Sample Final Exam Questions.

𝑥
1) If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 4 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥+1 find 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓(𝑥).

4
2) Find the slope of the tangent to 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 at the point (-1,-4).

3) What are the two conditions for continuity of a function 𝑓(𝑥) at a point 𝑥 = 𝑎.

4) Find 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) using First Principles (the limit definition) for the function 𝑓(𝑥) = √3𝑥 + 2.

5) Evaluate each of the following limits.

𝑥 3 +216
a. lim
𝑥→−6 2𝑥+12

𝑥−4
b. lim
𝑥→4 √𝑥−2

𝑥+𝑥 2
c. lim 𝑥 3 −2
𝑥→2

d. lim𝜋 √sin 𝑥
𝑥→
2

e. lim 2𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥
𝑥→𝜋

6) Evaluate the limits, if they exist.

a. lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→−1

b. lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→0

c. lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→1

𝑥+1 𝑥 < −1
If 𝑓(𝑥) = {𝑥 2 −1≤𝑥 ≤1
√𝑥 𝑥>1

7) Differentiate with respect to x. Simplify.

𝑒 2𝑥
a. 𝑦 = 1+𝑒 2𝑥

b. 𝑓(𝑥) = log 2 √𝑥

c. 𝑦 = 8𝑥 ln(3𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 7)
 d. 𝑓(𝑥) = cos 2(6𝑥 2 − 11𝑥)

𝑑𝑦
8) Find 𝑑𝑥 at 𝑥 = 1 if 𝑦 = 𝑢 − 𝑢3 and 𝑢 = √𝑥 + 4√𝑥

9) Find the equation of the normal to the curve 𝑦 = (𝑥 2 − 3)8 at the point where 𝑥 = 2, expressed in

standard form.

𝑥2
10) Find and classify all critical points of 𝑓(𝑥) = using the first derivative test.
𝑥−1

11) A water balloon is thrown upwards from a height of 100m. the height, s, in meters, of the balloon t

seconds after being thrown is given by the equation 𝑠(𝑡) = 100 + 39.2𝑡 − 4.9𝑡 2 .

a. When does the balloon reach maximum height?

b. What is the maximum height reached by the balloon?

c. When does the balloon hit the ground (round to the nearest hundredth).

d. With what velocity does the balloon hit the ground?

12) A golf pro discovers that the percentage of putts sunk on a putting challenge depends on the

number of consecutive hours the player has practiced on the green prior to the test, and is given by:

−𝑡 2
𝑃(𝑡) = 10𝑡𝑒 4

Where t is the time practiced in hours and P is the percentage of the successful putts. If the players

competing in the putting challenge have up to 5 hours to practice, how long should a player practice

prior to the putting challenge if he wants to maximize his success? What is the maximum percentage

of successful putts possible?

−𝑥
13) Analyze and sketch the graph of the function given by 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 −1

𝑥 2 +1 −2𝑥(𝑥 2 +3)
Where 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = (𝑥 2 −1)2 and 𝑓 ′′ (𝑥) = (𝑥 2 −1)3
. Include 1. The intercepts 2. The equations of any

asymptotes and the behaviour 3. Critical points (and intervals of increase/decrease) 4. Points of

inflection (and concavity).