# differentiation

• Apr 2nd 2008, 09:34 PM
got_jane
differentiation
If f is differentiable and the difference quotient overestimates the slope of f at x=a for all h>0, which must be true?

a) f '(a)>0
b) f '(a)<0
c) f ''(a)>0
d) f ''(a)<0

i don't understand the concept of this question. can someone help?
• Apr 2nd 2008, 11:33 PM
CaptainBlack
Quote:

Originally Posted by got_jane
If f is differentiable and the difference quotient overestimates the slope of f at x=a for all h>0, which must be true?

a) f '(a)>0
b) f '(a)<0
c) f ''(a)>0
d) f ''(a)<0

i don't understand the concept of this question. can someone help?

You are told that:

$\frac{f(a+h)-f(a)}{h}>f'(a), \ \forall h>0$.

But the answer is none of the the offered options, for consider $f(x)=x^2$, and $a=0$ , the difference quotient is:

$\frac{h^2}{h}=h>0, \ \forall h>0$

but $f'(a)=0$, and $f''(a)=0$.

RonL
• Apr 2nd 2008, 11:41 PM
h2osprey
Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainBlack
You are told that:

$\frac{f(a+h)-f(a)}{h}>f'(a), \ \forall h>0$.

But the answer is none of the the offered options, for consider $f(x)=x^2$, and $a=0$ , the difference quotient is:

$\frac{h^2}{h}=h>0, \ \forall h>0$

but $f'(a)=0$, and $f''(a)=0$.

RonL

I believe the answer is f"(a) > 0 (meaning f'(a) is an increasing function). In the example you just offered at x = 0, f"(a) = 2 not 0.
• Apr 3rd 2008, 04:00 AM
CaptainBlack
Quote:

Originally Posted by h2osprey
I believe the answer is f"(a) > 0 (meaning f'(a) is an increasing function). In the example you just offered at x = 0, f"(a) = 2 not 0.

Brain fart on my part, try f(x)=x^3, f'(x)=3x^2, f''(x)=6x, so the difference quotient at x=0 is h^3>0 for h>0, but the first two derivatives are zero.

(the problem arrose because of a last minute replacement of a much more interesting counter example, the point was that you can construct a function satisfying the required condition but which satisfy none of the given candidates for the answer, as an alternative consider f(x)=x^4)

In fact the conditions on f'' cannot apply even if assorted ">"s are changed to ">="'s because there is no condition requiring f'' to exist.

Now there may be a formulation of a question like this that does have an answer like c, but this is not that question.

RonL
• Apr 3rd 2008, 03:06 PM
got_jane
thank you so much! the both of you!(Handshake)