Q31: is not differentiable at , or for ,
(a) Prove that the greatest integer function defined by , is not differentiable at
OR
(b) If , find at
(a)
For , ; for , . Let be small.
Why?
is the greatest integer less than or equal to . So . For a small , lies between 1 and 2, so ; and lies between 0 and 1, so .
Why?
The right-hand derivative approaches 1 from the right, through . The numerator is for every small , so the fraction is all the way to the limit.
Why?
The left-hand derivative approaches 1 from the left, through . The change in is then , which is why the denominator is .
, and grows without bound as . So this limit is not a finite number.
So the LHD does not exist (it is not finite). Since RHD LHD,
Why?
is differentiable at a point only if both one-sided derivatives exist, are finite, and are equal. Here the LHD fails, so is not differentiable at 1.
Another way to see it: jumps from 0 to 1 at , so it is not even continuous there.
is not differentiable at . Hence proved.
(b)
Here the point is taken as , as in the marking scheme.
Why?
The paper prints "at ", but depends on , so a value of does not fix without knowing . The value is meant for the parameter .
Why?
Both and are given in terms of the parameter , so differentiate each with respect to . Standard derivatives:
Why?
Cancel one , then write in sines and cosines:
which is .
Differentiating both sides w.r.t. , and using (ii),
Why?
is a function of , so differentiating it w.r.t. needs the chain rule: differentiate w.r.t. , then multiply by . Here , and is divided by (ii).
Watch out: forgetting the factor is the usual mistake.
To simplify, use and :
Step by step:
Here . The numbers in front multiply as .
Why?
, so . Then
at
Chapter 5, Continuity and Differentiability: Differentiability; parametric second derivative.
Question type: (a) Is differentiable at a point? Compare LHD and RHD; (b) Parametric form + Second derivative (combined)
How to spot it: click to see
(a) Type 3. Is differentiable at a point? Compare LHD and RHD
Spot it: a modulus such as , or a function in pieces, and the word "differentiable".
Here: jumps at : it is 0 just left of 1 and 1 from 1 on. RHD is 0, but LHD is , which is not finite, so is not differentiable at 1.
(b) Type 8. Parametric form: and given through or
Spot it: two equations, one for and one for , both in the same third letter.
Here: First, and share : divide to get .
(b) Type 9. Second derivative: differentiate twice, then prove
Spot it: or in the question, often "prove that ".
Here: Then differentiate with respect to , times , and put .
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Continuity and Differentiability in past papers: question 35 of 35 · see them all