Fill in the blanks in each of the
An example of a function which is continuous everywhere but fails to be differentiable exactly at two points is _______.
Consider, f(x) = |x-1| + |x-2|
Let’s discuss the continuity of f(x).
We have, f(x) = |x-1| + |x-2|
⇒
⇒
When x<1, we have f(x) = -2x+3, which is a polynomial function and polynomial function is continuous everywhere.
When 1≤x<2, we have f(x) = 1, which is a constant function and constant function is continuous everywhere.
When x≥2, we have f(x) = 2x-3, which is a polynomial function and polynomial function is continuous everywhere.
Hence, f(x) = |x-1| + |x-2| is continuous everywhere.
Let’s discuss the differentiability of f(x) at x=1 and x=2.
We have
⇒
⇒
Lf’(1) =
=
= (∵ f(x) = -2x+3, if x< 1)
=
=
Rf’(1) =
= (∵ f(x) = 1, if 1≤ x< 2)
=0
⇒ Lf’(1) ≠ Rf’(1)
⇒ f(x) is not differentiable at x=1.
Lf’(2) =
= (∵f(x) = 1, if 1≤ x< 2 and f(2) = 2×2-3 =1 )
=0
Rf’(2) =
=
= (∵ f(x) = 2x-3, if x≥ 2)
=
=
⇒ Lf’(2) ≠ Rf’(2)
⇒ f(x) is not differentiable at x=2.
Thus, f(x) = |x-1| + |X-2| is continuous everywhere but fails to be differentiable exactly at two points x=1 and x=2.