Show that the function is not differentiable at the point z

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on proving that a bounded function g: R → R is not differentiable at a point z if the function h(x) = (g(x) - g(z)) / (x - z) is unbounded. The user proposes that if g is differentiable at z, then h must be bounded, leading to a contradiction. The conclusion is that since h is unbounded, g cannot be differentiable at z. Participants confirm the correctness of this reasoning and clarify that it is necessary to show both cases of h's behavior near and far from z.

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mathmari
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Hi! Could you help me with the following?
Let g: R \rightarrow R a bounded function. There is a point z \epsilon R for which the function h: R \ \{z\} \rightarrow R, where h(x)=\frac{g(x)-g(z)}{x-z} is not bounded. Show that the function g is not differentiable at the point z.

My idea is the following:
Let the function g be differentiable at the point z, so lim_{x \rightarrow z}{ \frac{g(x)-g(z)}{x-z}}=L. So there is a ε>0: |\frac{g(x)-g(z)}{x-z}-L|<ε.
|h(x)|=|h(x)-L+L| \leq |h(x)-L|+|L|=|\frac{g(x)-g(z)}{x-z}-L|+|L|<ε+|L|.
So the function h is bounded. That cannot be true. So the function g is not differentiable at the point z.

Is my idea right??
 
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mathmari said:
Hi! Could you help me with the following?
Let g: R \rightarrow R a bounded function. There is a point z \epsilon R for which the function h: R \ \{z\} \rightarrow R, where h(x)=\frac{g(x)-g(z)}{x-z} is not bounded. Show that the function g is not differentiable at the point z.

My idea is the following:
Let the function g be differentiable at the point z, so lim_{x \rightarrow z}{ \frac{g(x)-g(z)}{x-z}}=L. So there is a ε>0: |\frac{g(x)-g(z)}{x-z}-L|<ε.
|h(x)|=|h(x)-L+L| \leq |h(x)-L|+|L|=|\frac{g(x)-g(z)}{x-z}-L|+|L|<ε+|L|.
So the function h is bounded. That cannot be true. So the function g is not differentiable at the point z.

Is my idea right??
Absolutely correct! (Sun)
 
Great! (Clapping)
 
Now I'm looking again the exercise..
There is a $ε>0$ such that $|\frac{g(x)-g(z)}{x-z}-L|<ε$ for $|x-z|<δ$, right? So $h$ is bounded for $x$ such that $|x-z|<δ$.
Do I have to show also that $h$ is bounded for $x$ such that $|x-z|>δ$, or is the above enough?
 
mathmari said:
Now I'm looking again the exercise..
There is a $ε>0$ such that $|\frac{g(x)-g(z)}{x-z}-L|<ε$ for $|x-z|<δ$, right? So $h$ is bounded for $x$ such that $|x-z|<δ$.
Do I have to show also that $h$ is bounded for $x$ such that $|x-z|>δ$, or is the above enough?
Yes, you need to show that if $h$ is unbounded, then it must be unbounded near $z$, not anywhere else. But if $|x-z|\geqslant \delta$ then $\left|\dfrac1{x-z}\right|$ is bounded by $1/\delta$. Also, you know that $g$ is bounded. So it follows that $h$ must indeed be bounded outside the region $|x-z|< \delta$.
 
Opalg said:
Yes, you need to show that if $h$ is unbounded, then it must be unbounded near $z$, not anywhere else. But if $|x-z|\geqslant \delta$ then $\left|\dfrac1{x-z}\right|$ is bounded by $1/\delta$. Also, you know that $g$ is bounded. So it follows that $h$ must indeed be bounded outside the region $|x-z|< \delta$.

So do I have to show both cases $ |x-z|< \delta$ and $ |x-z|\geq \delta$ ??
 

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