The function is differentiable if it has a differential.
The differential of exists if can be written as
where as .
If has such a representation, then it necessarily follows that and and the expression is called the exact, or total differential of .
Table 4.11.1 lists three functions that serve as counterexamples for clarifying the discussion of differentiability and its connection to partial derivatives and continuity.
Function
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Properties
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First partials exist and are bounded but are not continuous
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First partials exist, are not bounded and are not continuous
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First partials exist and are continuous
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Second partials exist but are not continuous
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Hence,
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Table 4.11.1 Three counterexamples
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The Venn diagram in Figure 4.11.1 helps clarify the contrasting properties of the three functions in Table 4.11.1.
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Figure 4.11.1 Venn diagram for the functions and properties in Table 4.11.1
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The functions and are differentiable, but their first partials are not continuous, so they are not in continuity class . The function is differentiable, and its first partials are continuous, so it is in continuity class , but not because its second partials, which exist, are not continuous. Moreover, the mixed partials for this function are not equal. If represents the set of continuous functions; and D, the set of differentiable ones, then Figure 4.11.1 suggests the following set inclusions: .
Table 4.11.2 states three theorems relating differentiability, continuity, and partial derivatives.
A differentiable function is continuous.
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A sufficient (but not necessary) condition for differentiability is the continuity of the first partial derivatives.
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A sufficient (but not necessary) condition for the equality of the mixed second partials is their continuity.
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Table 4.11.2 Three theorems relating differentiability, continuity, and partial derivatives
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