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Calculus: An intuitive approach

Wai Yan Pong

Exercises 1.4 Exercises

1.

Let \(f(x)=|x|=g(x)\) and \(h(x)=x^2\text{.}\) Find the derivatives of \((fg)(x)\) and \((h\circ f)(x)\) at \(x=0\text{.}\)

2.

Let \(f(x) = \begin{cases} -2x & x \ge 0, \\ -3x & x \lt 0, \end{cases}\) and \(g(x) = \begin{cases} 3x & x \ge 0, \\ 2x & x \lt 0. \end{cases}\)
For each for the following functions, determine whether it is differentiable at \(x=0\) and if so, compute the derivative at \(x=0\text{.}\)
  1. \(\displaystyle (f+g)(x)\)
  2. \(\displaystyle (fg)(x)\)
  3. \(\displaystyle (f\circ g)(x)\)
  4. \(\displaystyle (g\circ f)(x)\)

3.

A derivation is an operation \(D\) on functions (more general on anything that we can talk about sum and product) satisfying:
  • \(D(f+g) = Df + Dg\text{;}\) and
  • \(\displaystyle D(fg) = (Df)g + f(Dg)\)
For example, \(\dfrac{d}{dx}\) is a derivation on differentiable functions. Let \(D\) be a derivation. Show that \(D^2(fg) = (D^2f)g + 2(Df)(Dg) + f(D^2g)\text{.}\) Find a general expression for \(D^n(fg)\) for \(n \ge 2\text{.}\)

4.

  1. Show that \(\ds D=x\frac{d}{dx}\) is a derivation on differentiable functions.
  2. Show that \(Dc = 0\) for any constant \(c\) and that \(Dx =x\text{.}\)
  3. Compute \(\ds D \frac{1}{1-x}\text{.}\) Hint: Let \(\ds h=\frac{1}{1-x}\text{.}\) Find \(Dh\) by applying \(D\) to the relation \(1=h(1-x)\text{.}\)
  4. Compute \(\ds D^2 \frac{1}{1-x}\text{.}\)
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