Home / IBDP Maths AA: Topic: AHL 5.12: continuity and differentiability: IB style Questions HL Paper 3

IBDP Maths AA: Topic: AHL 5.12: continuity and differentiability: IB style Questions HL Paper 3

Question

Consider the series

\(\sum_{n=1} ^{\infty }\frac{(5-3x)^n}{n}\)

(a) Show that the series is convergent for \(\frac{4}{3}\)< x< 2 . [5]

(b) Find the interval of convergence of the series. [5]

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans:

(a)

METHOD 1

\(\frac{a^{n+1}}{a_{n}}= \frac{(5-3x)^{n+1}}{n+1}.\frac{n}{(5-3x)^{n}}\)

\(= \frac{n}{n+1}(5-3x)\)

\(\lim_{x\rightarrow \infty }|\frac{a_{n+1}}{a_{n}}= |5-3x|\)

for convetgence, |5-3x|<1

– 1<5-3x<1 or -\(\frac{1}{3}<\frac{5}{3}-x <\frac{1}{3}\)

Note: If a candidate writes a correct inequality, without errors in working, but did not  explicitly write the absolute value of their limit, award R0A1.

\(\frac{4}{3}<x<2\)

(b)

consider one of the endpoints 

at x= \(\frac{4}{3}, series is \sum_{n=1}^{\infty }\frac{1}{n}\) which diverges (harmonic or p-series)

at x= 2, series is \(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty }\frac{(-1)^{n}}{n}\)

Note: If candidates omit sigma, award A0A1, but subsequent marks can still be awarded.

EITHER

\((\frac{1}{n+1}<\frac{1}{n}\Rightarrow )\)decreasing and \(\lim_{x\rightarrow \infty } \frac{1}{n}= 0 \)

hence series converges at x = 2

OR

which converges by the alternating series test

THEN interval is \(\frac{4}{3}<x \leq 2\)

Question

The function \(f\) is defined by

\[f\left( x \right) = \left\{ {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}}
{\left| {x – 2} \right| + 1}&{x < 2} \\
{a{x^2} + bx}&{x \geqslant 2}
\end{array}} \right.\]

where \(a\) and \(b\) are real constants

Given that both \(f\) and its derivative are continuous at \(x = 2\), find the value of \(a\) and the value of \(b\).

▶️Answer/Explanation

Markscheme

considering continuity at \(x = 2\)

\(\mathop {{\text{lim}}}\limits_{x \to {2^ – }} f\left( x \right) = 1\) and \(\mathop {{\text{lim}}}\limits_{x \to {2^ + }} f\left( x \right) = 4a + 2b\) (M1)

\(4a + 2b = 1\) A1

considering differentiability at \(x = 2\)

\(f’\left( x \right) = \left\{ {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}}
{ – 1}&{x < 2} \\
{2ax + b}&{x \geqslant 2}
\end{array}} \right.\) (M1)

\(\mathop {{\text{lim}}}\limits_{x \to {2^ – }} f’\left( x \right) = – 1\) and \(\mathop {{\text{lim}}}\limits_{x \to {2^ + }} f’\left( x \right) = 4a + b\) (M1)

Note: The above M1 is for attempting to find the left and right limit of their derived piecewise function at \(x = 2\).

\(4a + b = – 1\) A1

\(a = – \frac{3}{4}\) and \(b = 2\) A1

[6 marks]

Question

Let \(f(x) = 2x + \left| x \right|\) , \(x \in \mathbb{R}\) .

a.Prove that f is continuous but not differentiable at the point (0, 0) .[7]

b.Determine the value of \(\int_{ – a}^a {f(x){\text{d}}x} \) where \(a > 0\) .[3]

▶️Answer/Explanation

Markscheme

we note that \(f(0) = 0,{\text{ }}f(x) = 3x\) for \(x > 0\) and \(f(x) = x{\text{ for }}x < 0\)

\(\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to {0^ – }} f(x) = \mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to {0^ – }} x = 0\)     M1A1

\(\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to {0^ – }} f(x) = \mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to {0^ – }} 3x = 0\)     A1

since \(f(0) = 0\) , the function is continuous when x = 0     AG

\(\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to {0^ – }} \frac{{f(0 + h) – f(0)}}{h} = \mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to {0^ – }} \frac{h}{h} = 1\)     M1A1

\(\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to {0^ + }} \frac{{f(0 + h) – f(0)}}{h} = \mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to {0^ + }} \frac{{3h}}{h} = 3\)     A1

these limits are unequal     R1

so f is not differentiable when x = 0     AG

[7 marks]

a.

\(\int_{ – a}^a {f(x){\text{d}}x = \int_{ – a}^0 {x{\text{d}}x + \int_0^a {3x{\text{d}}x} } } \)     M1

\( = \left[ {\frac{{{x^2}}}{2}} \right]_{ – a}^0 + \left[ {\frac{{3{x^2}}}{2}} \right]_0^a\)     A1

\( = {a^2}\)     A1

[3 marks]

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