Math 10250 Fall 2015, Exam 1

Initials:

Multiple Choice
1. (5 pts.) Which of the following is the solution to the inequality
(a)

2<x<3

(b)

3x2

(c)

1x

(d)

6x4

(e)

2<x3

6 or 4 x 1

2. (5 pts.) Evaluate the limit

3x2 3
.
1 x+1

lim

x!

(a)

(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

6
6
3
Does not exist

2x 6
0?
2x + 4

Math 10250 Fall 2015, Exam 1

Initials:

3. (5 pts.) Find the limit limx!0 f (x) where

(
x
f (x) =
1
(a)

(b)

Does not exist

(c)

-1

(d)

-2

(e)

if x < 0
if x 0.

4. (5 pts.) Simplify the following expression:

(8x4 )2/3 (y 3 x 2 )1/3
(3y 1 ) 2
(a)

36x2
y

(b)

4x2
9y

(c)

4x3
y2

(d)

36x3 y 2

(e)

36x2 y

Math 10250 Fall 2015, Exam 1

Initials:

5. (5 pts.) At a temperature of 20 C, the volume V (in liters) of 1.33 g of O2 is related to its

pressure p (in atmospheres) by the formula V = 1/p. Find the average rate of change of V with
respect to p as p increases from p = 2 to p = 3.
1
4

(a)
(b)

1
4
1
6

(c)
(d)

1
3

(e)

1
6

6. (5 pts.) Let f (x) = 2

x2 . Calculate
f (x + h)
h

(a)

2x + h

(b)

2x

(c)

2xh

(d)

2x

(e)

2x + h

h2
h

f (x)

Math 10250 Fall 2015, Exam 1

Initials:

7. (5 pts.) Assume that you have just bought a used car whose book value is $14, 000. Suppose
that from now on its value depreciates linearly as a function of time. If in 6 years its book value will
be $2, 000, find a formula that expresses its value V (in dollars) as a function of time t (in years).
(a)

t + 14000

(b)

14000
t

(c)

2000t + 140000

(d)

2000t + 14000

(e)

2333t + 14000

8. (5 pts.) Suppose the demand curve for a commodity is given by

48
p(x) =
,
x+2
while the supply curve is
p(x) = x + 4.
Find the equilibrium price.
p
(a) p = 4 3
(b)

p = 12

(c)

p=8

(d)

p = 10

(e)

p=4

Math 10250 Fall 2015, Exam 1

9. (5 pts.) Let f (x) = x2 + 2, and g(x) =

p
(a) f g(x) = 2x2 + 1 + 2
p
(b) f g(x) = (x2 + 2) 2x2 + 1
p
(c) f g(x) = 2x4 + 8x2 + 9
p
(d) f g(x) = 2x2 + 1 + x2 + 2
(e)

Initials:

2x2 + 1. Find f

g(x).

g(x) = 2x2 + 3

10. (5 pts.) Let C be the circle whose center is at (1, 2) and which passes through the point
( 2, 6). Which of the following is an equation for C?
(a)

(x

1)2 + (y

2)2 = 5

(b)

(x

1)2 + (y

2)2 = 25

(c)

(x

2)2 + (y

1)2 = 25

(d)

(x + 2)2 + (y

6)2 = 25

(e)

(x

1)2 + (y

2)2 = 9

Math 10250 Fall 2015, Exam 1

Initials:

Partial Credit
You must show your work on the partial credit problems to receive credit!
Show your work. Circle your answers.
11. (10 pts.) The cost in dollars incurred by a record company in pressing x CDs is given by
C(x) = 1.8x + 2300.
(a) (3 pts.) What are the fixed costs of production?

(b) (3 pts.) Find a formula for the average cost / disk C(x) in pressing x CDs.

(c) (4 pts.) Evaluate limx!1 C(x).

Math 10250 Fall 2015, Exam 1

Initials:

12. (10 pts.) The fee charged per car in a downtown parking lot is $2.00 for the first half hour
and $1.00 for each additional half hour or part thereof, subject to a maximum of $6.00. Let f (x)
denote the parking fee if the car is left in the lot for x hours.
(a) (5 pts.) Sketch the graph of f .

6
5
4
3
2
1
1

(b) (5 pts.) Determine the values of x at which the function f is discontinuous.

Math 10250 Fall 2015, Exam 1

Initials:

13. (10 pts.) The manufacturer of officially licensed Pope Francis Bobbleheads has monthly fixed
costs of $135, 000 and a production cost of $3 for each unit produced. The bobblehead sells for $30
per unit.
(a) (3 pts.) Find a formula for the cost function C(x).

(b) (2 pts.) Find a formula for the revenue function R(x).

(c) (3 pts.) Find a formula for the profit function P (x).

(d) (2 points) How many bobbleheads will the manufacturer have to sell each month in order to
break even (i.e., so that the profit is zero)?

Math 10250 Fall 2015, Exam 1

Initials:

14. (10 pts.)

(a) (3 points) Sketch the graph of the function f (x) = |x|.

(b) (4 points) Use your answer in part (a) to sketch the graph of f (x) = |x + 2|
the two graphs are related.

(c) (3 points) Find all x so that f (x) = 3.

10

1. Explain how

Math 10250 Fall 2015, Exam 1

Initials:

15. (10 pts.) A window washer working on the outside of an office building dropped a window
squeegee from a height of 64 ft. After t seconds, the squeegee has fallen a distance of s = 16t2 .
(a) (3 points) How long did it take the squeegee to reach the ground?

(b) (3 points) What was the average velocity of the squeegee between the time it was dropped and
the time it hit the ground?

(c) (4 points) What was the velocity of the squeegee at the time it hit the ground?

11

Math 10250 Exam 1 Solutions Fall 2015

2x 6
(1.) Which of the following is the solution to the inequality
0?
2x + 4
There are two cases: (1) (2x 6) 0 and 2x + 4 > 0, or (2) (2x 6) 0 and 2x + 4 < 0. In the first
case, we solve to get x 3 and x > 2; i.e., 2 < x 3. In the second case we solve to get x 3 and
x < 2, but these contradict one another (i.e., this case cant happen). Therefore, the solution set is what
we found in the first case: 2 < x 3.
(2.) Evaluate the limit
lim

x!

Factor:
lim

x!

3x2 3
.
1 x+1

3x2 3
3(x + 1)(x
= lim
1 x+1
x! 1
x+1

1)

= lim 3(x

1) =

x! 1

6.

(3.) Find the limit limx!0 f (x) where

f (x) =

x
1

if x < 0
if x 0.

Since we are taking the limit from the left, x < 0 and we use the formula f (x) = x
lim f (x) = lim (x

x!0

1) =

x!0

1, hence

1.

(4.) Simplify the following expression:

(8x4 )2/3 (y 3 x 2 )1/3
(3y 1 ) 2
Using the law(s) of exponents,
(8x4 )2/3 (y 3 x 2 )1/3
(82/3 x8/3 )(yx
=
(3y 1 ) 2
(3 2 y 2 )

2/3 )

= 4x2 y(9y

) = 36x2 y

(5.) At a temperature of 20 C, the volume V (in liters) of 1.33 g of O2 is related to its pressure p
(in atmospheres) by the formula V = 1/p. Find the average rate of change of V with respect to p as p
increases from p = 2 to p = 3.
The average rate of change is:
V (3)
3
(6.) Let f (x) = 2

V (2)
=
2

1
3

1
2

==

1
.
6

x2 . Calculate
f (x + h)
h

f (x)

Just substituting, we get

f (x + h)
h

f (x)

(x + h)2
h

x2

x2

h2

2xh
h

2 + x2

2x

h.

(7.) Assume that you have just bought a used car whose book value is $14, 000. Suppose that from
now on its value depreciates linearly as a function of time. If in 6 years its book value will be $2, 000, find
a formula that expresses its value V (in dollars) as a function of time t (in years).
Since the function is linear, it is of the form V (t) = At + B. We are given that V (0) = 14, 000 and
V (6) = 2, 000. If we substitute, we see that V (0) = B = 14, 000, hence V (t) = At + 14, 000. Next take
t = 6, then 2, 000 = V (6) = 6A + 14, 000, hence A = 2, 000.
(8.) Suppose the demand curve for a commodity is given by
p(x) =

48
,
x+2

while the supply curve is

p(x) = x + 4.
Find the equilibrium price.
The equilibrium quantity occurs when the two graphs intersect, hence
48
= x + 4.
x+2
Clearing the denominator, we get
48 = (x + 2)(x + 4) = x2 + 6x + 8,
hence
x2 + 6x

40 = 0.

Factoring, we find solutions x = 4 and x = 10, the latter of which we disregard. Since the equilibrium
quantity is 4, plugging in to the formula above we get that the equilibrium price is p = 8.
p
(9.) Let f (x) = x2 + 2, and g(x) = 2x2 + 1. Find f g(x).
f

g(x) = f (g(x)) = [g(x)]2 + 2 = [

p
2x2 + 1]2 + 2 = 2x2 + 3.

(10.) Let C be the circle whose center is at (1, 2) and which passes through the point ( 2, 6). Which
of the following is an equation for C?
The distance from the center to the point on the circle is
p
r = (1 ( 2))2 + (2 6)2 = 5,

hence the radius of the circle is 5. Since the center is (1, 2) the equation is
(x

1)2 + (y

2)2 = 25.

(11.) The cost in dollars incurred by a record company in pressing x CDs is given by
C(x) = 1.8x + 2300.
(a) What are the fixed costs of production? Ans: $2300
(b) Find a formula for the average cost / disk C(x) in pressing x CDs.

Since the cost of producing x CDs is 1.8x + 2300, the average cost per disc is
C(x) =

C(x)
2300
= 1.8 +
.
x
x

(c) Evaluate limx!1 C(x).

2300
= 1.8
x!1 x

lim C(x) = 1.8 + lim

x!1

(12.) The fee charged per car in a downtown parking lot is $2.00 for the first half hour and $1.00 for
each additional half hour or part thereof, subject to a maximum of $6.00. Let f (x) denote the parking fee
if the car is left in the lot for x hours.
(a) Sketch the graph of f .

6
5
4
3
2
1
1

(b) (5 pts.) Determine the values of x at which the function f is discontinuous.

From looking at the graph, there are discontinuities at 0, .5, 1, 1.5 and 2.
(13.) The manufacturer of officially licensed Pope Francis Bobbleheads has monthly fixed costs of
$135, 000 and a production cost of $3 for each unit produced. The bobblehead sells for $30 per unit.
(a) Find a formula for the cost function C(x). Ans. C(x) = 3x + 135, 000
(b) Find a formula for the revenue function R(x). Ans. R(x) = 30x.
(c) (3 pts.) Find a formula for the profit function P (x). Ans. P (x) = R(x)

C(x) = 27x

135, 000.

(d) (2 points) How many bobbleheads will the manufacturer have to sell each month in order to break even
(i.e., so that the profit is zero)? Ans. 0 = 27x 135, 000 ) x = 135, 000/27 = 5, 000.
(14.) (a) Sketch the graph of the function f (x) = |x|.
(b) Use your answer in part (a) to sketch the graph of f (x) = |x + 2| 1. Explain how the two graphs are
related. Ans. The graph in (b.) is just the graph in (a.) translated to the left two units and downward 1
unit.
3

(c) (3 points) Find all x so that f (x) = 3.

|x + 2|

1=3

) |x + 2| = 4,
hence x + 2 = 4 or x + 2 =

4; i.e., x = 2 or x =

6.

(15.) A window washer working on the outside of an office building dropped a window squeegee from
a height of 64 ft. After t seconds, the squeegee has fallen a distance of s = 16t2 .
(a) How long did it take the squeegee to reach the ground? Set 64 = 16t2 , solving gives t = 2.
(b) What was the average velocity of the squeegee between the time it was dropped and the time it hit
the ground?

avg. velo =

s(2)
2

s(0)
= 32 ft/sec
0

(c) What was the velocity of the squeegee at the time it hit the ground?
s(2 + h)
h!0
h
lim

s(2)

16(2 + h)2
h!0
h

= lim

64

= lim 64 + 16h = 64 ft/sec

h!0