Home / AP Calculus AB: 2.4 Connecting Differentiability and Continuity: Determining When Derivatives Do and Do Not Exist – Exam Style questions with Answer- MCQ

AP Calculus AB: 2.4 Connecting Differentiability and Continuity: Determining When Derivatives Do and Do Not Exist – Exam Style questions with Answer- MCQ

Question

A particle moves along the

y

-axis so that at time t0  its position is given  by \(y(t)=t^{3}-4t^{2}+4t+3\) .Which of the following statements describes the motion of the particle at time

t=1

 ?

A The particle is moving down the

y

-axis with decreasing velocity.

B The particle is moving down the

y

-axis with increasing velocity.

C The particle is moving up the

y

-axis with decreasing velocity.

D The particle is moving up the

y

-axis with increasing velocity.

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans:A

The velocity of the particle is \(v(t)=3t^{2}-8t+4\) At time t=1, v(1)=−1. Since the velocity is negative, the particle is moving down the y-axis. The rate of change of the velocity is v′(t)=6t−8. At time t=1, v′(1)=−2. Since this is negative, the particle is moving with decreasing velocity at time t=1.

Question

For any function f, which of the following statements must be true?

I If f is defined at x = a, then .

II If f is continuous at x = a, then .

III If f is differentiable at x = a, then .

A III only

B I and II only

C  II and III only

D  I, II, and III

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans:C

Question

The graph of the function f is shown above. Of the following intervals, on which is f continuous but not differentiable?

A (0,1)

B (1,2)

C (2,3)

D (3,4)

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans:C

Question

 At x = 3, the function given by f(x) \(=\left\{\begin{matrix}
x^2 , x<3& \\
6x-9 , x\geq 3&
\end{matrix}\right.\) is

(A) undefined.
(B) continuous but not differentiable.
(C) differentiable but not continuous.
(D) neither continuous nor differentiable.
(E) both continuous and differentiable.

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans:E

The function is continuous at \(x=3 since \lim_{x\rightarrow 3^-}f(x)=\lim_{x\rightarrow 3^+}f(x)=9=f(3)\). Also, the derivative as you approach x = 3 from the left is 6 and the derivative as you approach x = 3 from the right is also 6. These two facts imply that f is differentiable at x = 3. The function is clearly continuous and differentiable at all other values of x.

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