Calculus: Early Transcendentals 8th Edition

Published by Cengage Learning
ISBN 10: 1285741552
ISBN 13: 978-1-28574-155-0

Chapter 2 - Section 2.7 - Derivatives and Rates of Change - 2.7 Exercises - Page 151: 59

Answer

$f'(0)$ does not exist.

Work Step by Step

$f(x) = x~sin(\frac{1}{x})~~~$ if $x\neq 0$ $f(x) = 0~~~~~~~$ if $x = 0$ We can try to evaluate $f'(0)$ using Definition 4: $\lim\limits_{h \to 0} \frac{f(0+h)-f(0)}{h}$ $=\lim\limits_{h \to 0} \frac{(0+h)~sin(\frac{1}{0+h})-0}{h}$ $=\lim\limits_{h \to 0} \frac{h~sin(\frac{1}{h})}{h}$ $=\lim\limits_{h \to 0} sin(\frac{1}{h})$ As $h$ approaches $0$, the value of $sin(\frac{1}{h})$ moves back and forth continuously between $1$ and $-1$. The function does not converge on one single point. Therefore, the limit does not exist. $f'(0)$ does not exist.
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