Department of Mathematics, University of Namibia, Windhoek

MAT 3512 Precalculus Tutorial 5 Solutions 20 August 2018

Question 1.

a) an = 2 > 0 and n = 3 which is odd. So, as x → −∞, y → −∞, and as x → +∞, y→

+∞.

b) an = 1 > 0 and n = 4 which is even. So, as x → ±∞, y → +∞.

c) an = 1 > 0 and n = 7 which is odd. So, as x → −∞, y → −∞, and as x → +∞, y→

+∞.
5
d) an = > 0 and n = 21 which is odd. So, as x → −∞, y → −∞, and as x → +∞, y→
6
+∞.

Question 2.

a) f (x) = x3 + 4x2 − 3x − 18 = (x − 2)(x2 + 6x + 9) = (x − 2)(x + 3)2 .

Intercepts: x−int: x = 2 and x = −3.

y−int: y = −18.

Sign-changes:

Intervals (−∞, −3) (−3, 2) (2, ∞)

x−2 − − +
(x + 3)2 + + +
f (x) − − +

End-Behaviors: As x → −∞, y → −∞ and as x → +∞, y → +∞.

1
 y

f (x) = x3 + 4x2 − 3x − 18

−3 2 x

−18

b) g(x) = −2x3 − x2 + 8x + 4 = −(x − 2)(x + 2)(2x + 1).

Intercepts: x−int: x = −2, x = − 12 and x = 2.

y−int: y = 4.

Sign-changes:

Intervals (−∞, −2) (−2, − 21 ) (− 12 , 2) (2, ∞)

x+2 − + + +
2x + 1 − − + +
−(x − 2) + + + −
g(x) + − + −

End-Behaviors: As x → −∞, y → +∞ and as x → +∞, y → −∞.

2
 y

4 g(x) = −2x3 − x2 + 8x + 4

−2 − 21 2 x

c) h(x) = x4 − 1 = (x − 1)(x + 1)(x2 + 1).

Intercepts: x−int: x = −1 and x = 1.

y−int: y = −1.

Sign-changes:

Intervals (−∞, −1) (−1, 1) (1, ∞)

x−1 − − +
x+1 − + +
x2 + 1 + + +
h(x) + − +

3
 End-Behaviors: As x → ±∞, y → +∞

h(x) = x4 − 1

−1 1 x
−1

Question 3.
b b
For a general quadratic function f (x) = ax2 + bx + c, the vertex is at point − 2a



, f − 2a . If
b b



a > 0, then f − 2a is the minimum value of f , and if a < 0, then f − 2a is the maximum
value of f .

a) f (x) = x2 + 2x + 1, where a = 1, b = 2, and c = 1.

b 2 b


So, − =− = −1, and f − 2a = f (−1) = 0.
2a 2(1)

Thus, the vertex is at (−1, 0), where 0 is the minimum value of f .

y
f (x) = x2 + 2x + 1

−1 x

b) f (x) = 3x2 + x + 1, where a = 3, b = 1, and c = 1.

b 1 1 b

11
= f − 16 =


So, − =− = − , and f − 2a .
2a 2(3) 6 12
11
Thus, the vertex is at − 61 , 11


12 , where 12 is the minimum value of f .

4
 y

f (x) = 3x2 + x + 1

1
11
12

− 16 x

c) f (x) = 6x2 − 3x + 2, where a = 6, b = −3, and c = 2.

b −3 1 b

13
= f 41 = .


So, − =− = , and f − 2a
2a 2(6) 4 8

1 13

13
Thus, the vertex is at 4, − 8 , where is the minimum value of f .
8

f (x) = 6x2 − 3x + 2

2
13
8

1
4 x

5
d) f (x) = 2x2 + 5x − 1, where a = 2, b = 5, and c = −1.
b 5 5 b 33
= f − 54 = − .



So, − =− = − , and f − 2a
2a 2(2) 4 8
33
Thus, the vertex is at − 45 , − 33


8 , where − 8 is the minimum value of f .

f (x) = 2x2 + 5x − 1

−2.7 − 45 0.19 x
−1

− 33
8

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“There are things which seem incredible to most men who have not studied mathematics.”–
Aristotle (384 BC-322 BC)

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