Math 3 Group Work Problems, 1/23

x2 − 4
 
2. Use continuity to evaluate the limit lim arctan .
x→2 3x2 − 6x

Solution:

Inverse trigonometric functions are continuous at every number in their domain (a useful
fact to remember).
 Therefore,
 arctan iscontinuous.
 Now if you write
x2 −4 x2 −4
f (g(x)) = arctan 3x2 −6x
i.e., g(x) = 3x2 −6x
and f (x) = arctan(x). As f is continuous
function thus lim f (g(x)) = f (lim g(x)).
x→2 x→2
 2   
x −4 (x−2)(x

+ 2) 4 2
lim g(x) = lim = lim = = .

x→2 x→2 2
3x − 6x x→2 3x(x− 2)

6 3
 
2
=⇒ lim f (g(x)) = arctan ≈ 0.5880
x→2 3

3. Find the values of a and b that make f continuous everywhere.

 2
x −4

 x−2 if x < 2
2
f (x) = ax − bx + 3 if 2 ≤ x < 3

2x − a + b if x ≥ 3

Solution:

x2 − 4
   
(x−2)(x

+ 2)
At x = 2: lim− = lim− = lim− (x + 2) = 4 and

x→2 x−2 x→2 (x−2)


x→2
2
lim+ ax − bx + 3 = 4a − 2b + 3. Thus for f (x) to be continuous at x = 2,
x→2
4a − 2b + 3 = 4 =⇒ 4a − 2b = 1 —– (1)

At x = 3: lim− (ax2 − bx + 3) = 9a − 3b + 3 and lim+ (2x − a + b) = 6 − a + b. Thus for

x→3 x→3
f (x) to be continuous at x = 3 we must have 9a−3b+3 = 6−a+b =⇒ 10a − 4b = 3 —– (2)
Solving (1) and (2)
4a − 2b = 1 × −2 Substituting a = 1/2 to eq. (1)
10a − 4b = 3 4(1/2) − 2b = 1 =⇒ b = 1/2 .

2a = 1 =⇒ a = 1/2
Thus a = b = 1/2 for f (x) to be continuous on (−∞, ∞).

1
4. A Tibetan monk leaves the monastery at 7:00 AM and takes his usual path to the top of
the mountain, arriving at 7:00 PM. The following morning, he starts at 7:00 AM at the top
and takes the same path back, arriving at the monastery at 7:00 PM. Use the Intermediate
Value Theorem to show that there is a point on the path that the monk will cross at exactly
the same time of day on both days.
Solution:

Let d be the distance between the monastery and the top of the hill.
Define x1 (t) to be the distance traveled by the monk in t hours on day one and similarly
define x2 (t) to be the distance traveled by the monk in t hours on day two.

In the above setup x1 (0) = 0, x1 (12) = d, x2 (0) = d and x2 (12) = 0.

Next consider the function (x1 − x2 )(t), which is continuous on [−d, d]. Also, note that
(x1 − x2 )(0) = −d and (x1 − x2 )(12) = d.

Therefore, due to the Intermediate Value Theorem there must be a time t0 ; 0 < t0 <
12, where (x1 − x2 )(t0 ) = 0 =⇒ x1 (t0 ) = x2 (t0 ).