2024 Tshwane University Of Technology March 18–25, 2024

Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics Worksheet 5

EM115AB - Engineering Mathematics IA

Surname & Initials: Student #:

1. Write an equation that expresses the fact that a function f is continuous at the number 4.

2. If f is continuous on (−∞, ∞), what can you say about the graph of f ?

3. Consider the graph of f sketched below, state the numbers at which f is discontinuous and
explain the type of each discontinuity.

4. Sketch the graph of a function that is continuous everywhere except at x = 3 and is

continuous from the left at 3.

5. Sketch the graph of a function that has a jump discontinuity at x = 2 and a removable
discontinuity at x = 4, but is continuous elsewhere.

6. If f and g are continuous functions with f (3) = 5 and lim [2f (x) − g(x)] = 4, find g(3).
x→3

7. Use the definition of continuity to show that the function is continuous at the given number a.
√
a) f (x) = x2 + 7 − x at a = 4 b) f (x) = (x + 2x3 )4 at a = −1

2t − 3t2
c) h(t) = at a = 1
1 + t3
8. Explain why the function is discontinuous at the given number a. Hint: first sketch the graph
of a function.
( (
1
x−1
if x ̸
= 1 ex if x < 0
a) f (x) = a=1 b) f (x) = a=0
2 if x = 1 x2 if x ≥ 0

cos x if x < 0 ( 2
2x −5x−3

x−3
if x ̸= 3
c) f (x) = 0 if x = 0 a = 0 d) f (x) = a=3
 2
6 if x = 3
1−x if x > 0


9. Use continuity to evaluate the limit.

1
 x2 − 4
 
x2 −x
a) lim sin(x + sin x) b) lim e c) lim arctan
x→π x→1 x→2 3x2 − 6x
10. The gravitational force exerted by the earth on a unit mass at a distance r from the centre
of the planet is
GM r


 if r < R
 R3

F (r) =
 GM


if r ≥ R

r2
where M is the mass of the earth, R is its radius and G is the gravitational constant. Is F a
continuous function of r?

11. Explain in your own words the meaning of each of the following:
a) lim f (x) = 5 b) lim f (x) = 3
x→∞ x→−∞

12. Consider the graph of f sketched below:

State the following:

a) lim f (x) b) lim f (x) c) lim f (x)
x→2 x→−1− x→−1+

d) lim f (x) e) lim f (x) f) The equations of the asymptotes

x→∞ x→−∞

13. Sketch the graph of an example of a function f that satisfies all of the given conditions:

a) f (0) = 0, f (1) = 1, lim f (x), f is odd

x→∞

b) lim f (x) = ∞, lim− f (x) = −∞, lim f (x) = 1, lim f (x) = 1

x→0+ x→0 x→∞ x→−∞

c) lim f (x) = ∞, lim f (x) = 3, lim f (x) = −3

x→−2 x→−∞ x→∞

14. Evaluate the following limits:

r
3x2 − x + 4 12x3 − 5x + 2 1
a) lim b) lim c) lim
x→∞ 2x2 + 5x − 8 x→∞ 1 + 4x2 + 3x3 x→∞ 2x + 3

2
 3x + 5 2 − 3y 2 x3 + 5x
d) lim e) lim f) lim
x→∞ x − 4 y→∞ 5y 2 + 4y x→∞ 2x3 − x2 + 4
√
t2 + 2 4u4 + 5 9x6 − x
g) lim h) lim i) lim
t→−∞ t3 + t2 − 1 u→∞ (u2 − 2)(2u2 − 1) x→−∞ x3 + 1
√ √
j) lim ( 9x2 + x − 3x) k) lim (x + x2 + 2x)
x→∞ x→−∞
√ √ 1 − ex
l) lim ( x2 + ax − x2 + bx) m) lim cos x n) lim
x→∞ x→∞ x→∞ 1 + 2ex

sin x
15. Use the Squeeze Theorem to evaluate lim x
.
x→∞

16. Find lim f (x) if, for all x > 1,

x→∞
√
10ex − 21 5 x
< f (x) < √
2ex x−1
√
4x2 + 1
17. Show that lim = 2.
x→∞ x+1
EXAM–TYPE QUESTIONS
p
2+ px6 + 4x
18. Find the value of p such that lim = 3.
x→∞ x3 + 1
√
3 − x2 + 9
19. Determine lim .
x→∞ 4x