3 Module 2 Content Sheet Part 1: Math 180 Worksheets W3
3 Module 2 Content Sheet Part 1: Math 180 Worksheets W3
3 Module 2 Content Sheet Part 1: Math 180 Worksheets W3
W3
Keywords: continuity, graphing, intermediate value theorem, limit definition of the deriva-
tive, secant lines
2.6 Continuity
3.1 Introducing the Derivative
3.2 Working with Derivatives
Compare the definition with your two graphs above, does the continuous function satisfy
lim f (x) = f (a) for all a? and what condition does your example of a non continuous
x!a
function not satisfy?
Most familiar functions are continuous on their domain. Every polynomial function is
continuous, as are the sine, cosine, and exponential functions. The restriction for rational
functions, tangent, secant, logarithms are that they are only continuous on their domain.
18
Math 180 Worksheets
W3
2
For example: f (x) = is a rational function that is continuous at all points x 6= 3.
x 3
At x = 3 the function is undefined undefined, and thus cannot be continuous.
Question 2 The graph of the function f is drawn below. At which points is f not continu-
ous?
x2 1
Question 3 Let f (x) = . Does lim f (x) exist? Is f continuous at x = 1?
2x + 2 x! 1
19
Math 180 Worksheets
W3
We call one of these points a removable discontinuity, and the other a jump discontinuity.
Which one is which? Explain what removable means in this context.
20
Math 180 Worksheets
W3
Question 6 The polynomial p(x) = x2 +x 1 has a zero in the interval (0, 1). True? False?
Apply the Intermediate Value Theorem. What is L? the interval (a, b)? c?
21
Math 180 Worksheets
W3
Question 7 (a) Fill in he blanks: Let (a, ) and (a + h, ) be points on the graph
of a function y = f (x).
(b) Find the slope of the secant line through the points in part (a). This slope is called the
di↵erence quotient and represents the average rate of change between x = a and x = a + h.
(c) How can we use part (b), to write a formula for the instantaneous change at x = a?
(d) Going back to an example we saw earlier. Dragon D Sparky’s distance between him
and the eel is given by the function f (t) = 2t2 + 10 measured in feet, and time in seconds.
Find Sparky’s instantaneous velocity in ft/s at t = 2 seconds assuming the eel is not moving.
22
Math 180 Worksheets
W3
Question 8 Find the equation of the line tangent to the graph of y = f (t) at t = 4, given
that f (4) = 9, and f 0 (4) = 5.
23
Math 180 Worksheets
W3
Question 10 The number f (t) of locations of a popular co↵eehouse chain is given in the
table. Estimate f 0 (2001) by finding the average rate of growth from 2000 to 2002.
Question 12 Hands On Activity - use the chart on the next page to follow the step by step
use of the limit definition to find f 0 (x) for f (x) = 3x2 x.
f (x + h) f (x) y dy
Use the definition: f 0 (x) = lim = lim = provided the limit does
h!0 h h!0 x dx
exist.
24
Math 180 Worksheets
W3
2. f (x) = 3x2 x. Find f 0 (x) by circling the correct next step from each row. In the third column, explain
why this is the correct step and what caused the error in the incorrect step.
f (x + h) f (x) f (x + h) f (x)
Step 1. lim lim answer
h 0 h h 2 h
lim 3h + 6x 1 lim 3h + 6h 1
Step 7. h 0 h 0 answer
6x 6x 1
Step 8. answer
39
Active Calculus BOALA by Boulder-Omaha Active Learning Alliance is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
for details.
f (b) f (a)
2
Check your answers: Q 10 f 0 (2001) ⇡ 1192.5 co↵ee locations per year. Q11 f 0 (a) < < f 0 (b).
b a
Q12 Do you see a pattern in your choices?
25