CALCULUS PROBLEM BANK

A Comprehensive Compilation from First Principles to Kinematics & Motion

Instructions: Show all your working out clearly for every problem. Where applicable, maintain exact values (fractions,
radicals, and constants like π) unless decimal approximations are specifically requested. Ensure compliance with proper
mathematical notation throughout.

Section 1: Limits & Derivatives from First Principles

Recall the definition of the derivative from first principles (the limit of the difference quotient):

f'(x) = limh→0 [f(x + h) - f(x)] / h

1. Use the formal definition of the derivative from first principles to differentiate each of the following functions
with respect to x:
a. f(x) = 4x2 - 7x + 3

b. g(x) = x3 - 2x

c. h(x) = √(3x + 1)

d. k(x) = 2 / (x - 4)

e. m(x) = 1 / x2

2. Evaluate the following fundamental limit expressions establishing the groundwork of differentiation:
a. lim 4
h→0 [(2 + h) - 16] / h
b. lim 2 2
x→3 [x - 9] / [x - 2x - 3]
c. limx→0 [√(1 + x) - √(1 - x)] / x

3. Using the limit definition of the derivative, find the equation of the tangent line to the curve y = 2x2 - 3 at the
exact point where x = 2.

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Apply standard rules of differentiation (Power, Product, Quotient, and Chain Rules) to compute the derivatives of the
given functions.

1. Find the first derivative dy/dx for each of the following algebraic and rational algebraic structures:
a. y = 5x4 - 3x3 + 2x2 - x + 8

b. y = 3x-2 + 4x1/2 - 2x-1/2

c. y = (2x - 5)(3x2 + 4x - 1)

d. y = (x2 + 3x) / (2x - 1)

e. y = 4 / √(x2 + 5)

2. Apply the Chain Rule systematically to find f'(x) for the composite functions below:
a. f(x) = (3x3 - 2x + 1)6

b. f(x) = √[x + √(x)]

c. f(x) = [ (x2 + 1) / (x2 - 1) ]3

3. Differentiate functions involving transcendental expressions (Exponential, Logarithmic, and Trigonometric):

b. y = ln(x2 + 4x + 1) / x

c. y = cos3(5x) + tan(√x)

d. y = e-x · ln(sin x)

Section 3: Higher-Order Derivatives & Implicit Differentiation

1. Evaluate higher-order derivatives as requested:

b. Find d3y/dx3 for y = ln(2x + 3).

c. If f(x) = cos(2x), deduce a general formula for the n-th derivative f(n)(x).

2. Use implicit differentiation to determine the expression for dy/dx:

b. x3 + y3 = 6xy (The Folium of Descartes)

c. sin(x + y) = y2 · cos(x)

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Section 4: Applications of Derivatives (Curve Sketching & Optimization)

1. Consider the polynomial function given by f(x) = 2x3 - 9x2 + 12x - 3.

a. Determine the stationary points (critical numbers) of the function.

b. Find the intervals on which f(x) is strictly increasing and strictly decreasing.

c. Utilize the Second Derivative Test to classify each critical point as a local maximum or local minimum.

d. Find the coordinates of any points of inflection and state the intervals of concavity.

2. Optimization: A manufacturing firm wants to design an open-topped rectangular box with a square base. The
total surface area of the sheet metal material allocated for the box is precisely 108 cm2. Determine the
maximum potential internal volume of the box.

3. Related Rates: A spherical balloon is being inflated with helium at a constant rate of 20 cm3/s. How fast is the
radius of the balloon increasing at the precise instant when the radius reaches 5 cm? (Volume of a sphere: V =
4/3 π r3).

Section 5: Integral Calculus Foundations

1. Compute the following indefinite integrals (antiderivatives):

b. ∫ (2x + 1) / √(x2 + x - 5) dx (Using substitution)

c. 2
∫ x · ex dx

d. ∫ sin(3x) · cos2(3x) dx

2. Evaluate the definite integrals representing net accumulated values or geometric areas:
a. ∫ 3 (3x2 - 2x + 5) dx
1
b. ∫ π/2 x · cos(x) dx (Using integration by parts)
0
c. ∫ 4 1 / (3x - 1) dx
2

3. Find the exact area enclosed between the parabola y = x2 - 4x and the horizontal linear boundary line y = 0.

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Kinematic Framework: Let s(t) represent displacement/position, v(t) = s'(t) represent velocity, and a(t) = v'(t) = s''(t)
represent acceleration at time t.

1. A particle moves along a straight horizontal track. Its displacement from a fixed origin at time t seconds (where
t ≥ 0) is modeled by the function:

s(t) = t3 - 9t2 + 24t - 5

(where displacement is measured in meters).

b. Determine the initial position, initial velocity, and initial acceleration of the particle.

c. Find the time intervals during which the particle is moving to the right (positive direction) and intervals
where it moves to the left.

d. Find the exact times when the particle changes direction.

e. Calculate the total distance traveled by the particle during the first 5 seconds of its motion.

f. Determine whether the particle is speeding up or slowing down at t = 1.5 seconds, providing mathematical
justification.

2. A projectile is launched vertically upwards from the top edge of a cliff that stands 80 meters above sea level.
The height h(t) of the projectile above sea level in meters after t seconds is governed by:

h(t) = -5t2 + 30t + 80

a. What is the initial velocity of launch?

b. Determine the maximum height above sea level reached by the projectile and the time taken to attain it.

c. Calculate the velocity with which the projectile strikes the water surface at the base of the cliff.

3. An autonomous test vehicle's linear acceleration is tracked from the moment its brakes are deployed. The
acceleration model is specified by:

a(t) = -2t - 4 (in m/s2 for t ≥ 0)

Knowing that the vehicle possessed an initial velocity of v(0) = 21 m/s and was passing a checkpoint marker at
s(0) = 10 meters:
a. Derive the functions for velocity v(t) and position tracking s(t).

b. Determine how many seconds elapse before the vehicle comes to a complete standstill.

c. Find the final position coordinate of the vehicle relative to the checkpoint when it halts.

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