Differentiability of Power Functions

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 60 views

Differentiability of the Function y = 3x^(2/5)

In calculus, differentiability is a fundamental concept that deals with the behavior of functions at a given point. A function is said to be differentiable at a point if it can be approximated by a linear function at that point. In this article, we will explore the differentiability of the function y = 3x^(2/5) and determine the values of x at which the function is differentiable.

The Function y = 3x^(2/5)

The given function is y = 3x^(2/5). This is a power function with a fractional exponent. To determine the differentiability of this function, we need to examine its behavior at different points.

Differentiability of Power Functions

Power functions with integer exponents are generally differentiable at all points except at the point where the exponent is zero. However, when the exponent is a fraction, the situation becomes more complex. In this case, the exponent is 2/5, which is a non-integer fraction.

The Derivative of y = 3x^(2/5)

To determine the differentiability of the function y = 3x^(2/5), we need to find its derivative. The derivative of a power function with exponent n is given by:

f'(x) = n * x^(n-1)

In this case, n = 2/5. Therefore, the derivative of y = 3x^(2/5) is:

f'(x) = (2/5) * 3x^(2/5 - 1) f'(x) = (2/5) * 3x^(-3/5)

Differentiability at x = 0

Now that we have the derivative of the function, we can examine its behavior at x = 0. To determine the differentiability of the function at x = 0, we need to check if the derivative exists at that point.

The derivative f'(x) = (2/5) * 3x^(-3/5) is not defined at x = 0 because it involves division by zero. Therefore, the function y = 3x^(2/5) is not differentiable at x = 0.

Differentiability at x = ±3

The function y = 3x^(2/5) is not defined at x = ±3 because the exponent 2/5 is not an integer. When x = ±3, the function is undefined, and therefore, it is not differentiable at those points.

In conclusion, the function y = 3x^(2/5) is differentiable for all x ≠ ±3. The function is not differentiable at x = 0 because the derivative is not defined at that point. Additionally, the function is not defined at x = ±3, and therefore, it is not differentiable at those points.

The correct answer is A. The function is differentiable for all x ≠ ±3.

The differentiability of a function is an important concept in calculus that deals with the behavior of functions at a given point. In this article, we explored the differentiability of the function y = 3x^(2/5) and determined the values of x at which the function is differentiable. The function is differentiable for all x ≠ ±3, and it is not differentiable at x = 0 and x = ±3.

Calculus by Michael Spivak
Calculus by James Stewart
Differentiability of Power Functions by Wolfram MathWorld

Differentiability of Trigonometric Functions
Differentiability of Exponential Functions
Differentiability of Logarithmic Functions

Q: What is differentiability? A: Differentiability is a concept in calculus that deals with the behavior of functions at a given point.
Q: How do you determine the differentiability of a function? A: To determine the differentiability of a function, you need to examine its behavior at different points and check if the derivative exists at those points.
Q: What is the derivative of a power function with exponent n? A: The derivative of a power function with exponent n is given by f'(x) = n * x^(n-1).
Differentiability of Functions: A Q&A Article =====================================================

In our previous article, we explored the differentiability of the function y = 3x^(2/5) and determined the values of x at which the function is differentiable. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about differentiability and provide additional information to help you understand this concept better.

Q: What is differentiability?

A: Differentiability is a concept in calculus that deals with the behavior of functions at a given point. A function is said to be differentiable at a point if it can be approximated by a linear function at that point.

Q: How do you determine the differentiability of a function?

A: To determine the differentiability of a function, you need to examine its behavior at different points and check if the derivative exists at those points. You can use the following steps to determine the differentiability of a function:

Find the derivative of the function.
Check if the derivative exists at the point in question.
If the derivative exists, the function is differentiable at that point.

Q: What is the derivative of a power function with exponent n?

A: The derivative of a power function with exponent n is given by f'(x) = n * x^(n-1).

Q: How do you determine the differentiability of a trigonometric function?

A: To determine the differentiability of a trigonometric function, you need to examine its behavior at different points and check if the derivative exists at those points. You can use the following steps to determine the differentiability of a trigonometric function:

Find the derivative of the function.
Check if the derivative exists at the point in question.
If the derivative exists, the function is differentiable at that point.

Q: What is the derivative of the sine function?

A: The derivative of the sine function is given by f'(x) = cos(x).

Q: What is the derivative of the cosine function?

A: The derivative of the cosine function is given by f'(x) = -sin(x).

Q: How do you determine the differentiability of an exponential function?

A: To determine the differentiability of an exponential function, you need to examine its behavior at different points and check if the derivative exists at those points. You can use the following steps to determine the differentiability of an exponential function:

Find the derivative of the function.
Check if the derivative exists at the point in question.
If the derivative exists, the function is differentiable at that point.

Q: What is the derivative of the exponential function e^x?

A: The derivative of the exponential function e^x is given by f'(x) = e^x.

Q: How do you determine the differentiability of a logarithmic function?

A: To determine the differentiability of a logarithmic function, you need to examine its behavior at different points and check if the derivative exists at those points. You can use the following steps to determine the differentiability of a logarithmic function:

Find the derivative of the function.
Check if the derivative exists at the point in question.
If the derivative exists, the function is differentiable at that point.

Q: What is the derivative of the natural logarithm function ln(x)?

A: The derivative of the natural logarithm function ln(x) is given by f'(x) = 1/x.

In conclusion, differentiability is a concept in calculus that deals with the behavior of functions at a given point. To determine the differentiability of a function, you need to examine its behavior at different points and check if the derivative exists at those points. We hope this article has provided you with a better understanding of differentiability and how to determine it.

Calculus by Michael Spivak
Calculus by James Stewart
Differentiability of Power Functions by Wolfram MathWorld

Differentiability of Trigonometric Functions
Differentiability of Exponential Functions
Differentiability of Logarithmic Functions

Q: What is differentiability? A: Differentiability is a concept in calculus that deals with the behavior of functions at a given point.
Q: How do you determine the differentiability of a function? A: To determine the differentiability of a function, you need to examine its behavior at different points and check if the derivative exists at those points.
Q: What is the derivative of a power function with exponent n? A: The derivative of a power function with exponent n is given by f'(x) = n * x^(n-1).