MA 101 (Mathematics - I)

Differentiability : Exercise set 1: Hints ans solutions

1. Discuss differentiability of f : R → R, and continuity of f 0 wherever exists.

(i) f (x) = |x|.

(ii) f (x) = | sin x|.
(
x2 , if x ∈ Q,
(iii) f (x) =
0, if x ∈ R \ Q.
(
xn sin x1 , if x 6= 0.
(iv) n ∈ N and f (x) =
0, if x = 0.

Solution: (Hints.)

(i) Not differentiable at x = 0.

(ii) Not differentiable at x = nπ, n ∈ Z. Draw the graph.
(iii) Differentiable at 0. Not continuous at x 6= 0, so differentiable exactly at 0.
(iv) If and only if n > 1.

2. Show that if f : R → R is differentiable and is an even function, then f 0 is an odd function.

Solution: For c ∈ R
f (x) − f (−c) f (−x) − f (c) f (−x) − f (c)
= =− → −f 0 (c), as − x → c, i.e., as x → −c.
x − (−c) x+c (−x) − c

Therefore, for any x ∈ R, f 0 (−x) = −f 0 (x).

3. Let f : (a, b) → R be differentiable at c ∈ (a, b). Assume that f 0 (c) 6= 0. Show that there exists δ > 0 such
that for x ∈ (c − δ, c + δ) ∩ (a, b), we have f (x) 6= f (c). Can you say something more, if f 0 (x) > 0? Similarly,
if f 0 (x) < 0?

f (x) − f (c)
Solution: Choose  > 0 such that 0 6∈ f 0 (c) − , f 0 (c) +  , e.g.  = |f 0 (c)|/2. Since lim


=
x→c x−c
0
f (c), there exists δ > 0 such that for x ∈ (c − δ, c + δ) ∩ (a, b), we have

f (x) − f (c)
f 0 (c) −  < < f 0 (c) + .
x−c
f (x) − f (c)
Therefore for x ∈ (c−δ, c+δ)∩(a, b), f (x)−f (c) 6= 0. For the second part, look at the sign of
x−c
(see [2.11] of Differentiation Notes.)

4. Let f : R → R be such that |f (x) − f (y)| ≤ (x − y)2 . Show that f is a constant function.

Solution: (Hint.) Show that f 0 (x) = 0 for every x ∈ R.

 5. If a0 + a21 + a32 + · · · + n+1
an
= 0 for some real numbers ai , then show that a0 + a1 x + a2 x2 + · · · + an xn = 0
has a real root between 0 and 1.

a1 x2 a2 x3 an xn+1
Solution: (Hint.) Define f : [0, 1] → R by f (x) = a0 x + 2 + 3 + ··· + n+1 and use Rolle’s
theorem on [0, 1].

1 − xn+1
6. Use the identity 1+x+· · ·+xn = for x 6= 1 to arrive at a formula for the sum 1+x+2x2 +· · ·+nxn .
1−x

Solution: (Hint.) Differentiate both sides, multiply by x and add 1, and get the sum as
xn+1 x(1 − xn+1 )
(n + 1) + + 1.
x−1 (1 − x)2

7. Verify Chain Rule for f , g and g ◦ f at the point 0, where

( (
x2 , if x ∈ Q sin x, if x ∈ Q
f (x) = g(x) =
0, otherwise, x, otherwise.

Solution: g ◦ f is given by (g ◦ f )(x) = sin x2 , if x ∈ Q and (g ◦ f )(x) = 0, if x ∈

/ Q.
Now, for x 6= 0 (
f (x) − f (0) x, if x ∈ Q,
= → 0 as x → 0.
x−0 0, otherwise,
Hence, f 0 (0) = 0. Again, for x 6= 0
(
sin x
g(x) − g(f (0)) x , if x ∈ Q,
= → 1 as x → 0.
x−0 1, otherwise,

Thus, g 0 (f (0)) = 1. Finally,

(
sin2 x
(g ◦ f )(x) − (g ◦ f )(0)) x , if x ∈ Q,
= → 0 as x → 0.
x−0 0, otherwise,

Thus, (g ◦ f )0 (0)) = 0 = 1 · 0 = g 0 (f (0))f 0 (0).

8. Find the number of real roots of the equation x4 + 2x2 − 6x + 2 = 0.

Solution: (Hint.) Define p(x) = x4 + 2x2 − 6x + 2 on R. Show that p00 (x) > 0 for all x ∈ R. So, p0
cannot vanish at more than one distinct points, and thereofre p cannot vanish at more than two distinct
points. Use IVT to show that p vanishes at least at two distinct points.

9. Let f : R → R be such that |f (x) − f (y)| ≤ (x − y)2 for all x, y ∈ R. Show that f is a constant function.

Solution: Sorry, question 4 repeated.

10. Let f : R → R be twice differentiable at 0. If f ( n1 ) = 0 for all n ∈ N, then find f 0 (0) and f 00 (0).
 Solution: First, since f is twice differentiable at 0, f must be differentiable in an interval [−r, r], r > 0.
In particular, it is differentiable at 0, and so continuous at 0. Since n1 → 0, have f ( n1 ) → f (0) yielding
f (0) = 0.
f (x) − f (0)
Next, f 0 (0) = lim , and the sequence ( n1 ) converges to 0, we have
x→0 x−0
f (1/n) − f (0)
f 0 (0) = lim = 0.
n→∞ 1/n − 0
1
Finally, choose m ∈ N such that m ≤ r. For n ≥ m, f is differentiable on [0, 1/n] with f (0) = f (1/n) = 0.
By MVT, there is xn ∈ [0, 1/n] such that f 0 (xn ) = 0. Then xn → 0 and therefore

f 0 (xn ) − f 0 (0)
f 00 (0) = lim = 0.
n→∞ xn − 0

11. Let f be differentiable on (0, ∞) and lim f 0 (x) = 0. Put g(x) = f (x + 1) − f (x). Show that lim g(x) = 0.
x→∞ x→∞

Solution: Let  > 0. Since lim f 0 (x) = 0, there is M > 0 such that |f 0 (x)| <  for all x ≥ M . Let
x→∞
x ≥ M . Since f is differentiable on [x, x + 1], by MVT, there is y ∈ (x, x + 1) such that

f (x + 1) − f (x)
= f 0 (y),
(x + 1) − x

that is, g(x) = f 0 (y). Then y > M and therefore, |g(x)| = |f 0 (y)| < . Hence, lim g(x) = 0.
x→∞

12. If f (x) = x3 + x2 − 5x + 3 for x ∈ R, then show that f is one-one on [1, 5] but not one-one on R.

Solution: We have f 0 (x) = 3x2 + 2x − 5 = (3x + 5)(x − 1). Since f 0 (x) > 0 for x > 1, f is one-one on
[1, 5] (in fact on any subset of [1, ∞)). However, f is not one-one on R: f (1) = 0, f (0) = 3, f (−5) = −72.
IVT, there is t ∈ (−5, 0) such that f (t) = f (1) = 0.

13. Prove that for x ≥ −1 and α > 1, (1 + x)α ≥ 1 + αx.

Solution: Let f : [−1, ∞) → R be defined by f (x) = (1+x)α −(1+αx), x ≥ −1. Then f is differentiable
and f 0 (x) = α[(1 + x)α−1 − 1]. Now, f 0 (x) ≤ 0 for all x ∈ [−1, 0] and f 0 (x) ≥ 0 for all x ∈ [0, ∞). Hence
f is decreasing on [−1, 0] and increasing on [0, ∞). So f (x) ≥ f (0) = 0 for all x ∈ R.

y−x y y−x
14. (1) For 0 < x < y, show that < ln < .
y x x
(2) Deduce that if e ≤ a < b, then ab > ba . (In particular eπ > π e .)

Solution: (1) Let f (t) = ln t on [x, y]. Then f is differentiable on [x, y] and f 0 (t) = 1/t. By MVT, there
is c ∈ (x, y) such that
1 y 1
ln y − ln x = (y − x), i.e, ln = (y − x).
c x c
1 1 1
Since < < , we have
y c x
y−x y y−x
< ln < .
y x x
 (2) From the above let us deduce that if e ≤ x < y, then xy > y x . Since x ln(y/x) < y − x, we have
x yx xy
ln xy x = x ln(y/x) < y − x, i.e., x < ey−x ≤ xy−x = x (since e ≤ x implies et ≤ xt for any t). Thus,
x x
y x < xy .
In particular, we have eπ > π e , since e < π.

1 ex −1


15. Show that 0 < x ln x < 1 for x > 0.

ex −1


Solution: (Hint.) Show that 0 < ln x < x for x > 0. ex > 1 + x. So take a = x, b = ex − 1 and
apply MVT on f (t) = ln t on [a, b].

16. Find the points of local maximum and local minimum for f : R → R, where f (x) = 1 − x2/3 .

Solution: The function is differentiable everywhere, except at 0. For x 6= 0, f 0 (x) = −2/(3x1/3 ). Now,
f 0 (x) > 0 for x < 0, and f 0 (x) < 0 for x > 0. Hence, f is increasing on (∞, 0) and decreasing on (0, ∞).
Since f is continuous at 0, f has a local maximum at x = 0.