# Continuity of Derivative

1. Nov 28, 2005

If f is differentiable on (a,b), does it imply that f' is continuous on (a,b)? If so, is there a way of proving it?

2. Nov 28, 2005

### amcavoy

Do you mean if f(x) is differentiable at every value of x in [a,b]?

3. Nov 28, 2005

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
The nice thing about analysis is that, unless you have a clever trick to apply, the right first step is almost always the same: rewrite the question in terms of the definitions. (i.e. continuity and derivatives are defined in terms of limits, and limits have an epsilon-delta definition)

4. Nov 28, 2005

### devilkidjin

yes, if is differentiable it has to exists

this can be concluded by the domain being within it

5. Nov 29, 2005

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
I have no idea what this means! "domain being within it"? What does "it" refer to? In fact, what does "it has to exist" refer to? This doesn't appear to have anything to do with the original question- whether the existance of f' on an interval implies that f' must be continuous on that interval.

The answer to that question is "no"- for example the function
$f(x)= x^2sin(\frac{1}{x})$ if $$x \neq 0[/itex], f(0)= 0 is differentiable at every point on (-1, 1) but that f' is not continous at 0. A lot of people confuse continuity of the derivative with the fact that, if a function is differentiable at a point, the function must be continuous at that point. 6. Nov 29, 2005 ### Treadstone 71 What's the derivative of your said function at 0? I'm pretty sure if f is differentiable on I, then f' is continuous on I. Last edited: Nov 29, 2005 7. Dec 1, 2005 ### Rocketa yes. lim(x->x0) {[f(x)-f(x0)]/(x-x0)}*lim(x->x0){x-x0}=0 Therefore, lim(x->x0){f(x)-f(x0)}=0, lim(x->x0) {f(x)}=f(x0).. 8. Dec 1, 2005 ### shmoe For Hall's example, f'(0)=0, you can work it out using the definition of the derivative. The limit of f' as you approach zero doesn't exist and your assertion that f' must be continuous is false. Derivatives do have an intermediate value property though. If f is differentiable on [a,b] and f'(a)<c<f'(b) then f'(x)=c for some x in (a,b) 9. Dec 1, 2005 ### HallsofIvy Staff Emeritus No, treadstone and rocketa, the question was NOT "if f is differentiable is f continuous?" The question was "If f is differentiable is f '(x) continuous?". without a space between the f and the ' it's a little bit hard to see but if you look closely it's there! If f is differentiable on an interval, it's derivative is NOT necessarily differentiable there. The example I gave earlier: f(x)= x2sin(x) if x is not 0 f(0)= 0 is differentiable on for all x but its derivative is not continuous at x= 0. If that was a reference to my example, the derivative at 0 is, of course [tex]lim_{x\rightarrow 0}\frac{x^2sin(\frac{1}{x})}{x}= lim_{x\rightarrow 0}x sin( \frac{1}{x})= 0$$

For x not equal to 0, the derivative is
$$2x sin(\frac{1}{x})- cos(\frac{1}{x})$$
which does not have a limit as x goes to 0.

That is, the derivative exists for all x but is not continuous at x=0.

Last edited: Dec 1, 2005
10. Dec 1, 2005

Ah yes, I was searching for the intermediate value property, thinking it was continuity. Thanks for clearing that up.

11. Dec 1, 2005

### mathwonk

is f' continuous somewhere?

12. Dec 2, 2005

### Rocketa

Nod, Nod.

I misunderstood the question. Sorry!