SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES

MAT1014 CALCULUS
TUTORIAL 1
Chapter 1 Limits and Continuity
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SECTION A

Question 1
(a) Explain what is means to say that lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = 3 and lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) = 7?
𝑥→1 𝑥→1
(b) From part (a), does lim 𝑓(𝑥) exist? Explain.
𝑥→1

Question 2
A graph of 𝑓 together with its domain are shown in Diagram 1. In each of the following, without
calculation, write the value if it exists. If it does not exist, explain why.
(a) lim− 𝑓(𝑥) (d) 𝑓(2)
𝑥→2
(b) lim 𝑓(𝑥) (e) lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→2+ 𝑥→4
(c) lim 𝑓(𝑥) (f) 𝑓(4)
𝑥→2

Diagram 1

Question 3
Given that lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −3, lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 0, and lim ℎ(𝑥) = 8, find the following limits if they exist. If
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
the limit does not exist, explain why.
𝑓(𝑥)
(a) lim [𝑓(𝑥) + ℎ(𝑥)] (e) lim
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 ℎ(𝑥)
𝑔(𝑥)
(b) lim [𝑓(𝑥)]2 (f) lim
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑓(𝑥)
3 𝑓(𝑥)
(c) lim √𝑓 (𝑥) (g) lim
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑔(𝑥)
1 2𝑓(𝑥)
(d) lim 𝑓(𝑥) (h) lim
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 ℎ(𝑥)−𝑓(𝑥)

Question 4
2 − 𝑥 ,𝑥 < 𝑎
A piecewise function is given by 𝑓(𝑥) = { .
2𝑥 − 1 , 𝑥 > 𝑎
(a) Find lim− 𝑓(𝑥) and lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) in terms of 𝑎.
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
(b) Determine the value of 𝑎 if lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists.
𝑥→𝑎

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Question 5
Evaluate the following limits.
(𝑥−2)2 −4
(a) lim(3𝑥 2 + 1 − 2𝑥 5 ) (e) lim
𝑥→1 𝑥→0 𝑥

2 2 x + 3x + 1
2
(b) lim 𝑥 2 −1 (f) lim
𝑥→0 x →−1 x 2 − 2 x − 3

𝑥 2 +3𝑥 1 1
(c) lim + (e) lim ( − 𝑥 2+𝑥)
𝑥→−3 𝑥+3 𝑥→0 𝑥
𝑥 2 +2𝑥+1 x −3
(d) lim− 𝑥 2−3𝑥−4 (f) lim
𝑥→−1 x →3 x − 27
3

Question 6
Determine whether each of the following functions is continuous at x = a .
(a) f ( x ) = x3 + 4 − x ; a = 2 (c) f ( x ) = ln ( x − 2 ) ; a = 2
 x2 − x
1 − x 2 if x  1  if x  1
(b) f ( x) = 1 ; a =1 (d) f ( x ) =  x2 −1 ; a =1
 x if x  1 1
2 if x = 1

Question 7
2
A piecewise function is given by 𝑓(𝑥) = {𝑐𝑥3 + 2𝑥 if 𝑥 < 2. Find the value of the constant c if f
𝑥 − 𝑐𝑥 if 𝑥 ≥ 2
is continuous on ( −,  ) .

Question 8
Diagram 2 shows the graph of a function 𝑔, without calculation, find the following.
(a) lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→∞
(b) lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→−∞
(c) lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→3
(d) lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→0
(e) lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→−2+
(f) The equations of the asymptotes Diagram 2

Question 9
Find the following limits.
2
(a) lim (3𝑥 4 − 5𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 + 2) (c) lim 𝑒 −𝑥
𝑥→∞ 𝑥→−∞
5𝑥+4+2𝑥 2 x −1
(b) lim (d) lim
𝑥→∞ 𝑥 2 +4𝑥−4 x →0 x ( x + 2)
2

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SECTION B

Question 1
A graph of 𝑔 together with its domain are shown in Diagram 3. In each of the following, without
calculation, write the value if it exists. If it does not exist, explain why.
(a) lim− 𝑔(𝑡) (g) lim 𝑔(𝑡)
𝑡→0 𝑡→2
(b) lim+ 𝑔(𝑡) (h) 𝑔(2)
𝑡→0
(c) lim 𝑔(𝑡) (i) lim 𝑔(𝑡)
𝑡→0 𝑡→3
(d) 𝑔(0) (j) 𝑔(3)
(e) lim+ 𝑔(𝑡) (k) lim+ 𝑔(𝑡)
𝑡→2 𝑡→6
(f) lim 𝑔(𝑡)
𝑡→2−
Diagram 3

Question 2
The graphs of 𝑓 and 𝑔 are given in Diagram 4 and Diagram 5 respectively. Evaluate the following
limits if they exist. If the limit does not exist, explain why.

𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥)

Diagram 4 Diagram 5

𝑓(𝑥)
(a) lim[𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)] (d) lim
𝑥→2 𝑥→−1 𝑔(𝑥)
(b) lim[𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)] (e) lim[𝑥 3 𝑓(𝑥)]
𝑥→1 𝑥→2
(c) lim[𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥)] (f) lim √3 + 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→0 𝑥→−2

Question 3
Diagram 6 and 7 shows the graphs of 𝑓 and 𝑔 respectively. Find lim[𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥)].
𝑥→3

𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥)

Diagram 6 Diagram 7

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Question 4
Evaluate the following limits.
2
𝑡 2 −2 √2𝑥(𝑥−2)
(a) lim (𝑡 3 −3𝑡+5) (e) lim
𝑡→2 𝑥→2− |𝑥−2|
6𝑥 2 +3𝑥−9 (3+𝑥)−1 −3−1
(b) lim 5𝑥−2𝑥 2 −3 (f) lim
𝑥→1 𝑥→0 𝑥

( 2 + h) −8
3
√𝑥+2−3
(c) lim (g) lim
h →0 h 𝑥→7 𝑥−7

t −1
4
4− x
(d) lim (h) lim
t →1 t3 −1 x →16 16 x − x 2

Question 5
𝑎 + ln(𝑥 − 1) ,𝑥 > 2
Suppose 𝑓(𝑥) is a piecewise function which is defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = { .
𝑥3 − 𝑎 ,𝑥 ≤ 2
(a) Find lim− 𝑓(𝑥) and lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) in terms of 𝑎.
𝑥→2 𝑥→2
(b) Determine the value of 𝑎 if lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists.
𝑥→2

Question 6
x2 + x − 6
Let g ( x ) = . Does lim g ( x ) exist? Sketch the graph of g.
x−2 x →2

Question 7
Diagram 8 shows the graph of a piecewise
function 𝑓(𝑥). From the graph, state the values
of 𝑥 that 𝑓 is discontinuous on the interval
[−5, 6] and explain why.

Diagram 8
Question 8
Determine whether each of the following functions is continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎.
𝑥 2 −𝑥
𝑥 2 +3𝑥+2
(a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 +5𝑥+4 ; 𝑎 = −1 (d) 𝑓(𝑥) = {𝑥 2−1 if 𝑥 ≠ 1 ; 𝑎 = 1
1 if 𝑥 = 1
cos x if x  0
3 
(b) 𝑓(𝑥) = {𝑥 − 1 if 𝑥 ≤ 1 ; 𝑎 = 1 (e) f ( x ) = 0 if x = 0 ; a = 0
ln 𝑥 if 𝑥 > 1 1 − x 2 if x  0

√2𝑥 − 1 if 𝑥 ≥ 1
(c) 𝑓(𝑥) = { 7𝑥−4−3𝑥 2 ;𝑎 = 1
if 𝑥 < 1
4𝑥 2 +6𝑥−10

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Question 9
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 𝑎, 𝑥 < 𝑎
Suppose a piecewise function is given by 𝑓(𝑥) = { .
𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 2, 𝑥 ≥ 𝑎
(a) Find the value of 𝑎 if lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists.
𝑥→𝑎
(b) Evaluate 𝑓(𝑎) if 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎.

Question 10
Diagram 9 shows the graph of a function 𝑓. Without calculation, find the following.

Diagram 9

(a) lim 𝑓(𝑥) (d) lim 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥→2 𝑥→∞
(b) lim 𝑓(𝑥) (e) lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→−1− 𝑥→−∞
(c) lim 𝑓(𝑥) (f) The equations of the asymptotes
𝑥→−1+

Question 11
Find the following limits.
(a) lim (−3𝑥 4 − 5𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 + 2) (f) lim √9𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 3𝑥
𝑥→∞ 𝑥→∞
3
𝑥 7 +5𝑥+2
(b) lim (g) lim− 𝑒 2−𝑥
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥 6 +4 𝑥→2

(c) lim
x2
(h) lim
sin ( x −3 )
x →
x4 + 1 x →9 x −9
3x + 7 sin(tan 𝑥)
(d) lim 2 (i) lim
x → x − 2 𝑥→0 𝑥
√2
x 𝑥 𝑥
(e) lim− (j) lim (1 + 7)
( x − 3)
5
x →3 𝑥→0

Question 12
A business manager determines that the total cost (in Malaysian Ringgit) of producing x units of a
particular commodity can be modeled by the function C ( x ) = 7.5 x + 120, 000 . The average cost is
C ( x)
given by A ( x ) = . Evaluate lim A ( x ) and interpret the result.
x x →

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SECTION C

Question 1
Evaluate the following limits.
x2 − 2x − 8 x 2 − x + sin x
(a) lim+ (f) lim
x →2 x2 − 5x + 6 x →0 2x
x2 + 9 − 5 sin 5 x
(b) lim (g) lim
x →−4 x+4 x →0 sin 4 x

( x + h)
−2
− x −2
(c) lim (h) lim ln (1 + x 2 ) − ln (1 + x ) 
h →0 h x →

2t + 12
(d) lim (i) lim+ e tan x
t →−6 t + 6 
x→
2

( )
nt

x +x− x −x  r
lim P 1 + 
2 2
(e) lim (j)
x → n →
 n

Question 2
At what points are the following function f ( x ) discontinuous? Justify your answer.
 x3 − 8
 x 2 − 4 if x  2, x  −2

f ( x ) = 3 if x = 2
4 if x = −2


Question 3
Suppose a piecewise function is given by
 x2 − 4
 x−2 if x  2

g ( x ) = ax 2 − bx + 3 if 2  x  3 .
2 x − a + b if x  3


Find the values of a and b if g ( x ) is continuous on ( −,  ) .

Question 4
A manufacturer determines that when x hundred units of a particular product are produced and sold,
the profit will be P ( x ) = 4 x − x thousand dollars. What happens to the average profit when the
P ( x)
production level is very small? (Hint: Average profit = .)
x

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Question 5
A patient receives a 150-mg injection of a drug every 4 hours. The graph
shows the amount f ( t ) of the drug in the bloodstream after t hours.
Find lim− f ( t ) and lim+ f ( t ) and explain the significance of these
t →12 t →12

one-sided limits.

Question 6
It is estimated that t years from now the population of a certain suburban community will be p thousand
7
people, where p ( t ) = 20 − . An environmental study indicates that the average level of carbon
t+2
monoxide in the air will be c parts per million when the population is p thousand, where
c ( p ) = 0.4 p 2 + p + 21 .
What happens to the level of pollution c in the long run (as t →  )?

Answers
Section A
1. (a) lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 3 means the limit of 𝑓(𝑥) is 3 when 𝑥 approaches 1 from the left.
𝑥→1−
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 7 means the limit of 𝑓(𝑥) is 7 when 𝑥 approaches 1 from the right.
𝑥→1+
(b) Since lim− 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ lim+ 𝑓(𝑥), therefore lim 𝑓(𝑥) does not exist.
𝑥→1 𝑥→1 𝑥→1
2. (a) 3 (b) 1 (c) does not exist
(d) 3 (e) 4 (f) does not exist
3
3. (a) 5 (b) 9 (c) − √3
1 3
(d) − (e) − (f) 0
3 8
6
(g) does not exist (h) −
11
4. (a) 2 − 𝑎; 2𝑎 − 1 (b) 1
5. (a) 2 (b) −2 (c) −3 (d) 0
1 1
(e) −4 (f) (e) 1 (f)
4 27
6. (a) continuous (b) discontinuous (c) discontinuous
(d) continuous
2
7.
3
8. (a) 2 (b) −2 (c) ∞
(d) −∞ (e) −∞ (f) 𝑥 = −2, 𝑥 = 0, 𝑥 = 3; 𝑦 = −2, 𝑦 = 2.
9. (a) ∞ (b) 2 (c) 0
(d) −∞

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Section B
1. (a) −1 (b) −2 (c) does not exist
(d) −1 (e) 0 (f) 2
(g) does not exist (h) 1 (i) 1
(j) 1 (k) does not exist
2. (a) 2 (b) does not exist (c) 0
(d) does not exist (e) 16 (f) √3
3. 4
4
4. (a) (b) 15 (c) 12
49
4 1
(d) (e) −2 (f) −
3 9
1 1
(g) (h)
6 128
5. (a) 8 − 𝑎; 𝑎 (b) 4
6. Does not exist; 7. 𝑓(𝑥) is discontinuous at
(i) 𝑥 = −4, because 𝑓(−4) is undefined.
(ii) 𝑥 = −2, because lim 𝑓(𝑥) does not exist.
𝑥→−2
(iii) 𝑥 = 2, because lim 𝑓(𝑥) does not exist.
𝑥→2
(iv) 𝑥 = 4, because lim 𝑓(𝑥) does not exist.
𝑥→4

8. (a) discontinuous (b) continuous (c) discontinuous

(d) discontinuous (e) discontinuous
1 3
9. (a) (b)
2 4
10. (a) ∞ (b) ∞ (c) −∞
(d) 1 (e) 2 (f) 𝑥 = −1, 𝑥 = 2; 𝑦 = 1, 𝑦 = 2.
11. (a) −∞ (b) −∞ (c) 1
1
(d) 0 (e) −∞ (f)
6
1
(g) ∞ (h) (i) 1
6
√2
(j) 𝑒 7

12. 7.5

Section C
4 2
1. (a) ∞ (b) − (c) −
5 𝑥3
(d) limit does not exist (e) 1 (f) 0
5
(g) (h) ∞ (i) 0
4
𝑟𝑡
(j) 𝑃𝑒
2. 𝑥 = −2
1
3. 𝑎=𝑏=
2
4. As fewer and fewer units are produced, the average profit derived from producing each unit is actually a
huge loss.
5. 150 mg; 300 mg; these limits show that there is an abrupt change in the amount of drug in the patient’s
bloodstream at 𝑡 = 12 h. The left-hand limit represents the amount of the drug just before the fourth
injection. The right-hand limit represents the amount of the drug just after the fourth injection.
6. 8.4 parts per million

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Additional Exercises

Stewart Calculus, 8th edition

Section 1.5 Questions 5-12
Section 1.6 Questions 1-32, 41-47, 49-52
Section 1.8 Questions 11-14, 17-22, 46

Thomas’ Calculus, 14th edition

Section 2.2 Questions 1-6, 11-50, 53-56
Section 2.4 Questions 1-8, 11-20, 23-46
Section 2.5 Questions 1-10, 29-30, 37-46
Section 2.6 Questions 1-8, 13-58, 84-90

These teaching materials are protected under the Copyright Act 1987. Duplication, in any form,
including digitally, is prohibited by law and a punishable offence. ©2021

MAT1014 Calculus August 2021 Semester BAS, BINDS