Can the Subdifferential of a Non-Convex Function at a Point be Computed?

[braindead101]

Define f:R->R by
f(x) = { x^2 sin(1/x) x!=0, 0 x=0
Compute subdifferential f(0)

I went through my notes on subdifferentiation and still do not have a clue how to do this process, is there a formula to directly do this? any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Gib Z]

On the entire of the world wide web, the first result on "subdifferentiation" comes from this thread. What exactly is subdifferentiation?

 

[cristo]

Wikipedia says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subderivative

(I know what people are going to say; don't link to wiki; but there doesn't really seem to be another website on this this is openly accessible!)

 

[Gib Z]

Ok with that definition:

What makes you (the OP) think that we can find the subderiavative at zero? Is the function convex...

 

[braindead101]

the function is not convex. but it is an assignment question so it must be doable some how.
so i looked at the wiki you sent me and saw the example. but then i guess it is not the same
as my question as that function is convex and mine is not.
Example i am referring to:
Consider the function f(x)=|x| which is convex. Then, the subdifferential at the origin is the interval [−1, 1].

But with that said, I graphed the x^2sin(1/x) function to try to see the behaviour around 0, and both sides are approaching 0 and the slope seems to be also 0.. but i don't know if this is how to actually do it.

what are your thoughts after that wiki read?