Written exams of Mathematical

Analysis I 2021 - 2022

1 Exam of January 25, 2022 - 1st sitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2 Exam of January 25, 2022 - 2nd sitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3 Exam of February 11, 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4 Exam of June 17, 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5 Exam of 9 September 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

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2 Written exams of Mathematical Analysis I 2021 - 2022

1 Exam of January 25, 2022 - 1st sitting

Exercise 1. (9 points) Consider the function f : dom(f ) ⊆ R −→ R defined as

p
f (x) = |e2x − ex |.

(a) Find the domain, the limits at the boundary of the domain, and the asymptotes (if any) of
f.

(b) Study continuity and differentiability of f on its domain. Find (if any) and classify its
discontinuity and its non-differentiability points.

(c) Find the monotonicity intervals and the extremum points of f , specifying whether they are
local or global.

(d) Sketch a qualitative graph of f .

(e) Find, if possible, the principal part of the infinitesimal f (x), as x → 0− , with respect to the
infinitesimal ϕ(x) = −x.

Exercise 2. (6 points) )

(a) State the definition of convergent improper integral in the interval [2, +∞).

(b) Study, as the parameter k varies in R, the convergence of the improper integral
Z +∞  
k 2
− dx.
2 x x+1

(c) Prove that, if g : R −→ ZR is continuous and positive, then there exists the limit as x → +∞
x
of the function G(x) = g(t) dt.
2

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1 Exam of January 25, 2022 - 1st sitting 3

SOLUTION
p
Exercise 1. Consider the function f : dom(f ) ⊆ R −→ R defined as f (x) = |e2x − ex |.

(a) Find the domain, the limits at the boundary of the domain, and the asymptotes (if any) of f .

The domain of the exponential function is R; the absolute value has only non-negative val-
ues; therefore dom(f ) = R. Since the function is a composition of continuous functions
√
(e2x , ex , x, |x|), it is continuous on R: therefore, it has no vertical asymptotes. The limits
at the boundary of the domain are,
p p p
lim f (x) = lim |e2x − ex | = lim ex |ex − 1| = 0 · |0 − 1| = 0,
x→−∞ x→−∞ x→−∞
p p
lim f (x) = lim |e2x − ex | = lim ex |ex − 1| = +∞,
x→+∞ x→+∞ x→+∞

so that the line y = 0 is a horizontal asymptote of f as x → −∞.

Since f (x) ∼ ex as. x → +∞, the order of infinite of f is greater than 1 with respect to x, so
that f has no right oblique asymptote.

(b) Study continuity and differentiability of f on its domain. Find (if any) and classify its dis-
continuity and its non-differentiability points.

f is a composition of continuous functions (more precisely, the function x 7→ 2x, the ex-
ponential function, the difference function, the absolute value function and the square root
function), therefore it’s continuous on its domain.

All the functions involved but the absolute value function are differentiable: hence f is
differentiable out of the values vanishing the absolute value (since the absolute value function
x 7→ |x| isn’t differentiable at x = 0). In this case, f could be non-differentiable at the points

(*) e2x −ex = 0 ⇐⇒ ex (ex −1) = 0 ⇐⇒ ex −1 = 0 ⇐⇒ ex = 1 ⇐⇒ x = 0,

where we factorized the exponential and used the fact that ex > 0 for all x ∈ R. So far we
can say that f è differentiable out of the origin.

By (*) we obtain that e2x − ex > 0 for x > 0. Therefore, for all x 6= 0 we have

 p
2x


x ′
2e2x − ex
 e −e =

 √ if x > 0,
′ 2 e2x − ex
f (x) =

 p
′ 2e2x − ex
 −(e2x − ex ) = − √
 if x < 0.
2 ex − e2x

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4 Written exams of Mathematical Analysis I 2021 - 2022

Since f is continuous in R and differentiable in R \{0}, in order to study the differentiability at

x = 0 we may use a consequence of de l’Hôpital possiamo utilizzare il teorema ”tappabuchi”.
Therefore, we have to compute limits of f ′ (x), as x → 0+ and as x → 0− . We observe that

lim (2e2x − ex ) = 1 and lim [−(2e2x − ex )] = −1.

x→0+ x→0−

Therefore
2e2x − ex
lim f (′ x) = lim √ = +∞,
x→0+ x→0+ 2 e2x − ex

 
2e2x − ex
lim f ′ (x) = lim − √ = −∞,
x→0− x→0− 2 ex − e2x
hence the function f is non-differentiable at x = 0, which is a cuspidal point.

(c) Find the monotonicity intervals and the extremum points of f , specifying whether they are
local or global.

Remark that

1 1
2e2x −ex = ex (2ex −1) > 0 ⇐⇒ 2ex −1 > 0 ⇐⇒ ex > ⇐⇒ x > log = − log 2.
2 2

Therefore

• For all x > 0, f ′ (x) > 0.

 
′ 2e2x − ex
• If x < 0, f (x) = − √ > 0 if and only if x < − log 2.Moreover, f ′ (− log 2) = 0.
2 ex − e2x
By the Mean Value Theorem, the function is monotonic in every interval where the sign of
the derivative is constant. Moreover, f is continuous at x = 0 and at x = − log 2.

− log 2 0
b b

f′ + − +

f ր ց ր

Therefore,

• f is strictly increasing in (−∞, − log 2] and in [0, +∞)

• f is strictly decreasing in [− log 2, 0].

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1 Exam of January 25, 2022 - 1st sitting 5

Since f is continuous at x = 0 and at x = − log 2 we get that x = − log 2 is a local minimum

point and x = 0 is a local maximum point. Since f is unbounded from above, the maximum
point is local, while x = 0 is (the only) global minimum point, since f (0) = 0 and f (x) > 0
for all x 6= 0.

(d) Sketch a qualitative graph of f .

− log 2 O x

(e) Find, if possible, the principal part of the infinitesimal f (x), as x → 0− , with respect to the
infinitesimal ϕ(x) = −x.

√
Recall that, if x < 0, f (x) = ex − e2x .

Method 1. From the first order Maclaurin formula of ex it follows

ex = 1 + x + o(x) as x → 0
e2x = 1 + 2x + o(x) as x → 0.

Therefore
p  1/2  1/2
f (x) = ex − e2x = 1 + x + o(x) − (1 + 2x + o(x)) = − x + o(x)

= (−x)1/2 (1 + o(1))1/2 ∼ (−x)1/2 as x → 0− .

√
Therefore the principal part of f with respect to −x, as x → 0− , is p(x) = (−x)1/2 = −x.

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6 Written exams of Mathematical Analysis I 2021 - 2022

Method 2. Recall that we have to verify whether there exists γ ∈ R such that the limit
f (x)
lim exists, finite. We have,
x→0− ϕγ (x)

√ √
f (x) ex − e2x ex/2 1 − ex
lim γ = lim = lim
x→0 ϕ (x)
− x→0− (−x)γ x→0− (−x)γ
 

x/2
 (−x + o(x))1/2 (−x)1/2 (1 + o(1))
= lim e · lim = lim
(−x)γ (−x)γ
| x→0{z } x→0 x→0−
− −

=1

the last limit equals 1 if and only if γ = 1/2. Therefore the principal part of f with respect
√
to −x, as x → 0− , is p(x) = (−x)1/2 = −x.

Exercise 2

(a) State the definition of convergent improper integral in the interval [2, +∞).

Let f be a locally integrable function on (2, +∞), that is integrable on all the intervals
[a, b] ⊆ (2, +∞).

If f is unbounded in all the right neighbourhood of 2, the integral is improper also at 2. In

this case we say that the integral is convergent if, considering b ∈ (2, +∞) we have
Z b
lim f (x) dx = m ∈ R
k→2+ Zk
t
lim f (x) dx = ℓ ∈ R.
t→+∞ 2

If f is locally integrable in [2, +∞), that is in all the intervals [a, b] ⊆ [2, +∞), the integral
isn’t improper at 2. In this case we say that the improper integral converges if
Z t
lim f (x) dx = ℓ ∈ R.
t→+∞ 2

(b) Study, as the parameter k varies in R, the convergence of the improper integral
Z +∞  
k 2
− dx.
2 x x+1

Since f is continuous in [2, +∞), the integral isn’t improper at 2. If we perform the sum in
the integrand, we get
k 2 (k − 2)x + k
− = ,
x x+1 x(x + 1)
whose denominator is equivalent to x2 .

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1 Exam of January 25, 2022 - 1st sitting 7

2 2
• If k = 2, the integrand is ∼ 2 as x → +∞, which has infinitesimal order 2
x(x + 1) x
with respect to x, as x → +∞. By the Asymptotical Comparison Criteria, the improper
integral converges.
We can get the same result by he Comparison Criterion:
2 2
0≤ ≤ 2 , for all x ≥ 2. Since the integral of the majorant function converges,
x(x + 1) x
the improper integral converges.
(k − 2)x + k k−2
• k 6= 2, the integrand ∼ as x → +∞. Since the last function has
x(x + 1) x
divergent improper integral, by the Asymptotical Comparison Criteria the improper
integral diverges as well.

(c) Prove that, if g : R −→ZR is continuous and positive, then there exists the limit as x → +∞
x
of the function G(x) = g(t) dt.
2

By the Fundamental Theorem of Integral Calculus, G is differentiable in R and G′ (x) =

g(x) ≥ 0 for all x ∈ R. Therefore G is increasing in R: the Theorem about the limit of
monotonic functions ensures that there exists lim G(x) = sup{G(x) : x ∈ R}.
x→+∞

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8 Written exams of Mathematical Analysis I 2021 - 2022

2 Exam of January 25, 2022 - 2nd sitting

Exercise 1. (9 points)
Consider the function f : dom(f ) ⊆ R −→ R defined as

f (x) = |x2 − 6x + 8|ex−2 .

(a) Find the domain, the limits at the boundary of the domain, and the asymptotes (if any) of
f.

(b) Study continuity and differentiability of f on its domain. Find (if any) and classify its
discontinuity and its non-differentiability points.

(c) Find the monotonicity intervals and the minimum and maximum points of f , specifying
whether they are local or global.

(d) Sketch a qualitative graph of f .

(e) Determine, if it exists, a real number α < 2 such that

Z 2 Z 4
2
e f (x) dx = e2 f (x) dx.
α 2

Exercise 2, Version A. (6 points) )

(a) State the Intermediate Value Theorem.

(b) Cancel the continuity hypothesis from the Intermediate Value Theorem and find a counterex-
ample of the validity of the theorem.

(c) Consider a function f : [a, b] ∪ [c, d] → R defined on the disjoint union of intervals (that is,
[a, b] ∩ [c, d] = ∅). Does the Intermediate Value Theorem hold in this case? If the answer is
positive, prove the theorem; otherwise, find a counterexample.

Exercise 2, Version B. (6 points) )

(a) State the Intermediate Zero Theorem.

(b) Cancel the continuity hypothesis from the Intermediate Zero Theorem and find a counterex-
ample of the validity of the theorem.

(c) Consider a function f : [a, b] ∪ [c, d] → R defined on the disjoint union of intervals (that is,
[a, b] ∩ [c, d] = ∅). Does the Intermediate Zero Theorem hold in this case? If the answer is
positive, prove the theorem; otherwise, find a counterexample.

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2 Exam of January 25, 2022 - 2nd sitting 9

SOLUTION

Exercise 1. Consider the function f : dom(f ) ⊆ R −→ R defined as f (x) = |x2 − 6x + 8|ex−2 .

(a) Find the domain, the limits at the boundary of the domain, and the asymptotes (if any) of f .
The function is the composition of a polynomial and the absolute value, multiplied by the
function x 7→ ex−2 , therefore its domain is dom(f ) = R. Since all these functions are
continuous on R, f has no vertical asymptotes.

lim |x2 − 6x + 8|ex−2 = +∞

x→+∞
|x2 − 6x + 8|
lim |x2 − 6x + 8|ex−2 = lim = 0,
x→−∞ x→−∞ e−(x−2)
since the exponential is an infinite of order larger than any power of x.

Hence,

• y = 0 is the left horizontal asymptote of f ;

• the function has no oblique asymptote as x → +∞, since the infinite order of f with
respect to x is larger than one.

(b) Study continuity and differentiability of f on its domain. Find (if any) and classify its dis-
continuity and its non-differentiability points.
We have already remarked that f is continuous in R.

As far as the differentiability is concerned, the function is the composition of differentiable

functions, with the exception of the absolute value, which isn’t differentiable where the ar-
gument vanishes (since the function absolute value x 7→ |x| isn’t differentiable at x = 0).
Therefore f is certainly differentiable in the points of its domain, but in the points where the
argument of the absolute value is zero. Hence f could be non-differentiable where

(**) x2 − 6x + 8 = 0 ⇐⇒ (x − 2)(x − 4) = 0 ⇐⇒ x = 2 ∨ x = 4.

Therefore f is certainly differentiable in R \ {2, 4} = (−∞, 2) ∪ (2, 4) ∪ (4, +∞). From (**)
we get that x2 − 6x + 8 > 0 for x ∈ (−∞, 2) ∪ (4, +∞). Hence,

2 x−2 + (2x − 4)ex−2 = (x2 − 4x + 2)ex−2 ,
(x − 6x + 8)e
 if x ∈ (−∞, 2) ∪ (4, +∞),
′
f (x) =

  2 
− (x − 6x + 8)ex−2 + (2x − 4)ex−2 = −(x2 − 4x + 2)ex−2 , if x ∈ (2, 4).

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10 Written exams of Mathematical Analysis I 2021 - 2022

Since f is continuous in R and differentiable if x 6= 2, 4, we apply a consequence of de l’Hôpital

Theorem in order to study the differentiability of f at x = 2 and at x = 4. Since

lim f ′ (x) = lim (x2 − 4x + 2)ex−2 = −2,

x→2− x→2−

lim f ′ (x) = lim − (x2 − 4x + 2)ex−2 = 2,
x→2+ x→2+


lim f ′ (x) = lim − (x2 − 4x + 2)ex−2 = −2e2 ,
x→4− x→4−

lim f ′ (x) = lim (x2 − 4x + 2)ex−2 = 2e2 .

x→4+ x→4+

the function f is not differentiable at x = 2 and at x = 4, which are corner points.

(c) Find the monotonicity intervals and the minimum and maximum points of f , specifying
whether they are local or global.

By the Mean Value Theorem, we are able to study the monotonicity intervals of f by studying
the sign of its derivative. Looking at f ′ , we observe that the sign of f ′ is the same as the sign
of the polynomial x2 − 4x + 2. In the set (−∞, 2) ∪ (4, +∞) we have
√ √
f ′ (x) > 0 ⇐⇒ x2 − 4x + 2 > 0 ⇐⇒ x<2− 2 ∨ x > 2 + 2.
√ √
Observe that 2 − 2 < 2 and 2 + 2 < 4.

In the interval (2, 4), we have

√ √
f ′ (x) > 0 ⇐⇒ x2 − 4x + 2 < 0 ⇐⇒ x ∈ (2 − 2, 2 + 2).

Therefore f is monotonic in the intervals where the sign of f ′ is constant.

√ √
2− 2 2 2+ 2 4
b b b b

f′ + − + − +

f ր ց ր ց ր

Moreover, f is continuous in R. Therefore,

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2 Exam of January 25, 2022 - 2nd sitting 11

√ √
• the function is (strictly) increasing in (−∞, 2 − 2], in [2, 2 + 2] and in [4, +∞),
√ √
• the function is (strictly) decreasing in [2 − 2, 2] and in [2 + 2, 4].

√
Finally, x = 2 ± 2 are local maximum points; they are not global, since f is unbounded
from above.

The function is non-negative, since it is the product of an absolute value and of an exponential:
the only points where it vanishes are those where the absolute value vanishes, that is x = 2, 4
(see (**)), which are global minimum points.

(d) Sketch a qualitative graph of f .

√ √
In order to sketch a better qualitative graph, it is useful to observe that f (2− 2) < f (2+ 2):
this is not immediately observed without using a pocket calculator, whose use is not allowed
at the exam. Therefore, in grading the exam the reciprocal positions of the two points of the
graph weren’t considered.

√ √
O 2− 2 2 2+ 2 4 x

R2 R4
(e) Determine, if it exists, a real number α < 2 such that α e2 f (x) dx = 2 e2 f (x) dx.
We have to solve the equation in the unknown α, given by
Z 2 Z 4
2 x
(E) (x − 6x + 8)e dx = − (x2 − 6x + 8)ex dx.
α 2

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12 Written exams of Mathematical Analysis I 2021 - 2022

Integrating by parts, we get the following primitives

Z  Z  Z
(x − 6x + 8)e dx = 8e − 6 xe − e dx + x e − 2 xex dx
2 x x x x 2 x

= 8ex − 6xex + 6ex + x2 ex − 2xex + 2ex + c

= ex [x2 − 8x + 16] + c = ex (x − 4)2 + c, c ∈ R.

Therefore Z 2
e2 f (x) dx = 4e2 − eα (α − 4)2
α
Z 4
e2 f (x) dx = 4e2 .
2

Therefore equation (E) is equivalent to 4e2 − eα (α − 4)2 = 4e2 , or −eα (α − 4)2 = 0, whose
only solution is α = 4. We cannot accept this solution, since we gave the condition α < 2.

Therefore the equation has no solutions.

Exercise 2, version A.

(a) State the Intermediate Value Theorem.

Intermediate Value Theorem.

Consider a function f , continuous in a closed and bounded interval [a, b]. Then the image of
[a, b] by means of f , that is the set f ([a, b]), contains the closed interval with endpoints f (a)
and f (b).

Corollary Consider a function f , continuous in an interval I. Then the image of I by

means of f , that is the set f (I), is an interval with endpoints α = inf{f (x) : x ∈ I} and
β = sup{f (x) : x ∈ I}.

(b) Cancel the continuity hypothesis from the Intermediate Value Theorem and find a counterex-
ample of the validity of the theorem.

For instance, the function (

−1 if x ≤ 2
f (x) =
1 if x > 2

isn’t continuous at x = 2. The image of the interval [0, 4] is the set {−1, 1}, which doesn’t
contain the interval [f (0), f (4)] = [−1, 1] and no other interval.

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(c) Consider a function f : [a, b] ∪ [c, d] → R defined on the disjoint union of intervals (that is,
[a, b] ∩ [c, d] = ∅). Does the Intermediate Value Theorem hold in this case? If the answer is
positive, prove the theorem; otherwise, find a counterexample.
Neither the theorem nor the corollaty hold in this case. If we have a function continuous on
two disjoint intervals I and J, its image is not necessarily an interval. As a counterexample
we may consider the function given in the previous point: it is continuous in A = [0, 1] ∪ [3, 4]
and its image f (A) = {−1, 1} contains no interval.

Exercise 2, version B.

(a) State the Intermediate Zero Theorem..

Intermediate Zero Theorem.

Let f be a function continuous in a closed and bounded interval [a, b], such that f (a)·f (b) < 0.
The there exists c ∈ [a, b] such that f (c) = 0.

(b) Cancel the continuity hypothesis from the Intermediate Zero Theorem and find a counterex-
ample of the validity of the theorem.

For instance, the function (

−1 if x ≤ 2
f (x) =
1 if x > 2
isn’t continuous at x = 2. In the interval [0, 4], f is continuous out of x = 2 and f (0) · f (4) =
−1 < 0. The function has no zeroes.

(c) Consider a function f : [a, b] ∪ [c, d] → R defined on the disjoint union of intervals (that is,
[a, b] ∩ [c, d] = ∅). Does the Intermediate Zero Theorem hold in this case? If the answer is
positive, prove the theorem; otherwise, find a counterexample.

As a counterexample, we may consider the function defined at point (b), which is continuous
on the set A = [0, 1] ∪ [3, 4], with f (0) · f (4) = −1 < 0. Nonetheless, the function has no
zeroes on A.

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3 Exam of February 11, 2022

Exercise 1. (9 points) Consider the function. f : dom(f ) ⊆ R −→ R defined as

 
|x + 3|
f (x) = exp .
x2 − 5

(a) Find the domain, the limits at the boundary of the domain, and the asymptotes (if any) of
f.

(b) Study continuity and differentiability of f on its domain. Find (if any) and classify its
discontinuity and its non-differentiability points.

(c) Find the monotonicity intervals and the minimum and maximum points of f , specifying
whether they are local or global.

(d) Sketch a qualitative graph of f .

(e) Let an = f (1/n), for all n ∈ N \ {0}. Prove that the sequence an is monotonic.

Exercise 2 (6 points) )

(a) Draw in the complex plane the set

A = {z ∈ C : |z + 4| > |z|}.

(b) State the definition of bounded set in R.

(c) Consider B = {x ∈ R : x + iy ∈ A for some y ∈ R}, where A is the set described at point (a)
of this exercise. Decide whether B is bounded or unbounded, compute its lower upper bound
(or supremum) and its greatest lower bound (or infimum), and its maximum and minimum,
if they exist.

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SOLUTION

Exercise 1.  
|x + 3|
Consider the function. f : dom(f ) ⊆ R −→ R defined as f (x) = exp .
x2 − 5

We can study this functions in two different ways. The first one consists of studying the
exponent, and then composing it with the exponential functions, which is strictly increasing and
doesn’t modify the monotonicity and the extremum points of the function. Otherwise, we can
study directly the given function: we’ll proceed according to the second method.

(a) Find the domain, the limits at the boundary of the domain, and the asymptotes (if any) of f .
|x + 3|
The exponent g(x) = 2 is defined if the denominator is non-zero, that is if x2 − 5 6= 0,
√ x − 5
therefore if x 6= ± 5. Since the function t 7→ exp(t) is defined (and continuous) in R,we have
√ √
dom(f ) = R \ { 5, − 5}.
√ √
We have to compute the limits of f as x → ±∞, as x → ( 5)± and as x → (− 5)± . We
have,  
|x + 3| |x + 3|
lim = 0 =⇒ lim exp = e0 = 1
x→+∞ x2 − 5 x→+∞ x2 − 5
 
|x + 3| |x + 3|
lim = 0 =⇒ lim exp = e0 = 1
x→−∞ x2 − 5 x→−∞ x2 − 5
√
g(x) has the same sign as the denominator x2 − 5, that is g(x) > 0 if x ∈ (−∞, − 5) ∪
√
( 5, +∞), while it’s non-positive elsewhere. Therefore,

 
|x + 3| |x + 3|
√ + x2 − 5 = +∞
lim =⇒ lim
√ + exp = +∞
x→ 5 x→ 5 x2 − 5
 
|x + 3| |x + 3|
lim = −∞ =⇒ √ + exp
lim =0
√ −
x→ 5 x2 − 5 x→ 5 x2 − 5
 
|x + 3| |x + 3|
lim
√ + = −∞ =⇒ lim
√ + exp =0
x→− 5 x2 − 5 x→− 5 x2 − 5
 
|x + 3| |x + 3|
lim
√ − = +∞ =⇒ lim
√ − exp = +∞.
x→− 5 x2 − 5 x→− 5 x2 − 5

As far as the asymptotes are concerned, by the previous computations we have,

• the line y = 1 is a bilateral horizontal asymptote of f ;

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16 Written exams of Mathematical Analysis I 2021 - 2022

√
• the line x = 5 is a right vertical asymptote of f ;
√
• the line x = − 5 is a left vertical asymptote of f .

(b) Study continuity and differentiability of f on its domain. Find (if any) and classify its dis-
continuity and its non-differentiability points.

g(x) is the ratio of the continuous function |x+3| to the polynomial x2 −5, hence it’s continuous
on its domain. The function f is the composition of g with the exponential function, which
is everywhere continuous: therefore f is continuous on its domain.

Similarly, the function g is certainly differentiable where the argument of the absolute value
is non-zero, that is for x 6= −3. The composition of g with the everywhere differentiable
exponential function yields a function f differentiable in dom(f ) \ {−3}. We need to check if
f is differentiable at x = −3.

First of all, we compute the derivative of g and then of f where it is possible.

 
 x+3 ′ x2 + 6x + 5 √ √ √ √


 x2 − 5 = − , if x ∈ (−3, − 5) ∪ (− 5, 5) ∪ ( 5, +∞),
′
(x2 − 5)2
g (x) =  

 x + 3 ′ x2 + 6x + 5
 − 2
 = , if x ∈ (−∞, −3).
x −5 (x2 − 5)2
and
    2 
 x+3 x + 6x + 5 √ √ √ √
exp x2 − 5 · − (x2 − 5)2 , if x ∈ (−3, − 5) ∪ (− 5, 5) ∪ ( 5, +∞),


f ′ (x) =   2

 x+3 x + 6x + 5
exp

2
· , if x ∈ (−∞, −3).
x −5 (x2 − 5)2
In order to study the differentiability of f at x = −3, we may use a consequence of de l’Hôpital
Theorem, since f is continuous at x = −3 and differentiable in a punctured neighbourhood
of x = −3:
 
′ x+3 x2 + 6x + 5 −4 1
lim f (x) = lim exp · =1· =−
x→−3− x→−3− x2 − 5 2
(x − 5) 2 16 4
   
x+3 x2 + 6x + 5 4 1
lim f ′ (x) = lim exp · − =1· = ,
x→−3+ x→−3+ x2 − 5 (x2 − 5)2 16 4
hence f is not differentiable at x = −3, which is a corner point of f (with left and right
derivative respectively equal to −1/4 and to 1/4).

(c) Find the monotonicity intervals and the minimum and maximum points of f , specifying
whether they are local or global.
First of all, observe that the sign of f ′ is determined by the sign of the polynomial x2 + 6x + 5.

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√ √ √ √
In the set A = (−3, − 5) ∪ (− 5, 5) ∪ ( 5, +∞) we have

f ′ (x) > 0 ⇐⇒ x2 + 6x + 5 < 0 ⇐⇒ x ∈ (−5, −1) ∩ A.

while in the interval (−∞, −3) we have

f ′ (x) > 0 ⇐⇒ x2 + 6x + 5 > 0 ⇐⇒ x < −5 ∨ −1 < x < −3.

√ √
−5 −3 − 5 −1 5
b b b b b

f′ + − + + − −

f ր ց ր ր ց ց

By the continuity of f at x = −5, x = −3, x = −1 and its differentiability elsewhere, we get,

via the Mean Value Theorem, that

√ √
• f is strictly increasing in the intervals (−∞, −5], [−3, − 5) and (− 5, −1]
√ √
• f is strictly decreasing in the intervals [−5, −3], [−1, 5) and ( 5, +∞).

Since the function is unbounded from above, it has no global maximum points. The point
x = −3 is a local minimum point (with f (−3) = 0), while the critical points x = −5, −1 are
local maximum points (with f (−5) = exp(1/10) and f (−1) = exp(−1/2)). Since inf f = 0,
these points aren’t global minimum points.

(d) Sketch a qualitative graph of f .

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bc bc
√ √
−5 −3 − 5 −1 O 5 x

(e) Let an = f (1/n), for all n ∈ N \ {0}. Prove that the sequence an is monotonic.

The sequence bn = 1/n is decreasing, and bn ∈ (0, 1], for all n ∈ N \ {0}.

The function f restricted to the interval (0, 1] is decreasing, therefore an is increasing, since
it is the composition of the two decreasing functions bn and f .

Even if it is not required by the exercise, we remark that , by the theorem about the limit
of monotonic functions, there exists the limit of an . Since bn → 0 as n → +∞, and f (x) →
f (0) = e−3/5 as x → 0, by the theorem on the limit of composed functions we have, lim an =
n→∞
f (0) = e−3/5 .

Exercise 2.

(a) Draw in the complex plane the set A = {z ∈ C : |z + 4| > |z|}.

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We set z = x + iy. Then

p
|z + 4| = |x + iy + 4| = |(x + 4) + iy| = (x + 4)2 + y 2
p
|z| = x2 + y 2 ,

hence

|z + 4| > |z| ⇐⇒ (x + 4)2 + y 2 > x2 + y 2 ⇐⇒ x2 + 8x + 16 > x2

⇐⇒ 8x > −16 ⇐⇒ x > −2.

Therefore A = {z = x + iy : x > −2} is a half-plane in the Argand-Gauss plane.

−2 O x

(b) State the definition of bounded set in R.

This definition can be stated in several equivalent ways: we propose two of them.

– A set A ⊆ R is bounded if ∃m, M ∈ R such that ∀x ∈ A, m ≤ x ≤ M .

– A set A ⊆ R is bounded if ∃M > 0 such that, ∀x ∈ A, |x| ≤ M .

(c) Consider B = {x ∈ R : x + iy ∈ A for some y ∈ R}, where A is the set described at point (a)
of this exercise. Decide whether B is bounded or unbounded, compute its lower upper bound
(or supremum) and its greatest lower bound (or infimum), and its maximum and minimum,
if they exist.
By the computations performed in (a), it is easy to see that z = x + iy ∈ A if and only if

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20 Written exams of Mathematical Analysis I 2021 - 2022

x > −2. Therefore the set B is the interval (−2, +∞), which is unbounded (from above),
while inf B = −2. B is an open interval, therefore it has neither maximum nor minimum. B
has no real supremum, but we may say that sup B = +∞.

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4 Exam of June 17, 2022 21

4 Exam of June 17, 2022

Exercise 1. (9 points) Consider the function. f : dom(f ) ⊆ R −→ R defined as

 
2
f (x) = arctan x + .
|x|

(a) Find the domain, the limits at the boundary of the domain, and the asymptotes (if any) of
f.

(b) Study continuity and differentiability of f on its domain. Find (if any) and classify its
discontinuity and its non-differentiability points.

(c) Find the monotonicity intervals and the minimum and maximum points of f , specifying
whether they are local or global.

(d) Sketch a qualitative graph of f .

(
f (x) if x 6= 0,
(e) Consider c ∈ R and define f˜(x) =
c if x = 0.
Find the values c for which the function ˜
f is continuous. For these values of c, study the
differentiability of f˜.

Exercise 2 (6 points)

(a) Give the definition of separable differential equation.

(b) Find all the solutions of the differential equation

y ′ = (y 2 − 4)(x + 1).

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SOLUTION

Exercise 1.  
2
Consider the function. f : dom(f ) ⊆ R −→ R defined as f (x) = arctan x + .
|x|

2
We could study the function g(x) = x + , then its composition with the function x 7→
|x|
arctan x, considering that its image is the open interval (−π/2, π/2) and that it’s strictly increasing
in R. Otherwise, we can study directly the given function, as we will do here.

(a) Find the domain, the limits at the boundary of the domain, and the asymptotes (if any) of f .
2
The function g(x) = x + is defined if x 6= 0. Since the function t 7→ arctan(t) is defined
|x|
(and continuous) in R, we get dom(f ) = R \ {0}.
π
Now we have to compute the limits of f as x → ±∞ and as x → 0 . Since lim arctan x =
x→+∞ 2
π
and lim arctan x = − , we have,
x→−∞ 2
   
2 2 π
lim = x + = +∞ =⇒ lim arctan x + =
x→+∞ |x| x→+∞ |x| 2
   
2 2 π
lim x+ = −∞ =⇒ lim arctan x + =−
x→−∞
 |x|
 x→−∞
 |x|
 2
2 2 π
lim x + = +∞ =⇒ lim arctan x + = .
x→0 |x| x→0 |x| 2

As far as the asymptotes are concerned, by the computations above we get

• y = π/2 is the right horizontal asymptote of f ;

• y = −π/2 is the left horizontal asymptote of f .

(b) Find the monotonicity intervals and the minimum and maximum points of f , specifying
whether they are local or global.
g(x) is the sum of the everywhere continuous and differentiable funciotn h(x) = x with the
2
function k(x) = , which is continuous and differentiable in R \ {0}. We obtain f by com-
|x|
posing g with the everywhere differentiable function arctangent: therefore f is continuous
and differentiable in its domain R \ {0}. 1

1
A function can be continuous or differentiable only in the points of its domain, therefore we must not study its
continuity or differentiability at x = 0

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4 Exam of June 17, 2022 23

(
2
x+ x if x > 0
We remark that g(x) = 2
Thus,
x− x if x < 0.

  
1 2 1 x2 − 2

   · 1 − =   · if x > 0
2 2 x2 2 2 x2





 1 + x + 1 + x +

 |x| |x|
f ′ (x) =
  


 1 2 1 x2 + 2
   · 1 + =   · if x < 0.
2 2 2 2



 x2 x2
1 + x − 1+ x−
|x| |x|

(c) Find the monotonicity intervals and the minimum and maximum points of f , specifying
whether they are local or global.
In order to study the monotonicity of f , we analyze the sign of its derivative. Observe that
in both the intervals (−∞, 0) and (0, +∞), the first factor is strictly positive (since the de-
nominator is the sum of two squared functions), as it is the denominator x2 of the second
factor. Therefore the sign of f ′ is given by the sign of (x2 − 2) for x > 0 and of x2 + 2 for
x < 0. Thus,

• x < 0 x2 + 2 > 0 for all x; hence f ′ (x) > 0 for all x < 0;
√ √
• x > 0 x2 − 2 < 0 if and only if x ∈ (− 2, 2). Since we are working in (0, +∞), we
√ √ √
have that f ′ (x) < 0 in (0, 2), f ′ ( 2) = 0 and f ′ (x) > 0 in ( 2, +∞).

√
Since f is continuous at x = 2 and using tha Mean Value Theorem, we have,

√
• f is strictly increasing in the intervals (−∞, 0) and [ 2, +∞)
√
• f is strictly decreasing in the interval (0, 2].

√ √
The point x = 2 is a minimum point , local since f ( 2) > −π/2. The function has no
global maximum or minimum: ±π/2 are inf/sup of the function.

(d) Sketch a qualitative graph of f .

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24 Written exams of Mathematical Analysis I 2021 - 2022

π/2 bc

√
O 2 x

−π/2

(
f (x) if x 6= 0,
(e) Consider c ∈ R and define f˜(x) =
c if x = 0.
Find the values c for which the function ˜
f is continuous. For these values of c, study the
differentiability of f˜.
The function f˜ is continuous at x = 0 if and only if lim f˜(x) = lim f (x) = π/2 = f˜(0) = c.
x→0 x→0
Therefore c = π/2 is the unique value which makes f˜ continuous in R.

For the chosen c, f˜ is continuous at x = 0 and differentiable if x 6= 0. Since


 1 x2 − 2 x2 x2 − 2

   · = · if x > 0


 2 2 x2 x2 + (2 + x2 )2 x2
1 + x +

f ′ (x) = |x|



x2 x2 + 2




 2 · if x < 0
x + (2 + x2 )2 x2
1 1
we have lim f ′ (x) = 6= lim f ′ (x) = − . By a corollary of de l’Hôpital Theorem f˜ is
x→0+ 2 x→0 − 2
non-differentiable at the origin, which is a corner point for f˜.

Exercise 2.

(a) Give the definition of separable differential equation.

A separable differential equation is a first order differential equation such that

y ′ (x) = f (x)g(y(x))

where y(x) is a unknown function of the variable x, f : I ⊆ R → R and g : J ⊆ R → R. I

and J are open intervals.

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4 Exam of June 17, 2022 25

(b) Find all the solutions of the differential equation y ′ = (y 2 − 1)(x + 1).
We have a separable differential equation, with independent variable x;
in this case f (x) = x + 1 and g(y) = y 2 − 1.

Moreover, f is continuous in R and g is of class C 1 in R, therefore the existence and uniqueness

of local solutions Theorem holds for any initial conditione y(x0 ) = y0 .

First of all, we look for the constant solutions, which correspond to the solutions of the
algebraic equation y 2 − 1 = 0, that is to y = ±1. Hence, the differential equation has two
constant solutions, y(x) = 1 e y(x) = −1, defined in R.

Since all the other solutions never equal ±1, we can find the other solutions by solving the
equality Z Z
1
2
dy = (x + 1) dx.
y −1

By partial fractions, from y 2 − 1 = (y − 1)(y + 1) we get

1 A B Ay + A + By − B (A + B)y + (A − B)
= + = =
y2 −1 y−1 y+1 2
y −1 y2 − 1

therefore, ( (
A+B =0 A = −1/2
=⇒
A − B = −1 B = 1/2.
We get
Z Z  
1 1 1 1 1
2
dy = − + dy
y −1 2 y−1 2 y+1
1 1 1 y−1
= − log |y + 1| + log |y − 1| + k = log +k
2 2 2 y+1
Z
1 2
(x + 1) dx = x +x+c
2

with k, c ∈ R. As far as the differential equation is concerned, we have

1 y−1 1 2
log = x +x+c
2 y+1 2

y−1
log = x2 + 2x + 2c = x2 + 2x + k, with k ∈ R.
y+1

By applying the exponential function to both members of the equality we get

y−1 2 2 2
= ex +2x+k = ex +2x · ek = Kex +2x , with K > 0.
y+1

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26 Written exams of Mathematical Analysis I 2021 - 2022

y−1
The function y+1 changes its sign at y = 1 and y = −1; since no solution equals those values,
y−1 2 +2x y−1 2 +2x
we may take off the absolute value. Thus, we get y+1 = ±Kex or y+1 = Kex , with
y−1
K 6= 0. Moreover, remark that for K = 0 we have y+1 = 0, that is y = 1, which is one of the
two constant solutions. Therefore we may consider K ∈ R. In order to obtain the solutions
of the differential equation (a part from the interval of definition of each solution, which is
not required) we must write y as a function of x. We may work like this,

y−1 y+1−2 1 2
= =1−2· = Kex +2x ⇐⇒
y+1 y+1 y+1
1 1 2

= 1 − Kex +2x ⇐⇒
y+1 2
2
y+1 = ⇐⇒
1 − Kex2 +2x
2
y = − 1, with K ∈ R.
1 − Kex2 +2x
Therefore all the possible solutions of the differential equation are
 
2
y(x) = −1; y(x) = − 1, K ∈ R .
1 − Kex2 +2x

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5 Exam of 9 September 2022 27

5 Exam of 9 September 2022

Exercise 1. (9 points) Consider the function f : dom(f ) ⊆ R → R defined by

x
f (x) =
1 − log |x|

(a) Determine the domain dom f , possible symmetry, the limits at the extreme points of dom f
and at ±∞, and possible asymptotes.

(b) Study the continuity and differentiability of the function, locate and classify possible points
of discontinuity and non-differentiability in dom f , and compute the derivative f ′ (x).

(c) Determine the monotonicity intervals, and possible local maximum and local minimum points
of f , specifying whether they are global or not.

(d) Plot a qualitative graph of f .

(e) Determine the number of solutions to the equation f (x) = c depending on the real parameter
c.

Exercise 2 (6 points)

(a) Give the definition of infinitesimal order and of the principal part of a function f (x) with
respect to a test function ϕ(x), as x → x0 .

(b) Determine the principal part and the infinitesimal order of the function f (x) = (ex + cos x)2 −
4 − 4x + x3 as x → 0, with respect to the test function ϕ(x) = x.

(c) Given functions f and g that are infinitesimal of the same order with respect to the test
function ϕ(x) as x → x0 , is it true or false that their sum f + g is always an infinitesimal of
the same order? Motivate your answer.

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SOLUTION

Exercise 1.
x
Consider the function f : dom(f ) ⊆ R → R defined by f (x) = .
1 − log |x|

(a) Determine the domain dom f , possible symmetry, the limits at the extreme points of dom f
and at ±∞, and possible asymptotes.

Since log |x| is defined for x 6= 0, while the quotient is defined if its denominator 1−log |x| =
6 0,
that is for x 6= ±e. Therefore domf = R \ {0, e, −e}.
−x x
Moreover, for all x ∈ dom(f ), f (−x) = =− = f (−x) so f is odd.
1 − log | − x| 1 − log |x|
In order to compute the required limits, we remark that 1−log |x| > 0 if and only if log |x| < 1,
that is if |x| < e. Therefore,

• lim f (x) = −∞ and lim f (x) = +∞.

x→+∞ x→−∞

• lim f (x) = 0.
x→0

• lim f (x) = −∞ and lim f (x) = +∞.

x→e+ x→e−
• lim f (x) = −∞ and lim f (x) = +∞.
x→−e+ x→(−e− )

Since the order of infinity of f with respect to x, as x → ±∞, is lower than one, the function
has no oblique asymptotes.

The function has two vertical asymptotes, whose equations are x = e and x = −e.

(b) Study the continuity and differentiability of the function, locate and classify possible points of
discontinuity and non-differentiability in dom f , and compute the derivative f ′ (x).

f is the quotient of the differentiable function g(x) = x and of the function h(x) = 1 −
log |x|, which is continuous and differentiable on its domain. Therefore f is continuous and
differentiable on its domain.

The first derivative of f is obtained by means of the quotient rule:

1 − log |x| − x · −1
x 2 − log |x|
f ′ (x) = = .
(1 − log |x|)2 (1 − log |x|)2

(c) Determine the monotonicity intervals, and possible local maximum and local minimum points
of f , specifying whether they are global or not.

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5 Exam of 9 September 2022 29

Since f is differentiable on its domain, its maximum and minimum points have to be critical
points, that is points where f ′ (x) = 0. We get,

2 − log |x|
f ′ (x) = =0 ⇐⇒ log |x| = 2 ⇐⇒ |x| = e2 .
(1 − log |x|)2

As far as the monotonicity is concerned we may study the sign of f ′ : by the Mean Value
Theorem, f is monotonic on the intervals where the sign of f ′ is constant. Since the denom-
inator is always positive (because it is quadratic), it suffices to study the sign of 2 − log |x|.
We find that 2 − log |x| > 0 if and only if |x| < e2 , with x 6= 0. Therefore,

• f ′ (x) > 0 if and only if x ∈ dom(f ) and |x| < e2

• f ′ (x) < 0 if and only if x ∈ dom(f ) and |x| > e2

−e2 −e 0 e e2
b b b b b

f′ − + + + + −

f ց ր ր ր ր ց

Since f is continuous on its domain, we obtain that

• f is strictly increasing in the intervals [−e2 , −e), (−e, 0), (0, e) and (e, e2 ];

• f is strictly decreasing in the intervals (−∞, −e2 ] and [e2 , +∞);

• x = −e2 is a local minimum point of f and x = e2 is a local maximum point of f . Both

points aren’t global extremum points, since f is unbounded from below and from above
(which follows from the limits).

(d) Plot a qualitative graph of f .

In order to sketch a better graph, observe that f (e2 ) = −e2 < 0 and f (−e2 ) = e2 > 0: thus,
we get the following qualitative graph.

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30 Written exams of Mathematical Analysis I 2021 - 2022

e2

bc

−e2 −e O e e2 x

−e2

(e) Determine the number of solutions to the equation f (x) = c depending on the real parameter
c.

Observe that the image (range) of f is the set R \ {0}. In order to determine the number of
solutions of the equation, we may draw horizontal lines y = c . The number of intersection
points of these lines with the graph of f corresponds to the number of solutions of the equation
f (x) = c. We get that

• if |c| > e2 , the equation has three solutions;

• if |c| = e2 , the equation has two solutions;

• if c ∈ (−e2 , 0) ∪ (0, e2 ), the equation has one solution;

• if c = 0, the equation has no solutions.

Exercise 2.

(a) Give the definition of infinitesimal order and of the principal part of a function f (x) with
respect to a test function ϕ(x), as x → x0 .

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5 Exam of 9 September 2022 31

Let x0 be a point of R = dom(f ). We say that f is an infinitesimal of order α > 0 with

respect to the test function ϕ(x), as x → x0 , if

f (x)
lim f (x) = 0 and lim = ℓ ∈ R \ {0}.
x→x0 x→x0 [ϕ(x)]α

The principal part of f with respect to ϕ, as x → x0 , is the function ℓ[ϕ(x)]α .

(b) Determine the principal part and the infinitesimal order of the function f (x) = (ex + cos x)2 −
4 − 4x + x3 as x → 0, with respect to the test function ϕ(x) = x.

We use Maclaurin expansion to study (ex + cos x)2 . We get that, as x → 0:

1 1
ex = 1 + x + 2 x2 + 3! x3 + o(x3 )

1
cos x = 1 − 2 x2 + o(x3 )

1 1 1 1
ex + cos x = 1 + x + 2 x2 + 3! x3 + 1 − 2 x2 + o(x3 ) = 2 + x + 6 x3 + o(x3 )
 2
x3
(ex + cos x)2 = 2 + x + 6 x3 + o(x3 ) = 4 + 4x + x2 + 2
3 x3 + o(x3 )

f (x) = (ex + cos x)2 − 4 − 4x + x3 = x2 + 5

3 x3 + o(x3 ).
Therefore f is an infinitesimal of order 2 with respect to x, as x → 0; its principal part is x2 .

(c) Given functions f and g that are infinitesimal of the same order with respect to the test
function ϕ(x) as x → x0 , is it true or false that their sum f + g is always an infinitesimal of
the same order? Motivate your answer.

Given functions f and g that are infinitesimal of the same order with respect to the test
function ϕ(x) as x → x0 , their sum f + g is always infinitesimal, but the order may be
higher that the order of f and g. This happens when the functions have principal parts
equal but with different signs which gives a cancellation. For example if f (x) = x + x2 and
g(x) = −x + x3 , as x → 0, the functions f and g have order 1 with respect to x, as x → 0,
but f + g = x2 + x3 has order 2, as x → 0.

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