Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

MA 105 Calculus

Autumn 2019 SRG/MM/MM

Solutions and Marking Scheme for Quiz 1

Date: Seetember 11, 2019 Weightage: 10 %

Time: 8.35 AM – 9.15 AM Max. Marks: 30

1. Let (an ) be a sequence of real numbers satisfying 3 < a1 < 4 and an+1 =
√
12 + an for n ∈ N. Determine if {an } is convergent. Justify your answer.

Solution: We will first show using induction on n that 3 < an < 4 for all n ∈ N. [1]
This is given to be true for n = 1. Further if 3 < an < 4, then
√ √
3< 12 + 3 < an+1 < 12 + 4 = 4

and so 3 < an+1 < 4. This proves that (an ) is bounded. [2]
Next, for any n ∈ N,
√ 12 + an − a2n −(an − 4)(an + 3)
an+1 − an = 12 + an − an = √ = √ .
12 + an + an 12 + an + an
Since 3 < an < 4 for all n ∈ N, it follows that an+1 − an > 0, that is, an+1 > an for all
n ∈ N, Thus the sequence (an )is monotonically increasing. [2]
Since (an ) is monotonic and bounded, it follows that (an ) is convergent. [1]

2. Let f : [0, 1] → R be a continuous function such that f (0) = 0 and f (x) is

a rational number for every x ∈ [0, 1]. Determine f (1). Justify your answer.

Solution: We claim that f (1) = 0. [1]

To see this, assume the contrary, i.e., suppose f (1) 6= 0 = f (0). Then between f (0)
and f (1) there must be an irrational number, say t. [2]
Since f is continuous on [0, 1], it has the IVP on [0, 1]. [2]
 Hence t = f (x) for some x ∈ (0, 1). But this is a contradiction since f only takes
rational values. [1]
Thus the Claim is proved and f (1) = 0.

3. Let f : [0, 1] → R be continuous on [0, 1] and differentiable on (0, 1). Suppose

lim+ f 0 (x) = L for some real number L. Show that f 0 (0) exists and f 0 (0) = L.
x→0

Solution: Since f is defined on [0, 1], by definition, f 0 (0) is the right hand limit


limx→0+ f (x) − f (0) /(x − 0). For each x ∈ (0, 1], by the MVT, there is cx ∈ (0, x)
satisfying
f (x) − f (0)
= f 0 (cx ). [2]
x
Since cx is between 0 and x, we see that cx → 0+ as x → 0+ . [2]
Thus, taking limits as x → 0+ , and using the fact that limx→0 f 0 (x) = L, we obtain
f (x) − f (0)
lim+ = L. [2]
x→0 x
Thus f 0 (0) exists and f 0 (0) = L.

Aliter: Let  > 0 be given. Since lim+ f 0 (x) = L, there is δ > 0 such that
x→0

0 < x < δ =⇒ |f 0 (x) − L| < . [1]

Now, for each x ∈ (0, δ), by the MVT, there is cx ∈ (0, x) satisfying
f (x) − f (0)
= f 0 (cx ). [2]
x
Now 0 < cx < x < δ and so |f 0 (cx ) − L| < . [1]
It follows that
f (x) − f (0)
0 < x < δ =⇒ − L < . [1]
x
This proves that
f (x) − f (0)
lim+ = L.
x→0 x
0 0
Thus f (0) exists and f (0) = L. [1]

[Note: A solution that uses interchange of limits such as lim lim = lim lim without
h→0 x→0 x→0 h→0
proper justification may be given at most 2 points. A solution using L’Hôpital’s rule,
but without a proof of that rule, may be given at most 4 points.]
4. Consider points x1 , ..., xn ∈ R, and the function f : R → R defined by
p
f (x) = (x − x1 )2 + .... + (x − xn )2 for x ∈ R.
Determine if the absolute minimum of f exists, and if yes, find the value
of x at which it is attained.
√
Solution: If x1 = · · · = xn , then f (x) = n |x − x1 | for all x ∈ R and it is clear that
the absolute minimum of f is 0, which is attained at x = x1 . [1]
Now suppose not all x1 , . . . , xn are equal. Then f is differentiable on R. [1]
Moreover, for any x ∈ R,
n(x − x) 1
f 0 (x) = p where x = (x1 + · · · + xn ). [1]
(x − x1 )2 + · · · + (x − xn )2 n
Hence we see that
f 0 (x) ≤ 0 if x ≤ x and f 0 (x) ≥ 0 if x ≥ x. [1]
Thus f is decreasing on (−∞, x] and increasing on [x, ∞). Hence
f (x) ≥ f (x) for all x ∈ R. [1]
This proves that the absolute minimum of f exists and the value at which it is attained
is x = x. [1]

5. Determine if n  
X 1 2 iπ
lim cos
n→∞
i=1
n n
exists and if yes, find the limit.
Solution: Consider f : [0, 1] → R defined by f (x) := cos2 πx for x ∈ [0, 1]. Given
any n ∈ N, if Pn denotes the partition of [0, 1] into n equal parts, i.e., if Pn =
{0, 1/n, 2/n, . . . , (n − 1)/n, 1}, then
n   X n   
X 1 2 iπ i i i−1
cos = f − = S(Pn , f ), [2]
i=1
n n i=1
n n n
i.e., the sum on the left is (an approximate) Riemann sum for f w.r.t. Pn .
R1
Since f is continuous, it is integrable on [0, 1], and hence S(Pn , f ) converges to 0
f (x)dx
as n → ∞. [2]
Consequently, the given limit exists and it can be obtained as follows.
n   Z 1 Z 1
X 1 2 iπ 2 1 + cos 2πx 1
lim cos = cos πxdx = dx = . [2]
n→∞
i=1
n n 0 0 2 2