Differentiation of Vector Functions: Proving Differentiability with Chain Rule

In summary, the conversation discusses the definition of a differentiable mapping and the proof that a function defined in terms of this mapping is differentiable. The function, f(x,y), is not differentiable at (0,0) so the chain rule does not apply. However, by taking the limit of g(t)/t as t approaches zero, it can be shown that g'(0) exists and equals 0. This is because the numerator can be simplified using the mean value theorem and the fact that gamma'(0) is greater than 0. Overall, the proof is valid.
  • #1
boombaby
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Homework Statement


Define f(0,0)=0 and [tex]f(x,y)=\frac{x^{3}}{x^{2}+y^{2}}[/tex] if (x,y)!=(0,0)
Let [tex]\gamma[/tex] be a differentiable mapping of R1 into R2, with [tex]\gamma(0)=(0,0)\;and\; |\gamma'(0)>0|[/tex]. Put [tex]g(t)=f(\gamma(t))[/tex] and prove that g is differentiable for every t in R1

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I'm not having a strong understanding of differentiation of vector functions yet, so I'm not really sure if my proof is valid, check it please. Thanks!
f(x,y) is not differentiable at (0,0) so chain rule fails. If [tex]lim_{t->0} \frac{g(t)}{t} exists[/tex](since g(0)=0), it's done.
[tex]\frac{g(t)}{t}=\frac{f(\gamma(t))}{t}=\frac{\gamma^{3}_{1}(t)}{t(\gamma^{2}_{1}(t)+\gamma^{2}_{2}(t))}[/tex]. when t approaches zero, the denominator is not zero since [tex] |\gamma'(0)|>0[/tex], the numerator can be applied the mean value theorem and becomes [tex]\gamma^{3}_{1}(t)-\gamma^{3}_{1}(0)=3\gamma^{2}_{1}(0)\gamma'_{1}(0)t=0\;since\;\gamma_{1}(0)=0[/tex]. So g'(0) exists and equals to 0.

Thanks a lot!

actually...I'm a little more confident with it now
 
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  • #2
okay now. Is this proof right?
 
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FAQ: Differentiation of Vector Functions: Proving Differentiability with Chain Rule

What is differentiation?

Differentiation is a mathematical concept that refers to the process of finding the rate of change of a function with respect to one or more of its independent variables.

Why is differentiation important?

Differentiation is important because it allows us to analyze the behavior of functions and determine their maximum and minimum values, which is crucial in many real-world applications, such as optimization problems in economics and engineering.

What are the different methods of differentiation?

The most common methods of differentiation are the power rule, product rule, quotient rule, and chain rule. These methods involve different techniques for finding the derivative of a function.

What is the difference between differentiation and integration?

Differentiation and integration are inverse operations. While differentiation is used to find the rate of change of a function, integration is used to find the area under a curve. In other words, differentiation is the process of finding derivatives, while integration is the process of finding antiderivatives.

Can differentiation be applied to any function?

Yes, differentiation can be applied to any function, as long as the function is continuous and differentiable. This means that the function must have a defined derivative at every point in its domain.

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