MATH111 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry

Section-B
Homework - 1
Due: 18-09-15

Problem 1. Consider the part of the curve y = 1/x that lies in the first quadrant, and draw the tangent at
an arbitrary point (x0, Y0) on this curve .
(a) Show that the portion of the tangent which is cut off by the axes is bisected by the point of tangency.
(b) Find the area of the triangle formed by the axes and the tangent, and verify that this area is
independent of the location of the point of tangency.

Problem 2. Find f'(x) if f(x) = x3 - 3x. Use this result to verify the positions of the high and low
points on the curve y = x3 - 3x that are shown in the following figure. Hint: At the high and low
points the tangent is horizontal.

Problem 3. Graph the function y = f(x) = l xl + x, and prove that this function is not differentiable at
x = 0. Hint: In formula for derivative, first take x positive, obtaining one limiting value; then take x
negative, obtaining a different limiting value. In a situation of this kind we say that the function has a
right derivative and a left derivative, but not a derivative.

Problem 4. It takes 12 hours to drain a storage tank by opening the valve at the bottom. The depth y of
fluid in the tank, t hours after the valve is opened is given by:
y = 6 ( 1 - t/12 )2 m

a. Find the rate dy/dt (m/h) at which the tank is draining at time t.
b. When is the fluid level in the tank falling fastest? and slowest?
c. Draw the graph of y and dy/dt together and discuss the behavior of y in relation to the signs and
values of dy/dt.

Problem 5. The volume V = (4/3) r3 of a spherical balloon changes with the radius.
a. At what rate does the volume change with respect to the radius when r = 2 ft?
b. By approximately how much does the volume increase when the radius changes from 2 to 2.2 ft?