ECON 410: Homework #1 – MATH REVIEW

Fall 2023
Directions
 This assignment is NOT DUE, and will NOT be GRADED.
 This assignment is for practice: it is up to you to use it to practice required differential
calculus techniques.
Part I: Simplify each of the following expressions.

8𝑦/6𝑥
1. 2𝑥/3𝑦

8
a. 9

b. 2

2𝑦 2
c. 𝑥2 24y^2 2y^2
d.
8𝑦 2 12x^2
9𝑥 2

𝑥 (1−𝑎) 𝑦 𝑏
2. 𝑥 𝑎 𝑦 (𝑏−1)
Text
𝑥
a. 𝑦

b. 𝑥𝑦

c. 𝑥 (1−2𝑎) 𝑦

𝑥 (1−2𝑎)
d. 𝑦

3. (𝑥 2 )3 (𝑥 2 )2

a. 𝑥9

b. 𝑥10

c. 𝑥 20

d. 𝑥 24
 𝑥 2/3 𝑦 1/4
4. 𝑥 −1/3 𝑦 3/4

a. 𝑥𝑦

b. 𝑥1/3 𝑦 −1/2

𝑥
c. 𝑦 1/2

𝑥
d. 𝑦

2
(𝑥+5)−1/2 𝑦 2/3
5. 3
4
(𝑥+5)1/2 𝑦 −1/3
9

3𝑦
a. 2(𝑥+5)

3(𝑥+5)
b. 2𝑦

2(𝑥+5)𝑦
c. 3

2𝑦
d. 3(𝑥+5)
Part II: Solve for x.

6. (12 − x)1/2 = 36 − a

a. x = 12 + (36 − a)2
Just square both sides
b. x = 12 − (36 − a)2 and simplify.
c. x = 12 − (36 − a)1/2

d. x = 12 + (36 − a)1/2

7. 3 ln(x 4 ) = 18
Simplify integers, e^
a.
3
x = exp( ) everything on both
2
sides, cancel, simplify.
b. x = exp(6)

c. x = 61/4

1
d. x = exp( )
24

1 1
𝑎
8. (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )2 = 𝑏

𝑎
a. 𝑥 = 𝑏−𝑦

2
𝑎 1/2 1
b. 𝑥 = ((𝑏) − 𝑦2)

𝑎
c. 𝑥 = 𝑏 − 𝑦1/2

2
𝑎 1/2
d. 𝑥 = ((𝑏) − 𝑦)
 (3⁄4)(𝑥 −1/2 ) 𝑎
9. =𝑏
𝑦 −2/3

3𝑏 2 4
a. 𝑥 = (4𝑎) 𝑦 3

4𝑎 2 4
b. 𝑥 = (3𝑏) 𝑦 3

1
3𝑏 2 1
c. 𝑥= (4𝑎) 𝑦 3

1
4𝑏 2 1
d. 𝑥= ( ) 𝑦3
3𝑎

3 𝑥 −1/3 𝑦 3/4 𝑎
10. =𝑏
4 𝑥 2/3 𝑦 −1/4

3𝑏
a. 𝑥 = (4𝑎) 𝑦

3𝑎
b. 𝑥 = (4𝑏) 𝑦

4𝑏
c. 𝑥 = (3𝑎) 𝑦

4𝑎
d. 𝑥 = (3𝑏) 𝑦
Part III: Solve for the following derivatives.

11. f(x) = 𝑥 2 ln (𝑥)

𝑑𝑓
a. = 2 ln(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑓
b. =2
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑓 1
c. = 2𝑥 +
𝑑𝑥 𝑥

𝑑𝑓
d. = 𝑥(1 + 2 ln(𝑥))
𝑑𝑥

a = 6+x
6+𝑥
a’b - b’a b = x^2
12. f(x) = 𝑥2
b a’ = 1 - x^2 - 12x
a.
𝑑𝑓
𝑑𝑥
1
= 𝑥2 +
6+𝑥
2𝑥
b’ = 2x
𝑑𝑓 12 1
x^4
b. 𝑑𝑥
= − 𝑥3 − 𝑥2
(x^2)(1) - (6+x)(2x)
-x(x + 12)
x^4
𝑑𝑓 2 12
c. = 2 + 𝑥3
x^4
𝑑𝑥 𝑥

d.
𝑑𝑓
𝑑𝑥
= −𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 x^2 12x - 2x^2
-12 1
x^4
x^3 x^2
13. f ( x ) = ( x1/3 + ax )1/2

df 1 −2/3 1/3
a. = x (x + ax )−1/2 (Outside’) * (Inside) * (Inside’)
dx 6

df 1 1/3 1
b. = ( x + ax )−1/2 ( x −2/3 + a)
dx 2 3
1
𝑑𝑓 1
c. = 2 (𝑥 3 + 𝑎𝑥)−1/2
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑓 1
d. 𝑑𝑥
= 6 (𝑥 −1/3 + 𝑎2 𝑥)−1/2
(Outside’)(Inside)(Inside’)
3
14. 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑥 1/3 + 𝑦 1/2 )

𝜕𝑓 1 𝜕𝑓 1
a. = 3 𝑥 −2/3; 𝜕𝑦 = 2 𝑦 −1/2
𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑓 2 𝜕𝑓 2
b. = 3(𝑥1/3 + 𝑦 1/2 ) ; 𝜕𝑦 = 3(𝑥1/3 + 𝑦 1/2 )
𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑓 2 𝜕𝑓 2
c. = 3𝑥 −2/3 (𝑥1/3 + 𝑦1/2 ) ; 𝜕𝑦 = 3𝑦 −1/2 (𝑥1/3 + 𝑦 1/2 )
𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑓 2 𝜕𝑓 3 2
d. = 𝑥 −2/3 (𝑥1/3 + 𝑦1/2 ) ; 𝜕𝑦 = 2 𝑦 −1/2 (𝑥1/3 + 𝑦1/2 )
𝜕𝑥

15. 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = (3𝑥 − 3)1/2 𝑦1/3

𝜕𝑓 1 𝜕𝑓 1
a. = 2 (3𝑥 − 3)−1/2𝑦 1/3; 𝜕𝑦 = 3 (3𝑥 − 3)1/2 𝑦 −1/3
𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑓 3 𝜕𝑓 1
b. = 2 (3𝑥 − 3)−1/2𝑦 1/3; 𝜕𝑦 = 3 (3𝑥 − 3)1/2 𝑦 −2/3
𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑓 3 𝜕𝑓
c. = 2 (3𝑥 − 3)−1/2; 𝜕𝑦 = (3𝑥 − 3)1/2 𝑦 −2/3
𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑓 1 𝜕𝑓 1
d. = 2 (3𝑥 − 3)−1/2; 𝜕𝑦 = 3 𝑦 −2/3
𝜕𝑥

x2
16. f ( x , y) =
3 xy + 2

𝜕𝑓 3𝑥 2 𝑦 + 4𝑥
a. = (3𝑥𝑦 + 2)2
𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑓 3𝑥
b. = 3𝑥 + 2
𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑓 9𝑥 2 𝑦 + 4𝑥
c. = (3𝑥𝑦 + 2)2
𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑓 𝑥
d. = 3𝑥𝑦 + 2
𝜕𝑥
Part IV: Which statement correctly describes each of the following functions? (Note: You
will not be allowed to use a graphing calculator on the exams, so it is in your best interest to
do these problems without one!)
2
17. 𝑌 = (𝑋1/2 + 10) , for 𝑋 > 0

a. Y is increasing with X at an increasing rate.

b. Y is increasing with X at a decreasing rate.

c. Y is decreasing with X at an increasing rate.

d. Y is decreasing with X at a decreasing rate. 1st Der:

-3/8(x-4)^-3/2 * 1

2nd Der:
6/16(x-4)^-5/2
3
18. 𝑌 = 4 (𝑋 − 4)−1/2, for 𝑋 > 4
Since 1st Der is negative,
decreasing.
a. Y is increasing with X at an increasing rate.
Since the signs are not the
same, decreasing rate.
b. Y is increasing with X at a decreasing rate.

c. Y is decreasing with X at an increasing rate.

d. Y is decreasing with X at a decreasing rate.

19. 𝑦 = 3𝑥 5/6 , for 𝑥 > 0

a. y is increasing with x at an increasing rate.

b. y is increasing with x at a decreasing rate.

c. y is decreasing with x at an increasing rate.

d. y is decreasing with x at a decreasing rate.

20. 𝑦 = −3𝑥 3/2 , for 𝑥 > 0

a. y is increasing with x at an increasing rate.

b. y is increasing with x at a decreasing rate.

c. y is decreasing with x at an increasing rate.

d. y is decreasing with x at a decreasing rate.