If the partial derivatives fx and fy of a function f(x, y) are continuous throughout an open region R, then f is differentiable at every point of R. So in two dimensions, if something is continuous, it might not be differentiable, because it could be pointy. Couldn't that happen in three dimensions too?

steveo963200054

steveo963200054

Answered question

2022-09-12

If the partial derivatives fx and fy of a function f(x, y) are continuous throughout an open region R, then f is differentiable at every point of R.
So in two dimensions, if something is continuous, it might not be differentiable, because it could be pointy. Couldn't that happen in three dimensions too?

Answer & Explanation

Saige Barton

Saige Barton

Beginner2022-09-13Added 15 answers

No, “pointy” is not an official math term. Not only there is no such thing as official math terms.
But, yes, just like in the case of functions from R into R , a continuous functions may fail to be differentiable. An example would be
R R x { x sin ( 1 x )  if  x 0 0  otherwise.
By the way, the graph of this function is not “pointy”.
And, yes, this can also happens in the context of function from R n into R .
On the other hand, asserting that a function f is differentiable does not mean that f is continuous and that the partial derivatives exists. It is stronger than that. An example would be
f : R 2 R ( x , y ) { x y x 2 + y 2  if  ( x , y ) ( 0 , 0 ) 0  otherwise.
It has partial derivatives everywhere, but it is not differentiable at ( 0 , 0 ).

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