Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

-- Mathematics - Section B1

Chapter

Continuity and Differentiability

Question:

Let $f(x) =x^n$, n being a non-negative integer. The value of n for which the equality f'(x + y) = f'(x) + f'(y) is valid for all x, y > 0 is

Options:

0, 1

1, 2

2, 4

none of these

Correct Answer:

none of these

Explanation:

We have,

$f(x)=x^n \Rightarrow f(x+y)=(x+y)^n \Rightarrow f'(x+y)=n(x+y)^{n-1}$

Also, $f'(x)=n x^{n-1}$ and $f'(y)=n y^{n-1}$

∴ $f'(x+y)=f'(x)+f'(y)$

$\Rightarrow n(x+y)^{n-1}=n . x^{n-1}+n . y^{n-1}$

$\Rightarrow (x+y)^{n-1}=x^{n-1}+y^{n-1}$

Clearly, this is true for n = 2 only.