Q.Discuss the continuity and differentiability of f(x)=x∣x∣ at x=0.
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A function can be continuous at a point yet still fail to have a derivative there — differentiability is a strictly stronger requirement than continuity, never the other way around.
Three ways a derivative can fail to exist at x0:
- A corner or cusp (the graph comes to a sharp point ∨ or ∧). Example: f(x)=∣x−2∣ at x=2 — continuous there, but f′(2−)=−1=1=f′(2+), so f′(2) does not exist.
- A vertical tangent. Example: f(x)=x1/3 at x=0 — continuous, but f′(0)=limx→0x−2/3=+∞, not a finite number.
- A discontinuity. Example: f(x)=⌊x⌋ at any integer n — not even continuous there, so certainly not differentiable; or a jump function like f(x)=x (x≤0), f(x)=x+1 (x>0), where f′(0+) fails to exist because the right-hand difference quotient blows up as the jump is approached.
These three cases are exhaustive: a function fails to be differentiable at a point of its domain precisely when one of them holds. In short, discontinuity always forces non-differentiability — but continuity alone never guarantees differentiability, as cases (1) and (2) show.
The one implication that always holds:
Theorem 10.1. If f is differentiable at x0, then f is continuous at x0. …
f(x)=x∣x∣ equals x2 for x≥0 and −x2 for x<0; both one-sided derivatives at 0 equal 0. …
f(x)=x∣x∣: for x≥0, f(x)=x⋅x=x2; for x<0, f(x)=x⋅(−x)=−x2.
Continuity at 0: x→0−lim(−x2)=0 and x→0+limx2=0, matching f(0)=0. Continuous. …
Split f(x)=x|x| into its two polynomial pieces, then compute LHD and RHD at the join …
Treating x∣x∣ as simply x2 everywhere and forgetting the sign flip for x<0, whic …
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If f(x)=⎩⎨⎧x+2,5,8−x,−1<x<3x=3x>3, then at x=3, f′(x) is:(a) 0(b) 1(c) does not exist(d) −1
›Reveal solutionSolution
The left-hand derivative at x=3 is 1 and the right-hand derivative is −1; since they differ, f′(3) does not exist.
First check continuity at x=3: from the left piece, limx→3−(x+2)=5; the function value is f(3)=5; from the right piece, limx→3+(8−x)=5. So f is continuous at x=3 -- continuity alone doesn't guarantee differentiability, though.
Left-hand derivative: for x<3, f(x)=x+2, so f′(x)=1 for x near 3 from the left.
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- CBSE 2020Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The number of points in R in which the function f(x)=∣x−1∣+∣x−3∣+sinx is not differentiable, is:(a) 3(b) 2(c) 1(d) 4
›Reveal solutionSolution
The only non-differentiable 'corners' come from the two absolute-value terms, at x=1 and x=3.
f(x)=∣x−1∣+∣x−3∣+sinx. The function ∣x−1∣ has a sharp corner (a kink where the left and right derivatives disagree) exactly at x=1, and is smooth everywhere else. Similarly ∣x−3∣ has a corner exactly at x=3. The term sinx is differentiable at every real number.
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- CBSE 2019Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If f(x)={2a−x,3x−2a,−a<x<ax≥a then which one of the following is true?(a) f(x) is continuous for all x in R(b) f(x) is differentiable for all x≥a(c) f(x) is not differentiable at x=a(d) f(x) is discontinuous at x=a
›Reveal solutionSolution
At x=a the left and right pieces give the same value (continuity holds) but different slopes (−1 and 3), so f is continuous but not differentiable at x=a; and since f isn't even defined for x≤−a, option (a) is false.
Check continuity at x=a: left piece value =2a−a=a; right piece value =3a−2a=a. They agree, so f is continuous at x=a.
Check differentiability at x=a: derivative of 2a−x is −1; derivative of 3x−2a is 3. Since −1=3, the left and right derivatives at x=a disagree, so f is NOT differentiable at x=a — this rules in option (c) and rules out (b).
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- CBSE 2018Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Which of the function is not differentiable?(a) f(x)=sinx+cosx in (−∞,∞)(b) f(x)=sinx in (−∞,∞)(c) f(x)=cotx in (2−π,2π)(d) f(x)=cosx in [−π,π]
›Reveal solutionSolution
cotx is undefined (division by sinx=0) at x=0, which lies inside the stated interval, so option (c) fails to be differentiable — indeed not even defined — at that point.
- sinx+cosx is a sum of standard differentiable functions, differentiable on all of (−∞,∞).
- sinx is differentiable everywhere on (−∞,∞). …
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