Ferhat Abbas Setif 1 University

Faculty of Sciences November 2023

Department MI

Solutions to the exercises

Exercise 1: Study the differentiability of the function f at point x0 in the fol-

lowing cases:

x cos x1 if x 6= 0
 2
(1) f (x) = (x0 = 0)
0 if x = 0

sin x sin x1

if x 6= 0
(2) f (x) = (x0 = 0)
0 if x = 0

1


exp if |x| < a
x2 −a2
(3) f (x) = (|x0 | = a ∈ R+ )
0 if |x| ≥ a
x cos x1 if x 6= 0
 2
Solution 1: (1) f (x) = (x0 = 0)
0 if x = 0

f (x) − f (0) x2 cos x1 − 0 1

lim = lim = lim x cos = 0.
x→0 x−0 x→0 x x→0 x
The function f is differentiable at x0 = 0, and its derivative at x0 = 0 is
f 0 (0) = 0.

sin x sin x1

if x 6= 0
(2) f (x) = (x0 = 0)
0 if x = 0

f (x) − f (0) sin x sin x1 − 0 sin x 1

lim = lim = lim sin 6∃
x→0 x−0 x→0 x x→0 x x
Then f is not differentiable at (x0 = 0).

1
 1


exp x2 −a2
if |x| < a
(3) f (x) = (|x0 | = a ∈ R+ )
0 if |x| ≥ a
1


exp x2 −a2
if −a < x < a
f (x) =
0 if x ∈] − ∞, −a[∪[a, +∞[
The differentiability on x0 = a.

f (x) − f (a) 0−0

lim+ = lim+ = 0 = fR0 (a)
x→a x−a x→a x − a
1


f (x) − f (a) exp x2 −a 2 −0
lim− = lim− = 0 = fL0 (a)
x→a x−a x→a x−a
We have fR0 (a) = fL0 (a). Then f is differentiable at x0 = a and f 0 (a) = 0.

The differentiability on x0 = −a.

1


f (x) − f (−a) exp x2 −a2 −0
lim + = lim + = 0 = fR0 (−a)
x→−a x+a x→−a x+a
f (x) − f (−a) 0−0
lim − = lim − = 0 = fL0 (−a)
x→−a x+a x→−a x + a
We have fR0 (−a) = fL0 (−a). Then f is differentiable at x0 = −a. The
differentiability on x0 = −a.

Exercise 2: Let f be a function defined on R+ by

 √
x if 0 ≤ x ≤ 1
f (x) =
ax2 + bx + 1 if x > 1
(1) Find the values of a and b in the set of real numbers (R) such that the
function f is differentiable on the positive real numbers (R∗+ ).

(2) Compute f 0 (x).

√
Solution 2: We have x is differentiable on ]0, 1[ and ax2 + bx + 1 is differen-
tiable on ]1, ∞[. Then f is differentiable on ]0, 1[∪]1, ∞[.

The differentiability of f at x0 = 1, f (1) = 1

lim+ f (x) = lim+ ax2 + bx + 1 = a + b + 1
x→1 x→1
2
 √
lim− f (x) = lim− x = 1 = f (1)
x→1 x→1
f is continuous at x0 = 1 ⇐⇒
lim f (x) = lim− f (x) = f (1) ⇒ a + b + 1 = 1 ⇒ a = −b.
x→1+ x→1
Then f is continuous for a = −b.
f (x) − f (1) ax2 + bx + 1 − 1 ax2 − ax ax(x − 1)
lim+ = lim+ = lim+ = lim+ = a = fR0 (1).
x→1 x−1 x→1 x−1 x→1 x−1 x→1 x−1
√
f (x) − f (1) x−1 1
lim− = lim− = = fL0 (1).
x→1 x−1 x→1 x−1 2
0 0
f is differentiable at x0 = 1 ⇐⇒ fR (1) = fL (1) ⇒ a = 21 and b = −a = − 12 .
1
Then f is differentiable at x0 = 1 for a = 2
and b = − 12 .

Calculation of f 0
1

0
√
2 x
if 0 ≤ x ≤ 1,
f (x) = 1
x− 2
if x ≥ 1.

Exercise 3: Determine the nth-order derivative of the following functions:

f (x) = sin2 x; g(x) = ln(1 + x)
1+x
k(x) = ex sin x; h(x) =
1−x
Solution 3: The nth-order derivative
(1) f (x) = sin2 x
f 0 (x) = 2 cos x sin x = sin 2x
 π
f 00 (x) = 2 cos 2x = 2 sin 2x +
2 
 π  π
f (3) (x) = 2 · 2 cos 2x + = 22 sin 2x +
2  2 
 π  3π
f (4) (x) = 22 · 2 cos 2x + = 23 sin 2x +
2 2
..
.···
(n) n−1
 π
f (x) = 2 sin 2x + (n − 1) .
2
3
 (2) g(x) = ln(1 + x)
1
g 0 (x) =
1+x
1
g 00 (x) = −
(1 + x)2
1
f (3) (x) = 2
(1 + x)3
1
f (4) (x) = −2 · 3 ·
(1 + x)4
..
.···
(n − 1)!
f (n) (x) = (−1)n−1
(1 + x)n

Exercise 4: Let f be a function defined over the set of real numbers (R) by
f (x) = (1 − λ)2 x2 + (1 + λ)x3 , λ ∈ R.
(1) Determine the values of λ for which (x0 = 0) is a local extremum of f .

(2) Find the extrema of the function f (x) = sin x2 on the interval [0, π].

(3) Determine the extrema of the function g(x) = x4 − x3 + 1 on the set of

real numbers (R).

Solution 4: (1) x0 = 0 is an extremum ⇐⇒ f 0 (0) = 0 and f 00 (0) 6= 0.

f (x) = (1 − λ)2 x2 + (1 + λ)x3 , λ ∈ R.

f 0 (x) = 2(1 − λ)2 x + 3(1 + λ)x2 , ⇒ f 0 (0) = 0
f 00 (x) = 2(1 − λ)2 + 6(1 + λ)x, ⇒ f 00 (0) = 2(1 − λ)2 .
0 is an extremum ⇐⇒ f 00 (0) 6= 0 ⇒ 2(1−λ)2 6= 0 ⇒ λ 6= 1 then λ ∈ R−{1}.

(2) f (x) = sin x2 ; x ∈ [0, π] ⇒ f 0 (x) = 2x · cos x2 .

Critical points :
4
  r 
0 2 2 π 2 π
f (x) = 0 ⇒ 2x·cos x = 0 ⇒ (x = 0 ∨ cos x = 0) ⇒ (x = 0 ∨ x = +kπ) ⇒ x=0 ∨ x= + kπ
2 2
We have f 00 (x) = 2 cos x2 − 4x2 sin x2 . Then

For x = 0 : f 00 (0) = 2 cos 0 = 2 > 0 then 0 is an extremum (minimum).

pπ
For x = 2
+ kπ :
r
π π π π π π
f 00 ( + kπ) = 2 cos( +kπ)−4( +kπ) sin( +kπ) = −4( +kπ) sin( +kπ) 6= 0
2 2 2 2 2 2
If k is even: sin( π2 + kπ) = 1 then f 00 ( π2 + kπ) = −4( π2 + kπ) < 0 then
p
pπ
2
+ kπ is an extremum (maximal).

If k is odd: sin( π2 + kπ) = −1 then f 00 ( π2 + kπ) = 4( π2 + kπ) > 0 then

p
pπ
2
+ kπ is an extremum (minimal).

pπ
The extrema of f are {0, 2
+ kπ}.

(3) f (x) = x4 − x3 + 1, on R ⇒ f 0 (x) = 4x3 − 3x2 .

Critical points :
3
f 0 (x) =⇒ 4x3 − 3x2 ⇒ x2 (4x − 3) = 0 ⇒ (x = 0 ∨ x = )
4
3 3 9 3
f 00 (x) = 12x2 −6x. For x = ⇒ f 00 ( ) = > 0 Then is an extremum (minimal)
4 4 4 4
00 (3) (3)
For x = 0 ⇒ f (0) = 0 ⇒ f (x) = 24x−6 ⇒ f (0) = −6 6= 0 Then 0 is not an extremum.

Exercise 5: Is Rolle’s Theorem applicable to the following functions

sin x π π √
5
(1) f (x) = sin2 x on [0, π]; (2) g(x) = on [− , ]; (3) h(x) = 1− x4 on [−1, 1]
2x 2 2
5
Solution 5: Rolle’s Theorem is a fundamental result in calculus that provides
conditions under which a differentiable function must have at least one point
where the derivative is zero. Here’s a formal statement of Rolle’s Theorem:

Suppose f (x) is a real-valued function that satisfies the following conditions

:
• f (x) is continuous on the closed interval [a, b].

• f (x) is differentiable on the open interval (a, b).

• f (a) = f (b).
Then, there exists at least one number c in the open interval (a, b) such that
f 0 (c) = 0.

Let’s consider the function f (x) = sin2 x on the interval [0, π]. We can
check whether Rolle’s Theorem applies to this function on this interval.

(1) Continuity: The function sin2 x is continuous on the closed interval

[0, π] because the sine function is continuous everywhere.

(2) Differentiability: The function sin2 x is differentiable on the open in-

terval (0, π).

(3) Equal function values at endpoints: f (0) = 0 = f (π).

Since all three conditions of Rolle’s Theorem are satisfied, there exists at
least one number c in the open interval (0, π) such that f 0 (c) = 0.

Exercise 6: Establish the following inequalities by employing the Mean Value

Theorem (MVT)
y−x
(1) x < ln y−ln x
< y, ∀x, y ∈ R+ .
√ x2
(2) 0 < a2 + x 2 ≤ a + a
, ∀a > 0.

Solution 6: The Mean Value Theorem (MVT) is a fundamental theorem

in calculus that establishes a relationship between the average rate of change
of a function over an interval and the instantaneous rate of change at some
6
 point within that interval. Here is the statement of the Mean Value Theorem:

Suppose f is a real-valued function that is continuous on the closed inter-

val [a, b] and differentiable on the open interval (a, b). Then, there exists at
least one number c in the open interval (a, b) such that:

f (b) − f (a)
f 0 (c) = .
b−a

In other words, the derivative of the function at the point c is equal to the
average rate of change of the function over the interval [a, b].
(1) ∀x, y ∈ R∗+ ; 0 < x < y

y−x
x< <y
ln y − ln x

Applying The Mean Value Theorem (MVT) to f (t) = ln t in [x, y], 0 < x < y.
f (t) = ln t is continuous on [x, y] and differentiable on ]x, y[. Then according
Mean Value Theorem

f (y) − f (x) 1 ln y − ln x y−x

∃c ∈]x, y[; f 0 (c) = ⇒ = ⇒c=
y−x c y−x ln y − ln x

and we have
y−x
c ∈]x, y[(x < c < y) ⇒ x < <y
ln y − ln x

√ x2
(2) 0< a2 + x 2 ≤ a + , ∀a > 0
a
√
We suppose that f (t) = a2 + x2 on [0, x], f is continuous on [0, x] and
differentiable on ]0, x[. Then according The Mean Value Theorem

f (x) − f (0) c
∃c ∈]0, x]; f 0 (c) = ⇒ f (x) − f (0) = xf 0 (c) ⇒ f (x) − f (0) = x √
x−0 a + c2
2

√
We have f (0) = a2 = a√and c ∈ [0, x] ⇒ 0 ≤ c ≤ x ⇒ cx ≤ x2 and
x2
c2 ≥ 0 ⇒ c2 + a2 ≥ a2 ⇒ a2 + c2 ≥ a ⇒ √a21+c2 ≤ a1 ⇒ √acx cx
2 +c2 ≤ a ≤ a
7
 because cx2 ≤ x2 .
cx x2
⇒0 ≤ √ ≤
a2 + c 2 a
x2
⇒0 ≤ f (x) − f (0) ≤
a
x2
⇒f (0) ≤ f (x) ≤
+ f (0)
a
√ x2
⇒a ≤ a2 + x2 ≤ +a
a
Exercise 7: Apply L’Hopital’s Rule to calculate the following limits.
2
ex +x − e2x x − sin x 2 ln(1 + x)
lim
; lim ; lim .
x→1 cos π x x→0 x3 x→∞ x2
2

Solution 7:
2 2
ex +x − e2x (2x + 1)ex +x − 2e2x 2e2
(1) lim = lim = − .
x→1 cos π x − π2 sin π2 x



2
x→1 π
x − sin x 1 − cos x sin x cos x 1
(2) lim 3
= lim 2
= lim = lim = .
x→0 x x→0 3x x→0 6x x→0 6 6