MATH 21A. 1-st Midterm Test (Sample).

October 12, 2008

The exam is “closed book, closed notes, no calculators”. Show all

the work: Correct answer without justification can result in a very low
score on the problem.

1. If limx→a f (x) = A and limx→a g(x) = B, prove, using the defi-

nition of the limit, that limx→a (f (x) + g(x)) = A + B.

2. At what points is the function

!
sin(x) + 3
f (x) =
1 − cos2 (x)

continuous?

3. (i) State the Sandwich Theorem. (ii) Give an example of a

function with a non-removable discontinuity at a point. Explain your
answer.

4. Find (using limit theorems) L = limx→2 f (x), where

x2 − 4
f (x) = .
x−2
Then, given ε, find a number δ > 0 such that for all x

0 < |x − 2| < δ ⇒ |f (x) − L| < ε .

5. Consider the function f (x) = x+2

x−1
+ x. Determine the vertical
and oblique asymptotes of y = f (x).

Solutions: See the next page.

1
 Solutions
Problem 1. Solution. See pages 90-91 of the textbook.
Problem 2. Solution. We first have to figure out the domain of this
function. !
sin(x) + 3
f (x) =
1 − cos2 (x)
is defined whenever sin(x) + 3 ≥ 0 and 1 − cos2 (x) $= 0. For the first
inequality, note that for all x,

−1 ≤ sin(x) ≤ 1.

Therefore, sin(x) + 3 ≥ −1 + 3 = 2 ≥ 0 for all x. For the second

condition, note that 1 − cos2 (x) = 0 precisely when cos(x) = ±1, that
is,
x = πn,
n is an integer. Thus, the domain of f consists of all x so that x $= πn,
√
n is an integer. Since the functions , x2 , sin and cos are continuous
whenever they are defined, by applying the ratio rule and the compo-
sition rule we see that that function f is continuous on its domain.
Therefore, the answer is:
The function f (x) is continuous for all x $= πn, n is an integer.
Problem 3. Solution.
Part (i) See page 82 of the textbook.
Part (ii). Consider the function

f (x) = 0, x ≤ 0, f (x) = 1, x > 0.

I claim that this function has non-removable discontinuity at x = 0.

Indeed, note that limx→0− f (x) = 0, limx→0+ f (x) = 1. Therefore, if we
assign any value f (0) = L to the function f , then

L $= lim f (x)
x→0

by the theorem about one-sided and two-sided limits (Theorem 6, page

97, you do not have to memorize this). Hence, we cannot make f
continuous at 0 by assigning any value to f (0).
Problem 4. Solution.

x2 − 4
f (x) = =x+2
x−2
for x $= 2. Since x+ 2 is a continuous function, limx→2 f (x) = 2 + 2 = 4.
Now, let’s find δ. The inequality |f (x) − 4| < ε (for x $= 2) reads

|(x + 2) − 4| < ε ⇐⇒ |x − 2| < ε.

Therefore, δ = ε will have the property that

0 < |x − 2| < δ ⇒ |f (x) − 4| < ε .

2
 Problem 5. Solution. The domain of f is {x $= 1}. Let’s check if
the line x = 1 is a vertical asymptote of f . For this, consider
x+2
lim + x.
x→1+ x−1
By the limit theorems involving infinite limits, we get
x+2 3
lim +x= + 1 = +∞.
x→1+ x − 1 0+
Similarly,
x+2 3
lim +x= + 1 = −∞.
x→1− x − 1 0−
(You can check either one of these limits, you do not need both.) There-
fore, the line x = 1 is a vertical asymptote of f .
Now, let’s find the oblique asymptotes of f . By the long division,
or by direct observation, we get
x+2 3
=1+ .
x−1 x−1
Thus,
3
f (x) = x + 1 + .
x−1
We have:
3 3/x 0
lim = lim 1 = = 0.
x→±∞ x − 1 x→±∞ 1 − 1−0
x

Therefore, the line y = x + 1 is the oblique asymptote of y = f (x).