# Differentiability

• November 4th 2007, 06:44 PM
Truthbetold
Differentiability
Find all values of x for which the function is differentiable.

$P(x)= sin(|x|)-1$
• November 4th 2007, 07:11 PM
topsquark
Quote:

Originally Posted by Truthbetold
Find all values of x for which the function is differentiable.

$P(x)= sin(|x|)-1$

Can you think of any points of the graph of $y = |x|$ where the function isn't differentiable?

-Dan
• November 4th 2007, 09:46 PM
Truthbetold
Quote:

Originally Posted by topsquark
Can you think of any points of the graph of $y = |x|$ where the function isn't differentiable?

-Dan

To shorten the below: no.

If something is not differentiable only when it at the very middle (where the right and left come together, usually in examples as (0,0,) of cusps, corners, vertical tangents, and a non-removable discontinuity, then I cannot think or see, using a graphing calculator, any points.
• November 5th 2007, 03:46 AM
topsquark
Quote:

Originally Posted by Truthbetold
To shorten the below: no.

If something is not differentiable only when it at the very middle (where the right and left come together, usually in examples as (0,0,) of cusps, corners, vertical tangents, and a non-removable discontinuity, then I cannot think or see, using a graphing calculator, any points.

$f(x) = |x|$

Consider x near 0. When x approaches 0 from the left, the first derivative is -1. When x approaches 0 from the right, the first derivative is 1. So the derivative of |x| does not exist at x = 0.

We can make a similar argument for $f(x) = sin(|x|) - 1$. See the graph below. Notice the cusp at x = 0.

-Dan