For each function, determine the set of all points in its domain where it is differentiable.
a) \(f(x)=|0.5x-2|\), with domain \(\mathbb{R}\)
b) \(g(x)=\sqrt{x}\), with domain \([0,\infty)\)
c) \(h(x)=\lfloor x+0.5\rfloor\), with domain \(\mathbb{R}\)
Here, \(\lfloor z\rfloor\) denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to \(z\).
Hints
- Make sure every point you list belongs to the stated domain.
- Pay special attention to the endpoint of a square root function's domain.
- Where are the jump discontinuities of the shifted floor function?
- Can a function be differentiable at a point where it is not continuous?
Solution
1. For \(f(x)=|0.5x-2|\), a corner occurs where \(0.5x-2=0\), which gives \(x=4\). Away from that point, the function is locally linear. Thus, \(f\) is differentiable on \(\mathbb{R}\setminus\{4\}\).
2. For \(g(x)=\sqrt{x}\), the derivative exists for \(x>0\) and equals \(\frac{1}{2\sqrt{x}}\). At \(x=0\), the right-hand difference quotient is \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{h}}\), which diverges to \(+\infty\) as \(h\to 0^+\). Thus, \(g\) is differentiable on \((0,\infty)\).
3. For \(h(x)=\lfloor x+0.5\rfloor\), jumps occur when \(x+0.5\) is an integer. These points have the form \(x=k-0.5\), where \(k\in\mathbb{Z}\). At all other points, the function is locally constant and has derivative \(0\). Thus, \(h\) is differentiable on \(\mathbb{R}\setminus\{k-0.5\mid k\in\mathbb{Z}\}\).
Answer
a) \(\mathbb{R}\setminus\{4\}\)
b) \((0,\infty)\)
c) \(\mathbb{R}\setminus\{k-0.5\mid k\in\mathbb{Z}\}\)