Answers exam Introduction to Mathematics 2023-2024

1. Determine, if possible, the value(s) of c such that

¨
e−x ln(3x + 1)/x if x 6= 0
h(x) =
c if x = 0
is continuous in x = 0.

Because h(0) = c, we have to compute the value of

e−x ln(3x + 1)
lim .
x→0 x
This limit is “0/0”, so we use l’Hôpital’s rule to compute it:

e−x ln(3x + 1) −e−x · ln(3x + 1) + e−x · 3

3x+1
lim = lim
x→0 x x→0 1
3
−1 · ln(1) + 1 · 1
=
1
= 3.

The function is continuous in x = 0 if and only if c = 3.

(a) +1 point The student (implicitly) attempts to find the c such that

e−x ln(3x + 1)
lim = c.
x→0 x

(b) +1 point The student recognizes explicitly that this limit is “0/0”.

(c) +1 point Correct use of l’Hôpital’s rule.

(d) +1 point Correct use of the product rule.

(e) +1 point Correct use of the chain rule to differentiate e−x .

(f) +1 point Correct use of the chain rule to differentiate ln(3x + 1).

(g) +1 point Correct value of the limit.

(h) +1 point Correct conclusion.

2. Show that ¨
−2x 2 − 2 if x ≤ −1
f (x) =
5x + |x| if x > −1
is differentiable in x = −1. Support your answer.

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We have to establish that
f (−1 + h) − f (−1) f (−1 + h) − f (−1)
lim = lim+ .
h→0− h h→0 h
We start with the limit from below. If h < 0, then −1 + h < −1, so f (−1 + h) =
−2(−1 + h)2 − 2. It follows that

f (−1 + h) − f (−1) [−2(−1 + h)2 − 2] − [−4]

lim− = lim−
h→0 h h→0 h
[−2(1 − 2h + h2 ) − 2] − [−4]
= lim−
h→0 h
4h − 2h2
= lim−
h→0 h
= lim− (4 − 2h) = 4.
h→0

We continue with the limit from above. If h > 0, then −1 + h > −1, so f (−1 + h) =
5(−1 + h) + | − 1 + h|. When we let h tend to zero, −1 + h becomes negative, so its
absolute value becomes | − 1 + h| = 1 − h. It follows that

f (−1 + h) − f (−1) [5(−1 + h) + 1 − h] − [−4]

lim = lim+
h→0+ h h→0 h
4h
= lim+
h→0 h
= lim+ 4 = 4.
h→0

Because the limits from above and below are equal, the function is differentiable
in x = −1.

(a) +1 point Correct definition of differentiability in x = −1.

(b) +1 point Correct value of f (−1).

(c) +1 point Correct value of f (−1 + h) when h < 0.

(d) +2 points Correct derivation of the value of the lower limit.

(e) +1 point Correct value of f (−1 + h) when h > 0.

(f) +1 point Noting that | − 1 + h| = 1 − h when h → 0.

(g) +2 points Correct derivation of the value of the upper limit.

(h) −1 point Minor mistake.

(i) −1 point Minor mistake.

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3. Determine two values of p for which F (x, y) = x p ( y 6p ) p + x p y 2−p is a homogeneous
function.

Let t > 0, and note that

F (t x, t y) = (t x) p ((t y)6p ) p + (t x) p (t y)2−p

= t p x p (t 6p y 6p ) p + t p x p t 2−p y 2−p
2
= t p+6p x p ( y 6p ) p + t 2 x p y 2−p .

The function F is homogeneous if (and only if) p + 6p2 = 2, since in that case,

F (t x, t y) = t 2 [x p ( y 6p ) p + x p y 2−p ] = t 2 F (x, y).

Note that

p + 6p2 = 2 ⇐⇒ 6p2 + p − 2 = 0
p
−1 ± 12 − 4 · 6 · −2
⇐⇒ p =
2·6
1 7
⇐⇒ p = − 12 ± 12
⇐⇒ [p = − 32 ∨ p = 21 ].

(a) +1 point Correct computation of F (t x, t y).

(b) +1 point Isolating a power of t in the first term.

(c) +1 point Isolating a power of t in the second term.

(d) +1 point Recognizing that F is homogeneous if (and only if) p + 6p2 = 2.

(e) +2 points Solving this condition.

(f) −1 point Minor mistake.

4. Compute the elasticity of the function g(x) = x ln x in x = e.

Logarithmic differentiation yields

d[ln g(x)]
g 0 (x) = g(x)
dx
ln x d
=x (ln x)2
dx
2 ln x
= x ln x .
x

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 At x = e, we therefore have

2·1
g 0 (e) = eln e = 2.
e
It follows that the elasticity of g at this point is
e 0
El x g(e) = g (e) = 2.
eln e

(a) +1 point The student (implicitly) attempts to use logarithmic differentiation

to compute the derivative of g.

(b) +1 point Correct simplification of ln(g(x)) to (ln x)2 .

(c) +1 point Correct derivative of ln(g(x)).

(d) +1 point Correct first-order derivative g 0 (x).

(e) +1 point Correct substitution of x = e in g 0 (x).

(f) +1 point Computing that El x g(e) = g 0 (e).

5. Determine for each a > 0 where f (x) = 3a2 x 3 − 12 ax 4 is concave.

Note that f 0 (x) = 9a2 x 2 − 2ax 3 and f 00 (x) = 18a2 x − 6ax 2 , such that

f 00 (x) = 0 ⇐⇒ 6x(3a2 − ax) = 0

 
⇐⇒ x = 0 ∨ 3a2 = ax
⇐⇒ [x = 0 ∨ x = 3a] ,

where we can divide by a because a > 0. To create a sign diagram, we need

to know the sign of f 00 (x) for values of x other than these roots. It suffices to
compute, for instance,

f 00 (−1) = −18a2 − 6a < 0

f 00 (a) = 18a3 − 6a3 = 12a3 > 0
f 00 (4a) = 72a3 − 96a3 = −24a3 < 0.

We can then create the following sign diagram:

x 0 3a
f 00 (x) − 0 + 0 −

It follows that f (x) is concave if x ≤ 0 or x ≥ 3a.

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 (a) +1 point Correct first-order derivative.

(b) +1 point Correct second-order derivative.

(c) +1 point Finding one solution to f 00 (x) = 0.

(d) +1 point Finding the other solution to f 00 (x) = 0.

(e) +2 points Correct sign diagram of f 00 (x).

(f) +1 point Correct conclusion.

6. Consider the function f (x, y) = ln((x 2 − e) y ) − e y . Determine for every critical point of
f , if possible, whether it is a local minimum point, a local maximum point, or a saddle
point.

Note first of all that f (x, y) = y ln(x 2 − e) − e y . The critical points of f (x, y) are
the solutions to
¨ ¨ 2x y
f10 (x, y) = 0 =0
⇐⇒ x −e 2
2
0
f2 (x, y) = 0 ln(x − e) − e y = 0.

The first condition implies that x = 0 or y = 0. If x were zero, ln(x 2 − e) would

not be defined. It follows that y = 0. The second condition then reads

ln(x 2 − e) − e0 = 0 ⇐⇒ ln(x 2 − e) = 1
⇐⇒ x 2 − e = e1
p
⇐⇒ x = ± 2e.
p p
We have found the two critical points (− 2e, 0) and ( 2e, 0).
To determine the status of these critical points, we compute the second-order
derivatives

00 2 y · (x 2 − e) − 2x y · 2x −2 y(x 2 + e)
f11 (x, y) = =
(x 2 − e)2 (x 2 − e)2
00 2x
f21 (x, y) = 2
x −e
00
f22 (x, y) = −e y .

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 The critical points have the property that
00
p 00
p 00
p
f11 (± 2e, 0) f22 (± 2e, 0) − [ f21 (± 2e, 0)]2
 p 2
±2 2e
= 0 · −1 −
2e − e
8e
=− 2
e
8
= − < 0.
e
Both critical points are saddle points.

(a) +1 point Correct first-order partial derivative f10 (x, y).

(b) +1 point Correct first-order partial derivative f20 (x, y).

(c) +1 point An argument that y = 0 in any critical point.

(d) +2 points Solving ln(x 2 − e) − e0 = 0 for x.

00
(e) +1 point Correct second-order partial derivative f11 (x, y).
00
(f) +1 point Correct second-order partial derivative f12 (x, y).
00
(g) +1 point Correct second-order partial derivative f22 (x, y).
00
p 00
p 00
p
(h) +2 points The values f11 (± 2e, 0) f22 (± 2e, 0) − [ f21 (± 2e, 0)]2 are com-
puted for both critical points.

(i) +1 point Correct conclusion.

(j) −1 point Minor mistake.

(k) −1 point Minor mistake.

7. Find the minimum point(s) of f (x, y) = (x − 3) y over the closed and bounded set S =
{(x, y) : y ≥ x 2 , y ≤ 2 + x}.
Hint: the set S is enclosed by a line segment and part of the graph of a parabola.

We use the extreme value theorem procedure.

(i) The critical points of f (x, y) satisfy

¨
y =0
x − 3 = 0.

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 The unique solution to this system is (x, y) = (3, 0), but that does not lie in
S.

(ii) The boundary consists of two parts: the part of the graph of a parabola and
the line segment. These parts intersect where y = x 2 = 2 + x, so where
x 2 − x − 2 = 0 ⇐⇒ (x − 2)(x + 1) = 0 ⇐⇒ [x = 2 ∨ x = −1]. In other
words, the x-coordinates of all points in S lie between −1 and 2. We now
consider both parts of the boundary in turn.

• The part of the graph of a parabola consists of the (x, y) such that
y = x 2 and y ≤ 2 + x. Since y = x 2 , the values of f (x, y) on this part
of the graph of a parabola are given by

g(x) = (x − 3)x 2 = x 3 − 3x 2

with domain [−1, 2]. The critical points of g(x) satisfy 3x 2 − 6x =

0 ⇐⇒ [x = 0 ∨ x = 2]. Moreover, the end points x = −1 and x = 2 of
the interval may be extreme points. The candidates are (−1, 1), (0, 0),
and (2, 4).
• The line segment consists of the (x, y) such that y ≥ x 2 and y = 2 + x.
The values of f (x, y) on this line segment are given by

h(x) = (x − 3)(2 + x) = x 2 − x − 6

with domain [−1, 2]. The critical points of h(x) satisfy 2x − 1 = 0 ⇐⇒

x = 12 . Moreover, the end points x = −1 and x = 2 of the interval may
be extreme points. The candidates are (−1, 1), ( 12 , 25 ), and (2, 4).

(iii) The function values of the candidates are

f (−1, 1) = −4
f (0, 0) = 0
f ( 12 , 52 ) = − 25
4 = −6.25
f (2, 4) = −4.

The minimum point is ( 12 , 52 ).

(a) +1 point Computing the critical point of f (x, y).

(b) +1 point (Implicitly) noting that the two parts of the boundary intersect
when y = x 2 = 2 + x.

(c) +1 point Computing the values of x for which the parts of the boundary
intersect.

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 (d) +1 point When y = x 2 and y ≤ 2 + x, the student attempts to optimize
g(x) = (x − 3)x 2 with domain [−1, 2].

(e) +1 point Correct critical points of g(x).

(f) +1 point Correct candidates from the first part of the boundary. (−1, 1)
does not have to be mentioned here if it is already mentioned for the other
part of the boundary.

(g) +1 point When y ≥ x 2 and y = 2 + x, the student attempts to optimize

h(x) = (x − 3)(2 + x) with domain [−1, 2].

(h) +1 point Correct critical point of h(x).

(i) +1 point Correct candidates from the second part of the boundary. (−1, 1)
does not have to be mentioned here if it is already mentioned for the other
part of the boundary.

(j) +1 point Correct function values of all candidates.

(k) +1 point Correct conclusion. This criterion is not awarded if points outside
S are also (seemingly) taken into consideration.

8. Consider the optimization problem

maximize x5 y5 + x3 y3 subject to 2x + 3 y = 12.

It is given that this problem has a global maximum. Use the Lagrange multiplier method
to find all maximum points, and clearly indicate how you come to your conclusion. (It
could also be that there is just one maximum point.)

The Lagrangian for this problem is L(x, y) = x 5 y 5 + x 3 y 3 − λ(2x + 3 y − 12), such

that the first-order conditions become

5x 4 y 5 + 3x 2 y 3 − 2λ = 0
5x 5 y 4 + 3x 3 y 2 − 3λ = 0
2x + 3 y = 12.

The first condition shows λ = 21 y(5x 4 y 4 + 3x 2 y 2 ), such that the second equation
becomes

x(5x 4 y 4 + 3x 2 y 2 ) − 23 y(5x 4 y 4 + 3x 2 y 2 ) = 0
⇐⇒ (x − 23 y)(5x 4 y 4 + 3x 2 y 2 ) = 0
⇐⇒ (x − 23 y)x 2 y 2 (5x 2 y 2 + 3) = 0.

Because 5x 2 y 2 + 3 > 0 for any x and y, there are three options left to explore:

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 • If x − 32 y = 0, the third condition shows 2 · 23 y + 3 y = 12 ⇐⇒ y = 2, which
means x = 3. (Computing the value of λ is not strictly necessary.)

• If x = 0, the third condition shows 2 · 0 + 3 y = 12 ⇐⇒ y = 4.

• If y = 0, the third condition shows 2x + 3 · 0 = 12 ⇐⇒ x = 6.

The three candidates (3, 2), (0, 4), and (6, 0) have objective values 7992, 0, and 0,
respectively. We know there exists a global maximum, and that any global maxi-
mum point satisfies the first-order conditions. The candidate (3, 2) with the highest
objective value is therefore the global maximum point.

(a) +1 point Correct Lagrangian. This criterion is also granted if the first-order
conditions are correct.

(b) +1 point Correct first-order conditions.

(c) +1 point λ is eliminated from the equations.

(d) +1 point The equation is factorized.

(e) +1 point The student observes that 5x 2 y 2 + 3 > 0 for any x and y.

(f) +1 point The option x − 32 y = 0 yields the candidate (3, 2).

(g) +1 point The option x = 0 yields the candidate (0, 4).

(h) +1 point The option y = 0 yields the candidate (6, 0).

(i) +1 point Correct objective values of the candidates.

(j) +1 point An argument why the point with the highest objective value is the
global maximum point.

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