Calculus 1 (Math 231) Study Guide - Midterm 1

2.2 - 3.3

Definition of Limits - the value that the function approaches as it goes to an x value.
x gets arbitrarily close to a (but not necessarily equal to a), the function f(x) gets
arbitrarily close to L.

Example:

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑎

Key Points of the Definition:

1.​ f(x) must get as close to L as we desire when x is sufficiently close to a.

−
2.​ This must be true for x approaching a from both the left (𝑥 → 𝑎 ) and the right (
+
𝑥 → 𝑎 ).
3.​ The function does not need to be defined at x=a, or if it is defined, f(a) does not
necessarily have to equal L.

Limit Rules

●​ Sum law - lim (𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)) = lim 𝑓(𝑥) + lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐿 + 𝑀

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
●​ Difference law - lim (𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)) = lim 𝑓(𝑥) − lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐿 − 𝑀
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
●​ Constant multiple law - lim 𝑐(𝑓(𝑥)) = 𝑐 * lim (𝑓(𝑥)) = 𝑐 * 𝐿
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
●​ Product law - lim (𝑓(𝑥) * 𝑔(𝑥)) = lim 𝑓(𝑥) * lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐿 * 𝑀
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
●​ Quotient law - lim (𝑓(𝑥)/𝑔(𝑥)) = lim 𝑓(𝑥)/ lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐿 / 𝑀
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
●​ Power law - lim (𝑓(𝑥)) = ( lim (𝑓(𝑥))) =𝐿
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
𝑛
●​ Root law - lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑛 lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

Squeeze theorem - a function (f(x)) is between two other functions (g(x)) and (h(x)),
and the limits of (g(x)) and (h(x)) are equal, then the limit of (f(x)) is also equal. In other
words, use this theorem when two functions trap the function you are solving for.

ℎ(𝑥) <𝑓(𝑥) <𝑔(𝑥)

*Useful for limits for trig functions

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Calculus 1 (Math 231) Study Guide - Midterm 1
Continuity - A function is said to be continuous on the interval [a,b] if it is continuous
at each point in the interval.
*Hint - Use a given graph or imagine one for an equation and track the function with
your pencil. If you have to lift your pencil along the function, the function is not
continuous.
*This definition is also implicitly assuming that both f(a) and lim 𝑓(𝑥) exist. If either
𝑥→𝑎
of these do not exist the function will not be continuous at x=a.

Intermediate Value Theorem (IVT) - states that if a function f(x) is continuous on

a closed interval [a,b] and if N is any value between f(a) and f(b), then there must be at
least one C in (a,b) such that:

𝑓(𝑐) = N

* The function must be continuous be continuous on the interval [a,b] and the value
N must be between f(a) and f(b), meaning f(a) 𝑓(𝑎) ≤ 𝑁 ≤ 𝑓(𝑏)

Derivative - a measure of how quickly a function changes at a specific point,

essentially representing the "instantaneous rate of change" of a function

Limit Definition of a Derivative:

𝑓(𝑥+ℎ)−𝑓(𝑥)
lim ℎ
ℎ→0

Notations for derivatives:

𝑑 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
(𝑓(𝑥)) ,​ 𝑑𝑥
(𝑓(𝑥)),​ 𝑓'(𝑥)​

Rules for derivative (slow far covered)

𝑑
●​ Constant rule - 𝑑𝑥
(𝐶) = 0 , where C is a constant
𝑑
●​ Linear rule - 𝑑𝑥
(𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏)) = 𝑚 (deriving for x results to 1, leading to 1 * m)
𝑑 𝑑
●​ Constant multiple rule - 𝑑𝑥
(𝑐 * 𝑓(𝑥)) = 𝑐 * 𝑑𝑥
(𝑓(𝑥))
𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
●​ Sum/difference rule - 𝑑𝑥
(𝑓(𝑥) ± 𝑔(𝑥)) = 𝑑𝑥
(𝑓(𝑥)) ± 𝑑𝑥 𝑔(𝑥))
𝑑 𝑛 𝑛−1
●​ Power rule - 𝑑𝑥
(𝑥 ) = 𝑛 * 𝑥 , where n is an exponent

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Calculus 1 (Math 231) Study Guide - Midterm 1
𝑑
●​ Product rule - 𝑑𝑥
(𝑓(𝑥) * 𝑔(𝑥)) = 𝑓'(𝑥) * 𝑔(𝑥) + 𝑓(𝑥) * 𝑔'(𝑥)
2
𝑑 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑓'(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥))−𝑔'(𝑥)𝑓(𝑥))
●​ Quotient rule - 𝑑𝑥
( 𝑔(𝑥) ) = 2
(𝑔(𝑥))

The Differentiability Theorem states conditions under which a function is differentiable

at a point. The three key rules for differentiability are:

1.​ The Function Must Be Continuous: If a function f(x) is differentiable at x = a,

then it must also be continuous at x=a.

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎
𝑥→𝑎

If a function has a jump or removable discontinuity, it cannot be differentiable.

2.​ The Function Must Be Smooth (No Sharp Corners or Cusps): A function is not
differentiable at x = a if it has a sharp corner or cusp at that point.

*For example, look at the graph f(x) = |x|. There will not be differentiable at x = 0
since that is where the sharp turn occurs.

3.​ The Function Cannot Have a Vertical Tangent (Infinite Slope): A function is not
differentiable at A function is not differentiable at 𝑥 = a if the derivative
approaches infinity or is undefined due to a vertical tangent line.

*For example, this function will not be differentiable at point c.

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Calculus 1 (Math 231) Study Guide - Midterm 1

Finding the slope of the tangent line to a function:

Step 1: Understand the Tangent Line Slope

The slope of the tangent line at x = a is given by the derivative f′(a), which represents the
instantaneous rate of change of f(x) at x=a

Step 2: Compute the Derivative f ’(x)

Step 3: Step 3: Evaluate the Derivative at 𝑥=𝑎

𝑓(𝑎) = 𝑚 where m represents the slope.

* When solving for the normal (the line that is parallel to the tangent), follow the same
steps but take the opposite reciprocals the 𝑓(𝑎).

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Calculus 1 (Math 231) Study Guide - Midterm 1
Practice Questions:

1.​ True or False: If 𝑓(5) DNE, then lim 𝑓(𝑥) DNE.

𝑥→5
2.​ True or False: If lim 𝑓(𝑥), then lim 𝑓(𝑥) DNE.
−
𝑥→5 𝑥→5
3.​ True or False: If lim 𝑓(𝑥), then lim 𝑓(𝑥) DNE.
+
𝑥→5 𝑥→5
𝑓(𝑥)
4.​ True or False: If 𝑔(𝑎) = 0, then lim 𝑔(𝑎)
.
𝑥→𝑎
𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑥)
5.​ lim 𝑥
𝑥→0
1
6.​ lim 𝑥
𝑥→0
1
7.​ lim 𝑐𝑜𝑠( 𝑥 )
𝑥→0
2
8.​ lim 2𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 4
𝑥→3
2
3𝑥 +5
9.​ lim 2
𝑥→0 7𝑥 +2
2
𝑥 −4
10.​ lim 𝑥+2
𝑥 → −2
2
𝑥 −9
11.​ lim 𝑥+3
𝑥→3
2
𝑥 −25
12.​ lim |𝑥−5|
𝑥→5
𝑥 1
−2
13.​ lim 𝑥+3
3−𝑥
𝑥→3
𝑥+4−2
14.​ lim 𝑥
𝑥→0
𝑥−3
15.​ lim 𝑥−9
𝑥→9
2
𝑥 +4𝑥+5
16.​ lim 3𝑥−7
𝑥→∞
1/𝑥
17.​ lim (1 + 𝑥)
𝑥→0
2
𝑥 −7𝑥+6
18.​ lim 2
𝑥→3 𝑥 −9𝑥+18
𝑥
3𝑒 +7
19.​ lim 𝑥
𝑥→∞ 4 +2𝑒

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Calculus 1 (Math 231) Study Guide - Midterm 1
𝑥
3𝑒 +7
20.​ lim 𝑥
𝑥 → −∞ 4 +2𝑒

21.​ lim 𝑓(𝑥), 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑓(𝑥) = {2 − 𝑥 − 𝑥2, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≤ 5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2𝑥 − 5, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 > 5}

𝑥 → −∞
2
22.​ lim 𝑥 (2𝑥 + 3)
𝑥→0
23.​Use the Intermediate Value Theorem (IVT) to show that

3
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 𝑥 − 2 has a root in [0,2]

24.​Use the limit definition to compute the derivative of the equation

2
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 3𝑥 + 2
3 2
25.​𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥 − 6𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 6
𝑑 7
26.​Find 𝑑𝑥
𝑜𝑓 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥
𝑑 2 𝑥
27.​Find 𝑑𝑥
𝑜𝑓 𝑔(𝑥) = 4𝑥 9𝑒
𝑑 7 6
28.​Find 𝑑𝑥
𝑜𝑓 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥− 𝑥
𝑑 3
29.​Find 𝑑𝑥
𝑜𝑓 𝑓(𝑥) = (8 𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 4)
2
𝑑 𝑥 −2𝑥
30.​Find 𝑑𝑥
𝑜𝑓 𝑔(𝑥) = 3
𝑥 −1
2
𝑑 𝑥 −2𝑥
31.​ind 𝑑𝑥
𝑜𝑓 𝑓(𝑥) = 3
𝑥 −1
2
32.​Find the tangent line to 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 − 4𝑥 + 1 at 𝑥 = 2
2
33.​Find the normal line to 𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥 − 3𝑥 − 2 at 𝑥 = 1

* I’m not able to put any visual graphs for practice problems on the document, so I
recommend using the textbook (Openstax) and notes to study and practice them.