Department of Mathematics, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar University

MAT102 Calculus II - Spring 2023

Problem Set
Updated: Jan 22

Instructions: These problems are for discussion in tutorials and amongst yourselves.

1. Show that x2 = x sin x + cos x for exactly two values of x.

2. Prove that ex > 1 + x + x2 /2 for x > 0.

3. Let y(t) be a positive function satisfying y ′ (t) ≤ Ky(t) for t ≥ 0. Show that y(t) ≤ eKt y(0)
for t ≥ 0.

4. For each of the following functions, use the first derivative to find and classify the critical
points, and identify the intervals of decrease and increase.

(a) f (x) = sin2 x, x ∈ [−π, π] (d) k(x) = x|x − 1|, x ∈ [−1, 2]

2
(b) g(x) = e−x /2 , x ∈ [−3, 3] (e) m(x) = | sin x|, x ∈ [−π, π]
(c) h(x) = xe −x2 /2 , x ∈ [−3, 3] (f) p(x) = (log x)/x, x ∈ [1, 10]

5. For each function in the previous exercise, find the inflection points, identify the intervals
of convexity and concavity, and incorporate this information in their graphs.

6. Consider the function f : R → R defined by:

 2
x sin(1/x), x ̸= 0
f (x) =
0, x=0

(a) Show f ′ (0) = 0. (Hence x = 0 is a critical point)

(b) Show x = 0 is not a local maximum or a local minimum. (Hence x = 0 is a saddle
point)
(c) Show x = 0 is not an inflection point.

7. Show that tan x > x for 0 < x < π/2.

8. Find the local maximum and minimum values of f using both the First and Second
Derivative Tests. Which method do you prefer?
√ x
(a) f (x) = x + 1−x (b) f (x) =
x2 +4

9. (a) Find the critical points of f (x) = x4 (x − 1)3 .

(b) What does the Second Derivative Test tell you about the behavior of f at the critical
points?
(c) What does the First Derivative Test tell you?

10. Let f be differentiable on an interval I such that f ′ is an increasing function. Show that
f is convex.
f (b) − f (a)
11. Verify that the given f : [a, b] → R and c ∈ R satisfy f ′ (c) = .
b−a
a+b
(a) f (x) = x2 and c = (the arithmetic mean).
2
√
(b) f (x) = 1/x and c = ab (the geometric mean), with a, b > 0.
12. The Mean Value Theorem can be viewed as a unifying result from which several useful
facts can be obtained. We have already proved the following, but now you should show
they are also corollaries of the Mean Value Theorem.

(a) If f ′ = 0 on an interval then f is constant.

(b) If f ′ = g ′ on an interval then f and g differ by a constant.
(c) If f ′ ≥ 0 on an interval then f is an increasing function.
(d) If f ′ > 0 on an interval then f is a strictly increasing function.
(e) If m ≤ f ′ (x) ≤ M for every x ≥ a, then m(x − a) ≤ f (x) − f (a) ≤ M (x − a) for
every x ≥ a.
(f) If |f ′ | ≤ M on an interval I, and a ∈ I, then |f (x) − f (a)| ≤ M |x − a| for every
x ∈ I.

13. Suppose f is continuous on [1, 2] and differentiable on (1, 2) with f (2) = 2f (1). Prove
that there is a c ∈ (1, 2) such that the tangent line to the graph of f at (c, f (c)) passes
through the origin.

14. A function f is twice continuously differentiable on an interval I. Suppose that for a, b ∈ I,

the line joining the points (a, f (a)) and (b, f (b)) cuts the graph at an intermediate point
(c, f (c)). Show there is a point t ∈ (a, b) such that f ′′ (t) = 0.

15. Suppose f, g are continuous on [a, b] and differentiable on (a, b) with f (a) = g(a) and
f (b) = g(b). Prove that there is a c ∈ (a, b) such that f ′ (c) = g ′ (c).

16. Let f be an n + 1 times differentiable function on [0, 1] such that

f (1) = f (0) = f ′ (0) = f ′′ (0) = · · · = f (n) (0) = 0.

Prove that there is a ξ ∈ (0, 1) such that f (n+1) (ξ) = 0.

17. Suppose the values of sin x have been tabulated for x1 , x2 , x3 , . . . , with a constant gap of h
between successive xi . Given some x ∈ (xi , xi+1 ), we estimate sin x by linear interpolation
applied to the tabulated values. Show that the magnitude of the error of the interpolation
is bounded by h2 /8.
x2
18. Use the Cauchy MVT to show that 1 − < cos x for x ̸= 0.
2
19. Compute the following limits:

xn − an 1 − sin x + cos x
(a) lim (d) lim
x→a log x − log a x→π/2 sin x + cos x − 1
√  
b − b2 − t2 1 π
(b) lim (e) lim −
t→0 t2 x→0 2x2 2x tan πx
a − x − a log a − a log x x
x −x
(c) lim √ (f) lim
x→a a − 2ax − x2 x→1 1 − x + log x

20. Mimic the approach to sin x in class to obtain the following approximations for x close to
zero:

x2 x4 x2 x3
(a) cos x ≈ 1 − + (b) ex ≈ 1 + x + +
2! 4! 2! 3!

21. Let f (x) = x2 cos(1/x), g(x) = sin x for x ̸= 0. Observe that lim f (x) = lim g(x) = 0 but
x→0 x→0
f (x) f ′ (x)
lim ̸= lim ′ . What has gone wrong?
x→0 g(x) x→0 g (x)
22. Suppose f is differentiable in an open interval containing a, and twice differentiable at a.
Show that
f (a + 2h) − 2f (a + h) + f (a)
f ′′ (a) = lim .
h→0 h2
p
23. Describe and plot the domain of the function f (x, y) = x2 + y 2 − 1 + log(4 − x2 − y 2 ).

24. Sketch the graphs of the following functions, using appropriate horizontal and vertical
traces to illustrate its features:
p
(a) f (x, y) = 4x2 + y 2 + 1 (c) h(x, y) = x2 + y 2 + 1
p
(b) g(x, y) = xy (d) k(x, y) = x2 + y 2 − 1

25. Draw the contours of each of the functions in the previous problem.

26. The planar part of the graph below is given by z = x while the curved part is given by
z 2 = x2 + y 2 + 1. Give an explicit rule for the corresponding function.

27. (Stewart) Match the given graphs with the contour plots, and explain your reasoning.

28. Determine the points at which the function is continuous:

 (a) f (x, y) = x4 + y 4 − 4x2 y 2 , (c) h(x, y) = arctan(y/x),
( xy
x (x, y) ̸= (0, 0)
(b) g(x, y) = p , (d) k(x, y) = x + xy + y 2
2 .
x2 + y 2 0 (x, y) = (0, 0)
sin(x2 + y 2 )
29. Consider f (x, y) = when (x, y) ̸= (0, 0). How should we define f (0, 0) so that
x2 + y 2
f becomes continuous at the origin?
30. Compute all the first-order partial derivatives of the given functions:
x+y (d) k(x, y) = log(x + y),
(a) f (x, y) = ,
x−y
p (e) p(x, y) = xy ,
(b) g(x, y) = x2 + y 2 , Z y
(c) h(x, y) = arctan(y/x), (f) q(x, y) = g(t) dt (g continuous).
x
∂f ∂f
31. Suppose B is an open ball in R2 and f : B → R satisfies (x, y) = (x, y) = 0 for
∂x ∂y
every (x, y) ∈ B. Show that f is constant on B.
32. Compute all the second-order partial derivatives of the given functions:

(a) f (x, t) = e−x sin t, (b) g(x, y) = log 3x + 4y.

33. The ellipsoid 4x2 + 2y 2 + z 2 = 16 intersects the plane y = 2 in an ellipse. Find parametric
equations for the tangent line to this ellipse at the point (1, 2, 2).
34. Find the directional derivative of f at the given point P in the direction indicated by the
angle θ:
√
(a) f (x, y) = 5x − 4y, P = (4, 1), θ = −π/6.
(b) f (x, y) = x sin(xy), P = (2, 0), θ = π/3.
35. Match the following parametric curves with the graphs given below:
(a) x = t3 − 2t, y = t2 − t.
(b) x = t3 − 1, y = 2 − t2 .
(c) x = sin 3t, y = sin 4t.
(d) x = t + sin 2t, y = t + sin 3t.
(e) x = sin(t + sin t), y = cos(t + cos t).
(f) x = cos t, y = sin(t + sin 5t).
36. Consider the helix ⃗r(t) = A cos ωtı̂ + A sin ωtȷ̂ + Bωt k̂. Show that the tangents
√ to this
curve make a constant angle with the z-axis, and the cosine of this angle is B/ A2 + B 2 .

37. (Apostol) Let F⃗ be the vector-valued function given by

2t 1 − t2
F⃗ (t) = ı̂ + ȷ̂.
1 + t2 1 + t2

Prove that the angle between F⃗ (t) and F⃗ ′ (t) is constant.

38. (Stewart) At what points on the curve ⃗r(t) = (t3 + 4t, 6t2 ), is the tangent parallel to the
line with equation ⃗ℓ(t) = (−7t, 12t − 5)?

39. (Stewart) Find the coordinates of the leftmost point of the curve ⃗r(t) = (t4 − t2 , t + log t).
x2 y2
40. Parametrise the two arms of the hyperbola described by − = 1. (Hint: Use the
a2 b2
‘hyperbolic functions’ defined by cosh t = 2 (e + e ) and sinh t = 2 (e − e−t ).)
1 t −t 1 t

41. Consider the curve given by the equation x2/3 + y 2/3 = 1.

(a) Parametrise the curve.

(b) Is this a regular curve?
(c) Plot the curve.

42. Consider the parametric curve ⃗r(t) = (cos t sin t, sin2 t), t ∈ [0, 2π].

(a) Plot ⃗r(t) for t = 0, π/4, π/2, 3π/4, π.

(b) Can you identify the image of ⃗r as a certain standard curve?

43. Consider the parametric curve ⃗r(t) = (1 + sin t)(cos t, sin t), t ∈ [0, 2π].

(a) Plot ⃗r(t) for t = 0, π/2, π and 3π/2.

(b) Compute the tangent vectors at the above points.
(c) Use the data obtained above to make a rough plot of the curve.

44. Consider a rolling wheel of unit radius. Derive the parametric equation, and plot the
path, for a point whose location is

(a) Inside the wheel at a distance of 0.8 from the centre.

(b) Extending beyond the rim of the wheel, at a distance of 1.2 from the centre (as in
the flange of a rail wheel).

Assume that at t = 0 the centre of the wheel is at (0, 1) and the point we are plotting is
directly below the centre.

45. Sketch the curve with the polar equation r = sin2 θ, 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2π and show it consists of
two loops.
∂f ∂f
46. Suppose B is an open ball in R2 and f : B → R satisfies (x, y) = (x, y) = 0 for
∂x ∂y
every (x, y) ∈ B. Show that f is constant on B.

47. In R3 let ⃗r = xı̂ + y ȷ̂ + z k̂ and r = ∥⃗r∥.

(a) Show that ∇r is a unit vector in the direction of ⃗r.

(b) Show that ∇rn = nrn−2⃗r if n = 1, 2, 3, . . .
(c) Find a function f such that ∇f = ⃗r.

48. Explain why the function is differentiable at the given point. Then find the equation of
the tangent plane to its graph at the given point:
 (a) f (x, y) = 4x2 − y 2 + 2y at (−1, 2, 4), (b) g(x, y) = y log x at (1, 4, 0).
p
49. Find the linear approximation of the function f (x, y) = 20 − x2 − 7y 2 at (2, 1) and use
it to approximate f (1.95, 1.08).

50. Assume that the following equations have unique solutions for y near the points indicated.
Find the first and second derivative at the given point.

(a) x2 + xy + y 2 = 7, (2, 1).

(b) xy + log xy = 1, (1, 1).

51. Assume that the equation x + y + z = sin xyz can be solved for z near (0, 0, 0). Find the
partial derivatives of the solution.

52. Suppose that the equation F (x, y, z) = 0 implicitly defines each of the three variables x,
y, and z as functions of the other two: z = f (x, y), y = g(x, z), x = h(y, z). If F is
differentiable and Fx , Fy and Fz are all nonzero, show that

∂z ∂x ∂y
· · = −1.
∂x ∂y ∂z

53. Let f (x, y) = 3x4 − 4x2 y = y 2 . Show that along any line y = mx, f has a minimum at
(0, 0) but (0, 0) is not a point of local minimum. Make a sketch indicating the points at
which f > 0 and f < 0.

54. Let f (x, y) = (3 − x)(3 − y)(x + y − 3).

(a) Make a sketch indicating the points at which f (x, y) ≥ 0.

(b) Find all points (x, y) where fx (x, y) = fy (x, y) = 0.
(c) Which critical points are local maxima? Local minima? Neither?
(d) Does f have an absolute maximum or minimum on the entire plane?

55. Determine all the local and absolute extreme values of f (x, y) = xy(1 − x2 − y 2 ) on the
square 0 ≤ x, y ≤ 1.

56. Find the absolute maximum and minimum values of f (x, y) = 1 + 4x − 5y on the closed
triangular region D with vertices at (0, 0), (2, 0) and (0, 3).

57. Find the points on the cone z 2 = x2 + y 2 that are closest to the point (4, 2, 0).

58. The base of an aquarium with a given volume V is made of slate and the sides are made
of glass. If slate costs five times as much (per unit area) as glass, find the dimensions of
the aquarium that minimize the cost of the materials.

59. Find an equation of the plane that passes through the point (1, 2, 3) and cuts off the
smallest volume in the first octant.

60. Given n distinct numbers x1 , . . . , xn and n numbers y1 , . . . , yn , find a linear function

f (x) = ax + b which minimizes the ‘total squared error’
n
X
E(a, b) = (f (xi ) − yi )2 .
i=1

61. Find an equation of the plane that passes through the point (1, 2, 3) and cuts off the
smallest volume in the first octant.

62. Find the values of w1 and w2 which minimize the function σ 2 = σ12 w12 + σ22 w22 + 2σ12 w1 w2
subject to the constraint w1 + w2 = 1. The numbers σ1 , σ2 and σ12 are constants.
63. Consider the problem of finding the values of w1 , w2 and w3 which minimize the function
σ 2 = σ12 w12 + σ22 w22 + σ32 w32 + 2σ12 w1 w2 + 2σ13 w1 w3 + 2σ23 w2 w3 subject to the constraint
w1 + w2 + w3 = 1. The numbers σi and σij are constants. Use Lagrange multipliers
method to to express this as a problem of solving a 4 × 4 linear system. (Just set up the
system in matrix notation, don’t solve it)

64. Find the following limits:

1 2n
(a) lim √ (d) lim (Hint: Use 2n = (1 + 1)n )
n→∞ n n→∞ n

3n2 + 5n − 2 en − e−n
(b) lim (e) lim
n→∞ n2 + 9 n→∞ en + e−n
3n2 + 5n − 2
(c) lim (f) lim arctan n
n→∞ n3 + 9 n→∞