Chapter 5
Continuity and differentiability
Suppose f is a real function on a subset of the real numbers and c be a point in the
domain of f. Then, f is continuous at c, if lim f x f c
x c
More elaborately, we can say that f is continuous at c, if
lim f x lim f x f c
x c x c
Suppose f is a real function and c is a point in its domain. Then, the derivative of
f at c is defined by,
f c h f c
f c lim
h 0 h
d
Derivative of a function f (x), denoted by ( f ( x)) or f ( x) , is defined
dx
f x h f x
by f x lim
h 0 h
Example:
Find derivative of sin 2x.
Solution:
Let f (x) = sin 2x
sin 2 x h sin 2 x
f x lim
h 0 h
2 cos 2 x h sin h
lim
h 0 h
sin h
2 lim cos 2 x h lim
h 0 h 0 h
2 cos 2 x 1
2 cos 2 x
For two functions f and g, the rules of algebra of derivatives are as follows:
f g f g
f g f g
fg f g
f f g fg
, where g 0
g g2
Chain rule: This rule is used to find the derivative of a composite function. If f
dt dv df dv dt
= v o u, then t = u (x); and if both and exist, then
dx dt dx dt dx
Similarly, if f = (w o u) o v, and if t = v (x), s = u (t), then
df d ( wou ) dt dw ds dt
dx dt dx ds dt dx
v x
Derivative of a function f x ux can be calculated by taking logarithm on
both sides, i.e. log f x v x log u x , and then differentiating both sides
with respect to x.
Example:
Solution:
Let
log y y log x
d d
log y y log x
dx dx
1 dy dy y
log x
y dx dx x
dy y
log x
dx y x
y
dy x y2
dx 1 log x x xy log x
y
If the variables x and y are expressed in form of x = f (t) and y = g (t), then they
dy dy dt g t
are said to be in parametric form. In this case, ,
dx dt dx f t
provided f t 0
dy d2y d dy
If y = f (x), then f x and or f x
dx dx 2 dx dx
d2y
Here, f x or is called the second order derivative of y with respect to x.
dx 2
Rolle’s theorem:
If f: [a, b] R is continuous on [a, b] and differentiable on (a, b) such that f (a)
= f (b), where a and b are some real numbers, then there exists some c (a, b)
such that f c 0
Example: Verify Rolle’s Theorem and Mean Value Theorem for the function:
5
f (x) = 2x2 – 17x + 30 in the interval ,6
2
Solution:
f (x) = 2x2 –17x + 30
f x 4 x 17
5 5
The function f(x) is continuous on , 6 and differentiable on , 6 .
2 2
2
5 5 5
Also, f 2 17 30 0
2 2 2
2
And, f 6 2 6 17 6 30 0
5
f f 6
2
Therefore, we can apply Rolle’s Theorem for f (x).
5
According to this theorem, there exists c , 6 such that f c 0
2
We have f x 4 x 17
4c 17 0
17 5
c ,6
4 2
Therefore, Rolle’s Theorem is verified.
5
f 6 f
2
Now, 0
5
6
2
5
According to Mean Value Theorem (MVT), there exists c , 6 such that
2
f c 0
4c 17 0
17 5
c ,6
4 2
Therefore, M.V.T is verified.