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Homework Help: Differentiable ?

  1. Oct 28, 2011 #1

    Miike012

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    let

    f(x) = 2-x if x<= 1
    x^2 - 2x + 2 if x > 1

    Is f diff at x = 1?

    At first I would say yes because f(x) is continuous at x = 1.

    But when I graph f '(x) it is obvious that the function is not differentiable at x = 1.

    My questions is.... is there another way to determine if f is diff at x = 1 other than graphing????

    thank you.
     
    Miike012, Oct 28, 2011
  2. jcsd
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  3. Oct 28, 2011 #2

    Char. Limit

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    Gold Member

    In order for a function to be differentiable, the derivative must exist at every point in the domain. For all x other than x=1, this is easy to show. However, the derivative cannot exist at x=1. To show this easily, try finding the slope as x approaches 1 from the left, then from the right. For the derivative to exist, those two slopes have to be equal.
     
    Char. Limit, Oct 28, 2011
  4. Oct 28, 2011 #3

    Miike012

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    Thank you
     
    Miike012, Oct 28, 2011
  5. Oct 28, 2011 #4

    Willowz

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    Are you asking if the function is continuous at those points? Because if you want to find the derivative it has to first be continuous on the point. But, in this example it won't be differentiable because there is a sharp point at x=1, I think.
     
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2011
    Willowz, Oct 28, 2011
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