Let f(x) and g(x) be two real functions such that $f(x)=\frac{x}{|x|} g(x), x \neq 0$. If g(0) = g'(0) = 0 and f(x) is continuous at x = 0, then f'(0) is
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
We have,
$f(x)=\frac{x}{|x|} g(x), x \neq 0 $
$=\left\{\begin{array}{rr}g(x), & x>0 \\ -g(x), & x<0\end{array}\right.$
It is given that g'(0) = g(0) = 0. This means that g(x) is differentiable and hence continuous at x = 0 and $\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0} g(x)=g(0)=0$
Now,
$\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0^{-}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0^{-}}-g(x)=-\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0} g(x)=0$
and,
$\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0^{+}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0^{+}} g(x)=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0} g(x)=0$
∴ $\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0^{-}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0^{+}} f(x)$
So, f(x) is continuous at x = 0.
∴ $\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0} f(x)=f(0)$
$\Rightarrow f(0)=0$
Thus, we have
$f(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{rr}g(x), & x>0 \\ 0, & x=0 \\ -g(x), & x<0 \end{array}\right.$
Now,
(LHD of f(x) at x = 0)
$=\lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0} \frac{f(0-h)-f(0)}{-h}$
$=\lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0} \frac{f(-h)}{-h}$
$=\lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0} \frac{-g(-h)}{-h}$
$=\lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0} \frac{g(-h)-g(0)}{-h}$ [∵ g(0) = 0]
$=-g'(0)=0$
Similarly, we have
(RHD of f(x) at x = 0) = g'(0) = 0.
Hence, f(x) is differentiable at x = 0 and f'(0) =0.