Scribd
Upload
20 views3 pages

One Sided Derivatives

One sided derivatives

Uploaded by

9011 Sushil Raj V
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
20 views3 pages

One Sided Derivatives

One sided derivatives

Uploaded by

9011 Sushil Raj V
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

One Sided Derivatives

The left-hand derivative and right-hand derivative are define by:

f (a + h) − f (a)
f−′ (a) = lim
h→0− h

f (a + h) − f (a)
f+′ (a) = lim
h→0− h

Theorem : For f ′ (a) to exist it is necessary and sufficient that these conditions are met:

a) both f−′ (a) and f+′ (a) exist

b) f−′ (a) = f+′ (a)

Furthermore , if these conditions are met, then the derivative f ′ (a) equals the common value
of f−′ (a) and f+′ (a) :
f ′ (a) = f−′ (a) = f+′ (a)
Example : Is the function f (x) = |x + 7| differentiable at x = −7 ?

Solution:

We have f (−7) = 0. So:

f−′ (−7) = lim f (−7+h)−f (−7)


h
h→0−

|(−7+h)+7|−0
= lim h
h→0−

|h|
= lim h
h→0−
as h < 0 in this case
−h
= lim h = −1
h→0−

On the other hand:

f+′ (−7) = lim f (−7+h)−f (−7)


h
h→0+

|(−7+h)+7|−0
= lim h
h→0+

|h|
= lim h
h→0+
as h > 0 in this case
h
= lim h =1
h→0+

Then:

f−′ (−7) ̸= f+′ (−7) =⇒ it is not differentiable at x = −7

Page 2
Example : Is the function f (x) = |x − 3| + x2 differentiable at x = 3.

Solution:
{ }
|h|+(3+h)2 −{9}
f−′ (3) = lim f (3+h)−f (3)
h = lim h
h→0− h→0−

{ }
|h|+(9+6h+h2 ) −{9}
|h|+6h+h2
= lim h = lim h
h→0− h→0−

(−h)+6h+h2 5h+h2
= lim h = lim h
h→0− h→0−

= lim (5 + h) = 5
h→0−

On the other hand:


{ }
|h|+(3+h)2 −{9}
f+′ (3) = lim f (3+h)−f (3)
h = lim h
h→0+ h→0+

{ }
|h|+(9+6h+h2 ) −{9}
|h|+6h+h2
= lim h = lim h
h→0+ h→0+

(h)+6h+h2 7h+h2
= lim h = lim h
h→0+ h→0+

= lim (7 + h) = 7
h→0+

Then:

f−′ (3) ̸= f+′ (3) =⇒ it is not differentiable at x = 3

Page 3

You might also like