MTH 111: Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
Problem Set 2
Complete 5 of the following 8 problems by Wednesday, September 11. At the top of your written page, next
to your name indicate which problems you have completed. You may use a calculator, but clearly indicate
your work and final answer. You must write your work clearly and staple your work together as a single document.
Problem 1. The point P (1, 0) lies on the curve y = sin(10π/x).
(a) If Q is the point (x, sin(10π/x)), find the slope of the secant line P Q (correct to four decimal places) for
x = 2, 1.5, 1.4, 1.3, 1.2, 1.1, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, and 0.9. (You may use a calculator.) Do the slopes appear to be
approaching a limit?
(b) Use a graph of the curve to explain why the slopes of the secant lines in part (a) are not close to the slope of
the tangent line at P . (You may use a graphing calculator.)
(c) By choosing appropriate secant lines, estimate the slope of the tangent line at P .
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Problem 2. Consider the function f (x) = tan .
x
1 1 1
(a) Show that f (x) = 0 for x = , , ,...
π 2π 3π
4 4 4
(b) Show that f (x) = 1 for x = , , ,...
π 5π 9π
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(c) What can you conclude about lim+ tan ?
x→0 x
Problem 3. In the theory of relativity, the mass of a particle with velocity v is
m0
m= p
1 − v 2 /c2
where m0 is the mass of the particle at rest and c is the speed of light. What happens as v → c− ?
Problem 4. Let (
4 − 1 t if t < 2,
B(t) = √ 2
t + c if t ≥ 2.
Find the value of c so that lim B(t) exists.
t→2
Problem 5. In the theory of relativity, the Lorentz contraction formula
p
L = L0 1 − v 2 /c2
expresses the length L of an object as a function of its velocity v with respect to an observer, where L0 is the length
of the object at rest and c is the speed o flight. Find lim L and interpret the result. Why is a left-hand limit
v→c−
necessary?
Problem 6. Find an example of functions f (x) and g(x) and a real number a for which lim [f (x) + g(x)] exists, but
x→a
neither lim f (x) nor lim g(x) exist.
x→a x→a
Problem 7. Is there a number a such that
3x2 + ax + a + 3
lim
x→−2 x2 + x − 2
exists? If so, find the value of a and the value of the limit.
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Problem 8. The figure shows a fixed circle C1 with equation (x − 1)2 + y 2 = 1 and a shrinking circle C2 with
equation x2 + y 2 = r2 . P is the point (0, r), Q is the upper point of intersection of the two circles, and R is the point
of intersection of the line P Q and the x-axis. What happens to R as C2 shrinks, that is, as r → 0+ ?