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Learn the conditions for a function to be differentiable at a point and how continuity plays a role in calculus. Discover why the derivative may not exist at points where the function is not continuous.
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Limits Calculus 2.1b part 2 of 2
9/13/2012 – Today’s Learning Objective: Differentiability and Continuity Find the derivative with respect to t for the function y = 2/t.
Differentiability and Continuity The derivative does not exist (the function is not differentiable) at any point where the function is not continuous. In other words, wherever the function is not continuous it’s also not differentiable. But even if the function is continuous at a point, it still might not be differentiable there. These three conditions must be fulfilled for the function to be differentiable at a given point: 1. The function must be continuous there. 2. The graph must be smooth there, with no sharp bend. 3. The tangent line must be oblique (slanted) or horizontal, not vertical. Wherever any of those conditions is violated, the derivative does not exist at that point. Turning it around, if the derivative does exist at a given point, then you know that all three of the above are true at that point.
Alternative Form of Derivative equal requires that one-sided limits to exist and be = derivative from the right derivative from the left If f is differentiable on (a,b) and if the derivative from the right at a and the derivative from the left at b both exist, then: f is differentiable on the closed interval [a,b].
Differentiability implies Continuity If f is differentiable at x = c, then f is continuous at x = c. Continuity does NOT imply differentiability.