T HE U NIVERSITY OF S YDNEY

S CHOOL OF M ATHEMATICS AND S TATISTICS

Solutions to Tutorial 7
MATH1001: Differential Calculus Summer School, 2008
Web Page: http://www.maths.usyd.edu.au/u/UG/SS/SS1001/

Preparatory questions
1. Verify that the function f (x) = 1 − x2 satisfies the hypotheses of the Mean Value Theorem on the
interval [0, 3] and find all numbers c which satisfy the conclusion of the Mean Value Theorem.
Solution: The function f (x) is continuous on [0, 3] and differentiable on (0, 3) because it is a
polynomial function. Therefore, f (x) satisfies the hypotheses of the Mean Value Theorem on the
interval [0, 3]. Consequently, by the Mean Value Theorem there must exist a number c ∈ (0, 3)
such that
f (3) − f (0) −8 − 1
f ′ (c) = = = −3.
3−0 3
Now f ′ (x) = −2x, so it follows that −2c = −3; that is, c = 3/2. Therefore, c = 3/2 is the only
number in the interval [0, 3] which satisfies the conclusions of the Mean Value Theorem.

2. Find the global maximum and minimum values of each function below on the specified interval.

(a) f (x) = x3 − 3x + 7 on [0, 3].

Solution: We have f ′ (x) = 3x2 − 3 = 3(x − 1)(x + 1); so f ′ (x) = 0 at the points x = 1 and
x = −1. Only one of these points lies in the interval [0, 3], namely, x = 1. The derivative
of f is continuous on the interval [0, 3] so there are three points to check: x = 0, x = 1
and x = 3 (two endpoints and one critical point). We find that f (0) = 7, f (1) = 5 and
f (3) = 25. So f (1) = 5 is the global minimum (horizontal tangent) and f (3) = 25 is the
global maximum (right endpoint).

40

20

−4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
−20

−40

(b) g(x) = 3x5 − 5x3 − 1 on [−2, 2].

Solution: As g′ (x) = 15x4 − 15x2 = 15x2 (x2 − 1), we see that g′ (x) = 0 at the points x = 0
and x = ±1. Therefore, since the derivative of g is continuous on [−2, 2], there are only
five possible locations for the global maximum and global minimum: x = −2, x = −1,
x = 0, x = 1 and x = 2 (two endpoints and three critical points). At these points we find
that g(−2) = −57, g(−1) = 1, g(0) = −1, g(1) = −3 and g(2) = 55. So g(−2) = −57 is
the global minimum (left endpoint) and g(2) = 55 is the global maximum (right endpoint).

Copyright
c 2008 The University of Sydney 1
 40

20

−2 −1 1 2
−20

−40

3. Give two examples of functions which are continuous but not differentiable.
Solution: The following are examples of functions that are continuous everywhere but not
differentiable at x = 0:

• f (x) = |x| has a corner point at x = 0;

• f (x) = x1/3 has a vertical tangent at x = 0;
• f (x) = x2/3 has a vertical cusp at x = 0.

Questions to do in class
4. If f has a minimum value at c, show that the function g given by g(x) = − f (x) has a maximum
value at c. (Hint: Use the formal definition of a minimum and maximum in the notes in Section
7.5.)
Solution: If f has a minimum value at c, then for all x near c, f (x) ≥ f (c). So, − f (x) ≤ − f (c)
for all x near c. It follows that − f has a maximum value at c.

5. Assume that f : R → R is a function that is differentiable everywhere. Suppose that f (2) = 2 and
that | f ′ (x)| < 1 for all x ∈ R. Use the Mean Value Theorem to find upper and lower bounds for
the value of f (3).
Solution: Because f (x) is differentiable everywhere it is differentiable and continuous on the
interval [2, 3]; in particular, the Mean Value Theorem applies to f (x) on [2, 3]. Therefore, by the
Mean Value Theorem there exists a number c ∈ (2, 3) such that

f (3) − f (2) f (3) − 2

f ′ (c) = = = f (3) − 2.
3−2 1
That is, f (3) = 2 + f ′ (c). Now, −1 < f ′ (c) < 1 and so 2 − 1 < f (3) < 2 + 1. In other words,
1 < f (3) < 3. Hence, an upper bound for f (3) is 3 and a lower bound is 1.

6. Let f : R → R be a function that is differentiable on R and suppose that f (−x) = − f (x) for all
x ∈ R, i.e., f (x) is an odd function. (For example, this is true if f (x) = sin x.) For every positive
number a show that there is a number c with −a < c < a such that f ′ (c) = f (a)/a. (Hint: Apply
the Mean Value Theorem to the function f (x) on the interval [−a, a].)

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 Solution: If a function is differentiable at x then it is also continuous at x and so, we can apply
the Mean Value Theorem to f (x) on the closed interval [−a, a]. This tells us that there is a number
c ∈ (−a, a) such that

f (a) − f (−a) f (a) + f (a) f (a)

f ′ (c) = = = .
a − (−a) 2a a

(The first equality is just the Mean Value Theorem; the second follows from the assumption that
f (x) is odd.) This is exactly what we wanted to show since f ′ (c) = f (a)/a and −a < c < a.

7. Let f (x) = 1 − x2/3 . Show that f (−1) = f (1) and that there is no c in (−1, 1) such that f ′ (c) = 0.
Why does this not contradict the Mean Value Theorem?
Solution: By direct calculation, f (−1) and f (1) are both zero, and so f (−1) = f (1). Also,
f ′ (x) = −(2/3)x−1/3 , which is never zero for x 6= 0. Notice that f ′ (x) does not exist at x = 0; that
is, f is not differentiable at x = 0. This does not contradict the Mean Value Theorem because f (x)
is not differentiable on the open interval (−1, 1) since the derivative of f (x) is not defined when
x = 0. That is, the Mean Value Theorem does not apply to f (x) on the interval [−1, 1] because
one of the assumptions for the Mean Value Theorem is not satisfied.

8. Let k ∈ R be a constant. Use the Mean Value Theorem to show that the equation x5 − 6x + k = 0
has at most one root in the interval [−1, 1].
Solution: Let f (x) = x5 − 6x + k. Suppose that f (x) has two roots a and b with −1 ≤ a < b ≤ 1.
Then f (a) = 0 = f (b). So by the Mean Value Theorem there is a number c in (a, b) with f ′ (c) = 0.
But f ′ (x) = 5x4 − 6. Hence the only real numbers c such that f ′ (c) = 0 are c = ±(6/5)1/4 , which
are both outside the interval [−1, 1] and hence outside (a, b). The hypothesis that f (x) has two
roots in [−1, 1] has led to a contradiction. It follows that f (x) can have at most one root in [−1, 1].

9. Using the definition of derivative as a limit, compute the derivatives of the following functions
and find the equation of the tangent line to each function at x = 1:
(a) f (x) = (x + 1)2
Solution: By definition of f ′ (x) we have

f (x + h) − f (x)
f ′ (x) = lim
h→0 h
(x + h + 1)2 − (x + 1)2
= lim
h→0 h
(x + 1)2 + 2h(x + 1) + h2 − (x + 1)2
= lim
h→0 h
2hx + 2h + h2
= lim
h→0 h
= lim (2x + 2 + h)
h→0
= 2x + 2.

Therefore, the tangent to y = f (x) at x = 1 has slope f ′ (1) = 4. Using the point-slope
formula, y − y0 = m(x − x0 ) with (x0 , y0 ) = (1, 4) and m = 4, we get the equation y − 4 =
4(x − 1) of the tangent line, which simplifies to y = 4x.
1
(b) g(x) =
x+1

3
 Solution: By definition of g(x) we have

g(x + h) − g(x)
g′ (x) = lim
 h
h→0

1 1 1
= lim −
h→0 h x + h + 1 x+1
 
1 (x + 1) − (x + h + 1)
= lim
h→0 h (x + h + 1)(x + 1)
(x + 1) − (x + h + 1)
= lim
h→0 (x + h + 1)(x + 1)h
−h
= lim
h→0 (x + h + 1)(x + 1)h
1
= lim −
h→0 (x + 1)(x + h + 1)
1
=− .
(x + 1)2

Therefore, the tangent to y = g(x) at x = 1 has slope g′ (1) = −1/4. Using the point-slope
formula as above with (x0 , y0 ) = (1, 1/2) and m = −1/4 gives the equation y − 1/2 =
−(1/4)(x − 1) of the tangent line, which simplifies to y = −(x − 3)/4.

Questions for further practice

10. Two runners Cathy and Daniel start a race at the same time and finish in a tie. Show that at some
time in the race they must be running at the same speed. (Hint: Suppose that C(t) and D(t) are the
distances travelled by Cathy and Daniel in t seconds. Assume that C(t) and D(t) are differentiable
functions and apply the Mean Value Theorem to f (t) = C(t) − D(t).)
Solution: Let C(t) and D(t) be the distance (in metres) travelled by the Cathy and Daniel,
respectively, after t seconds from the start of the race and let T be the time taken by both runners
to reach the finishing line.
Let f (t) = C(t) − D(t). Then f (0) = 0 (the runners both start at the same time) and f (T ) = 0
(the race is a tie). Therefore, by the Mean Value Theorem applied to the (differentiable) function
f (t) on the interval [0, T ], there must be a time t = t1 such that

f (T ) − f (0) 0 − 0
f ′ (t1 ) = = = 0.
T −0 T
On the other hand, f ′ (t) = C′ (t) − D′ (t). This means that C′ (t1 ) − D′ (t1 ) = 0; that is, C′ (t1 ) =
D′ (t1 ). However, C′ (t) and D′ (t) are the functions which give the velocities of the two runners at
time t. So this means that at t1 seconds the two runners were travelling at the same velocity, and
therefore at the same speed (magnitude of velocity), which is exactly what we wanted to show.

11. Find the global maximum and global minimum values of f on the specified interval.
(a) f (x) = x3 − 12x + 1 on [−3, 5].
Solution: Now f ′ (x) = 3x2 − 12 = 3(x2 − 4), and so f ′ (x) = 0 if and only if x = ±2.
Hence, there are four points to check: x = −3, x = −2, x = 2 and x = 5 (the two endpoints
and the two critical points). We compute that f (−3) = 10, f (−2) = 17, f (2) = −15 and
f (5) = 66. So f (2) = −15 is the global minimum (horizontal tangent) and f (5) = 66 is
the global maximum (right endpoint).

4
 x
(b) f (x) = on [1, 2].
x+1
Solution: Differentiating, we get f ′ (x) = 1/(x + 1)2 , and so f ′ (x) > 0 on [1, 2]. Since
f has a derivative which is positive on [1, 2], the function is strictly increasing on [1, 2].
Hence, the global minimum occurs at the left endpoint x = 1 and has the value f (1) = 1/2;
the global maximum occurs at the right endpoint x = 2 and has the value f (2) = 2/3.
(c) f (x) = 4x3 − 11x2 + 13x + 1 on [−1, 1].
Solution:
f ′ (x) = 12x2 − 22x + 13
11 2
   
121
= 12 x − + 13 −
12 12
 2
11 35
= 12 x − +
12 12
> 0.
So f ′ is defined on [−1, 1] and is always positive. Hence, f is strictly increasing on [−1, 1].
It follows that f (−1) = −27 is the global minimum and f (1) = 7 is the global maximum.
(d) f (x) = 2x5 − 6x3 + 4 on [−1, 3].
Solution: The derivative is f ′ (x) =√ 10x4 − 18x2 = 10x 2 2 ′
√ (x − 9/5). Hence f (x) = 0 at
the three points x = 0 and x = ±3/ 5 . Since −3/ 5 is out√of range, there are four
points that we need to check, namely, x = −1, x√= 0, x = 3/ 5 and √ x = 3. By direct
(−1) = 8, f (0) = 4, f (3/ 5 ) = 4−324/(25 5 ) and f (3) = 328.
calculation we see that f √
Therefore, 4 − 324/(25 5 ) is the global minimum (horizontal tangent) and 328 is the
global maximum (right endpoint) of f on the interval [−1, 3].

12. Let f : R → R be a function whose second derivative exists everywhere. Suppose that f (0) =
f ′ (0) = 0 and that f ′′ (x) < 2 for all x ∈ R. Use the Mean Value Theorem twice to show that
f (x) < 2x2 whenever x > 0.
Solution: Because the second derivative f ′′ (x) of f (x) exists for all x ∈ R, f ′ (x) also exists
and so f (x) is differentiable everywhere. Therefore, f (x) and f ′ (x) are both continuous and
differentiable functions for all x ∈ R. In particular, if a > 0, then we may apply the Mean Value
Theorem to f (x) and to f ′ (x) on the interval [0, a].
First, applying the Mean Value Theorem to f (x) on the interval [0, a] we see that there exists a
number c ∈ (0, a) such that
f (a) − f (0) f (a) − 0 f (a)
f ′ (c) = = = .
a−0 a a
Therefore, f (a) = a f ′ (c).
Next, apply the Mean Value Theorem to f ′ (x) on the interval [0, c]. Thus there exists a number
d ∈ (0, c) such that
f ′ (c) − f ′ (0) f ′ (c) − 0 f ′ (c)
f ′′ (d) = = = .
c−0 c c
Hence f ′ (c) = c f ′′ (d). Combining these two equations, we see that
f (a) = a f ′ (c) = ac f ′′ (d) < a2 f ′′ (d) < 2a2 ,
the last two inequalities following because c < a (so ac < a2 ) and f ′′ (d) < 2 (since, by assump-
tion, f ′′ (x) < 2 for all x).
We have shown that f (a) < 2a2 whenever a > 0; that is, f (x) < 2x2 for all x > 0.

5
 √
13. Use the Mean Value Theorem to show that 1 + x < 1 + x/2 for all x > 0.
√
Solution: Let f (x) = 1 + x . Then f (x) is continuous and differentiable on the interval (−1, ∞),
and so we can apply the Mean Value Theorem to f on the interval [0, x] whenever x > 0. There-
fore, there exists a number c ∈ (0, x) such that

f (x) − f (0) f (x) − 1

f ′ (c) = = .
x−0 x
So f (x) = 1 + x f ′ (c). Now
1 1
f ′ (c) = √ < ,
2 1+c 2
since c > 0. Therefore,
x
f (x) = 1 + x f ′ (c) < 1 + ,
2
which is what we wanted to show.