Calculus problems - 4 questions

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a set of four calculus problems involving two curves, \(y=f(x)\) and \(y=g(x)=\int_{-\infty}^{x} f(t)dt\), with specific points through which they pass. The tangents to these curves at points with equal abscissas are said to intersect on the x-axis, leading to various questions about derivatives and areas related to these curves.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the implications of the tangents intersecting on the x-axis, leading to equations involving \(f(x)\) and \(g(x)\). Some attempt to derive values for derivatives and limits using L'Hôpital's rule and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.

Discussion Status

Several participants have provided attempts at solving the questions, particularly focusing on the first two questions. There is ongoing exploration of the third question, with some participants expressing confusion about the wording of the problem and the relationships between the curves. A few have suggested methods to derive further equations, but no consensus has been reached on the solutions.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the lack of clarity in the problem statement, particularly regarding the relationships between the curves and the points through which they pass. There is also mention of constraints related to the participants' coursework, specifically regarding the solving of second-order differential equations.

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Homework Statement


(There are four questions based on the paragraph below. I was able to solve two of them but clueless about the other two.)
Given two curves ##y=f(x)## passing through the points (0,1) and the curve ##y=g(x)=\int_{-∞}^{x} f(t)dt## passing through the points (0,1/2). The tangents drawn to both the curves at the points with equal abscissas intersect on the x-axis. Then

Q.1) The value of f'(0) is:
(A)0
(B)1/2
(C)2
(D)1

Attempt:
Let the points on the curve at which the tangents are drawn be ##(x_1,y_1)## for ##y=f(x)## and ##(x_1,y_2)## for ##y=g(x)##.
The equation of tangent at ##(x_1,y_1)## is ##y-y_1=f'(x_1)(x-x_1)##. It intersects the x-axis at ##x=\frac{-y_1}{f'(x_1)}+x_1##.
The equation of tangent at ##(x_1,y_2)## is ##y-y_2=g'(x_1)(x-x_1)## and this intersects the x-axis at ##x=\frac{-y_2}{g'(x_1)}+x_1##.
According to the above paragraph, the tangents intersect at x-axis, the x intercept is equal. Hence ##\frac{y_1}{f'(x_1)}=\frac{y_2}{g'(x_1)}## which is equal to ##f(x_1) \cdot g'(x_1)=g(x_1) \cdot f'(x_1)## using ##y_1=f(x_1)## and ##y_2=g(x_1)##.
We have ##g'(x)=f(x)##. And for ##x_1=0##, i get ##f(0) \cdot f(0)=g(0) \cdot f'(0)##.
##f(0)=1## and ##g(0)=\frac{1}{2}##. Therefore, ##f'(0)=2##.

Q.2)##\lim_{x→0}\frac{f^2(x)-1}{x}## equals
(A)1
(B)2
(C)3
(D)4

Attempt:
Using L'Hôpital's rule,
\lim_{x→0}\frac{f^2(x)-1}{x}=\lim_{x→0} 2f(x) \cdot f'(x)
Solving, I get the answer 4.

Q.3)The value of ##g'(\frac{1}{2})## is
(A)e
(B)e/2
(C)2e
(D)1

Attempt:
I can't obtain the value of g'(1/2) using any of the equations I have derived. I am stuck here.

Q.4)The area bounded by the x-axis, the tangent and normal to the curve y=f(x) at the point where it cuts the y-axis, is:
(A)3/4
(B)1
(C)5/4
(D)3/2

Attempt:
Haven't yet tried this. I would like to first discuss Q.3 and then move on to this one.

Thanks for taking your time to read this.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
 
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Pranav-Arora said:

Homework Statement


(There are four questions based on the paragraph below. I was able to solve two of them but clueless about the other two.)
Given two curves ##y=f(x)## passing through the points (0,1) and the curve ##y=g(x)=\int_{-∞}^{x} f(t)dt## passing through the points (0,1/2). The tangents drawn to both the curves at the points with equal abscissas intersect on the x-axis. Then

Q.1) The value of f'(0) is:
(A)0
(B)1/2
(C)2
(D)1

Attempt:
Let the points on the curve at which the tangents are drawn be ##(x_1,y_1)## for ##y=f(x)## and ##(x_1,y_2)## for ##y=g(x)##.
The equation of tangent at ##(x_1,y_1)## is ##y-y_1=f'(x_1)(x-x_1)##. It intersects the x-axis at ##x=\frac{-y_1}{f'(x_1)}+x_1##.
The equation of tangent at ##(x_1,y_2)## is ##y-y_2=g'(x_1)(x-x_1)## and this intersects the x-axis at ##x=\frac{-y_2}{g'(x_1)}+x_1##.
According to the above paragraph, the tangents intersect at x-axis, the x intercept is equal. Hence ##\frac{y_1}{f'(x_1)}=\frac{y_2}{g'(x_1)}## which is equal to ##f(x_1) \cdot g'(x_1)=g(x_1) \cdot f'(x_1)## using ##y_1=f(x_1)## and ##y_2=g(x_1)##.
We have ##g'(x)=f(x)##. And for ##x_1=0##, i get ##f(0) \cdot f(0)=g(0) \cdot f'(0)##.
##f(0)=1## and ##g(0)=\frac{1}{2}##. Therefore, ##f'(0)=2##.

Q.2)##\lim_{x→0}\frac{f^2(x)-1}{x}## equals
(A)1
(B)2
(C)3
(D)4

Attempt:
Using L'Hôpital's rule,
\lim_{x→0}\frac{f^2(x)-1}{x}=\lim_{x→0} 2f(x) \cdot f'(x)
Solving, I get the answer 4.

Q.3)The value of ##g'(\frac{1}{2})## is
(A)e
(B)e/2
(C)2e
(D)1

Attempt:
I can't obtain the value of g'(1/2) using any of the equations I have derived. I am stuck here.
Use the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus (2nd part) to find g'(x).
Pranav-Arora said:
Q.4)The area bounded by the x-axis, the tangent and normal to the curve y=f(x) at the point where it cuts the y-axis, is:
(A)3/4
(B)1
(C)5/4
(D)3/2

Attempt:
Haven't yet tried this. I would like to first discuss Q.3 and then move on to this one.

Thanks for taking your time to read this.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
 
Mark44 said:
Use the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus (2nd part) to find g'(x).

I already found g'(x) in the attempt of Q.1 and is equal to f(x). I do not know the value of f(1/2).
 
Last edited:
I'm having a hard time understanding what the initial paragraph is trying to say.
Pranav-Arora said:
Given two curves ##y=f(x)## passing through the points (0,1) and the curve ##y=g(x)=\int_{-∞}^{x} f(t)dt## passing through the points (0,1/2). The tangents drawn to both the curves at the points with equal abscissas intersect on the x-axis.
"Given two curves " - presumably this refers to y = f(x) and y = g(x), but the lack of any punctuation makes this unclear to me.

"...passing through the points (0, 1) ..." This is a single point.
"...passing through the points (0, 1/2) ... " This is also a single point.
"The tangents drawn to both the curves at the points with equal abscissas..." - Does this refer to all pairs of points on the two curves where one point is above or below the corresponding point on the other curve?

The wording is very confusing to me - is there a drawing that shows the relationship better than this description?
 


Mark44 said:
The wording is very confusing to me - is there a drawing that shows the relationship better than this description?

No, there is no drawing with this paragraph.
 
Anyone?
 
Ooo. Ooo. I've got it. "The tangents drawn to both the curves at the points with equal abscissas intersect on the x-axis." They mean that for any value of x that the tangents for f and g there will intersect the x-axis. Not just the two given points. So you've got f(x)*f(x)=g(x)*f'(x) holds for all x. Try to turn that into a differential equation involving only f and solve it.
 
Dick said:
Ooo. Ooo. I've got it. "The tangents drawn to both the curves at the points with equal abscissas intersect on the x-axis." They mean that for any value of x that the tangents for f and g there will intersect the x-axis. Not just the two given points. So you've got f(x)*f(x)=g(x)*f'(x) holds for all x. Try to turn that into a differential equation involving only f and solve it.

How will I express g(x) in terms of f(x)? :confused:

Even if I differentiate f(x)*f(x)=g(x)*f'(x), g(x) still remains.
 
Pranav-Arora said:
How will I express g(x) in terms of f(x)? :confused:

Even if I differentiate f(x)*f(x)=g(x)*f'(x), g(x) still remains.

Solve for g(x) first. Then differentiate!
 
  • #10
Dick said:
Solve for g(x) first. Then differentiate!

g'(x)=\frac{2(f'(x))^2 \cdot f(x)-f^2(x) \cdot f''(x)}{(f'(x))^2}

I am still clueless. I can't obtain value of g'(1/2) from this equation.
 
  • #11
Pranav-Arora said:
g'(x)=\frac{2(f'(x))^2 \cdot f(x)-f^2(x) \cdot f''(x)}{(f'(x))^2}

I am still clueless. I can't obtain value of g'(1/2) from this equation.

No you can't. But you can certainly simplify that relation. You want to get a differential equation to solve for f(x).
 
  • #12
Dick said:
No you can't. But you can certainly simplify that relation. You want to get a differential equation to solve for f(x).

Wouldn't that give me a differential equation in f(x) of second order?
 
  • #13
Pranav-Arora said:
Wouldn't that give me a differential equation in f(x) of second order?

Yes it will. But it will be easy to solve. And you have two boundary values, you know f(0) and f'(0).
 
  • #14
Dick said:
Yes it will. But it will be easy to solve. And you have two boundary values, you know f(0) and f'(0).

I don't know how to solve differential equations of second order and it is not in our course too.

Simplifying, i get
f'(x)=\sqrt{f(x) \cdot f''(x)}
At x=0,
f''(0)=4
 
  • #15
Pranav-Arora said:
I don't know how to solve differential equations of second order and it is not in our course too.

Simplifying, i get
f'(x)=\sqrt{f(x) \cdot f''(x)}
At x=0,
f''(0)=4

This is really no harder to solve than a first order equation. Write it as f'(x)/f(x)=f''(x)/f'(x). Remember (log(f))'=f'/f?
 
  • #16
Thanks a lot Dick!
The f''(x) term made me feel that now its impossible for me to solve this. Your hint was really helpful.

I got f(x)=e^(2x). I have solved the q.3 & 4. Answer to Q.3 is e and to Q.4 is 5/4.

Thanks once again. :smile:
 

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