How many times can we differentiate this function?

Click For Summary
The discussion centers on the differentiability of the function f(x) = x^(2n)sin(1/x) for x ≠ 0 and f(0) = 0 at the point x = 0. Participants analyze how many times this function can be differentiated at that point, noting that while polynomials can be differentiated infinitely, this function's behavior changes based on the value of n. It is established that for n = 1, the function can be differentiated once, while for n ≥ 2, the limit approaches 0, indicating that it can be differentiated multiple times, but the second derivative does not exist at x = 0. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the convergence of terms involving sin(1/x) and cos(1/x) as x approaches 0. Ultimately, the discussion concludes that the function's differentiability depends on the specific value of n and the limits involved.
transgalactic
Messages
1,386
Reaction score
0
how many times can we differentiate this function??

how many times can we differentiate this splitted function on point x=0
??
<br /> f(x) = \{ x^{2n} \sin (\frac{1}{x}) <br /> ,x \ne 0 <br />
<br /> \{ 0,x = 0}} \\ <br /> <br />
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Hint: for what values of n can we differentiate it once? :smile:
 


we can differentiate every function enless times
for example
f(x)=x^3
f'(x)=x^2
f''(x)=x^1
f'''(x)=1
f''''(x)=0
f'''''(x)=0
etc..
 
really?

how many times can we differentiate this function at x=0?

<br /> f(x)\ =\ x^2\sin (\frac{1}{x}) <br /> ,x \ne 0<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

{ 0,x = 0​
 
Last edited:


what now?
<br /> f(x)\; = \;x^2 \sin ({1 \over x}),x \ne 0<br />
<br /> f&#039;(0) = \mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to 0} {{x^2 \sin ({1 \over x}) - 0} \over {x - 0}} = 0 <br />
 
Last edited:
transgalactic said:
what now?
<br /> f(x)\; = \;x^2 \sin ({1 \over x}),x \ne 0<br />
<br /> f&#039;(0) = \mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to 0} {{x^2 \sin ({1 \over x}) - 0} \over {x - 0}} = 0 <br />

uhh? :confused:

use the product rule

f'(x) = … ?​
 


transgalactic said:
what now?
<br /> f(x)\; = \;x^2 \sin ({1 \over x}),x \ne 0<br />
<br /> f&#039;(0) = \mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to 0} {{x^2 \sin ({1 \over x}) - 0} \over {x - 0}} = 0 <br />

Yes, that's correct. But tiny-tim's point, I think, is that the derivative for for x not 0 (which he didn't actually ask) is 2x sin(1/x)- cos(1/x) so f '(x) is not continuous at x= 0 and so does not have a second derivative there.

It is NOT true that "we can differentiate every function enless times" though that is certainly true for polynomials.

A simpler example is
f(x)= (1/2)x^2 if x\ge 0
f(x)=-(1/2)X^2 if x< 0

Then f'(x)= x if s\ge 0 and f'(x)= -x if x< 0: in other words f'(x)= |x| and that is not differentiable at x= 0.

I got that example, of course, by integrating |x|. Integrate again, to get
f(x)= (1/6)x^3 if x\ge 0
f(x)= -(1/6)x^3 if x< 0
and you get f having first and second deriviatives but not a third derivative. You can use that to get example of functions that are differentiable n times but not n+1 times for any integer n.
 


i assumed that in the case of prooving the second derivative point x=0 the function turns to 0 too.
<br /> f(x) = \ x^{2n} \sin (\frac{1}{x})<br />
<br /> f&#039;(x)=2nx^{2n-1}\sin (\frac{1}{x})-x^{2n}\frac{1}{x^2}\cos(\frac{1}{x})<br />

<br /> f&#039;&#039;(x)=\lim_{x-&gt;0+}\frac{2nx^{2n-1}\sin (\frac{1}{x})-x^{2n}\frac{1}{x^2}\cos(\frac{1}{x})-0}{x-0}=\\<br /> <br />
<br /> f&#039;&#039;(x)=\lim_{x-&gt;0+}\frac{2nx^{2n-2}\sin (\frac{1}{x})-x^{2n-1}\frac{1}{x^2}\cos(\frac{1}{x})-0}{1}<br />

so in the plus side i will get 0
and on the minus side
but i can't keep doing this derivatives till i get two different limits
there must be an easier way
??
 
transgalactic said:
… <br /> f&#039;&#039;(x)=\lim_{x-&gt;0+}\frac{2nx^{2n-1}\sin (\frac{1}{x})-x^{2n}\frac{1}{x^2}\cos(\frac{1}{x})-0}{x-0}=\\<br /> <br />
<br /> f&#039;&#039;(x)=\lim_{x-&gt;0+}\frac{2nx^{2n-2}\sin (\frac{1}{x})-x^{2n-1}\frac{1}{x^2}\cos(\frac{1}{x})-0}{1}<br />

Why are you using this lim notation?

Just use the product rule and chain rule, and then see whether the result converges to a limit as x -> 0.

In particular:
does sin(1/x) converge as x -> 0?
does cos(1/x) converge as x -> 0?
does xsin(1/x) converge as x -> 0?
does xcos(1/x) converge as x -> 0?​
so in the plus side i will get 0
and on the minus side

sorry, no idea what you mean :confused:
 
  • #10


here is the first derivative
<br /> f&#039;(x)=2nx^{2n-1}\sin (\frac{1}{x})-x^{2n}\frac{1}{x^2}\cos(\frac{1}{x})<br />so i need to do limit for positive side of zero
equals limit of negative side of zero equals f(0)but its not a solutions
i can't keep doing derivatives
??
 
  • #11
transgalactic said:
so i need to do limit for positive side of zero
equals limit of negative side of zero equals f(0)

oh i see now …

you're talking about lim x -> 0+ and lim x -> 0-

it doesn't matter in this case …

either they both exist, or neither does.
here is the first derivative
<br /> f&#039;(x)=2nx^{2n-1}\sin (\frac{1}{x})-x^{2n}\frac{1}{x^2}\cos(\frac{1}{x})<br /> …

transgalactic, when someone at PF helps by asking you a question, answer it!

even if you can't see the point

I'll ask again: does sin(1/x) converge as x -> 0?
 
  • #12


no
the function is bounded and Non convergent

so is the cos (1/x)

but x*sin(1/x) and x*cos(1/x) are convergent because lim of 0*bounded =0
 
  • #13
transgalactic said:
no
the function is bounded and Non convergent

so is the cos (1/x)

but x*sin(1/x) and x*cos(1/x) are convergent because lim of 0*bounded =0

That's right :smile:

sin(1/x) and cos(1/x) oscillate between -1 and +1,

but xnsin(1/x) and xncos(1/x) oscillate between -xn and +xn, and so converge to 0, for n ≥ 1.
i can't keep doing derivatives

Maybe, but you don't need to calculate the full derivative (with the correct factors), you only need to know the powers of x that are involved. :wink:
 
  • #14


how is that??
how the power of X can affect if the derivative converge or not
??
 
  • #15


tiny-tim said:
That's right :smile:

sin(1/x) and cos(1/x) oscillate between -1 and +1,

but xnsin(1/x) and xncos(1/x) oscillate between -xn and +xn, and so converge to 0, for n ≥ 1.


Maybe, but you don't need to calculate the full derivative (with the correct factors), you only need to know the powers of x that are involved. :wink:
i don't know what you mean regarding the power things

can you explain that?
 
  • #16


for n=0
we can't differentiate it

for n=1
we can differentiate it once
whats the general rule??
 
  • #17
transgalactic said:
for n=0
we can't differentiate it

for n=1
we can differentiate it once
whats the general rule??

That's better! :biggrin:

Try it for n= 2 …

how many times does it work? …

when it stops working, what's the spanner-in-the-works stopping it? …

when does that happen for larger n? :wink:
 
  • #18


it can go forever
for every n>0 i get 0*bounded
there is no limitation
<br /> f(x) = x^{4} \sin (\frac{1}{x})\\<br />
<br /> f&#039;(x)=lim_{x-&gt;0}\frac{x^{4} \sin (\frac{1}{x})}{x}=lim_{x-&gt;0}{x^{3} \sin (\frac{1}{x})}=0<br />
 
  • #19
transgalactic said:
it can go forever
for every n>0 i get 0*bounded
there is no limitation
<br /> f(x) = x^{4} \sin (\frac{1}{x})\\<br />
<br /> f&#039;(x)=lim_{x-&gt;0}\frac{x^{4} \sin (\frac{1}{x})}{x}=lim_{x-&gt;0}{x^{3} \sin (\frac{1}{x})}=0<br />

uhh? none of that makes sense :confused:

try again, and write it out properly
 
  • #20


i was given this expression
<br /> \dfrac{\mathrm{d}^r}{\mathrm{d}x^r}\left(x^{2n}\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)\right)<br /> &amp;=\left((-1)^r x^{2(n-r)}+x^{2(n-r)+2}P_{n,r}(x)\right)\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}+r\frac{\pi}{2}\right)\\<br /> &amp;\quad+x^{2(n-r)+1}Q_{n,r}(x)\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}+(r-1)\frac{\pi}{2}\right)<br /> \end{align*}<br />

is it in any use??
 
  • #21


tiny-tim said:
uhh? none of that makes sense :confused:

try again, and write it out properly

for n=2 it differentiates
<br /> f&#039;(x)=lim_{x-&gt;0}\frac{x^{4} \sin (\frac{1}{x})-0}{x-0}=lim_{x-&gt;0}{x^{3} \sin (\frac{1}{x})}=0<br />
 
  • #22
transgalactic said:
i was given this expression
<br /> \dfrac{\mathrm{d}^r}{\mathrm{d}x^r}\left(x^{2n}\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)\right)<br /> &amp;=\left((-1)^r x^{2(n-r)}+x^{2(n-r)+2}P_{n,r}(x)\right)\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}+r\frac{\pi}{2}\right)\\<br /> &amp;\quad+x^{2(n-r)+1}Q_{n,r}(x)\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}+(r-1)\frac{\pi}{2}\right)<br /> \end{align*}<br />

is it in any use??

did you get that from another forum? :rolleyes:

it may be right (i haven't checked it) …

but it's useless to you if you don't know how to get it, isn't it? :smile:
transgalactic said:
for n=2 it differentiates
<br /> f&#039;(x)=lim_{x-&gt;0}\frac{x^{4} \sin (\frac{1}{x})-0}{x-0}=lim_{x-&gt;0}{x^{3} \sin (\frac{1}{x})}=0<br />

uhh? still makes no sense …

you haven't even used the product rule
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
Replies
26
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K