The set of points where the function f(x) = x |x| is differentiab…

MCQ

The set of points where the function $f(x) = x |x|$ is differentiable is:

✓
$(-\infty,\infty)-\infty,\infty$
B
$(-\infty,0)\cup(0,\infty)-\infty,0\cup0,\infty$
C
$(0,\infty)0,\infty$
D
$[0,\infty]0,\infty$

✓

Answer

Correct option: A.

$(-\infty,\infty)-\infty,\infty$

We have,
$\text{f(x)}=\text{x}|\text{x}|$
$\Rightarrow\text{f(x)}=\begin{cases}-\text{x}^2, \text{x}<00 , \text{x}= 0\text{x}^2, \text{x}>0\end{cases}\}$
When$, x < 0,$ we have
$f(x) = -x^2$ which being a polynomial function is continuous and differentable in $(-\infty,0)$
When$, x > 0,$ we have
$f(x) = -x^2$ which being a polynomial function is continuous and differentable in $(0,\infty)$
Thus possible point of non$-$differentiability of $f(x)$ is $x = 0$
Now$, \text{LHL (at x = 0)} =\lim\limits_{\text{x}\rightarrow0^{-}}\frac{\text{f(x)}-\text{f}(0)}{\text{x}-0}$
$=\lim\limits_{\text{x}\rightarrow0^{-}}\frac{-\text{x}^2-0}{\text{x}}$
$=\lim\limits_{\text{h}\rightarrow0}\frac{-(-\text{h})^2}{-\text{h}}$
$=\lim\limits_{\text{h}\rightarrow0}\text{h}$
$=0$
And $\text{RHL (at x = 0)} =\lim\limits_{\text{x}\rightarrow0^{+}}\frac{\text{f(x)}-\text{f}(0)}{\text{x}-0}$
$=\lim\limits_{\text{x}\rightarrow0^{+}}\frac{\text{x}^2-0}{\text{x}}$
$=\lim\limits_{\text{h}\rightarrow0}\frac{\text{h}^2}{\text{h}}$
$=\lim\limits_{\text{h}\rightarrow0}\text{h}$
$=0$
$\therefore \text{LHL (at x = 0) = RHL (at x = 0)}$
So$, f(x)$ is also differentiable at $x = 0$
i.e. $f(x)$ is differentiable in $(-\infty,\infty).$