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SOLUTIONS TO DERIVATIVES USING THE LIMIT DEFINITION

SOLUTION 1 :

(Algebraically and arithmetically simplify the expression in the numerator.)

(The term   now divides out and the limit can be calculated.)

 .

SOLUTION 2 :
(Algebraically and arithmetically simplify the expression in the numerator.)

(Factor   from the expression in the numerator.)

(The term   now divides out and the limit can be calculated.)

 .

SOLUTION 3 :

(Eliminate the square root terms in the numerator of the expression by multiplying

by the conjugate of the numerator divided by itself.)

(Recall that   )
(The term   now divides out and the limit can be calculated.)

 .

SOLUTION 4 :

(Get a common denominator for the expression in the numerator. Recall that

division by   is the same as multiplication by   . )

(Algebraically and arithmetically simplify the expression in the numerator. It is


important to note that the denominator of this expression should be left in factored
form so that the term   can be easily eliminated later.)
(The term   now divides out and the limit can be calculated.)

 .

SOLUTION 5 :

(At this point it may appear that multiplying by the conjugate of the numerator
over

itself is a good next step. However, doing something else is a better idea.)

(Note that A - B can be written as the difference of cubes , so that

 . This will help explain


the next step.)
(Algebraically and arithmetically simplify the expression in the numerator.)

(The term   now divides out and the limit can be calculated.)

 .

SOLUTION 6 :
(Recall a well-known trigonometry identity :

 .)

(Recall the following two well-known trigonometry limits :

 and   .)

 .

SOLUTION 7 :

(Get a common denominator for the expression in the numerator. Recall that

division by   is the same as multiplication by   . )


(Algebraically and arithmetically simplify the expression in the numerator. The
terms x3, 2x2, -3x, and   will subtract out. I would show this step, but this web
page is not wide enough. It is important to note that the denominator of this
expression should be left in factored form so that the term   can be easily
eliminated later.)

(Factor   from the numerator.)

(The term   now divides out and the limit can be calculated.)

 .

SOLUTION 8 :
(Eliminate the square root terms in the numerator of the expression by multiplying
by the conjugate of the numerator divided by itself.)

(Algebraically and arithmetically simplify the expression in the numerator. It is


important to note that the denominator of this expression should be left in factored
form so that the term   can be easily eliminated later.)

(Factor   from the numerator.)

(The term   now divides out and the limit can be calculated.)

 .

SOLUTION 9 : The derivative at x=1 is


 .

Note that   can be either positive or negative, and   when   ,


and   when   . Thus,

Further work requires the use of one-sided limits. First, the right-hand limit is

 = 


=   .

The left-hand limit is

 = 

=   .

Thus, both one-sided limits exist and are equal, so that f is differentiable at x=1
with

 .

SOLUTION 10 : The derivative at x=0 is


(Note that  .)

 .

But for 

so that   implies that

Since  , it follows from the Squeeze Principle that

In a similar fashion (Assume that   .) it can easily be shown that

.
Thus, both one-sided limits exist and are equal, so that function f is differentiable
at x=0 with

REMARK : What follows is a common INCORRECT attempt to solve this

problem using another method. Since   for  , it follows, using


the product rule and chain rule, that

for   . Then

Because the term   oscillates between 1 and -1 as   approaches zero ,


this limit does not exist. An INCORRECT conclusion would be that f'(0) does not
exist, i.e., f is not differentiable at x=0. If f' were continuous at x=0 , this would be
a valid method to compute f'(0) .

SOLUTION 11 : First rewrite f(x). That is,

f(x) = | x2 - 3x | = | x(x-3) |


Assume that x < 0. Then

= 2x - 3 .

Assume that x>3. Then it is also true that f'(x) = 2x - 3. Assume that 0 < x < 3.
Then
= 3 - 2x .

Now check for differentiability at x=0, i.e., compute f'(0). Then

 .

If  , then

= 3.

If  , then
= - 3.

Since the one-sided limits exist but are NOT EQUAL,   does
not exist, and f is not differentiable at x = 0. Now check for differentiability atx=3,
i.e., compute f'(3). Then

 .

If   , then   so that

= 3.
If   , then   so that

= - 3.

Since the one-sided limits exist but are NOT EQUAL,   


does not exist, and f is not differentiable at x = 3. Summarizing, the derivative
of f is

Function f is not differentiable at x=0 or x=3.

SOLUTION 12 : First, determine if f is continuous at x=2, i.e., determine


if   . For x > 2
= 0.

For x < 2

= -3.

Thus, the one-sided limits exist but are NOT EQUAL, so that   does not
exist and function f is NOT CONTINUOUS AT x=0 . Since function f is NOT
CONTINUOUS AT x=0 , function f is NOT DIFFERENTIABLE at x=2 .

REMARK 1 : Use of the limit definition of the derivative of f at x=2 also leads to a
correct solution to this problem.

REMARK 2 : What follows is a common INCORRECT attempt to solve this


problem using another method. For x>2

For x<2

Then
=1,

and

=1.

An INCORRECT conclusion would be that f'(2) = 1. If f' were continuous at x=2 ,


this would be a valid method to compute f'(2) .

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