Question 1

(a) Let
(
(x2 + 2x)2 , x ≥ 1,
f (x) =
ax + bx2 , x < 1.

Compute for all a and b such that the function f (x) is differentiable.

Solution.
f (1) = lim (x2 + 2x)2 = 32 = 9
x→1+

lim (a + bx) = a + b
x→1−

For the function to be continuous,

(1) 9 = a + b =⇒ a + b − 9 = 0

Now, we focus on differentiability.

For x ≥ 1 (right hand differentiable),

f 0 (x) = 2(x2 + 2x)(2x + 2)

As x → 1, f 0 (x) → 2(3)(4) = 24.

For x < 1 (left hand differentiable),

f 0 (x) = a + 2bx

As x → 1, f 0 (x) → a + 2b.
For the function to be differentiable,

(2) a + 2b = 24 =⇒ a + 2b − 24 = 0

Equating (1) and (2),

a + b − 9 = a + 2b − 24

So, b = −9 + 24 = 15, and a = 9 − b = 9 − 15 = −6.

 -2-
(b) The force exerted by our home planet is

GMx


 R3
 if x < R,
h(x) =
 GM


if x ≥ R,

x2
measured on a unit mass at a distance x from the centre of the planet, where M is
its mass, R is its radius, and G is the gravitational constant. Identify whether h(x) is
continuous.

Solution.
GM
At x = R, h(R) = . Then we compute the limit from the left and the right.
R2
GM GM
lim 2 = 2
x→R x
+ R
GMx GMR GM
lim = = 2
x→R− R3 R3 R

GM
Hence, lim h(x) = = h(R).
x→R R2
We conclude that h is a continuous function of x.
√
(c) Using the Chain Rule, compute the first derivative of sin 1 − x.

Solution.

d √  √  d√
sin 1 − x = cos 1 − x 1−x
dx dx
√ d
= cos 1 − x(1/2)(1 − x)−1/2 (1 − x)
dx
√ 1
= cos 1 − x √ (−1)
2 1−x
√
cos 1 − x
=− √
2 1−x
[ 20 marks ]
 -3-
Question 2

(a) Demonstrate that the circles (x − 2)2 + y2 = 2 and x2 + (y − 2)2 = 2 share

tangent at point (1, 1), given that the point (1, 1) lies on both circles.

Solution.
First, we consider the circle given by the equation (x−2)2 +y2 = 2, and find its tangent
at (1, 1).
(x − 2)2 + y2 = 2
d d
(x − 2)2 + y2 = 0
dx dx
dy
2(x − 2) + 2y = 0
dx
dy 2(2 − x)
=
dx 2y
2−x
=
y

dy 2 − 1
At (1, 1), = = 1.
dx 1
Next, we consider the circle given by the equation x2 + (y − 2)2 = 2, and find its
tangent at (1, 1).
x2 + (y − 2)2 = 2 = 2
d 2 d
x + (y − 2)2 = 0
dx dx
dy
2x + 2(y − 2) = 0
dx
dy −2x
=
dx 2(y − 2)
x
=
(2 − y)

dy 1
At (1, 1), = = 1.
dx 2 − 1
The tangent line for both cases is given by
(y − 1) = 1(x − 1)
y = x−1+1
y=x
 -4-
(b) (i) A wire of length 200m is used to form a rectangle. If the length is x meters and
width is y meters, maximize the area using differentiation.

First, the equation for the perimeter of the rectangle is given by 2x + 2y = 200 or
y = 100 − x, and the area is given by

A = xy
= x(100 − x)
= 100x − x2
and
dA
= 100 − 2x.
dx

The extreme point/s occur when

dA
=0
dx
100 − 2x = 0
x = 100/2 = 50

The value x = 50 corresponds to y = 100 − 50 = 50.

The maximum area is 50 × 50 = 2500.

(ii) The same wire is used to form a circle. Compare the area of the circle with the
rectangle obtained in (i).

The area of the circle will be using a total 200m of wire.

The perimeter of the circle fencing, Pc is given by

Pc = 200 = 2πr
So,
200
r= ≈ 31.83m
2π
Area of circle:
 2
200
Ac = π ≈ 3183m2
2π

In conclusion, greater area can be obtained if circle fencing is considered.

[ 20 marks ]
Question 3

Evaluate the following integrals.

Z
(a) x2 sin(x) dx

Solution.
The integrals can be solved using integration by parts where

u = x2 =⇒ du = 2x dx

dv = sin(x) dx =⇒ v = − cos(x)

Hence,
Z Z
2 2
x sin(x) dx = x (− cos(x)) − (− cos(x))(2x dx)
(3) Z
= −x2 cos(x) + 2 x cos(x) dx

R
Now, we focus on solving x cos(x) dx, also using integration by parts where

u = x =⇒ du = dx

dv = cos(x) dx =⇒ v = sin(x)

Leading to,

Z Z
x cos(x) dx = x sin(x) − sin(x) dx
(4)
= x sin(x) + cos(x)

From (3) and (4), we have

Z
x2 sin(x) dx = −x2 cos(x) + 2(x sin(x) + cos(x)) +C
 -6-
1
Z
(b) dx
x2 (x − 1)

Solution.
1
First, we need to turn into partial fractions where
x2 (x − 1)

1 A B C
= + 2+
x2 (x − 1) x x x−1

So (from the numerator),

1 = Ax(x − 1) + B(x − 1) +Cx2

= Ax2 − Ax + Bx − B +Cx2
= (A +C)x2 + (B − A)x − B

Equating the coefficient of x0 :

1 = −B =⇒ B = −1

Equating the coefficient of x1 :

0 = B − A = −1 − A =⇒ A = −1

Equating coefficient of x2 :
0 = A +C = −1 +C =⇒ C = 1

So,

Z  
1 1 1 1
Z
2
= − − 2+ dx
x (x − 1) x x x−1
1
= − ln |x| + + ln |x − 1| + K
x

*Note, we use K for the constant, because C has been used earlier.
[ 20 marks ]
 -7-
Question 4

(a) The region in the first quadrant that is bounded above by the curve y = 1/x2 , on the
left by the line x = 1/2 and below by the line y = 2 is revolved about the y-axis to
generate a solid. Compute the volume of the solid by the washer method.

Solution.

F IGURE 1. For grader’s reference only

Since the region is revolved about the y-axis, we need to consider the function in terms
of y, that is

y=
1 1
=⇒ x = √ 2
x 2 y

1
*Note: We do not consider x = √ because our region is in the first quadrant.
− y
1 1
Now, we need to find the intersection points. For y = 2 , when x = we have
x 2
1
y=
1/4
= 4. 2

Hence, using Washer Method,

 -8-

"  2 #
1 2
Z 4  
1
Volume, V = π √ − dy
2 y 2
Z 4 
1 1
=π − dy
2 y 4
h y i4
= π ln y −
 4 2 
1
= π ln 4 − 1 − (ln 2 − )
2
 
4 1
= π ln − ≈ 0.6068
2 2
 -9-
dy p
(b) A curve y = f (x) have = cos(2x − 2) as its first derivative. Compute the length
dx
of the curve from x = 0 to x = π/2.

Solution.
dy p
Given in the question = cos(2x − 2). Hence, from the formula for arc length,
dx

Z π/2 r p 2
L= 1+ cos(2x − 2) dx
0
Z π/2 p
= 1 + cos(2x − 2) dx
0
Z π/2 q
= 2 cos2 (x − 1) dx
0
√ Z π/2
= 2 cos(x − 1) dx
0
√ π/2
= 2 [sin(x − 1)]0
√
= 2 [sin(π/2 − 1) − sin(0 − 1)]
√
≈ 2(1.3818) ≈ 1.9541
[ 20 marks ]