MATH 100 SECTION 109 - MIDTERM I - SOLUTIONS

Problem I. (Short answer questions.) (6 points)

µ ¶
1 1
(1) (2pts) lim − =1
x→0 x x2 + x

tan 2x
(2) (1pt) lim =2
x→0 x cos(2x)

(3) (1pt) For what values of x the function: f (x) = |x2 − 16| is not differentiable?
x = ±4

x
(4) (2pts) Find all values of x at which the function: has a horizontal tangent line.
x2 + 1
x = ±1

The graph of y = x2x+1 has a horizontal tangent line at x, if dy/dx = 0 (the slope of the tangent
line is the derivative).
dy x2 + 1 − 2x2 1 − x2
= = =0 if 1 − x2 = 0
dx (x2 + 1)2 (x2 + 1)2

Problem II. (6 points) Use only the definition of the derivative:

f (a + h) − f (a)
f 0 (a) = lim
h→0 h
√
and the limit laws, in order to find the derivative of the function: f (x) = 1 − x at a = 0.

Write down the corresponding limit first, and then evaluate it using the limit laws!

√ √
0 1−x−h− 1−x (1 − x − h) − (1 − x)
f (x) = lim = lim √ √
h→0 h h→0 h( 1 − x − h + 1 − x)

−1 −1
= lim √ √ = √
h→0 1−x−h+ 1−x 2 1−x

Problem III. (6 points) Consider the curve: y = 1/x.

1
2 MATH 100 SECTION 109 - MIDTERM I - SOLUTIONS

(a) (3pts) Find the equation of the tangent line at a point P (a, 1/a) on the curve.
1 −1
y − = 2 (x − a)
a a
(b) (3pts) Find the point P (a, 1/a), that is find a, such that the tangent line at P goes through
the point Q(4, 0).
1 −1
0 − = 2 (4 − a) ⇒ a = 4 − a ⇒ a=2
a a

Problem IV. (6 points) Find the derivatives of the following functions, using the rules of differ-
entiation. Express your answer as simple as possible!

1
x
(a) (3pts) f (x) = 1
1+ x
Simplify first:
1
1 −1
x
1 = ⇒ f 0 (x) =
1+ x
x+1 (x + 1)2

(b) (3pts) f (x) = x sec2 x − x tan2 x

Simplify first, since: sin2 x + cos2 x = 1, then dividing this equation by cos2 x we get:

1 + tan2 x = sec2 x. Thus f (x) = x and f 0 (x) = 1.

Problem V. (6 points) Let f (x) = (x + g(x))2 .

(a) (2 pts) Express f 0 (x) in terms of g(x) and g 0 (x).

By the Chain Rule: f 0 (x) = 2(x + g(x))(1 + g 0 (x)).

(b) (4 pts) If f (1) = 4 and f 0 (1) = 8, then find g(1) and g 0 (1).

We get two equations: (1 + g(1))2 = 4 so g(1) = 1 or g(1) = −3.

If g(1) = 1, then 4(1 + g 0 (1)) = 8 so g 0 (1) = 1.

If g(1) = −3, then −4(1 + g 0 (1)) = 8 so g 0 (1) = −3.

These are the two solutions.