Mathematics 1

Tutorial 3
Week 3

1. The point P (2, −1) lies on the curve y = 1

1−x
.
(a) If Q is the point (x, 1−x
1
), use your calculator to nd the slop of the secant line P Q (correct to six
decimal places) for the following values of x.
(i) 1.5 (ii) 1.9 (iii) 1.99 (iv) 1.999
(v) 2.5 (vi) 2.1 (vii) 2.01 (viii) 2.001
(b) Using the results of part (a), guess the value of the slope of the tangent line to the curve at P (2, −1).
(c) Using the slop from part (b), nd an equation of the tangent line to the curve at P (2, −1).

2. If a ball is thrown into the air with a velocity of 10 m/s, its height in meters t seconds later is given by
y = 10t − 12 gt2 , where g = 9.81 m/s2 .

(a) Find the average velocity for the time period beginning when t = 2 and lasting
(i) 0.5 seconds (ii) 0.1 seconds (iii) 0.05 seconds (iv) 0.01 seconds
(b) Estimate the instantaneous velocity when t = 2.

3. Explain in your own words what is meant by the equation

lim f (x) = 5.
x→2

Is it possible for this statement to be true and yet f (2) = 3? Explain.

4. Explain what it means to say that

lim f (x) = 3 and lim = 7.

x→1− x→1+

In this situation is it possible that limx→1 f (x) exists? Explain.

5. Explain the meaning of each of the following.

(a) limx→−3 f (x) = ∞ (b) limx→4+ f (x) = −∞

6. Use the given graph of f to state the value of each quantity if it exists. If it does not exist, explain why.
(a) limx→2− f (x) (b) limx→2+ f (x) (c) limx→2 f (x)
(d) f (2) (e) limx→4 f (x) (f) f (4)

1
 7. For the function f whose graph is given, state the value of each quantity, if it exists. If it does not exists,
explain why.
(a) limx→1 f (x) (b) limx→3− f (x) (c) limx→3+ f (x)
(d) limx→3 f (x) (e) f (3)

8. For the function A whose graph is shown, state the following.

(a) limx→−3 A(x) (b) limx→2− A(x)
(c) limx→2+ A(x) (d) limx→−1 A(x)
(e) The equations of the vertical asymptotes

9. Sketch the graph of the function and use it to determine the values of a for which limx→a f (x) exists.
 1 + x if x < −1,  1 + sin x if x < 0,
 
 
(a) f (x) = x 2
if − 1 ≤ x < 1, (b) f (x) = cos x if 0 ≤ x ≤ π,
2 − x if x ≥ 1. if x > π.
 
sin x
 

10. Evaluate the limit and justify each step by indicating the appropriate Limit Laws.
(a) lim (5x3 − 3x2 + x − 6) (b) lim (x4 − 3x)(x2 + 5x + 3)
x→3 x→−1
t4 − 2
(c) (d)
p
lim lim u4 + 3u + 6
t→−2 2t2 − 3t + 2 u→−2
√ t2 − 2
2
(e) lim (1 + 3 x)(2 − 6x2 + x3 ) (f) lim
x→8 r t→2 t3 − 3t + 5
2x2 + 1
(g) lim
x→2 3x − 2
11. Evaluate the limit if it exists.
x2 − 6x + 5 x2 + 3x
(a) lim (b) lim
x→5 x−5 x→4 x2 − x − 12
(−5 + h)2 − 25 (2 + h)3 − 8
(c) lim (d) lim
h→0 h h→0 h
√ 1
9+h−3 − 31
(e) lim (f) lim x
h→0 h x→3 x−3
1 1

(g) lim √ −
t→0 t 1 + t t
12. Prove the following.
2 √
(a) lim x4 cos = 0 (b) lim xesin(π/x) = 0
x→0 x x→0+

13. Find the limit if it exists. If the limit does not exist, explain why.
2x − 1
(a) lim (2x + |x − 3|) (b) lim
x→3 x→0.5− |2x3 − x2 |
2x + 12 2 − |x|
(c) lim (d) lim
x→−6 |x + 6| x→−2 2 + x

1 1
1 1

(e) lim − (f) lim −
x→0− x |x| x→0+ x |x|
f (x) f (x)
14. If lim = 5. Find lim .
x→0 x2 x→0 x
√
6−x−2
15. Evaluate lim √ .
x→2 3−x−1