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CALCULUS I. Problems
Bachelors’ degrees in:

Electrical power engineering,

Energy engineering
Year 2021-2022
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Arturo de Pablo
Elena Romera

(English version by Elena Romera)

INDEX 2

Index
1 Real variable functions 3
1.1 The real line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.2 Elementary functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.3 Limits of functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.4 Continuity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2 Derivatives and their applications 11

2.1 Differentiability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.2 Extrema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2.3 Graphic representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
2.4 Taylor polynomial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

3 Sequences and series 18

3.1 Sequences of numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.2 Series of numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
3.3 Taylor series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

4 Integration in one variable 25

4.1 Calculation of primitives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
4.2 Fundamental theorem of calculus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4.3 Applications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
2 DERIVATIVES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS 11

2 Derivatives and their applications

2.1 Differentiability
Problem 2.1.1 Let f, g be differentiable functions in all R. Write down the derivative of the
following functions in their domains:
 
p
2 2
f (x)
i) h(x) = f (x) + g (x), ii) h(x) = arctg ,
g(x)

iii) h(x) = f (g(x))ef (x) , iv) h(x) = log(g(x) sin(f (x))),

1
v) h(x) = (f (x))g(x) , vi) h(x) = .
log(f (x) + g 2 (x))
Problem 2.1.2
a) Build a continuous function on R that vanishes for |x| ≥ 2 and takes the value one for |x| ≤ 1.

b) Build another function that is also derivable.

Problem 2.1.3 From the hyperbolic functions sinh x and cosh x, we define the functions
sinh x 1
tgh x = and sech x = . Prove the formulas:
cosh x cosh x
i) (sinh x)0 = cosh x, ii) (cosh x)0 = sinh x,

iii) (tgh x)0 = sech2 x, iv) (sech x)0 = − sech x tgh x.

Problem 2.1.4 Check that the following functions satisfy the specified differential equations,
where c, c1 and c2 are constants.
c
i) f (x) = , xf 0 + f = 0;
x

ii) f (x) = x tg x, xf 0 − f − f 2 = x2 ;

iii) f (x) = c1 sin 3x + c2 cos 3x, f 00 + 9f = 0;

iv) f (x) = c1 e3x + c2 e−3x , f 00 − 9f = 0;

v) f (x) = c1 e2x + c2 e5x , f 00 − 7f 0 + 10f = 0;

vi) f (x) = log(c1 ex + e−x ) + c2 , f 00 + (f 0 )2 = 1.

Problem 2.1.5 Prove the identities

1 π
i) arctg x + arctg = , x > 0;
x 2
1+x π
ii) arctg − arctg x = , x < 1;
1−x 4
2x
iii) 2 arctg x + arcsin = π, x ≥ 1.
1 + x2
2.1 Differentiability 12

Hint: differentiate and substitute in some point of the interval. The result is not true outside
the specified intervals.

Problem 2.1.6 Find the value of a ∈ R for which the parabola f (x) = ax2 is tangent to the
curve g(x) = log x, and write the equation of the common tangent.

Problem 2.1.7 Find the points at which the graph of the function f (x) = x + (sin x)1/3 has
a vertical tangent.

Problem 2.1.8 Obtain the angle spanned by the left and right tangents at the origin to the
plot of the function ( x
if x 6= 0
f (x) = 1 + e1/x
0 if x = 0.

Problem 2.1.9 Given the function

(3 − x2 )/2

si x < 1
f (x) =
1/x si x ≥ 1,

a) study its continuity and differentiability;

b) can we apply the mean value theorem in [0,2]? If we can, find the point (or points) that
satisfy the thesis of the theorem.

Problem 2.1.10 Study the continuity and differentiability of the function

√
f (x) = x + 2 arccos(x + 2).

Problem 2.1.11 Find the minimum value of α for which the function f (x) = |αx2 − x + 3| is
differentiable in all R.

Problem 2.1.12 The function f (x) = 1 − x2/3 vanishes in −1 and in 1 and, nevertheless,
f 0 (x) 6= 0 in (−1, 1). Explain this apparent contradiction with Rolle’s theorem.

a + bx2 if |x| ≤ c

Problem 2.1.13 Given the function f (x) = , with c > 0, find a and b so
|x|−1 if |x| > c
that it is continuous and differentiable in the whole real line, R.

Problem 2.1.14 Using the mean value theorem, approximate 262/3 and log(3/2).

Problem 2.1.15 Obtain the limits of the problems 1.3.2 and 1.3.3 using L’Hôpital’s rule,
writing them previously in the appropriate form.

Problem 2.1.16 Calculate the following limits:

ex − sin x − 1 log | sin 7x|
i) lim , ii) lim ,
x→0 x2 x→0 log | sin x|

iii) lim log x · log(x − 1), iv) lim x1/x ,

x→1 x→∞

(1 + x)1+x − 1 − x − x2  
v) lim , vi) lim x tg(2/x) − tg(1/x) .
x→0 x3 x→∞
2.1 Differentiability 13

Problem 2.1.17 Compute the following limits:

xx−1 1 + sin x − ex
i) lim , ii) lim ,
x→∞ (x − 1)x x→0 arctg x

tg x − sin x
iii) lim , iv) lim (1 + x2 )3/(2 arcsin x) ,
x→0 x3 x→0

2x sin x
v) lim (2x2 + 3x − 2) tg(πx), vi) lim ,
x→1/2 x→0 sec x − 1

√ √
vii) lim ( x2 + 1 − x2 − 4x), viii) lim x1/ log x .
x→−∞ x→0+

Problem 2.1.18 Let h be a twice differentiable function, and consider

h(x)/x2

si x 6= 0
f (x) =
1 si x = 0.

Assuming that f is continuous, find h(0), h0 (0) and h00 (0).

eax − ex − x
Problem 2.1.19 Find a so that lim is finite and obtain the value of the limit.
x→0 x2
Problem 2.1.20 Calculate the following limits:
2
  (1 + 1/x)x
i) lim x (1 + 1/x)x − e , ii) lim ,
x→∞ x→∞ ex
 21/x + 181/x x 1 Pp
1/x x

iii) lim , iv) lim ai , p ∈ N, ai > 0.
x→∞ 2 x→∞ p i=1

f (2x3 )
Problem 2.1.21 Given a differentiable function f , that satisfies lim = 1,
x→0 5x3

a) justify that f (0) = 0;

b) prove that f 0 (0) = 5/2;

(f ◦ f )(2x)
c) compute lim .
x→0 f −1 (3x)

Problem 2.1.22 The equation

e−f f 0 = 2 + tg x


f (0) = 1,
defines a differentiable one-to-one (bijective) function f in the interval [−π/4, π/4]. We define
the function g(x) = f −1 (x + 1). Obtain the limit

ex − e− sin x
lim .
x→0 g(x)

Problem 2.1.23
2.2 Extrema 14

a) Let f : [a, b] −→ R be differentiable. Prove that if f has k ≥ 2 roots in [a, b], then f 0 has at
least k − 1 roots in [a, b].

b) If f is n times differentiable in [a, b] and vanishes in n + 1 different points in [a, b], prove that
f (n) vanishes at least once in [a, b].

Problem 2.1.24 Calculate how many different solutions the following equations have in the
given intervals:

i) x7 + 4x = 3, in R; ii) x5 = 5x − 6, in R;

iii) x4 − 4x3 = 1, in R; iv) sin x = 2x − 1, in R;

v) xx = 2, in [1, ∞); vi) x2 = log(1/x), in (1, ∞).

2.2 Extrema
Problem 2.2.1 Consider the function f (x) = |x3 (x − 4)| − 1.
a) Study its continuity and differentiability.

b) Find its relative extrema.

c) Prove that the equation f (x) = 0 has a single solution in the interval [0, 1].

Problem 2.2.2 A tomato sauce company wants to manufacture cylindrical cans of fixed vol-
ume V . What is the relation between the radius r of the basis and its height, h, so that the
minimum amount of material is required?

Problem 2.2.3 Find the area of the rectangle with sides parallel to the coordinate axes and
inscribed in the ellipse (x/a)2 + (y/b)2 = 1 with maximum area.

Problem 2.2.4 Obtain the area of the triangle formed by the tangent to the parabola y = 6−x2
and the two positive semiaxes that has the minimum area.

Problem 2.2.5 A right triangle ABC has the vertex A at the origin, B on the circumference
(x − 1)2 + y 2 = 1, and the side AC in the horizontal axis. Calculate C such that the area of the
triangle is maximum.

Problem 2.2.6 Consider P = (x0 , y0 ) a point of the first quadrant. Draw a straight line which
passes through P and cuts the axes at A = (x0 +α, 0) and B = (0, y0 +β) respectively. Calculate
α, β > 0 such that the following magnitudes are minimized:
a) the length of AB;

b) the sum of the lengths of OA and OB;

c) the area of the triangle OAB.

Hint: β = x0 y0 /α.

Problem 2.2.7
2.3 Graphic representation 15

a) Prove the Bernoulli inequality for x > −1:

(1 + x)a ≥ 1 + ax, if a ≥ 1,
(1 + x)a ≤ 1 + ax, if 0 < a ≤ 1.

b) Prove that ex ≥ 1 + x for all x ∈ R.

x
c) Prove that ≤ log(1 + x) ≤ x for all x > −1.
1+x
Hint: minimize the appropriate functions.

Problem 2.2.8
log x 1
a) Prove that < for all x > 0, x 6= e.
x e
b) As a conclusion, obtain that ex > xe for all x > 0, x 6= e.

Problem 2.2.9 Find the absolute maxima and minima of the function f (x) = 2x5/3 + 5x2/3
in the interval [−2, 1].

2.3 Graphic representation

Problem 2.3.1 Prove that if f and g are convex functions twice differentiable and f is an
increasing function, then h = f ◦ g is convex.

Problem 2.3.2

a) Sketch the graph of the function f (x) = x + log |x2 − 1|.

b) From it, draw the plot of the functions

 
i) g(x) = |x| + log |x2 − 1|, ii) h(x) = x + log |x2 − 1|.
 

Problem 2.3.3 Represent graphically the following functions:

√
i) y = ex sin x, ii) y = x2 − 1 − 1, iii) y = xe1/x ,

1+x
iv) y = x2 ex , v) y = (x − 2)x2/3 , vi) y = (x2 − 1) log ,
1−x

x x2 − 1 e1/x
vii) y= , viii) y= , ix) y= ,
log x x2 + 1 1−x

ex
x) y = log[(x − 1)(x − 2)], xi) y= , xii) y = 2 sin x + cos 2x,
x(x − 1)

x−2 p 1
xiii) y=√ , xiv) y= |x − 4|, xv) y= ,
4x2 + 1 1 + ex

e2x
xvi) y= , xvii) y = e−x sin x, xviii) y = x2 sin(1/x).
ex − 1
2.3 Graphic representation 16

Problem 2.3.4 Represent the graph of the following functions:

1 1
f (x) = min log |x3 − 3|, log |x + 3| ,

i) ii) g(x) = − |x−1| ,
|x| − 1

1 1
p
iii) h(x) = − 1+|x−a| , a > 0, iv) k(x) = x |x2 − 1|,
1 + |x|
 2x 
v) p(x) = arctg(log(|x2 − 1|)), vi) w(x) = 2 arctg x + arcsin .
1 + x2

Problem 2.3.5 Plot the graph of the function

e1/x
f (x) = , x 6= 0; f (0) = 0.
1+x

e1/x
and study in a reasoned way how many solutions the equation = x3 has in R.
1+x
1+x
Problem 2.3.6 Given the function f (x) = , represent the graph of the functions
3 + x2
i) g(x) = sup f (y), ii) h(x) = inf f (y).
y>x y>x

Problem 2.3.7

a) Calculate the image of the function f (x) = 1 + (arctg x)2 .

b) Calculate the values of A ∈ R such that the function

1
g(x) = ,
A + log f (x)

is continuous on R.

c) Find the supremum and the infimum of g if A = 1.

d) Sketch the graph of g in this last case.

Problem 2.3.8 We consider the function f (x) = log(1 + x2 ).

a) Calculate the tangent lines in its inflection points and sketch the graph of f and those lines.

b) Prove that the function g(x) = max{ f (x), |x| + α } verifies the hypothesis of the mean value
theorem in any interval [a, b] ⊂ R if and only if α = log 2 − 1.

c) For the previous value of α, obtain the point or points whose existence is guaranteed by the
aforementioned theorem applied to the function g in the interval [−1, 2].
2.4 Taylor polynomial 17

2.4 Taylor polynomial

Problem 2.4.1 Write the Taylor polynomial of order 5 around the origin of the following
functions: 2
i) ex sin x, ii) e−x cos 2x, iii) sin x cos 2x,

1
iv) ex log(1 − x), v) (sin x)2 , vi) .
1 − x3

Problem 2.4.2 Write the polynomial x4 − 5x3 + x2 − 3x + 4 in powers of x − 4.

Problem 2.4.3 Obtain the Taylor polynomial of order n around the given point of the following
functions:

a) f (x) = 1/x at a = −1;

b) f (x) = xe−2x at a = 0;

c) f (x) = (1 + ex )2 at a = 0.

Problem 2.4.4 Prove the formulas:

i) sin x = o(xα ), ∀ α < 1, when x → 0;

ii) log(1 + x2 ) = o(x), when x → 0;

iii) log x = o(x), when x → ∞;

iv) tg x − sin x = o(x2 ), when x → 0.

Problem 2.4.5 Find the following limits using Taylor’s theorem:

ex − sin x − 1 sin x − x + x3 /6
i) lim , ii) lim ,
x→0 x2 x→0 x5
√
cos x − 1 − x tg x − sin x
iii) lim , iv) lim ,
x→0 sin x x→0 x3
x − sin x cos x + ex − x − 2
v) lim , vi) lim ,
x→0 x(1 − cos 3x) x→0 x3
   
1 1 1 1
vii) lim − , viii) lim − cot x ,
x→0 x sin x x→0 x x
√ √ √
lim x3/2 ( x + 1 + x − 1 − 2 x), lim x − x2 log(1 + 1/x) .
 
ix) x)
x→∞ x→∞

Problem 2.4.6 Obtain the Taylor polynomial of order 4 at the origin for the function f (x) =
1 + x3 sin x and decide if f has at that point a maximum, a minimum or an inflection point.

Problem 2.4.7
3 SEQUENCES AND SERIES 18

1
a) Calculate approximately the value of √ using a Taylor polynomial of degree 3. How much
1.1
is the error?
√
b) Approximate 3 28 using a Taylor polynomial of degree 2. Evaluate the error.

Problem 2.4.8
a) Approximate the function f (x) = cos x + ex using a Taylor polynomial of third order around
the origin.

b) Estimate the error when we use the previous approximation for x ∈ [−1/4, 1/4].

Problem 2.4.9 How many terms are necessary in the Taylor expansion around the origin of
the function f (x) = ex in order to obtain a polynomial which approximates it in [−1, 1] with
three exact figures?

3 Sequences and series

3.1 Sequences of numbers
Problem 3.1.1
a) Let {xn } be a convergence sequence and {yn } a divergent one. what can we say about the
product sequence {xn yn }, sum sequence {xn +yn }, and quotient sequence {yn /xn } (supposing
that xn 6= 0 for all n ∈ N)?

b) Prove that if {xn } is convergent, then the sequence {|xn |} is also convergent. Is the reciprocal
true?

c) What can we say about a sequence of integer numbers that is convergent?

d) Show that every convergent sequence is bounded.

Problem 3.1.2 Find the general term of the following sequences defined by recurrence and
obtain the limit if it exists.
an + 1 p
i) a0 = 0, an+1 = ; ii) b0 = 1, bn+1 = 2bn .
2
Problem 3.1.3 Compute the following limits:
√
i) lim n a, (a > 0), ii) lim n−3/n ,
n→∞ n→∞

√ √
√
n
n
a + n b n
iii) lim an + bn , (a, b > 0), iv) lim , (a, b > 0),
n→∞ n→∞ 2
√  √ √
v) lim n n2 + 1 − n , vi) lim ( 4 n2 + 1 − n + 1),
n→∞ n→∞

 n22n−1
2n+1 + 3n+1 n2 + 1

vii) lim , viii) lim .
n→∞ 2n + 3 n n→∞ n2 − 3n