Question Details

Let f(x) = |sin x| Then

Options

A

f is everywhere differentiable

B

f is everywhere continuous but not differentiable at x = nπ, n ∈ Z

C

f is everywhere continuous but no differentiable at x = (2n + 1) π/2 n ∈ Z

D

None of these

Correct Answer :

f is everywhere continuous but not differentiable at x = nπ, n ∈ Z

Solution :

The correct option is: "f is everywhere continuous but not differentiable at x = nπ, n ∈ Z"

Let us analyze the function f(x)=|sinx| step-by-step to understand its continuity and differentiability.

Step 1: Analyzing Continuity
The sine function, g(x)=sinx, is continuous everywhere on the real number line.
The absolute value function, h(u)=|u|, is also a continuous function everywhere.
Since the composition of two continuous functions is always continuous, the function f(x)=(hg)(x)=|sinx| is continuous everywhere on the set of real numbers R.

Step 2: Identifying Potential Points of Non-differentiability
The absolute value function |u| is differentiable everywhere except where its argument u=0.
Therefore, the function f(x)=|sinx| is differentiable everywhere except possibly at points where:
sinx=0
We know that sinx=0 when:
x=nπ,nZ

Step 3: Checking Differentiability at x=nπ
Let us evaluate the left-hand derivative (LHD) and the right-hand derivative (RHD) at these points.
For any integer n, let c=nπ. Note that f(c)=|sin(nπ)|=0.

The right-hand derivative at x=c is given by:
f(c+)=limh0+f(c+h)-f(c)h=limh0+|sin(nπ+h)|-0h
Using the trigonometric identity sin(nπ+h)=(-1)nsinh:
f(c+)=limh0+|(-1)nsinh|h=limh0+|sinh|h
Since h>0 and close to 0, sinh>0, so |sinh|=sinh:
f(c+)=limh0+sinhh=1

The left-hand derivative at x=c is given by:
f(c-)=limh0-f(c+h)-f(c)h=limh0-|sinh|h
Since h<0 and close to 0, sinh<0, so |sinh|=-sinh:
f(c-)=limh0--sinhh=-1

Since the left-hand derivative (-1) does not equal the right-hand derivative (1) at x=nπ, the function is not differentiable at these points. Geometrically, the graph of |sinx| has sharp corners or cusps at every integer multiple of π.

Thus, f(x)=|sinx| is everywhere continuous but not differentiable at x=nπ,nZ.

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