Calculus MCQs

𝑥 2 −16
1. Simplify the expression: lim
𝑥→4 𝑥−4

a. 1 b. 0
c. 8 d. 16

Solution:

𝑥 2 − 16 (𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 4)
lim = lim
𝑥→4 𝑥 − 4 𝑥→4 𝑥−4
= lim 𝑥 + 4
𝑥→4
=4+4
=8

2. If 𝑎 is a simple constant, what is the derivative of 𝑦 = 𝑥 𝑎 ?

a. 𝑎𝑥 𝑎−1 b. (𝑎 − 1)𝑥
c. 𝑥 𝑎−1 d. 𝑎𝑥

Solution:
𝑦 = 𝑥𝑎
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑎𝑥 𝑎−1
𝑑𝑥

3. Find the derivative of the function 2𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 9 with respect to 𝑥.

a. 4𝑥 − 8 b. 2𝑥 + 9
c. 2𝑥 + 8 d. 4𝑥 + 8

Solution:
𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 9
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 2(2)𝑥 2−1 + 8𝑥1−1 + 0
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 4𝑥 + 8

4. Find the partial derivatives with respect to 𝑥 of the function: 𝑥𝑦 2 − 5𝑥 + 6.

a. 𝑦 2 − 5 b. 𝑥𝑦 − 5𝑦
2
c. 𝑦 d. 2𝑥𝑦
Solution:
 To get the partial derivative with respect to 𝑥 , we differentiate the function treating the
other variable 𝑦 as constant.
𝑓(𝑥𝑦) = 𝑥𝑦 2 − 5𝑥 + 6
𝜕(𝑥𝑦)
= 𝑦2 − 5
𝜕𝑥

5. Differentiate 𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥 cos 𝑥 2
a. – 𝑒 𝑥 sin 𝑥 2 b. 𝑒 𝑥 (cos 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 sin 𝑥 2 )
c. 𝑒 𝑥 cos 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 sin 𝑥 2 d. −2𝑥𝑒 𝑥 sin 𝑥

Solution:
𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥 cos 𝑥 2
Note: 𝑑(𝑢𝑣) = 𝑢𝑑𝑣 + 𝑣𝑑𝑢
Where: 𝑢 = 𝑒 𝑥 ; 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑒 𝑥 ; 𝑣 = cos 𝑥 2 ; 𝑑𝑣 = −2𝑥 sin 𝑥 2

𝑦 ′ = 𝑒 𝑥 (−2𝑥 sin 𝑥 2 ) + cos 𝑥 2 (𝑒 𝑥 )

𝑦 ′ = −2𝑥𝑒 𝑥 sin 𝑥 2 + 𝑒 𝑥 cos 𝑥 2
𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥 (cos 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 sin 𝑥 2 )

6. Integrate : (7𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 2 ) 𝑑𝑥
7𝑥 3 4𝑥 2 7𝑥 4 4𝑥 2
a. + +𝑐 b. + +𝑐
3 2 4 5
7𝑥 4 4𝑥 3 4𝑥 2
c. + +𝑐 d. 7𝑥 4 − +𝑐
4 3 2

Solution:

𝑢𝑛+1
Note: 𝑢𝑛 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑛+1
7𝑥 4 4𝑥 3
∫(7𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 2 )𝑑𝑥 = + +𝐶
4 3

4𝑑𝑥
7. Evaluate ∫ 3𝑥+2

4
a. 4 ln(3𝑥 + 2) + 𝐶 b. 3 ln(3𝑥 + 2) + 𝐶
1
c. 3 ln(3𝑥 + 2 ) + 𝐶 d. 2 ln(3𝑥 + 2) + 𝐶

Solution:
 4 1 3𝑑𝑥
∫ 𝑑𝑥 = 4 ( ) ∫
3𝑥 + 2 3 3𝑥 + 2
Note:
𝑑𝑢
∫ = 𝑙𝑛𝑢 + 𝐶, where 𝑢 = 3𝑥 + 2; 𝑑𝑢 = 3𝑑𝑥
𝑢

1 3𝑑𝑥 4
4( )∫ = ln(3𝑥 + 2) + 𝐶
3 3𝑥 + 2 3

3𝑑𝑥
8. Evaluate ∫ 𝑥(𝑥+3)
1 𝑥
a. 3 ln 𝑥(𝑥 + 3) + 𝐶 b. ln +𝐶
3 𝑥+3
𝑥
c. ln 𝑥+3 + 𝐶 d. ln 𝑥(𝑥 + 3) + 𝐶

Solution:
3
Resolve 𝑥(𝑥+3) into partial fractions
3 𝐴 𝐵
= +
𝑥(𝑥 + 3) 𝑥 𝑥 + 3
3 = 𝐴(𝑥 + 3) + 𝐵𝑥
Set 𝑥 = 0;
3 = 𝐴(0 + 3) + 𝐵(0); 𝐴 = 1
Set 𝑥 = −3
3 = 𝐴(−3 + 3) + 𝐵(−3); 𝐵 = −1

3𝑑𝑥 1 1
∫ = ∫( − ) 𝑑𝑥
𝑥(𝑥 + 3) 𝑥 𝑥+3
= ln 𝑥 − ln(𝑥 + 3)
𝑥
= ln ( )+𝐶
𝑥+3

9. Find the area of the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 and the x-axis between 𝑥 = 1 and 𝑥 = 3.
a. 28 sq. units b. 46 sq. units
c. 36 sq. units d. 54 sq. units

Solution:
𝑏
𝐴 = ∫ 𝑦𝑑𝑥
𝑎
3
𝐴 = ∫ (𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 )𝑑𝑥
1
 3
𝑥4
A= [ + 𝑥 3 ]
4 1
1 4
𝐴= (3 − 14 ) + (33 − 13 )
4
𝐴 = 46 𝑠𝑞. 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠

10. Given the area in the first quadrant by 𝑥 2 = 8𝑦, the line 𝑥 = 4 and the x-axis . What is the
volume generated by revolving this area about the y-axis.

a. 53.26 b. 52.26
c. 51.26 d. 50.27

Solution:

𝑥 2 = 8𝑦
𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 4
(4)2 = 8𝑦
𝑦=2
Thus, the parabola and the line intersect at point (4,2):

4 4
𝑥2
𝑉 = ∫ 𝑦𝑑𝑥 ∙ 2𝜋𝑥 = ∫ ∙ 2𝜋𝑥𝑑𝑥
0 0 8
4
2𝜋𝑥 3
𝑉=∫ 𝑑𝑥
0 8
𝜋 4 3
𝑉 = ∫ 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
4 0
𝜋 𝑥4
𝑉= ∙
4 4
4
𝜋𝑥 4
𝑉=[ ]
16 0
𝜋(4)4
𝑉=
16
𝑉 = 50.265 𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑖𝑐 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠.

11. The term “Calculus was derived from a Latin word “calx” which means?
a. calculate b. numbers
c. stone d. letter

12. The derivative of a constant is

 a. 0 b. 1
c. ∞ d. indeterminate

13. 𝑑 sin 𝑢 is equal to:

a. – cos 𝑢 𝑑𝑢 b. cos 𝑢 𝑑𝑢
c. − sin 𝑢 𝑑𝑢 d.sin2 𝑢 𝑑𝑢

14. What is identical to the slope of the curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) at any point of the function 𝑦′?

a. derivative b. integral
c. tangent d. secant

15. The derivative of a function is identical to rate of _____.

a. slope b. change
c. degree d. curvature

16. The reverse process of finding the derivative.

a. differentiation b. summation
c. integration d. reciprocating

17. Integration can be used to find

a. area under the curve b. volume of solid of revolution
c. centroid of plane areas d. all of the above

𝑑𝑥
18. ∫ ( 𝑥 ) is equal to?

a. 𝑥 2 b. log 𝑒 𝑥
c. ln 𝑥 d. ln 𝑥 + 𝑐

𝑏
19. Physically, integrating ∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 means finding the,
a. area under the curve from 𝑎 to 𝑏
b. area to the left of point 𝑎
c. area to the right of point 𝑏
d. area above the curve from 𝑎 to 𝑏

20. What is the slope at maximum or minimum points?

a. 0 b. 1
c. ∞ d. undefined