Connecting Differentiability and Continuity - AP Calculus AB

  1. What is the derivative of f(x)=cos(x)f(x) = \text{cos}(x)?
    −sin(x)-\text{sin}(x). Derivative of cosine is negative sine.
  2. What is the derivative rule for a sum f(x)+g(x)f(x) + g(x)?
    f′(x)+g′(x)f'(x) + g'(x). Derivative of sum equals sum of derivatives.
  3. For f(x)=1xf(x) = \frac{1}{x}, is f(x)f(x) differentiable at x=0x = 0?
    No, f(x)f(x) is undefined at x=0x = 0. Function is undefined at x=0x = 0.
  4. Determine the differentiability of f(x)=floor(x)f(x) = \text{floor}(x) at x=2x = 2.
    Not differentiable at x=2x = 2. Floor function has jump discontinuities at integers.
  5. Determine the differentiability of f(x)=x2+3x+2f(x) = x^2 + 3x + 2 at x=−1x = -1.
    Differentiable at x=−1x = -1. Polynomial functions are differentiable everywhere.
  6. What is the derivative of f(x)=x23f(x) = x^{\frac{2}{3}} at x=0x = 0?
    The derivative does not exist at x=0x = 0. Vertical tangent at the origin.
  7. What is the derivative of f(x)=exf(x) = \text{e}^x?
    ex\text{e}^x. Exponential function is its own derivative.
  8. What is the derivative of f(x)=xnf(x) = x^n?
    nxn−1nx^{n-1}. Power rule for differentiation.
  9. Identify the differentiability of f(x)=x32f(x) = x^{\frac{3}{2}} at x=0x = 0.
    Differentiable at x=0x = 0. Fractional power greater than 1 is differentiable.
  10. Identify the differentiability of f(x)=tan(x)f(x) = \text{tan}(x) at x=pi2x = \frac{\text{pi}}{2}.
    Not differentiable at x=pi2x = \frac{\text{pi}}{2}. Tangent is undefined at π2\frac{\pi}{2}.
  11. What is the derivative of f(x)=ln(x)f(x) = \text{ln}(x) at x=1x = 1?
    1. Derivative of ln⁡(x)\ln(x) is 1x\frac{1}{x}.
  12. Can a function be continuous but not differentiable at x=ax = a?
    Yes, a function can be continuous but not differentiable. Example: f(x)=∣x∣f(x) = |x| at x=0x = 0.
  13. Identify the differentiability of f(x)=∣x∣f(x) = |x| at x=1x = 1.
    Differentiable at x=1x = 1. Absolute value is smooth away from zero.
  14. What is the derivative rule for a product f(x)g(x)f(x)g(x)?
    f′(x)g(x)+f(x)g′(x)f'(x)g(x) + f(x)g'(x). Product rule for differentiation.
  15. What is the derivative of f(x)=ln⁡(x)f(x) = \ln(x) at x=1x = 1?
    1. Derivative of ln⁡(x)\ln(x) is 1x\frac{1}{x}.
  16. Determine the differentiability of f(x)=sgn(x)f(x) = \text{sgn}(x) at x=0x = 0.
    Not differentiable at x=0x = 0. Sign function has a jump discontinuity.
  17. What is the derivative of f(x)=sin(x)f(x) = \text{sin}(x)?
    cos(x)\text{cos}(x). Derivative of sine is cosine.
  18. Can a function with a vertical tangent be differentiable there?
    No, vertical tangent implies non-differentiability. Vertical tangents are non-differentiable.
  19. Identify whether f(x)=∣x∣f(x) = |x| is differentiable at x=0x = 0.
    No, f(x)=∣x∣f(x) = |x| is not differentiable at x=0x = 0. Has a sharp corner at the origin.
  20. If limx→af(x)\text{lim}_{x \to a} f(x) does not exist, what about f′(a)f'(a)?
    f′(a)f'(a) does not exist. Discontinuity prevents differentiability.
  21. Determine if f(x)=x2cos(1/x)f(x) = x^2 \text{cos}(1/x) is differentiable at x=0x = 0.
    Yes, differentiable at x=0x = 0. Bounded oscillation makes it differentiable.
  22. Identify whether f(x)=x2sin(1/x)f(x) = x^2 \text{sin}(1/x) is differentiable at x=0x = 0.
    Yes, it is differentiable at x=0x = 0. The oscillating term is bounded by x2x^2.
  23. Does differentiability at x=ax = a imply continuity at x=ax = a?
    Yes, differentiability implies continuity. A differentiable function must be continuous.
  24. If f′(a)f'(a) does not exist, what can be said about f(x)f(x) at x=ax = a?
    f(x)f(x) is not differentiable at x=ax = a. No derivative means not differentiable.
  25. What is the derivative rule for a quotient f(x)g(x)\frac{f(x)}{g(x)}?
    f′(x)g(x)−f(x)g′(x)g(x)2\frac{f'(x)g(x) - f(x)g'(x)}{g(x)^2}. Quotient rule for differentiation.
  26. What is the chain rule for differentiation?
    If y=f(u)y = f(u) and u=g(x)u = g(x), then dydx=dydu×dudx\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{dy}{du} \times \frac{du}{dx}. Chain rule for composite functions.
  27. State one reason why a function might not be differentiable at a point.
    A cusp or corner at the point. Sharp corners prevent differentiability.
  28. Can a function have a corner at x=ax = a and still be differentiable there?
    No, corners are non-differentiable. Corners create non-differentiable points.
  29. State the relationship between continuity and differentiability.
    Differentiability implies continuity. Differentiable functions are always continuous.
  30. State the condition for differentiability at a point x=ax = a.
    f(x)f(x) is differentiable at x=ax = a if f′(a)f'(a) exists. The derivative must exist for differentiability.

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