/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 54 Describe the \(x\) -values at wh... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

Describe the \(x\) -values at which the function is differentiable. Explain your reasoning. $$ y=x^{2 / 5} $$

Short Answer

Expert verified
The function \(y=x^{2 / 5}\) is differentiable for all real values of x except \(x=0\).

Step by step solution

01

Differentiate the function

The derivative of the function can be found using the power rule. The power rule tells us that the derivative of \(x^n\) is \(n\cdot x^{n - 1}\). Here, \(n=2/5\). So the derivative of \(y=x^{2 / 5}\) would be \((2/5)\cdot x^{(2 / 5) - 1}\). Carry out the subtraction in the exponent yields: \((2/5)\cdot x^{-3 / 5}.\)
02

Identify where the derivative is undefined

The derivative \((2/5)\cdot x^{-3 / 5}\) will not be defined when \(x=0\) because it results in dividing by zero situation which is undefined in mathematics. Therefore, the derivative is not defined at \(x=0\). This implies that the function \(y=x^{2 / 5}\) is not differentiable at \(x=0\).
03

Check for continuity of the derivative

The derivative \((2/5)\cdot x^{-3 / 5}\) is continuous for all \(x \neq 0\), since it is a polynomial function excluding \(x=0\), and polynomial functions are always continuous. Therefore, the function \(y=x^{2 / 5}\) is differentiable for all real values of x, except \(x=0\).

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Differentiation
Differentiation is a fundamental concept in calculus that involves calculating the derivative of a function. The derivative represents the rate at which the function's output changes with respect to a change in the input. Essentially, if you have a function that describes a certain quantity over time, differentiation tells you how that quantity is changing at any given moment.

For the function in our exercise, the differentiation problem asks which values of the independent variable, in this case, \( x \), allow the function to have a derivative. To perform this operation, we apply specific rules of differentiation that enable us to calculate the gradient of the tangent to the curve at any point on the graph of the function. When a function is not differentiable at a certain point, it may be due to a sharp corner, a vertical tangent, or, as with our function \( y=x^{2/5} \), where the input causes an undefined operation in the derivative formula.
Power Rule
The power rule is a quick and powerful tool for differentiating functions where the variable is raised to a power. According to the power rule, when you have a function in the form of \( x^n \) where \( n \) is any real number, its derivative is \( n \cdot x^{n-1} \). This simplifies the differentiation process significantly.

In the context of our exercise, we used the power rule to differentiate \( y=x^{2/5}\). We applied the rule directly to find the derivative, which became \( (2/5)\cdot x^{(2/5)-1} \). This reduces to \( (2/5)\cdot x^{-3/5}\), which then helps us understand the behavior of the function's slope at different values of \( x \). However, this only works when \( x \) does not create undefined expressions in the derivative, as is the case with \( x = 0 \) in our exercise.
Continuity of Derivatives
The continuity of the derivative of a function is an insightful aspect as it reflects the smoothness of the graph of the function. If the derivative of a function exists and is continuous at a point, the function itself is said to be differentiable at that point. If the derivative is not continuous, the graph of the function may have breaks, cusps, or vertical tangents at the respective points.

In our step-by-step solution, we identified that the derivative \( (2/5)\cdot x^{-3/5}\) is continuous for all \( x \) values except when \( x=0 \). The reason is that, at \( x=0 \) the expression becomes a division by zero, which is undefined in mathematics. Elsewhere, the function behaves nicely – it has no interruptions and the graph of the derivative would be a smooth curve. Therefore, the original function will be differentiable everywhere except at \( x=0 \), maintaining continuity in its derivatives across the other points in its domain.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Use a graphing utility to graph the function and find its average rate of change on the interval. Compare this rate with the instantaneous rates of change at the endpoints of the interval. $$ g(x)=x^{4}-x^{2}+2 ;[1,3] $$

Find the value of the derivative of the function at the given point. $$ f(t)=4-\frac{4}{3 t} \quad\left(\frac{1}{2}, \frac{4}{3}\right) $$

Determine the point(s), if any, at which the graph of the function has a horizontal tangent line. $$ y=x^{2}+2 x $$

Find the marginal revenue for producing units. (The revenue is measured in dollars.) $$ R=30 x-x^{2} $$

Dow Jones Industrial Average The table shows the year-end closing prices \(p\) of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) from 1992 through \(2006,\) where \(t\) is the year, and \(t=2\) corresponds to \(1992 .\) $$ \begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|}\hline t & {2} & {3} & {4} & {5} & {6} \\ \hline p & {3301.11} & {3754.09} & {3834.44} & {5117.12} & {6448.26} \\\ \hline\end{array} $$ $$ \begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|}\hline t & {7} & {8} & {9} & {10} & {11} \\\ \hline p & {7908.24} & {9181.43} & {11,497.12} & {10,786.85} & {10,021.50} \\\ \hline\end{array} $$ $$ \begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|}\hline t & {12} & {13} & {14} & {15} & {16} \\\ \hline p & {8341.63} & {10,453.92} & {10,783.01} & {10,717.50} & {12,463.15} \\\ \hline\end{array} $$ (a) Determine the average rate of change in the value of the DJIA from 1992 to 2006 . (b) Estimate the instantaneous rate of change in 1998 by finding the average rate of change from 1996 to 2000 . (c) Estimate the instantaneous rate of change in 1998 by finding the average rate of change from 1997 to 1999 . (d) Compare your answers for parts (b) and (c). Which interval do you think produced the best estimate for the instantaneous rate of change in \(1998 ?\)

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Math Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.