MthT 430 2002 Midterm Common Mistakes
MthT 430 2002 Midterm Common Mistakes
I. Definitions
1.
(10 points) Define …
2.
(10 points) Is …
II. Examples
3.
(10 points) Give an example of two functions f and g such that f °g = g °f. Be sure to verify that the domains are the same.
Common Mistake: Not verifying the domains
4.
(10 points) Give an example of a function f(x) defined for all real numbers such that limx → 0f(x) exists but does not equal f(0).
Common Mistake: Not verifying the domain or not redefining the function at x=0 so that it is discontinuous at 0.
5.
(20 points) Let
F(x)
=

 

x2 − 1
 
,
G(x)
=

 

1 − x2
 
.
Describe:
domain(F) and domain(G).
Common Mistake: Not identifying correctly domain(F) = {|x| ≥ 1}.
domain(G °F) must be a subset of domainF. Answer: {1 ≤ |x| ≤ √2}
III. Proofs
6.
(20 points) Show, using only P1 - P9:
For all a, a ·0 = 0.
You may abbreviate (distributive, … ).
Common Mistakes:
Starting by assuming the result and manipulating:
a ·0
= 0
(1)
a−1 ·a ·0
= 0 ·a−1
(2)
1 ·0
= 0 ·a−1
(3)
0
= 0
RHS assumes result! (4)
If all the steps were justified, one would have to "reverse" to obtain the result. Going from (4) to (3) assumes the result. All that has been shown is: a ·0 = 0 implies 0 · a−1 = 0.
Not using P9 (distributive) somewhere.
7.
(20 points) Show by mathematical induction or otherwise: (Bernoulli's Inequality) For all natural numbers n = 1, 2, …, for x > −1,
(1 + x)n ≥ 1 + n x.
Common Mistakes:
(Clarity) P(n) is not stated clearly.
(Minor) Not being explicit as to how the condition x > −1 is used in passing from P(n) to P(n+1)
Writing P(n) = (1 + x)n ≥ 1 + n x
Writing P(n+1) and manipulating to try to obtain P(n).
(We won't do this again!) (1 + x)n+1 = 1n+1 + xn+1.
IV. Qualitative Properties of Functions
8.
(30 points) The graph below shows how the height of a liquid in beaker X varies as water is steadily dripped into it. Copy the graph, and on the same diagram show the height-volume relationship for the Ink Bottle.
Describe the features of the graph you have drawn. Your description should include …
Common Mistakes
Identifying the domain
Identifying the maximum height (same as for Beaker X)
Interchanging the the roles of Height and Volume when saying "faster", etc.
Incomplete word descriptions



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