# Math Help - Continuity problem

1. ## Continuity problem

Find values of the constants a and b for which the following function is continuous but not differentiable.

$f(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{cc}ax+b,&\mbox{ if }x>0;\\sin2x, & \mbox{ if } x\leq 0\end{array}\right.$

In other words, the graph of the function should have a sharp corner at the pont (0,f(0)).

I'm not even sure what they are asking. This is part of a limit course and I am very familiar with limits.

2. ## Re: Continuity problem

Originally Posted by Paze
Find values of the constants a and b for which the following function is continuous but not differentiable.

$f(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{cc}ax+b,&\mbox{ if }x>0;\\sin2x, & \mbox{ if } x\leq 0\end{array}\right.$

In other words, the graph of the function should have a sharp corner at the pont (0,f(0)).

I'm not even sure what they are asking. This is part of a limit course and I am very familiar with limits.
1. Replace x by 0 in the appropriate part of the function. You'll get f(0) = 0

2. Therefore b must be zero.

3. The function has the slope f'(0) = 2

4. Thus for $a \ne 2$ the function is not differentiable at x = 0.

5. I've attached a sketch of the situation.

3. ## Re: Continuity problem

You will need to know at least something about derivatives to solve this problem (otherwise how can you be sure that it's not differentiable). The derivative of $\sin{2x}$ at 0 is 2, and the derivative of ax+b is a, so since they want it to be not differentiable, $a\ne{2}$.

For it to be continuous, the limit from the right (using ax+b) must be equal to the limit from the left (using $\sin{2x}$). You should be able to calculate those two limits and set them equal to get an equation for b.

- Hollywood

P.S. earboth beat me to the answer.

4. ## Re: Continuity problem

I understand derivatives, I should probably have mentioned that.

However I don't understand why the derivative of sin2x at 0 is 2. The derivative of sinx is cosx so I assume the derivative of sin2x is cos2x...The derivative of sin(2*0) is 0 and the derivative of cos(2*0) is 1...How do you get 2?

EDIT: Something tells me I am supposed to be using chain/product rule. If so then I have to vent some frustration at these courses all over the net. They ask you to solve problems which you have not learned every single time when teaching derivatives.

EDIT2: Solved with chain rule. Jesus Christ, I like how these morons shoe-horn chain rule in the problems before properly teaching derivatives! Thanks sent to you both!

5. ## Re: Continuity problem

So it sounds like you understand why $a \ne 2$. Did you figure out the equation for b?

- Hollywood

6. ## Re: Continuity problem

Originally Posted by hollywood
So it sounds like you understand why $a \ne 2$. Did you figure out the equation for b?

- Hollywood
It seems to me that the function is continuous but not differentiable for any a except 2? In other words I'm getting y=(any a except 2)*x+0
Am I understanding this wrong?

7. ## Re: Continuity problem

That is correct - you need b=0 to make it continuous and $a\ne{2}$ to make it not differentiable.

- Hollywood

8. ## Re: Continuity problem

Cool! Thanks for the help to both of you!