17
$\begingroup$

Give an example of a function f that is defined in a neighborhood of a s.t. $\lim_{h\to 0}(f(a+h)+f(a-h)-2f(a))/h^2$ exists, but is not twice differentiable.

Note: this follows a problem where I prove that the limit above $= f''(a)$ if $f$ is twice differentiable at $a$.

$\endgroup$

3 Answers 3

21
$\begingroup$

Take $f(x)=x^2\sin(x^{-1})$ on $\mathbb{R}-\{0\}$ and set $f(0)=0$. You can prove this is differentiable at zero, but not twice differentiable there. That said, $f(-h)=-f(h)$ and $f(0)=0$ so that $f(h)+f(-h)-2f(0)=0$.

$\endgroup$
3
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ how did you find this? edit: what was the motivation? $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 4, 2011 at 2:27
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ What made me think of it? I had to do it as a problem from Rudin a long time ago, it didn't take me so little time then. How I originally thought of it was to find an odd function which takes $0$ at $0$ so that the top is simultaneously zero--but cook up that the function was not twice differentiable. I then happened to remember the function I gave you as being a classic example of a once but not twice differentiable function, and since it's odd, I was jubilant. $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 4, 2011 at 2:29
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ I think the important part here is that the function $x\mapsto \sin(x^{-1})$ has discontinuity at 0 but is bounded there. Taking one derivative make the function grow at 0 like $x^{-1}$. Combining this with polynomial prefactors leads to differentiability at 0 and to a similar behavior of the original function after differentiation. $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 4, 2011 at 8:04
15
$\begingroup$

You can also integrate $|x|$. Since $|x|$ doesn't have a derivative at zero, its antiderivative (which is $-x^2/2$ for $x\le0$ and $x^2/2$ for positive $x$) should work: it's an odd function, so $f(0+h) + f(0-h)$ is zero, and $f(0)= 0$, so the limit exists, but the second derivative doesn't.

$\endgroup$
-1
$\begingroup$

Consider the function $f(x) = \sum_{i=0}^{n}|x-i|$. This function is continuous everywhere but not differentiable at exactly n points. Consider the function $G(x) = \int_{0}^{x} f(t) dt$. This function is differentiable, since $f(t)$ is continuous due to FTC II. Now $G'(x) = f(x)$, which is not differentiable at $n$ points.

$\endgroup$

You must log in to answer this question.

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.