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. Assume functions are continuous when defined
x -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4

f (x) 4 1 0 1 4 9 undefined

g (x) -1 -2 -4 undefined 4 2 1

1. Which of the following sets will include a value of 3?

(A) f (g(x)) for 3 ≤ x ≤ 4
(B) f (f(x)) for -1 ≤ x ≤ 1
(C) g (g(x)) for -2 ≤ x ≤ -1
(D) g (g(x)) for 0≤ x ≤ 2
(E) None of the above

2
2 + 𝑥 − 𝜋𝑥
2. Determine lim 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( 2 )
𝑥→∞ 2− 3𝑥

(A) - ∞
(B) + ∞
(C) ½
(D) 1
(E) Does not exist

3. Using the squeeze theorem, which of the following equalities appropriately show the
2
lim 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 = 0?
𝑥→0
2 2
(A) 𝑥 ≤ 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 ≤ 𝑥
2
(B) − 𝑥 ≤ 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 ≤ 𝑥
2 2 2
(C) -𝑥 ≤ 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 ≤ 𝑥
2
(D) All of the above appropriately show the lim 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 = 0
𝑥→0
2
(E) The lim 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 =1, so none of these appropriately show the limit
𝑥→0
Calculus BC Limits and Continuity Exam No calculators allowed

4. Which of the following functions is continuous?

𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥
(A) 𝑥
𝑥
(B) 𝑥
𝑠𝑖𝑛( |𝑥−1|+1 )
2
𝑥
(C) 2
(𝑥+1)
𝑥
(D) tan ( |𝑥| )
(E) None of the above are continuous
𝑛
𝑛𝑥 + 𝑛
5. What is true about the value of n for the following function: f (x) = 𝑛
𝑥 −𝑛
I. f (x) exists when x and n are 0
II. lim f (x) = -1 for all negative integer values of n
𝑥 → −∞
III. lim f (x) = n for all positive integer values of n
𝑥→∞

(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

|𝑥+2|
6. The function f (x) = 𝑥+2
has a discontinuity. In order to remove it the function g(x) is used.
Which of the following options will make the function h (x), shown below, continuous.
f (x) for x ≤ a
h (x) = g (x) for a < x < b
f (x) for b ≤ x

g (x) a b

(A) x -2 2

(B) x2 -3 0

(C) (𝑥+2)(𝑥+1) -3 -1
(𝑥+1)

(D) (𝑥+3)(𝑥+3) -4 -2
(𝑥+3)

(E) x +2 -2 0
Calculus BC Limits and Continuity Exam No calculators allowed

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

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

𝑥
3𝑎
8. Which of the following represents lim f (x) and lim f (x), respectively. f (x) = 𝑥 .
𝑥 → +∞ 𝑥 → −∞ 2+𝑏
3 1
(A) 2
, 2
(B) 3, 0
3𝑎 1
(C) 𝑏
, 2
3𝑎
(D) 𝑏
,0
(E) +∞, -∞

2
𝑥 +5𝑥+𝑘
9. Assume that lim 2 = 3. Determine the value of k.
𝑥 → −1 2𝑥 +5𝑥+3

(A) 5
(B) 4
(C) 3
(D) 2
(E) 1
Calculus BC Limits and Continuity Exam No calculators allowed

1. The water pressure in the column of water that a boat’s propeller makes is given by the following
equation:
−𝑀𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝑥) + 𝑀
f (x) = 𝑉𝑥
*Note, this model only works for +x

(A) Determine the lim f (x). Show your work. This represents the pressure at the propeller. Place
𝑥→0
your answer in terms of M, and V.

(B) Determine the lim f (x) to calculate the pressure in the water at a great distance from the
𝑥→∞
propeller. Show your work and Explain if it makes sense.

(C) The value of M represents the power of the motor. The value of V represents the viscosity of the
water. Explain how the pressure will change if the ratio of V/M increases.

The speed of the propeller changes based on the length of the propeller, and this has an effect on the
pressure as well. The formula for the velocity of the water around the propeller of length d is given by the
2
−(𝑑 + 4)
following equation, g(d) = 𝜋 ( 2 ). This formula only works when d is positive. The overall
𝑑 −4
dynamic pressure of the water can be given by f(g(d).
(D) Turbulence occurs when the water velocity becomes discontinuous. For the domain of this
example, prove that this occurs at least once. Give the location of the turbulence and identify the
type of discontinuity. Show your work

(E) Complete the table below.

d 0 4 20
7

Limit of : f (g(d))
Calculus BC Limits and Continuity Exam No calculators allowed

2. The wind speed around a propeller is similar to that in water, though it changes :
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥
f (x) = A −1 where x is the distance away from the propeller and A is the engine’s amplitude.
1+𝑥

(A) What is the wind speed near the propeller? (where x = 0)

(B) Is there a vertical discontinuity? Explain

(C) What is the velocity when x → -∞ from the center? Why is this not used

(D) What are the bounds for the continuous piecewise function, p (x), these two create?
(Solve this by solving for k and r in the following function, yes negative pressure is a thing)
4
𝑥 −2
for x ≤ k
p (x) = x-2 for k < x < r
4
𝑥−2
for x ≥ r