All Flashcards
How do you check for differentiability of a piecewise function at the transition point?
- Check for continuity at the transition point. 2. Find the derivatives of each piece. 3. Evaluate the left-hand and right-hand derivatives at the transition point. 4. Compare the values; they must be equal for differentiability.
How do you determine if is differentiable at ?
- Recognize that absolute value functions often have a corner. 2. Check the left and right-hand derivatives. 3. Since the derivatives are different, is not differentiable at .
How do you find points of non-differentiability graphically?
- Look for discontinuities (jumps, holes, vertical asymptotes). 2. Look for sharp corners or cusps. 3. Look for vertical tangents.
What are the steps to determine differentiability using limits?
- Find the left-hand limit of the derivative. 2. Find the right-hand limit of the derivative. 3. Check if both limits exist and are equal. 4. Check if f'(a) exists and equals the limits.
How do you handle a function with a potential removable discontinuity when checking for differentiability?
- Determine if the discontinuity is removable. 2. If removable, redefine the function to be continuous. 3. Check the left and right-hand derivatives at the point. 4. If the derivatives match, it is differentiable.
How to determine differentiability when given a graph?
- Check for any discontinuities. 2. Check for any sharp corners or cusps. 3. Check for any vertical tangents. 4. If none of the above exist, the function is differentiable.
How to determine differentiability when given a function?
- Check if function is continuous. 2. Find the derivative of the function. 3. Check if the derivative exists at the given point. 4. If the derivative exists, the function is differentiable.
How to determine differentiability when given a piecewise function?
- Check if function is continuous at transition point. 2. Find the derivative of each piece. 3. Check if the left-hand and right-hand derivatives are equal at the transition point. 4. If the derivatives are equal, the function is differentiable.
How to determine differentiability when given a function with absolute value?
- Rewrite the function as a piecewise function. 2. Find the derivative of each piece. 3. Check if the left-hand and right-hand derivatives are equal at the point where the absolute value is zero. 4. If the derivatives are equal, the function is differentiable.
How to determine differentiability when given a function with a vertical tangent?
- Find the derivative of the function. 2. Check if the derivative approaches infinity at the given point. 3. If the derivative approaches infinity, the function is not differentiable.
Explain why differentiability implies continuity.
If a function is differentiable at a point, it has a well-defined tangent line. The existence of a tangent line implies that the function must be 'connected' at that point, hence continuous.
Explain why continuity does not imply differentiability.
A function can be continuous but have sharp corners, cusps, or vertical tangents where the derivative is undefined, thus not differentiable.
What conditions must be met for a function to be differentiable at x=a?
The function must be continuous at x=a, and the left-hand derivative must equal the right-hand derivative at x=a.
Describe how to graphically determine if a function is differentiable.
Visually inspect the graph for discontinuities, sharp corners, cusps, and vertical tangents. If none of these exist at a point, the function is likely differentiable there.
Explain the significance of a vertical tangent in terms of differentiability.
A vertical tangent indicates that the derivative approaches infinity, meaning the function is not differentiable at that point.
How do discontinuities affect differentiability?
Discontinuities always make a function non-differentiable at the point of discontinuity because differentiability requires continuity.
What is the role of limits in determining differentiability?
Limits are used to evaluate the left-hand and right-hand derivatives. If these limits are equal, the function is differentiable, assuming it is also continuous.
Explain differentiability in terms of local linearity.
A function is differentiable at a point if, when you zoom in close enough, the graph looks like a straight line (local linearity).
How does differentiability relate to the smoothness of a curve?
Differentiability implies that the curve is smooth, meaning there are no abrupt changes in direction (corners or cusps).
Explain the concept of non-differentiable points.
Non-differentiable points are locations on a function's graph where the derivative does not exist due to discontinuities, corners, cusps, or vertical tangents.
What does a sharp corner on the graph of indicate about ?
A sharp corner indicates that is undefined at that point, as the left-hand and right-hand derivatives are not equal.
What does a vertical tangent on the graph of indicate about ?
A vertical tangent indicates that approaches infinity or negative infinity, meaning the derivative is undefined at that point.
How can you identify a non-differentiable point from a graph?
Look for discontinuities (jumps, holes), sharp corners, cusps, or vertical tangents. These are all points where the function is not differentiable.
If a graph has a jump discontinuity, what does this imply about the derivative?
The derivative does not exist at the point of jump discontinuity.
If a graph has a removable discontinuity, what does this imply about the derivative?
The derivative does not exist at the point of removable discontinuity.
How does the slope of a tangent line relate to differentiability?
If a tangent line exists and has a finite slope, the function is differentiable at that point. If the tangent line is vertical or doesn't exist, the function is not differentiable.
What does a cusp in a graph indicate about the derivative?
A cusp indicates that the derivative is undefined at that point.
What does a corner in a graph indicate about the derivative?
A corner indicates that the derivative is undefined at that point.
What does a vertical tangent in a graph indicate about the derivative?
A vertical tangent indicates that the derivative is undefined at that point.
What does a discontinuity in a graph indicate about the derivative?
A discontinuity indicates that the derivative is undefined at that point.