators allowed

2. On ski hills the snow machines use a formula for the horizontal profile of a hill. This is given by:
2𝑥+2
f (x) = 3 2 where x is the distance away from the center in meters and f (x) is the height.
𝑥 + 𝑥 + 𝑥 +1

(A) What is the height of the hill in the center? (where x = 0)

(B) What is the height at a distance of -1 meters from the center? lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥 → −1

(C) What is the height at a great distance from the center? (Think that this is an infinite distance)
Explain if your answer makes sense

The flow rate in a water pump for these snow machines is related to the pressure in the pipes. The
1
following function, g (x), gives the flow rate for the pressure, x: g (x) = 𝑥+1
.
(D) Determine the type and location of the discontinuity in this function.

(E) Due to the discontinuity described above a second pump is used to ensure continuous flow in the
pipes. That pump(function h (x)) a flow rate of h (x) = x + 1. What are the bounds for the
continuous piecewise function, p (x), these two create?
(Solve this by solving for k in the following function)