SOLUTION: Graph the function f(x) = x+sqrt(abs(x)). Consider the behavior of the function at the point (-1,0) and at the origin. Find the limit as x approaches -1 and as x approaches 0.

Algebra ->  Rational-functions -> SOLUTION: Graph the function f(x) = x+sqrt(abs(x)). Consider the behavior of the function at the point (-1,0) and at the origin. Find the limit as x approaches -1 and as x approaches 0.       Log On


   



Question 1023433: Graph the function f(x) = x+sqrt(abs(x)).
Consider the behavior of the function at the point (-1,0) and at the origin. Find the limit as x approaches -1 and as x approaches 0.
What is different about the behavior of f(x) near those points? Explain.
Next, graph its derivative. Discuss differentiability at -1 and 0.

Answer by robertb(5830) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The roots of the function are at x = -1 and x = 0.
As x approaches -1 from both sides, y approaches 0. For negative x,
lim%28x-%3E-1%2C+%28x%2Bsqrt%28-x%29%29%29+=+0.
To find the limit at x = 0, the left-hand limit (through negative values) is lim%28x-%3E0%2C+%28x%2Bsqrt%28-x%29%29%29+=+0, while the right-hand limit (through positive values) is lim%28x-%3E0%2C+%28x%2Bsqrt%28x%29%29%29+=+0.
Thus lim%28x-%3E0%2C+%28x%2Bsqrt%28abs%28x%29%29%29%29+=+0
For x < 0, f'(x) = 1-1%2F%282sqrt%28-x%29%29, hence the derivative exists for all such x values, and the graph of f(x) is smooth there. Incidentally, at x = -1, f'(-1) = 1/2.
For x >0, f'(x) = 1+%2B+1%2F%282sqrt%28x%29%29, hence the the derivative exists for all such x values, and the graph of f(x) is smooth there.
For x = 0:
The left hand derivative at x = 0 is lim%28h-%3E0%2C+%28f%28h%29+-+f%280%29%29%2Fh%29+ through negative values of h..
= lim%28h-%3E0%2C+f%28h%29%2Fh%29+=+lim%28h-%3E0%2C+%28h%2Bsqrt%28-h%29%29%2Fh%29+
= lim%28h-%3E0%2C+%281%2Bsqrt%28-h%29%29%2Fh%29+
= lim%28h-%3E0%2C+1-1%2Fsqrt%28-h%29%29+=+-infinity
The right hand derivative at x = 0 is lim%28h-%3E0%2C+%28f%28h%29+-+f%280%29%29%2Fh%29+ through positive values of h..
= lim%28h-%3E0%2C+f%28h%29%2Fh%29+=+lim%28h-%3E0%2C+%28h%2Bsqrt%28h%29%29%2Fh%29+
= lim%28h-%3E0%2C+%281%2Bsqrt%28h%29%29%2Fh%29+
= lim%28h-%3E0%2C+1%2B1%2Fsqrt%28h%29%29+=+%2Binfinity
hence the left-hand and right-hand derivatives are not equal (and opposite infinites) and so there is a cusp at x = 0.
The graph of f(x) is as follows:

graph%28+600%2C+400%2C+-5%2C+5%2C+-5%2C+5%2C+x+%2B+sqrt%28-x%29%2C+x%2Bsqrt%28x%29%29, and
its derivative f'(x):