Unit 2A

Derivatives Part 1

Lesson 2: Definition of a Derivative

The examples below show where each function is not differentiable. That is, they show where the derivative of each function does not exist.

Corner or Cusp


For these two functions, there is no single line that can be drawn tangent to the curve at «math style=¨font-family:Verdana¨ xmlns=¨http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML¨»«mstyle mathsize=¨14px¨»«mrow»«mi»x«/mi»«mo»=«/mo»«mn»0«/mn»«/mrow»«/mstyle»«/math» because the slopes on the immediate left of zero differ from the slopes on the immediate right of zero. As such, the functions are not differentiable at «math style=¨font-family:Verdana¨ xmlns=¨http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML¨»«mstyle mathsize=¨14px¨»«mrow»«mi»x«/mi»«mo»=«/mo»«mn»0«/mn»«/mrow»«/mstyle»«/math».

Vertical Tangent


Here, the line tangent to the curve would be vertical. Vertical lines have undefined slopes. As such, the function is not differentiable at «math style=¨font-family:Verdana¨ xmlns=¨http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML¨»«mstyle mathsize=¨14px¨»«mi»x«/mi»«mo»=«/mo»«mn»1«/mn»«/mstyle»«/math».

Point of Discontinuity


A discontinuous function is not differentiable at the point of discontinuity. In other words, wherever there is a gap in a function’s graph, the function is not differentiable. This function is not differentiable at «math style=¨font-family:Verdana¨ xmlns=¨http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML¨»«mstyle mathsize=¨14px¨»«mi»x«/mi»«mo»=«/mo»«mn»1«/mn»«/mstyle»«/math» because the function is discontinuous at «math style=¨font-family:Verdana¨ xmlns=¨http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML¨»«mstyle mathsize=¨14px¨»«mi»x«/mi»«mo»=«/mo»«mn»1«/mn»«/mstyle»«/math».