Trouble checking whether a function is differentiable or not
I have this function $x^2|cos frac pi x|$ . To check if it's differentiable at $x=0$, I first directly differentiated the given function- having two cases, opening the mod sign with positive and negative signs. In both cases I end up with a $sin frac pi x $ term in the derivative, so that at $x=0$ the derivative is discontinuous (oscillatory discontinuity) and so the derivative shouldn't exist at $x=0$. But, if I differentiate using first principles instead, I get the derivative as $0$, and so the function IS differentiable at $x=0$. So, is the function differentiable or not, which result do I take?
calculus
|
show 3 more comments
I have this function $x^2|cos frac pi x|$ . To check if it's differentiable at $x=0$, I first directly differentiated the given function- having two cases, opening the mod sign with positive and negative signs. In both cases I end up with a $sin frac pi x $ term in the derivative, so that at $x=0$ the derivative is discontinuous (oscillatory discontinuity) and so the derivative shouldn't exist at $x=0$. But, if I differentiate using first principles instead, I get the derivative as $0$, and so the function IS differentiable at $x=0$. So, is the function differentiable or not, which result do I take?
calculus
2
You've shown that the derivative exists (and in addition that it is discontinuous at $0$). (You're done.)
– metamorphy
2 days ago
1
To be clear, "differentiable" means "the derivative exists" (which you showed from first principles). It does not mean "the derivative is itself continuous" (which you showed is false here).
– Mark S.
2 days ago
But I don't understand, if by differentiation using first principles, I could find the left hand and right hand limits of the derivative, then why is the function still discontinuous? Is it because we can't find the value of the derivative AT x=0?
– karun mathews
2 days ago
Also, why would I not get a left hand and right hand limit by differentiating directly, how is that process wrong?
– karun mathews
2 days ago
1
@karun Yes. A function of this type is a standard example. Another is $x^2sin frac1x$.
– Matt Samuel
4 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
I have this function $x^2|cos frac pi x|$ . To check if it's differentiable at $x=0$, I first directly differentiated the given function- having two cases, opening the mod sign with positive and negative signs. In both cases I end up with a $sin frac pi x $ term in the derivative, so that at $x=0$ the derivative is discontinuous (oscillatory discontinuity) and so the derivative shouldn't exist at $x=0$. But, if I differentiate using first principles instead, I get the derivative as $0$, and so the function IS differentiable at $x=0$. So, is the function differentiable or not, which result do I take?
calculus
I have this function $x^2|cos frac pi x|$ . To check if it's differentiable at $x=0$, I first directly differentiated the given function- having two cases, opening the mod sign with positive and negative signs. In both cases I end up with a $sin frac pi x $ term in the derivative, so that at $x=0$ the derivative is discontinuous (oscillatory discontinuity) and so the derivative shouldn't exist at $x=0$. But, if I differentiate using first principles instead, I get the derivative as $0$, and so the function IS differentiable at $x=0$. So, is the function differentiable or not, which result do I take?
calculus
calculus
edited 2 days ago
Kenny Wong
18.1k21438
18.1k21438
asked 2 days ago
karun mathewskarun mathews
244
244
2
You've shown that the derivative exists (and in addition that it is discontinuous at $0$). (You're done.)
– metamorphy
2 days ago
1
To be clear, "differentiable" means "the derivative exists" (which you showed from first principles). It does not mean "the derivative is itself continuous" (which you showed is false here).
– Mark S.
2 days ago
But I don't understand, if by differentiation using first principles, I could find the left hand and right hand limits of the derivative, then why is the function still discontinuous? Is it because we can't find the value of the derivative AT x=0?
– karun mathews
2 days ago
Also, why would I not get a left hand and right hand limit by differentiating directly, how is that process wrong?
– karun mathews
2 days ago
1
@karun Yes. A function of this type is a standard example. Another is $x^2sin frac1x$.
– Matt Samuel
4 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
2
You've shown that the derivative exists (and in addition that it is discontinuous at $0$). (You're done.)
– metamorphy
2 days ago
1
To be clear, "differentiable" means "the derivative exists" (which you showed from first principles). It does not mean "the derivative is itself continuous" (which you showed is false here).
– Mark S.
2 days ago
But I don't understand, if by differentiation using first principles, I could find the left hand and right hand limits of the derivative, then why is the function still discontinuous? Is it because we can't find the value of the derivative AT x=0?
– karun mathews
2 days ago
Also, why would I not get a left hand and right hand limit by differentiating directly, how is that process wrong?
– karun mathews
2 days ago
1
@karun Yes. A function of this type is a standard example. Another is $x^2sin frac1x$.
– Matt Samuel
4 hours ago
2
2
You've shown that the derivative exists (and in addition that it is discontinuous at $0$). (You're done.)
– metamorphy
2 days ago
You've shown that the derivative exists (and in addition that it is discontinuous at $0$). (You're done.)
– metamorphy
2 days ago
1
1
To be clear, "differentiable" means "the derivative exists" (which you showed from first principles). It does not mean "the derivative is itself continuous" (which you showed is false here).
– Mark S.
2 days ago
To be clear, "differentiable" means "the derivative exists" (which you showed from first principles). It does not mean "the derivative is itself continuous" (which you showed is false here).
– Mark S.
2 days ago
But I don't understand, if by differentiation using first principles, I could find the left hand and right hand limits of the derivative, then why is the function still discontinuous? Is it because we can't find the value of the derivative AT x=0?
– karun mathews
2 days ago
But I don't understand, if by differentiation using first principles, I could find the left hand and right hand limits of the derivative, then why is the function still discontinuous? Is it because we can't find the value of the derivative AT x=0?
– karun mathews
2 days ago
Also, why would I not get a left hand and right hand limit by differentiating directly, how is that process wrong?
– karun mathews
2 days ago
Also, why would I not get a left hand and right hand limit by differentiating directly, how is that process wrong?
– karun mathews
2 days ago
1
1
@karun Yes. A function of this type is a standard example. Another is $x^2sin frac1x$.
– Matt Samuel
4 hours ago
@karun Yes. A function of this type is a standard example. Another is $x^2sin frac1x$.
– Matt Samuel
4 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
1 Answer
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Hint: Compute $$lim_{hto 0}frac{f(0+h)-f(0)}{h}$$ this is $$lim_{hto 0}frac{h^2|cos(frac{pi}{h})|-0}{h}$$ and since $$frac{h^2|cos(frac{pi}{h})|}{h}=h|cos(frac{pi}{h})|le h$$ this tends to zero for $h$ tends to zero.
He has already computed this.
– Thomas Shelby
2 days ago
Ya, I already did this- that's what I meant by differentiation by first principles, sorry I didn't elaborate. My problem is that when I directly differentiate, I get that the derivative doesn't exist, because of that sin(π/x) term- which will become sin(infinity) at x=0.
– karun mathews
2 days ago
@karun There's no such thing as $sin(infty)$. All you know is that $xto 0$, $sin(fracpi{x})$ is bounded in absolute value by $1$. This is good enough to show the limit is $0$.
– Matt Samuel
2 days ago
add a comment |
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Hint: Compute $$lim_{hto 0}frac{f(0+h)-f(0)}{h}$$ this is $$lim_{hto 0}frac{h^2|cos(frac{pi}{h})|-0}{h}$$ and since $$frac{h^2|cos(frac{pi}{h})|}{h}=h|cos(frac{pi}{h})|le h$$ this tends to zero for $h$ tends to zero.
He has already computed this.
– Thomas Shelby
2 days ago
Ya, I already did this- that's what I meant by differentiation by first principles, sorry I didn't elaborate. My problem is that when I directly differentiate, I get that the derivative doesn't exist, because of that sin(π/x) term- which will become sin(infinity) at x=0.
– karun mathews
2 days ago
@karun There's no such thing as $sin(infty)$. All you know is that $xto 0$, $sin(fracpi{x})$ is bounded in absolute value by $1$. This is good enough to show the limit is $0$.
– Matt Samuel
2 days ago
add a comment |
Hint: Compute $$lim_{hto 0}frac{f(0+h)-f(0)}{h}$$ this is $$lim_{hto 0}frac{h^2|cos(frac{pi}{h})|-0}{h}$$ and since $$frac{h^2|cos(frac{pi}{h})|}{h}=h|cos(frac{pi}{h})|le h$$ this tends to zero for $h$ tends to zero.
He has already computed this.
– Thomas Shelby
2 days ago
Ya, I already did this- that's what I meant by differentiation by first principles, sorry I didn't elaborate. My problem is that when I directly differentiate, I get that the derivative doesn't exist, because of that sin(π/x) term- which will become sin(infinity) at x=0.
– karun mathews
2 days ago
@karun There's no such thing as $sin(infty)$. All you know is that $xto 0$, $sin(fracpi{x})$ is bounded in absolute value by $1$. This is good enough to show the limit is $0$.
– Matt Samuel
2 days ago
add a comment |
Hint: Compute $$lim_{hto 0}frac{f(0+h)-f(0)}{h}$$ this is $$lim_{hto 0}frac{h^2|cos(frac{pi}{h})|-0}{h}$$ and since $$frac{h^2|cos(frac{pi}{h})|}{h}=h|cos(frac{pi}{h})|le h$$ this tends to zero for $h$ tends to zero.
Hint: Compute $$lim_{hto 0}frac{f(0+h)-f(0)}{h}$$ this is $$lim_{hto 0}frac{h^2|cos(frac{pi}{h})|-0}{h}$$ and since $$frac{h^2|cos(frac{pi}{h})|}{h}=h|cos(frac{pi}{h})|le h$$ this tends to zero for $h$ tends to zero.
edited 2 days ago
answered 2 days ago
Dr. Sonnhard GraubnerDr. Sonnhard Graubner
73.5k42865
73.5k42865
He has already computed this.
– Thomas Shelby
2 days ago
Ya, I already did this- that's what I meant by differentiation by first principles, sorry I didn't elaborate. My problem is that when I directly differentiate, I get that the derivative doesn't exist, because of that sin(π/x) term- which will become sin(infinity) at x=0.
– karun mathews
2 days ago
@karun There's no such thing as $sin(infty)$. All you know is that $xto 0$, $sin(fracpi{x})$ is bounded in absolute value by $1$. This is good enough to show the limit is $0$.
– Matt Samuel
2 days ago
add a comment |
He has already computed this.
– Thomas Shelby
2 days ago
Ya, I already did this- that's what I meant by differentiation by first principles, sorry I didn't elaborate. My problem is that when I directly differentiate, I get that the derivative doesn't exist, because of that sin(π/x) term- which will become sin(infinity) at x=0.
– karun mathews
2 days ago
@karun There's no such thing as $sin(infty)$. All you know is that $xto 0$, $sin(fracpi{x})$ is bounded in absolute value by $1$. This is good enough to show the limit is $0$.
– Matt Samuel
2 days ago
He has already computed this.
– Thomas Shelby
2 days ago
He has already computed this.
– Thomas Shelby
2 days ago
Ya, I already did this- that's what I meant by differentiation by first principles, sorry I didn't elaborate. My problem is that when I directly differentiate, I get that the derivative doesn't exist, because of that sin(π/x) term- which will become sin(infinity) at x=0.
– karun mathews
2 days ago
Ya, I already did this- that's what I meant by differentiation by first principles, sorry I didn't elaborate. My problem is that when I directly differentiate, I get that the derivative doesn't exist, because of that sin(π/x) term- which will become sin(infinity) at x=0.
– karun mathews
2 days ago
@karun There's no such thing as $sin(infty)$. All you know is that $xto 0$, $sin(fracpi{x})$ is bounded in absolute value by $1$. This is good enough to show the limit is $0$.
– Matt Samuel
2 days ago
@karun There's no such thing as $sin(infty)$. All you know is that $xto 0$, $sin(fracpi{x})$ is bounded in absolute value by $1$. This is good enough to show the limit is $0$.
– Matt Samuel
2 days ago
add a comment |
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2
You've shown that the derivative exists (and in addition that it is discontinuous at $0$). (You're done.)
– metamorphy
2 days ago
1
To be clear, "differentiable" means "the derivative exists" (which you showed from first principles). It does not mean "the derivative is itself continuous" (which you showed is false here).
– Mark S.
2 days ago
But I don't understand, if by differentiation using first principles, I could find the left hand and right hand limits of the derivative, then why is the function still discontinuous? Is it because we can't find the value of the derivative AT x=0?
– karun mathews
2 days ago
Also, why would I not get a left hand and right hand limit by differentiating directly, how is that process wrong?
– karun mathews
2 days ago
1
@karun Yes. A function of this type is a standard example. Another is $x^2sin frac1x$.
– Matt Samuel
4 hours ago