Thomas' Calculus 13th Edition

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32187-896-5
ISBN 13: 978-0-32187-896-0

Chapter 3: Derivatives - Section 3.1 - Tangents and the Derivative at a Point - Exercises 3.1 - Page 109: 39

Answer

a. See graph, b. no vertical tangent.

Work Step by Step

a. See graph; it appears to have a vertical tangent at $x=0$ b. Evaluate the limit: $\lim_{h\to0}\frac{f(0+h)-f(0)}{h}=\lim_{h\to0}\frac{h^{2/5}-0}{h}=\lim_{h\to0}\frac{1}{h^{3/5}}=$ As $\lim_{h\to0^+}\frac{1}{h^{3/5}}=\infty$ and $\lim_{h\to0^-}\frac{1}{h^{3/5}}=-\infty\ne \lim_{h\to0^+}\frac{1}{h^{3/5}}$, thus there is no vertical tangent at this point.
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