National Dong Hwa University

Calculus – Practice Midterm A (Retest Prep)

1. (10%) Find the limit √

x2 + 25 − 5
lim .
x→0 x2

2. (10%) Find the limit

tan(4x)
lim
x→0 sin(7x)

sin θ
without using L’Hospital’s rule. (Hint: use the standard limit lim = 1 and
θ→0 θ
the fact that cos θ → 1 as θ → 0.)

3. (10%) Determine all vertical asymptotes of the graph of

x2 − 1
r(x) = .
x2 − 5x + 4

4. (10%) Let
f (x) = x2 + k.
Find the value of k such that the line

y = 2x − 3

is tangent to the graph of f .

dy
5. (10%) Find if
dx
y = cos(4x3 − 5x).

dy
6. (10%) Find by implicit differentiation if x and y satisfy the equation
dx
x2 + y 2 = xy + 1.

7. (10%) Find the absolute extrema of

p(x) = x3 − 3x2 + 1

on the closed interval [0, 3].

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8. (15%) Denote
g(x) = x4 − 4x2 .
Find all relative extrema of g (relative maxima and minima), and give their coor-
dinates.

9. Let {
x + 1, x ≤ 0,
h(x) =
x2 + 1, x > 0.

(a) (5%) Show that h is continuous at x = 0.

(b) (10%) Show that h is not differentiable at x = 0.

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 Solutions to Practice Midterm A

1. We want √
x2 + 25 − 5
lim .
x→0 x2
As x → 0, numerator and denominator both go to 0 (0/0 form). Rationalize:
√ √ √
x2 + 25 − 5 x2 + 25 − 5 x2 + 25 + 5 x2 + 25 − 25
= · √ = √ .
x2 x2 x2 + 25 + 5 x2 ( x2 + 25 + 5)

So √
x2 + 25 − 5 x2 1
2
= √ =√ , x ̸= 0.
x x2 ( x2 + 25 + 5) x2 + 25 + 5
Now
√
x2 + 25 − 5 1 1 1 1
lim 2
= lim √ =√ = = .
x→0 x x→0 x2 + 25 + 5 0 + 25 + 5 5+5 10

2. We want
tan(4x)
lim .
x→0 sin(7x)

sin(4x)
Since tan(4x) = ,
cos(4x)

tan(4x) sin(4x)
= .
sin(7x) cos(4x) sin(7x)

Rewrite to use lim sin θ/θ = 1:

tan(4x) sin(4x) 7x 4 1
= · · · .
sin(7x) 4x sin(7x) 7 cos(4x)

Now
sin(4x) 7x
lim = 1, lim = 1, lim cos(4x) = 1.
x→0 4x x→0 sin(7x) x→0

Thus
tan(4x) 4 1 4
lim =1·1· · = .
x→0 sin(7x) 7 1 7

3.
x2 − 1
r(x) = .
x2 − 5x + 4
Factor:
x2 − 1 = (x − 1)(x + 1), x2 − 5x + 4 = (x − 1)(x − 4).

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 For x ̸= 1, 4,
(x − 1)(x + 1) x+1
r(x) = = .
(x − 1)(x − 4) x−4
Original domain excludes x = 1, 4.
At x = 1:
1+1 2
lim r(x) = =− ,
x→1 1−4 3
finite, so x = 1 is a removable discontinuity.
At x = 4:
x+1
lim r(x) = lim,
x→4 x−4 x→4

denominator → 0, numerator → 5 ̸= 0, so the limit is infinite. Thus x = 4 is a

vertical asymptote.

The only vertical asymptote is x = 4.

4. f (x) = x2 + k, line y = 2x − 3.
Tangency at x = x0 means:
• f (x0 ) = 2x0 − 3,
• f ′ (x0 ) = 2 (slope of the line).
Compute f ′ (x) = 2x, so
2x0 = 2 ⇒ x0 = 1.
Now
f (1) = 12 + k = 1 + k, 2(1) − 3 = −1.
Thus
1 + k = −1 ⇒ k = −2.
Check: f (x) = x − 2, intersection with y = 2x − 3:
2

x2 − 2 = 2x − 3 ⇒ x2 − 2x + 1 = 0 ⇒ (x − 1)2 = 0,
one intersection point, so tangent.

k = −2.

5.
y = cos(4x3 − 5x).
Let u = 4x3 − 5x, so y = cos u. Then
dy du du
= − sin u · , = 12x2 − 5.
dx dx dx
Hence
dy
= −(12x2 − 5) sin(4x3 − 5x).
dx

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6. x2 + y 2 = xy + 1.
Differentiate:
d 2 d
(x + y 2 ) = (xy + 1).
dx dx
Left:
2x + 2y y ′ .
Right:
xy ′ + y.
So
2x + 2yy ′ = xy ′ + y.
Group y ′ :
2yy ′ − xy ′ = y − 2x ⇒ y ′ (2y − x) = y − 2x.
Thus
y − 2x
y′ = .
2y − x

7. p(x) = x3 − 3x2 + 1 on [0, 3].

Derivative:
p′ (x) = 3x2 − 6x = 3x(x − 2).
Critical points: x = 0, 2. Check x = 0, 2 and endpoints 0, 3:

p(0) = 1, p(2) = 23 − 3 · 22 + 1 = 8 − 12 + 1 = −3, p(3) = 27 − 27 + 1 = 1.

So smallest value is −3 at x = 2, largest is 1 at x = 0 and x = 3.

Abs. min p(2) = −3, abs. max p(0) = p(3) = 1.

8. g(x) = x4 − 4x2 .

g ′ (x) = 4x3 − 8x = 4x(x2 − 2).

√
Critical points: x = 0, ± 2.
Second derivative:
g ′′ (x) = 12x2 − 8.

At x = 0:
g ′′ (0) = −8 < 0 ⇒ local max. g(0) = 0.
√
At x = 2:
√ √
g ′′ ( 2) = 12 · 2 − 8 = 16 > 0 ⇒ local min. g( 2) = 4 − 8 = −4.

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 √
At x = − 2:
√ √
g ′′ (− 2) = 16 > 0 ⇒ local min. g(− 2) = −4.

√ √
Rel. max: (0, 0); rel. mins: ( 2, −4), (− 2, −4).

9. {
x + 1, x ≤ 0,
h(x) =
x2 + 1, x > 0.

(a) Continuity at x = 0.
We need limx→0 h(x) = h(0).

h(0) = 0 + 1 = 1.
Left limit (use x + 1):

lim h(x) = lim− (x + 1) = 1.

x→0− x→0

Right limit (use x2 + 1):

lim+ h(x) = lim+ (x2 + 1) = 1.

x→0 x→0

Both equal 1 = h(0), so h is continuous at 0.

(b) Differentiability at x = 0.
For x < 0: h(x) = x + 1, derivative h′ (x) = 1, so

h′− (0) = 1.

For x > 0: h(x) = x2 + 1, derivative h′ (x) = 2x, so

h′+ (0) = lim+ 2x = 0.

x→0

Left and right derivatives differ (1 ̸= 0), so h′ (0) does not exist.

h is continuous but not differentiable at x = 0.

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 National Dong Hwa University
Calculus – Practice Midterm B (Retest Prep)

1. (10%) Find the limit √

9 + 3x − 3
lim .
x→0 x

2. (10%) Find the limit

sin(5x)
lim
x→0 tan(2x)
without using L’Hospital’s rule.

3. (10%) Determine all vertical asymptotes of the graph of

x2 + 3x − 10
s(x) = .
x2 − 7x + 10

4. (10%) Let
f (x) = −x2 + k.
Find the value of k such that the line

y = 2x + 5

is tangent to the graph of f .

dy
5. (10%) Find if
dx ( )
y = sin 5x3 − 2x2 .

dy
6. (10%) Find by implicit differentiation if x and y satisfy the equation
dx
x2 − xy + y 2 = 4.

7. (10%) Find the absolute extrema of

q(x) = −x3 + 3x2 + 1

on the closed interval [−1, 3].

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8. (15%) Denote
h(x) = −x3 + 3x2 − 1.
Find all relative extrema of h (relative maxima and minima), and give their coor-
dinates.

9. Let {
x2 , x ≤ 1,
j(x) =
3x − 2, x > 1.

(a) (5%) Show that j is continuous at x = 1.

(b) (10%) Show that j is not differentiable at x = 1.

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 Solutions to Practice Midterm B

1. √
9 + 3x − 3
lim .
x→0 x
As x → 0, numerator and denominator → 0 (0/0 form). Rationalize:
√ √ √
9 + 3x − 3 9 + 3x − 3 9 + 3x + 3 9 + 3x − 9
= ·√ = √ .
x x 9 + 3x + 3 x( 9 + 3x + 3)

So √
9 + 3x − 3 3x 3
= √ =√ , x ̸= 0.
x x( 9 + 3x + 3) 9 + 3x + 3
Now √
9 + 3x − 3 3 3 3 1
lim = lim √ =√ = = .
x→0 x x→0 9 + 3x + 3 9+3 3+3 2

2.
sin(5x)
lim .
x→0 tan(2x)

sin(2x)
Since tan(2x) = ,
cos(2x)

sin(5x) sin(5x) sin(5x) cos(2x)

= = .
tan(2x) sin(2x)/ cos(2x) sin(2x)

Rewrite:
sin(5x) cos(2x) sin(5x) 5x
= · · cos(2x).
sin(2x) 5x sin(2x)
Now
5x 5 2x
= · .
sin(2x) 2 sin(2x)
Thus
sin(5x) sin(5x) 2x 5
= · · · cos(2x).
tan(2x) 5x sin(2x) 2
As x → 0:
sin(5x) 2x
→ 1, → 1, cos(2x) → 1.
5x sin(2x)
Hence
sin(5x) 5 5
lim =1·1· ·1= .
x→0 tan(2x) 2 2

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3.
x2 + 3x − 10
s(x) = .
x2 − 7x + 10
Factor:

x2 + 3x − 10 = (x + 5)(x − 2), x2 − 7x + 10 = (x − 5)(x − 2).

So, for x ̸= 2, 5,
(x + 5)(x − 2) x+5
s(x) = = .
(x − 5)(x − 2) x−5
The original denominator is 0 at x = 2 and x = 5.
At x = 2: in the simplified form
2+5 7
lim s(x) = =− ,
x→2 2−5 3
finite, so x = 2 is a removable discontinuity, not a vertical asymptote.
At x = 5:
x+5
lim s(x) = lim
,
x→5 x→5 x − 5

denominator → 0, numerator → 10 ̸= 0, so the limit is infinite. Thus x = 5 is a

vertical asymptote.

The only vertical asymptote is x = 5.

4. f (x) = −x2 + k, line y = 2x + 5. Tangency at x = x0 :

• f ′ (x0 ) = 2,
• f (x0 ) = 2x0 + 5.

First, f ′ (x) = −2x, so

−2x0 = 2 ⇒ x0 = −1.
Then
f (−1) = −(−1)2 + k = −1 + k, 2(−1) + 5 = 3.
So
−1 + k = 3 ⇒ k = 4.

Check: f (x) = −x2 + 4. Intersection with y = 2x + 5:

−x2 + 4 = 2x + 5 ⇒ x2 + 2x + 1 = 0 ⇒ (x + 1)2 = 0,

one intersection point, so tangent.

k = 4.

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5.
y = sin(5x3 − 2x2 ).
Let u = 5x3 − 2x2 , so y = sin u. Then
dy du
= cos u · .
dx dx
Compute
du
= 15x2 − 4x.
dx
So
dy
= cos(5x3 − 2x2 ) (15x2 − 4x).
dx

6. x2 − xy + y 2 = 4.
Differentiate both sides:
d 2 d d d
(x ) − (xy) + (y 2 ) = (4).
dx dx dx dx
Compute:
2x − (xy ′ + y) + 2yy ′ = 0.
Simplify:
2x − xy ′ − y + 2yy ′ = 0.
Group y ′ terms:
(−xy ′ + 2yy ′ ) + (2x − y) = 0 ⇒ y ′ (−x + 2y) = y − 2x.
Thus, for 2y − x ̸= 0,
y − 2x
y′ = .
2y − x

7. q(x) = −x3 + 3x2 + 1 on [−1, 3].

Derivative:
q ′ (x) = −3x2 + 6x = −3x(x − 2).
Critical points: x = 0, 2 (inside [−1, 3]). Evaluate at x = −1, 0, 2, 3:

q(−1) = −(−1)3 + 3(−1)2 + 1 = 1 + 3 + 1 = 5,

q(0) = 1,
q(2) = −8 + 12 + 1 = 5,
q(3) = −27 + 27 + 1 = 1.
So maximum value is 5 at x = −1 and x = 2, minimum value is 1 at x = 0 and
x = 3.

Abs. max q = 5 at x = −1, 2; abs. min q = 1 at x = 0, 3.

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8. h(x) = −x3 + 3x2 − 1.
Derivative:
h′ (x) = −3x2 + 6x = −3x(x − 2).
Critical points: x = 0, 2.
Second derivative:
h′′ (x) = −6x + 6.

At x = 0:
h′′ (0) = 6 > 0 ⇒ local min. h(0) = −1.

At x = 2:

h′′ (2) = −12 + 6 = −6 < 0 ⇒ local max. h(2) = −8 + 12 − 1 = 3.

Rel. min at (0, −1); rel. max at (2, 3).

9. {
x2 , x ≤ 1,
j(x) =
3x − 2, x > 1.

(a) Continuity at x = 1.
We need limx→1 j(x) = j(1).
From the left (x ≤ 1), j(1) = 12 = 1 and

lim− j(x) = lim− x2 = 1.

x→1 x→1

From the right (x > 1),

lim j(x) = lim+ (3x − 2) = 3(1) − 2 = 1.

x→1+ x→1

Both one-sided limits equal 1, and j(1) = 1, so j is continuous at x = 1.

(b) Differentiability at x = 1.
For x < 1, j(x) = x2 , so j ′ (x) = 2x and

j−′ (1) = 2 · 1 = 2.

For x > 1, j(x) = 3x − 2, so j ′ (x) = 3 and

j+′ (1) = 3.

Since j−′ (1) ̸= j+′ (1), the derivative at 1 does not exist.

j is continuous but not differentiable at x = 1.

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