Continuity and Differentiability of g Defined by Integrals

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the continuity and differentiability of functions defined by definite integrals, specifically focusing on the functions g defined by the integrals of sin(pi t) and 1/(1+t^2). Participants are exploring the implications of a theorem regarding the differentiability of g and the behavior of g' at various points, particularly for x values less than 0.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to determine the existence of g'(-2) and questioning whether the theorem applies for x values less than 0. There are discussions about the implications of the continuity of the function f and how it affects the differentiability of g.
  • In part 2a, participants are asked to show that g(x) is negative for x<0, leading to questions about the properties of integrals and the positivity of the integrand.
  • In part 2b, there is confusion regarding the intervals where g is increasing or decreasing, particularly concerning the application of the theorem for x<0.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, raising questions about the application of the theorem and the behavior of the functions involved. Some have provided insights into the properties of integrals and the continuity of the functions, suggesting that the derivative can be evaluated even for x<0. However, there is no explicit consensus on the interpretations or conclusions yet.

Contextual Notes

There are ongoing discussions about the assumptions made in the theorem regarding the intervals of differentiability and the continuity of the functions involved. Participants are also noting potential typos in the problem statements that may affect the interpretation of the questions.

kingwinner
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Theorem: Let f be continuous on [a,b]. The function g defined on [a,b] by http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/AllBrowsers/2413/DefnofDefiniteIntegral_files/eq0051M.gif
is continuous on [a,b], differentiable on (a,b), and has derivative g'(x)=f(x) for all x in (a,b)


1) Given that g is defined by g(x)=definite integral of sin (pi t) from 0 to x for all real numbers x, determine g'(-2), if it exists.
[In this case a=0, according to the above theorem g'(x)=f(x) for all x in (a,b), but the theorem doesn't say that g'(x)=f(x) for x<a, and in this case -2<0=a. Does it mean that g'(-2) does not exist? ]


2) Let g be defined by g(x)=definite integral of 1/ (1+t^2) from 0 to x for all real numbers x.
2a) Show that if x<0, then g(x)<0 using properties of integrals.

[Sorry, I really have no clue about part a and I need some help on it...]
2b) Find the intervals on which g is increasing or decreasing.
[According to the theorem on the top g'(x)=1/ (1+x^2) is true only for all x in (a,b), in this case a=0, then how can I find g'(x) for the part x<0 ?]


I hope someone would be nice enough to help me out! Thanks a lot!
 
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2) Let g be defined by g(x)=definite integral of 1/ (1+t^2) from 0 to x for all real numbers x.
2a) Show that if x<0, then g(x)<0 using properties of integrals.

[Sorry, I really have no clue about part a and I need some help on it...]

[itex]\frac{1}{1+t^2}[/itex] is positive for all real t.

Maybe you copied the question down wrong?
 
caffeine said:
2) Let g be defined by g(x)=definite integral of 1/ (1+t^2) from 0 to x for all real numbers x.
2a) Show that if x<0, then g(x)<0 using properties of integrals.

[Sorry, I really have no clue about part a and I need some help on it...]

[itex]\frac{1}{1+t^2}[/itex] is positive for all real t.

Maybe you copied the question down wrong?

No, the actual function g is
g(x)=definite integral of 1/ (1+t^2) from 0 to x
Something like http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/AllBrowsers/2413/DefnofDefiniteIntegral_files/eq0051M.gif
 
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I hope I have understood you questions... and can answer it in the spirit they were intended.

kingwinner said:
1) Given that g is defined by g(x)=definite integral of sin (pi t) from 0 to x for all real numbers x, determine g'(-2), if it exists.
[In this case a=0, according to the above theorem g'(x)=f(x) for all x in (a,b), but the theorem doesn't say that g'(x)=f(x) for x<a, and in this case -2<0=a. Does it mean that g'(-2) does not exist? ]

ok, firstly forget about the -2, you want g'(x) evaluated at -2, so you need g'(x) first and foremost. now the theorem tells you that you can actually do this differentiation IF function f(x) is continuous on [0,x] (in this case) where x can be any real number. So, you can do differentiation of g(x) and it is just f(x). now is f(-2) defined? and what it is? By the way, no one demands that x got to be bigger than 0...



kingwinner said:
2) Let g be defined by g(x)=definite integral of 1/ (1+t^2) from 0 to x for all real numbers x.
2a) Show that if x<0, then g(x)<0 using properties of integrals.

[Sorry, I really have no clue about part a and I need some help on it...]

using properties of integrals? can't you just integrate and see that the function is always negative? I think this is what it may mean:
[tex]\displaymath{g(x) =\int_0^x f(t) dt = -\int_x^0 f(t) dt}[/tex]
now f(t) is always +ve and limits are now going from smaller to bigger number (for x<0 is given) so result of integral itself is always +ve, and then the -ve sign out front ensures that g(x) is always -ve.
:confused:

kingwinner said:
2b) Find the intervals on which F is increasing or decreasing.
[According to the theorem on the top g'(x)=1/ (1+x^2) is true only for all x in (a,b), in this case a=0, then how can I find g'(x) for the part x<0 ?]

again x can be any real number so can be -ve too... you sure you want f(x) and not g(x)? anyway, function f(x) is well-defined and information may be easily extracted by doing a derivative test. For g(x) though I assume you need to use properties of integrals again...

after thought: this is not a difficult problem as such, it is just an exercise of justifying all your steps carefully using the theorems you know. There may be other properties or theorem you are meant to use to construct your arguments.
 
Hi

1) By the theorem on the top, I know that g'(x)=f(x) for x>0 is certainly true, because a=0.
But for x<0, is it still true that g'(x)=f(x)? And how do you know that?

2a) [tex]\displaymath{g(x) = -\int_x^0 f(t) dt}[/tex]
I still don't understand the stuff to the right of the integral sign is positive for x<0, could you explain further?

2b) Yes, there is a typo. The correct question should read "Find the intervals on which g is increasing or decreasing."
But the same story, according to the theorem on the top g'(x)=1/ (1+x^2) is true only for all x in (a,b), in this case a=0, so g'(x)=1/ (1+x^2) is true for x>0 for sure. How about for the part x<0 or x=0? How can I find g'(x) for the part x<=0 ?]



Recall: The Theorem says: Let f be continuous on [a,b]. The function g defined on [a,b] by http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/AllBrowsers/2413/DefnofDefiniteIntegral_files/eq0051M.gif
is continuous on [a,b], differentiable on (a,b), and has derivative g'(x)=f(x) for all x in (a,b)

Thanks!
 
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2a) since [tex]f(t)\geq 0[/tex] everywhere, it is quite easily see that
[tex]\displaymath{\int_a^b f(t) dt \geq 0}[/tex]
if [tex]b> a[/tex]
if you want a proof for this, this comes directly from the definition of the definite integral as a limit of Riemann sums (note b>a is essential in this definition for it ensures that [tex]\Delta y_i[/tex] is non-negative)
[tex]\displaymath{<br /> \int_a^b f(y) dy = \lim_{\max \Delta y_i\rightarrow 0}<br /> \sum_{i=0}^n f(y_i^*) \Delta y_i}[/tex]

here [tex]y_i^*[/tex] is some value in each sub-interval [tex]\left[x_{i-1}, x_i\right][/tex], [tex]\Delta y_i = (b-a)/n[/tex]

now when f(t) is non-negative, all individuals terms in the sum are non-negative so the integral is non-negative.
 
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1) Given that g is defined by g(x)=definite integral of sin (pi t) from 0 to x for all real numbers x, determine g'(-2), if it exists.
[In this case a=0, according to the above theorem g'(x)=f(x) for all x in (a,b), but the theorem doesn't say that g'(x)=f(x) for x<a, and in this case -2<0=a. Does it mean that g'(-2) does not exist?
You don't have to take a= 0. [itex]sin(\pi t)[/itex] is continuous for all t. For example,
[tex]\int_{-100}^x f(t)dt= \int_{-100}^0 f(t)dt+ \int_0^x f(t)dt[/itex]<br /> The first integral on the right is a constant and so has derivative 0. That means that the integral on the left and the second integral on the right have the same derivative. Apply the theorem with a=-100, b= 0. -2 is certainly in that integral.<br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="" data-quote="" data-source="" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> <b>2) Let g be defined by g(x)=definite integral of 1/ (1+t^2) from 0 to x for all real numbers x. <br /> 2a) Show that if x<0, then g(x)<0 using properties of integrals.</b><br /> [Sorry, I really have no clue about part a and I need some help on it...] </div> </div> </blockquote> [itex]f(t)= \frac{1}{1+ t^2}[/itex] is an even function and positive for all t. Clearly, if x< 0, then [itex]\int_x^0 \frac{1}{1+ t^2}dt[/itex]<br /> is positive (it is the area between the graph of [itex]y= \frac{1}{1+t^2}[/itex] and the x-axis between x and 0 and area is always positive). But [itex]\int_0^x \frac{1}{1+t^2}dt= -\int_x^0 \frac{1}{1+t^2}dt[/itex]<br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="" data-quote="" data-source="" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> <b>2b) Find the intervals on which g is increasing or decreasing.</b><br /> [According to the theorem on the top g'(x)=1/ (1+x^2) is true only for all x in (a,b), in this case a=0, then how can I find g'(x) for the part x<0 ?] </div> </div> </blockquote> The "a" and "b" are red herrings. Changing the "a" in the integral just changes the additive constant which is irrelevant to the derivative. As long as f(x) is continuous at x<sub>0</sub>, the derivative of g at x<sub>0</sub> is f(<sub>0</sub>). Since [itex]\frac{1}{1+t^2}[/itex] is continuous for <b>all</b> t, [itex]g'(x)= \frac{1}{1+x^2}[/itex] for <b>all</b> x. Of course, a function is increasing as long as its derivative is positive, decreasing if its derivative is negative.<br /> <br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="" data-quote="" data-source="" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> I hope someone would be nice enough to help me out! Thanks a lot! </div> </div> </blockquote>[/tex]
 
Many thanks for the responses, I think I am understanding it better now...


The top theorem says if f is continuous on [a,b] , then g is also continuous on [a,b]

Let me define a piecewise function
f(x)=x^2+x, if 0<=x<=1
f(x)=2x, if 1<x<=3
Clearly, f is continuous on [0,3]

Let F(x)=definite integral of f from 0 to x, with 0<=x<=3
i.e.,
F(x)=x^3/3 + x^2/2, if 0<=x<=1
F(x)=x^2, if 1<x<=3
When I graph F, it has a discontinuity at x=1
So F is not continuous on [0,3], why is it like that? The theorem clearly states that f continuous implies F continuous, am I right? Or did I do something wrong?
 

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