NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

SPMS/DIVISION OF MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES

2024/25 Semester 1 MH1100 Calculus I Tutorial 2, Week 3

Your tutor will aim to discuss: Problem 3, 6, 8, 11, and 15

3x
Problem 1 The point P (1, 1) lies on the the graph of the function f (x) = 1+2x .
 
3x
(a) If Q is the point x, 1+2x , use your calculator to find the slope of the secant line
P Q for the values of x: (i) 0.5; (ii) 0.9; (iii) 0.99; (iv) 0.999; (v) 1.5; (vi) 1.1; (vii)
1.01; and (viii) 1.001.
(b) Using the results of part (a), guess the value of the slope of the tangent line to the
curve at P (1, 1).
(c) Using the slope from part (b), find an equation of the tangent line to the curve at
P (1, 1).

[Solution:]

(a) In this problem we are asked to guess the slope of the tangent to the graph of the
3x
function f (x) = 1+2x at the point P (1, 1) by looking at the slopes of various secants
starting at that point. Consider, for example, the first case we are asked to use: the
secant from P (1, 1) to Q(0.5, f (0.5)). Here is a graph of that secant (in red):

Figure 1

The slope of this secant is given by the calculation:

f (1.0) − f (0.5) 1 − 1.5
2 1
m0.5 = = = .
1.0 − 0.5 1.0 − 0.5 2
1
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The other slopes are as follows.

2.7
f (1.0) − f (0.9) 1 − 2.8 10
m0.9 = = = .
1.0 − 0.9 1.0 − 0.9 28
2.97
f (1.0) − f (0.99) 1 − 2.98 100
m0.99 = = = .
1.0 − 0.99 1.0 − 0.99 298
f (1.0) − f (0.999) 1 − 2.997
2.998 1000
m0.999 = = = .
1.0 − 0.999 1.0 − 0.999 2998
f (1.0) − f (1.5) 1 − 4.5
4.0 1
m1.5 = = = .
1.0 − 1.5 1.0 − 1.5 4
3.3
f (1.0) − f (1.1) 1 − 3.2 10
m1.1 = = = .
1.0 − 1.1 1.0 − 1.1 32
3.03
f (1.0) − f (1.01) 1 − 3.02 100
m1.01 = = = .
1.0 − 1.01 1.0 − 1.01 302
f (1.0) − f (1.001) 1 − 3.003
3.002 1000
m1.001 = = = .
1.0 − 1.001 1.0 − 1.001 3002

(b) Considering these slopes, we can say that the slopes seem to be approaching the value
1/3 as x approaches 1 from the left and also from the right. So our guess for the slope
of the tangent to the graph of f (x) at x = 1 is 1/3.

(c) The tangent, then, is the straight line going through the point (1, 1) with gradient
1/3. That line is given by the equation:
1 1 2
y − 1 = (x − 1) or y = x+ .
3 3 3
Here is a plot of that tangent, which suggests that our guess is a good approximation.

Figure 2
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Problem 2 The displacement of a particle moving back and forth along a straight line is
given by the equation of motion s = 2 sin πt + 3 cos πt, where t is measured in seconds.
(a) Find the average velocity for during the time period : (i) [1, 2]; (ii) [1, 1.1]; (iii)
[1, 1.01]; (iv) [1, 1.001].
(b) Estimate the instantaneous velocity of the particle when t = 1.0.

[Solution:]

(a) The average velocity over the brief time interval of τ starting from t to t + τ can be
computed in the following way.
s(t + τ ) − s(t)
vτ (t) = .
τ
So we have
s(1.0 + 1.0) − s(1.0)
v1.0 (1.0) =
1.0
(2 sin 2π + 3 cos 2π) − (2 sin π + 3 cos π)
=
1.0
3 − (−3)
= =6
1.0
s(1.0 + 0.1) − s(1.0)
v0.1 (1.0) =
0.1
(2 sin 1.1π + 3 cos 1.1π) − (2 sin π + 3 cos π)
=
0.1
≈ −4.7120
s(1.0 + 0.01) − s(1.0)
v0.01 (1.0) =
0.01
(2 sin 1.01π + 3 cos 1.01π) − (2 sin π + 3 cos π)
=
0.01
≈ −6.1341
s(1.0 + 0.001) − s(1.0)
v0.001 (1.0) =
0.001
(2 sin 1.001π + 3 cos 1.001π) − (2 sin π + 3 cos π)
=
0.001
≈ −6.2685
(b) We were asked to estimate the instantaneous velocity when t = 1.0. Our calculations
in Part(a) cannot lead us to any estimate. To have an accurate estimation, we need
to consider the average velocity on even smaller time intervals, such as [1, 1.0001],
[1, 1.00001], [1, 1.000001], and so one. Students can find the average velocity on these
time intervals by themselves. The instantaneous velocity is actually −2π ≈ −6.28318.

Problem 3 Consider a function h(x) with the graph as shown in Figure 3. State the value
of the following quantity, if it exists. If it does not exist, explain why.
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(a) lim h(x) (b) lim h(x) (c) lim h(x) (d) h(−3)
x→−3− x→−3+ x→−3
(e) lim h(x) (f) lim h(x) (g) lim h(x) (h) h(0)
x→0− x→0+ x→0
(i) lim h(x) (j) h(2) (k) lim h(x) (l) lim h(x)
x→2 x→5+ x→5−

Figure 3. Graph of h(x) in Problem 3

[Solution:] We were given the graph of some function h(x), and are asked to determine a
number of quantities, or explain why they do not exist. We find:
(a) lim h(x) = 4.
x→−3−
(b) lim h(x) = 4.
x→−3+
(c) lim h(x) = 4. Comment: The two 1-sided limits exist and are equal, so the limit
x→−3
exists, even though the function is defined by two different rules on the two sides of
−3, and h(x) is not even defined at that point.
(d) h(−3) does not exist. −3 is not in the domain of h(x).
(e) lim h(x) = 1.
x→0−
(f) lim h(x) = −1.
x→0+
(g) lim h(x) does not exist. Comment: The two 1-sided limits both exist, but are different,
x→0
so this limit does not exist.
(h) h(0) = 1.
(i) lim h(x) = 2.
x→2
(j) h(2) does not exist. Comment: again, note that even though the function is not
defined at 2, the limit at that point exists.
(k) lim h(x) = 3.
x→5+
(l) lim h(x) = 3 does not exist. Comment: As we approach 5 from the left, the function
x→5−
does not seem to approach any particular value. It just keeps oscillating.

Problem 4 Give an example of a function f satisfying the following conditions:

lim f (x) = 1, lim f (x) = −1, lim f (x) = 0, lim f (x) = 1, f (2) = 1, and f (0) is undefined.
x→0− x→0+ x→2− x→2+
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[Solution:] This is an example of a problem which can be solved in many, in fact, countless,
different ways. For example, here are two equally correct solutions:

Figure 4. Examples for Problem 4

Problem 5 Guess the value of the limit

x2 − 3x
lim
x→3 x2 − 2x − 3

by evaluating the function at the points

x = 3.5, 3.1, 3.05, 3.01, 3.005, 2.5, 2.9, 2.95, 2.99, 2.995.

[Solution:] This problem asks us to guess the limit:

x2 − 3x
lim
x→3 x2 − 2x − 3
x2 −3x
by evaluating the function f (x) = x2 −2x−3
at a whole bunch of different points. Using a
calculator, we get the values:
x 3.5 3.1 3.05 3.01 3.005 2.5 2.9 2.95 2.99 2.995
f(x) 0.7778 0.7561 0.7531 0.7506 0.7503 0.7143 0.7436 0.7468 0.7494 0.7497

These values lead us to guess that the limit is equal to

x2 − 3x
lim = 0.75.
x→3 x2 − 2x − 3

Problem 6
(a) Evaluate the function f (x) = x2 − (2x /1000) for x = 1, 0.8, 0.6, 0.4, 0.2, 0.1, and
0.05, and guess the value of
2x
 
2
lim x − .
x→0 1000
(b) Evaluate f (x) for x = 0.04, 0.02, 0.01, 0.005, 0.003, and 0.001. Guess again.
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[Solution:]

(a) Using a calculator, we get the values:

x 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.05
f(x) 0.998000 0.638259 0.358484 0.158680 0.038851 0.008928 -0.000978
It appears that
lim f (x) = 0.
x→0
(b) We evaluate the values of f for x = 0.04, 0.02, 0.01, 0.005, 0.003, and 0.001 as the
below:
x 0.04 0.02 0.01 0.005 0.003 0.001
f(x) 0.000572 -0.000614 -0.000907 -0.000978 -0.000993 -0.0009997
We may guess that
lim f (x) = −0.001.
x→0
In summary, if computing the function values at a finite number of points does not provide a
clear indication of the limit, we may need to evaluate the function at additional points closer
to the point of interest. This process should continue until we are confident in the accuracy
of the estimate, assuming the limit exists.

sin πx
Problem 7 Consider the function f (x) = sin x .
(a) Estimate the value of lim f (x) by graphing the function f (x). State your answer
x→0
correct to two decimal places.
(b) Check your answer in part(a) by evaluating f (x) for values of x that approach 0.

[Solution:]

(a) We sketch the graph of the function f (x) on the interval (−0.04, 0.04) \ {0}. From
the graph below, we can observe that when x is around 0, the values of f (x) are in
between 3.140 and 3.145. For the answer correct to two decimal places, we can guess
that
sin πx
lim = 3.14.
x→0 sin x

(b) We can check that f (x) is an even function in its domain (−∞, ∞) \ {0}. So we only
need to check the values of f as x approaches 0 from the right. Using a calculator,
we get the values of f at 6 points close to 0:
x 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.002 0.001 0.0005
f(x) 3.141477 3.141518 3.141551 3.141574 3.141588 3.141592
This is consistent with the result in Part(a).

Problem 8 Consider the function f (x) = tan πx .

(a) Show that f (x) = 0 for x = 11 , 12 , 31 , · · · , n1 , · · · .
(b) Show that f (x) = 1 for x = 41 , 45 , 94 , · · · , 4n−3
4
,···.
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sin πx
Figure 5. Graph of the function f (x) = sin x in Problem 7.

(c) What can you conclude about lim tan πx ?

x→0+

[Solution:]

(a) For any positive integer n, if x = n1 , then f (x) = tan πx = tan(nπ) = 0. (Remember
that the tangent function has period π.)

4
(b) For any positive integer n, if x = 4n−3 , then
π (4n − 3)π
f (x) = tan = tan
x 4
(4n − 4 + 1)π h πi
= tan = tan (n − 1)π +
4 4
π
= tan = 1.
4

(c) From part (a), f (x) = 0 infinitely often as x approaches 0. From part (b), f (x) = 1
infinitely often as x approaches 0. Thus, lim tan πx does not exist since f (x) does
x→0+
not get close to a fixed number as x approaches 0. Note that if a function has a limit
as x approaches a, it will approach the same value along any sequence of points that
converges to a.

Problem 9
(a) Use numerical and graphical evidence to guess the value of the limit
x3 − 64
lim √ .
x→4 x − 2

(b) How close to 4 does x have to be to ensure that the function in part (a) is within a
distance 2.0 of its limit?
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[Solution:]

(a) We evaluate the values of f at different points close to x = 4.

x 3.9 3.99 3.999 4.001 4.01 4.1
f(x) 186.0623 191.4006 191.9400 192.0600 192.6006 198.0627
3
We also draw the graph of the function √ −64
x
around x = 4. From the table and the
x−2

3
Figure 6. Graph of y = √ −64
x
in Problem 9.
x−2

graph, we guess that the limit of y as x approaches 4 is 192.

3 −64
(b) We need to have 190.0 < x√x−4 < 194.0. From the graph we obtain the approximate
points of intersection (3.967, 190.0) and (4.033, 194.0). Now 4 − 3.967 = 0.033 and
4.033 − 4.0 = 0.033, so by requiring that x be within 0.033 of 4, we may have that y is
within 2.0 of 192. To make sure that y is within 2.0 of 192, we can require that x be
within 0.02 of 4. As shown in the graph, we can observe that when 3.98 < x < 4.02,
190.0 < y < 194.0.

Problem 10 Let f (t) = 1/t for t ̸= 0.

(a) Find the average rate of change of f with respect to t over the intervals (i) from t = 2
to t = 3, and (ii) from t = 2 to t = T .
(b) Make a table of values of the average rate of change of f with respect to t over the
interval [2, T ], for some values of T approaching 2, say T = 2.1, 2.01, 2.001, 2.0001,
2.00001, and 2.000001.
(c) What does your table indicate is the rate of change of f with respect to t at t = 2?
(d) Calculate the limit as T approaches 2 of the average rate of change of f with respect
to t over the interval from 2 to T . You will have to do some algebra before you can
substitute T = 2.
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[Solution:]

(a) The average rate of change of f with respect to t over the interval [t1 , t2 ]
is
f (t2 ) − f (t1 )
.
t2 − t1
Thus, over the interval of [2, 3], the average rate of change of f with respect to t is
1
f (3) − f (2) −1 1
= 3 2 =− .
3−2 3−2 6
The average rate of change of f with respect to t over the interval from t = 2 to t = T
is
1
f (T ) − f (2) − 12 2−T
1
= T = 2T = − .
T −2 T −2 T −2 2T

T 2.1 2.01 2.001 2.0001 2.00001 2.000001

(b) f (T )−f (2) 1
T −2 = − 2T -0.243902 -0.248756 -0.249875 -0.249986 -0.249999 -0.250000

(c) From the table we guess that the rate of change of f with respect to t at t = 2 is
−0.25.

(d)  
f (T ) − f (2) 1 1
lim = lim − =− .
T →2 T −2 T →2 2T 4

Problem 11 Does the following limit exist? If so, determine the limit. If not, explain why
not.
lim (2x + |x − 3|).
x→3

[Solution:] The clearest way to understand this problem is to study the 1-sided limits of the
function at x = 3. Using the fact that |x − 3| = x − 3 when x ≥ 3, we have that
lim (2x + |x − 3|) = lim (2x + (x − 3))
x→3+ x→3+
= 6.
Similarly,
lim (2x + |x − 3|) = lim (2x + (3 − x))
x→3− x→3−
= 6.
Because the two 1-sided limits exist, and are equal, it follows that
lim (2x + |x − 3|) = 6.
x→3

Problem 12 Do the following limits exist? If so, determine the limits.

   
1 1 1 1
(a) lim − (b) lim −
x→0− x |x| x→0+ x |x|
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[Solution:]

(a) We are studying the left-hand limit at x = 0. Thus we are interested in the values that
the function x1 − |x|
1
takes on negative values of x. Note that when x ≤ 0, |x| = −x.
Thus:
   
1 1 1 1
lim − = lim +
x→0− x |x| x→0− x x
2
= lim
x→0 x
−

= −∞.
(b) In this case, we are studying the right-hand limit at x = 0. Note that when x ≥ 0,
|x| = x. Thus:
   
1 1 1 1
lim − = lim −
x→0+ x |x| x→0+ x x
= lim 0
x→0−
= 0.

Problem 13 Consider the function

x2 − 1
F (x) = .
|x − 1|
(a) Find lim F (x).
x→1+
(b) Find lim F (x).
x→1−
(c) Does lim F (x) exist?
x→1
(d) Sketch the graph of F (x).

[Solution:] To understand this function, we should first carefully state the rule that determines
the function in the different regions. Note first that the domain of the function is R \ 1. Also
note that when x > 1, |x − 1| = x − 1; and when x < 1, |x − 1| = −(x − 1). Therefore,
( 2
x −1
F (x) = x−1 , if x > 1
x2 −1
1−x , if x < 1

x + 1, if x > 1
=
−(x + 1), if x < 1
With this formula it is clear that
lim F (x) = 2 and lim F (x) = −2.
x→1+ x→1−

So, because the two 1-sided limits are different, the limit lim F (x) does not exist. The below
x→1
is the graph of F (x).
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Figure 7. Graph of the function F (x) in Problem 13

Problem 14 Determine the infinite limit (show the sign of the infinite limit).
√
x+1 x+1 2−x x
lim , lim , lim 2
, lim ,
x→5+ x − 5 x→5− x − 5 x→1 (x − 1) x→3− (x − 3)5

x−2 x−1 sec x

lim , lim , lim , lim cot x
x→−3+ x2 (x
+ 3) x→0 x2 (x + 2) x→(π/2)+ x x→π −

[Solution:]
√
x+1 x+1 2−x x
lim = ∞, lim = −∞, lim = ∞, lim = −∞,
x→5 x − 5
+ x→5 x − 5
− x→1 (x − 1)2 x→3− (x − 3)5

x−2 x−1 sec x

lim = −∞, lim = −∞, lim = −∞, lim cot x = −∞.
x→−3+ x2 (x+ 3) x→0 x2 (x + 2) x→(π/2)+ x x→π −

Problem 15
(a) Find the vertical asymptotes of the function.
x2 + 1
y=
1 − 3x + 2x2
(b) Confirm your answer to part (a) by graphing the function.

[Solution:]
x +1 2
x +1 2 1
(a) The denominator of y = 1−3x+2x 2 = (x−1)(2x−1) is equal to zero when x = 2 and

x = 1, but the numerator is not equal to zero. So x = 12 and x = 1 are vertical

asymptotes of the function.
x2 +1
(b) The graph of 1−3x+2x2
below confirms our answer in Part (a).
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x2 +1
Figure 8. Graph of y = 1−3x+2x2
in Problem 15.

Problem 16 Use a graph to estimate the equations of all the vertical asymptotes of the
curve
y = ln cos2 x


− π ≤ x ≤ π.
Then find the exact equations of these asymptotes.

[Solution:] There appear to be vertical asymptotes of the curve y = ln(cos2 x) at x ≈ ±1.6.

Figure 9. Graph of y = ln(cos2 x) in Problem 16

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To find the exact equations of these asymptotes, we note that the graph of the natural
logarithmic function has vertical asymptote at x = 0. Thus, we must have cos2 x = 0, or
equivalently, cos x = 0. Since −π ≤ x ≤ π, we must have x = ± π2 . So x = ± π2 are the vertical
asymptotes of the discussing function.