# Derivative of $f(x) = x^2 \sin(1/x)$ using the derivative definition

derivative of $f(x) = x^2 \sin(1/x)$ using the derivative definition

When not using the derivative definition I get $\cos (1/x) + 2x \sin(1/x)$, which WolframAlpha agrees to.

However when I try solving it using the derivative definition: $$\lim_ {h\to 0} = \frac{f(x+h) - f(x)}{h}$$

I get: $$2x \sin \left(\frac{1}{x+h} \right ) + h \sin \left(\frac{1}{x+h}\right)$$

which in return results in, as $h \to 0$:

$$2x \sin (1/x)$$

So what am I doing wrong when using the def of derivatives?

• I am reasonably sure that you are solving the wrong problem. Probably you are told that $f(x)=x^2\sin(1/x)$ when $x\ne 0$, and $f(0)=0$. You are then asked to use the definition of derivative to find $f'(0)$, nothing else. – André Nicolas Sep 21 '14 at 14:52

HINT:

$$\frac{u(x+h)v(x+h)-u(x)v(x)}h=\frac{u(x+h)v(x+h)-u(x)v(x+h)+u(x)v(x+h)-u(x)v(x)}h$$

$$=v(x+h)\frac{u(x+h)-u(x)}h+u(x)\frac{v(x+h)-v(x)}h$$

where $u(x),v(x)$ are functions of $x$

Setting $v(x)=\sin\dfrac1x,$

$$\frac{v(x+h)-v(x)}h=\frac{\sin\dfrac1{x+h}-\sin\dfrac1x}h$$

Using Prosthaphaeresis Formula,this becomes

$$\frac{2\sin\dfrac{x-(x+h)}{2x(x+h)}\cos\dfrac{x+h+x}{2x(x+h)}}h$$

$$=-2\dfrac{\sin\dfrac h{2x(x+h)}}{\dfrac h{2x(x+h)}}\cdot\frac1{2x(x+h)}\cdot\cos\dfrac{2x+h}{2x(x+h)}$$

Typically, this problem is not presented quite how you've described. Instead, for $x \neq 0$ we can compute the derivative of your function with the product and chain rules. For $x=0$ of course your function is not defined, but because $\sin$ is bounded, it can be continuously extended by defining $f(0)=0$.

To find the derivative at zero, you can use the definition. This is less terrible than it would be in the general case, because your difference quotient is

$$\frac{h^2 \sin(1/h) - 0}{h} = h \sin(1/h)$$

for which the limit is straightforward to compute.

You're doing wrongly the computation: \begin{align} f(x+h)-f(x)&=(x+h)^2\sin\frac{1}{x+h}-x^2\sin\frac{1}{x}\\ &=x^2\left(\sin\frac{1}{x+h}-\sin\frac{1}{x}\right)+2hx\sin\frac{1}{x+h}+h^2\sin\frac{1}{x+h} \end{align} When you divide by $h$ you get $$\frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}= \frac{x^2}{h}\left(\sin\frac{1}{x+h}-\sin\frac{1}{x}\right)+2x\sin\frac{1}{x+h}+h\sin\frac{1}{x+h}$$ and you're left with computing $$\lim_{h\to0}\frac{1}{h}\left(\sin\frac{1}{x+h}-\sin\frac{1}{x}\right)$$ because the second summand above tends to $2x\sin(1/x)$ and the third summand tends to $0$. You'll reinsert $x^2$ later.

Now you can use the identity $$\sin\alpha-\sin\beta=2\cos\frac{\alpha+\beta}{2}\sin\frac{\alpha-\beta}{2}$$ Setting $\alpha=1/(x+h)$ and $\beta=1/x$, we have $$\frac{\alpha+\beta}{2}=\frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{1}{x+h}+\frac{1}{x}\right)= \frac{2x+h}{2x(x+h)}$$ while $$\frac{\alpha-\beta}{2}=\frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{1}{x+h}-\frac{1}{x}\right)= \frac{-h}{2x(x+h)}$$ so your limit is $$\lim_{h\to0}\frac{2}{h}\cos\frac{2x+h}{2x(x+h)}\sin\frac{-h}{2x(x+h)}$$ But $$\lim_{h\to0}2\cos\frac{2x+h}{2x(x+h)}=2\cos\frac{1}{x}$$ so we just need to compute $$\lim_{h\to0}\frac{1}{h}\sin\frac{-h}{2x(x+h)}$$ Set $k=-h/(2x(x+h))$, so $$2x^2k+2xhk=-h$$ or $h(2xk+1)=-2x^2k$ that lends $$h=-\frac{2x^2k}{2xk+1}$$ So this transformation is bijective (and bicontinuous) and $h\to0$ implies $k\to0$ so your limit is $$\lim_{h\to0}\frac{1}{h}\sin\frac{-h}{2x(x+h)}= \lim_{k\to0}-\frac{2xk+1}{2x^2k}\sin k= \lim_{k\to0}-\frac{2xk+1}{2x^2}\frac{\sin k}{k}=-\frac{1}{2x^2}$$ In the end we get $$\lim_{h\to0}\frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}= x^2\left(-\frac{1}{2x^2}\right)\cos\frac{1}{x}+2x\sin\frac{1}{x}= -\cos\frac{1}{x}+2x\sin\frac{1}{x}$$

This assumes, of course, $x\ne0$. If your function is defined by $$f(x)=\begin{cases} x^2\sin\dfrac{1}{x}&\text{for x\ne0}\\[1ex] 0&\text{for x=0} \end{cases}$$ we are left with the derivative at $0$, that is $$\lim_{h\to0}\frac{f(h)-f(0)}{h}= \lim_{h\to0}\frac{1}{h}h^2\sin\frac{1}{h}= \lim_{h\to0}h\sin\frac{1}{h}=0$$ with an easy application of the squeeze theorem.

Of course using the chain rule is much simpler.

Now that you know that $$f'(x)=\begin{cases} -\cos\dfrac{1}{x}+2x\sin\dfrac{1}{x}&\text{for x\ne0}\\[1ex] 0&\text{for x=0} \end{cases}$$ it should be easy to verify whether the derivative is continuous at $0$.

• I was wondering what happens to the $h$ variable in the denominator of $\frac {2}{h}$ when we're computing $\lim_{h\to 0}\frac {2}{h}\cos\frac {2x+h}{2x (x+h)}\sin\frac {-h}{2x (x+h)}$? Also, I wanted to know if you could further explain why the said transformation is bijective and bicontinuous? And why is that important for the given problem? – K.M Nov 4 '18 at 19:09
• @K.M That's taken care of when I compute the limit with the sine involved. The substitution is surely bicontinuous (where necessary): just compute its inverse. – egreg Nov 4 '18 at 20:57
• By assumption, since we're computing the derivative of $x^2\sin\frac{1}{x}$, we only need to take into consideration non-zero $x$. So since we're computing the derivative at this non-zero $x$, I'm guessing we can sort of treat it like it's a constant? In doing so, I do get that the function $k(h)$ is both injective and surjective (bijective). And I do get that both $k$ and $h$ are continuous for relatively small $k$ and $h$, depending on the context. But I don't think that that really matters in the problem since $\lim_{k\to 0}\frac {\sin k}{k}=1$ so we no longer have $k$ in the denominator. – K.M Nov 6 '18 at 21:12
• @K.M I'm not sure what your objection is. – egreg Nov 6 '18 at 22:35
• I'm not objecting. I'm simply pointing out that some of the information presented in your explanation may actually not be needed. – K.M Nov 6 '18 at 22:59

Problem:

$\frac{d}{dx}\left(x^2\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)\right)$

Use the product rule, $\frac{d}{dx}\left(uv\right)=v\frac{du}{dx}+u\frac{dv}{dx}$, where $u=x^2$ and $v=\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)$:

$=x^2\left(\frac{d}{dx}\left(\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)\right)\right)+\left(\frac{d}{dx}\left(x^2\right)\right)\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)$

Using the chain rule, $\frac{d}{dx}(\sin(\frac{1}{x}))=\frac{d\sin\left(u\right)}{du}\frac{du}{dx}$, where $u=\frac{1}{x}$ and $\frac{d}{du}(\sin(u))=\cos(u)$:

$=\left(\frac{d}{dx}\left(x^2\right)\right)\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)+\boxed{\cos\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)\left(\frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)\right)}x^2$

Use the power rule, $\frac{d}{dx}\left(x^n\right)=nx^{n-1}$, where $n=-1$: $\frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)=\frac{d}{dx}\left(x^{-1}\right)=-x^{-2}$:

$=\left(\frac{d}{dx}\left(x^2\right)\right)\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)+\boxed{-\frac{1}{x^2}}x^2\cos\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)$

Simplify the expression:

$=-\cos\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)+\left(\frac{d}{dx}\left(x^2\right)\right)\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)$

Use the power rule, $\frac{d}{dx}\left(x^n\right)=nx^{n-1}$, where $n=2$: $\frac{d}{dx}\left(x^2\right)=2x$:

Answer: $$=-\cos\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)+\boxed{2x}\sin\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)$$

• The answer doesn't really use the derivative definition, but it's still a thorough explanation of the product and chain rule – K.M Nov 4 '18 at 19:17