The function is both continuous and differentiable on its domain.
The absolute value of , defined as is also continuous and differentiable on .
Which of the following is true for the function ? Choose the strongest true statement.
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If f ( x ) = 0 then f ′ ( x ) = 0 .
Suppose that f ′ ( x ) = k > 0 . By definition, for any 0 < ϵ < k there exists c < x < d such that for any ξ ∈ ⟨ c , d ⟩ , k − ϵ < f ( ξ ) / ( ξ − x ) < k + ϵ .
But then for c < ξ < x we have f ( ξ ) is negative and for x < ξ < d , f ( ξ ) is positive. Now consider the function g ( x ) = ∣ f ( x ) ∣ on that same interval. Then for c < ξ < x , we find that g ( ξ ) / ( ξ − x ) = − f ( ξ ) / ( ξ − x ) lies between − k − ϵ and − k + ϵ , while for x < ξ < d , g ( ξ ) / ( ξ − x ) = f ( ξ ) / ( ξ − x ) lies between k − ϵ and k + ϵ . Thus ξ ↑ x lim ξ − x g ( ξ ) = − k ξ ↓ x lim ξ − x g ( ξ ) = + k , showing that the derivative g ′ ( x ) is not defined. A similar conclusion follows for k < 0 . Therefore, in order for the derivative g ′ ( x ) to be defined, we must have f ′ ( x ) = k = 0 .
To prove the other three statements wrong, consider the function f ( x ) = x 3 . It has a zero at x = 0 but nowhere else; the absolute value function g ( x ) = ∣ x 3 ∣ has derivative g ′ ( x ) = ± 3 x 2 (negative sign if x < 0 ).