A2/MATH1009/2016-17/1st

THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS

MATH1009 Basic Mathematics for Business and Economics

Assignment 2

Due date : Sep 30, 2016 before 18:00.

Instructions

• Please submit your work as a PDF file in moodle. SCAN your work properly in A4 size
and save it as a PDF file.

Warning: Please make sure that your work is properly scanned. Oversized, blurred or
upside-down images will NOT be graded.

• Scanners are available in Level 3 of the Main Library (you may need to reserve the con-
necting computer).

• While you can upload and save draft in moodle, you MUST click “Submit” to declare
your final submission before the due date. Otherwise, you will be considered late and no
late work will be accepted.

Remarks

• You are welcome to see the instructor or the tutors if you have any difficulties. See “Course
Information” in moodle for availabilities.

• You should always give precise and adequate explanations to support your conclusions.
Note that being able to write clearly is as important a mathematical skill as being able to
solve equations and compute correct answers. Do not just give the solution in fragmentary
bits and pieces. Clarity of presentation of your argument counts.

You need only to give your answers to those questions indicated with *. Other problems
are optional and will not be marked. However, we do expect you to eventually finish all
problems.

Chapter 2 (Section 2.4 to 2.5)

2
1. (a) Sketch the graph of f (x) = 3x−4 . Use the horizontal line test to show that f (x) is
injective on where it is defined.
(b) Find f −1 (y).

2. The linear function f (x) = 95 x+32 converts temperatures in degrees Celsius to Fahrenheit.
Write down its inverse function which converts temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit to
Celsius. What is the normal body temperature in degrees Fahrenheit? (The normal body
temperature is 37 degrees Celsius.)

1
 3. Let k be any number. Show that the function
1
f (x) = k +
x−k
is its own inverse.

*4. Let f (x) = 2x + |2 − x|. Show that f −1 exists and express f −1 (y) as a case-defined
function.

*5. Let f (x) = x2 − x + 2 for any x ≥ 12 . Show that f −1 exists and find f −1 (y).
√
6. Let f (x) = 1 − x2 for any 0 ≤ x ≤ 1. Show that f −1 exists and find f −1 (y).

*7. Suppose that the demand and supply functions for a commodity are given by

q D (p) = a − bp and q S (p) = −c + dp,

a c
where a, b, c, d are positive constants with > .
b d
(a) Find the equilibrium price p∗ and equilibrium quantity q ∗ .
(b) Suppose now that the government decides to impose an excise tax of t on each unit
of the commodity. Find the new equilibrium price p∗∗ in terms of p∗ .
(Hint: When an excise tax of t per unit is imposed, the new selling price from the
supplier’s viewpoint is p − t. In other words, the new supply function is given by
q S (p − t). The demand function remains the same.)

*8. Consider the following system of two linear equations with two unknowns:
(
ax + by = e (1)
(∗) :
cx + dy = f (2)

where a, b, c, d, e and f are given constants. Assume that (x, y) = (x1 , y1 ) is a solution
to (∗). Assume further that (x, y) = (x2 , y2 ) is another solution to (∗) with (x1 , y1 ) 6=
(x2 , y2 ).

(a) Show that (x, y) = (x1 − x2 , y1 − y2 ) is a solution to the system

(
ax + by = 0 (3)
(∗∗) :
cx + dy = 0 (4)

(b) Show that, for any number λ,

(x, y) = (x1 + λ(x1 − x2 ), y1 + λ(y1 − y2 ))

is also a solution to the system (∗). Hence, deduce that the system (∗) has infinitely
many solutions.

2
 9. Use the method of row operations to solve the following system of linear equations:

 3x + 4y + 3z = 6
 (1)
x + 2y = 5 (2)

11x + 12y + 15z = 11 (3)


*10. Use the method of row operations to solve the following system of linear equations:

 9x + y
 + 11z = 29 (1)
x − 2y − 3z = −1 (2)

7x − 6y − 5z = 9 (3)


11. Use the method of row operations to solve the following system of linear equations:

 x + 24y + 3z = 240
 (1)
x + y + z = 80 (2)

2x + 3y + 3z = 219 (3)


12. Use the method of row operations to solve the following system of linear equations:

 x +
 2y + 2z = 0 (1)
2x + 5y + 7z = 0 (2)

3x + 6y + 6z = 0 (3)


*13. Consider the following system of linear equations


 2x +
 2y + 3z = 0 (1)
4x + 8y + 12z = −4 (2)

6x + 2y + αz = 4 (3)


For what values of α will the system

(a) have a unique solution?

(b) have no solution?
(c) have infinitely many solutions?

For (a) and (c), find also the solution(s) to the system.

*14. Consider the following system of linear equations


 x
 + y = λ (1)
x + 2y − 3z = λ (2)

2x + ky + 3z = λ (3)


3
 For what values of k and λ will the system

(a) have a unique solution?

(b) have no solution?
(c) have infinitely many solutions?

For (a) and (c), find also the solution(s) to the system.

Chapter 3 (Section 3.1)

15. Compute the difference quotient of f (x) = x3 at x = 2 with

(a) h = 1 (b) h = 2 (c) h = −1.

Sketch the graph of f (x); On this graph, draw the secant line with slope corresponding to
the difference quotient of each of (a), (b) and (c).

1
*16. Compute the difference quotient of f (x) = at x = 4 with
x
(a) h = 1 (b) h = 2 (c) h = −1.

Sketch the graph of f (x); On this graph, draw the secant line with slope corresponding to
the difference quotient of each of (a), (b) and (c).

17. (a) Find the slope of the tangent line L to the graph of the function f (x) = x4 at
x = −2. (Hint: Given that f 0 (x) = 4x3 .)
(b) Hence write down the equation of L.

√
*18. (a) Find the slope of the tangent line L to the graph of the function f (x) = x at
1
x = 4. (Hint: Given that f 0 (x) = √ .)
2 x
(b) Hence write down the equation of L.

19. Use the derivative to find the approximate change in the function f (x) = x3 when x
changes from 3 to 3.002.
(Hint: Given that f 0 (x) = 3x2 .)

√
*20. Use the derivative to find the approximate change in the function f (x) = x when x
changes from 64 to 65.
1
(Hint: Given that f 0 (x) = √ .)
2 x