All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

If $f(x)$ is differentiable for all $x \in \mathbb{R}$ and satisfies the relation $x = \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{\left[ 1^2 (f(x))^x \right] + \left[ 2^2 (f(x))^x \right] + \dots + \left[ n^2 (f(x))^x \right]}{n^3}$, where $[\cdot]$ denotes the greatest integer function, then $f'(x) =$

This question was previously asked in
WBJEE 2026 Physics and Chemistry Question Paper (24-May-2026)
The correct answer is
$(3x)^{\frac{1}{x}} \left[ \frac{1 - \log 3x}{x^2} \right]$

Simplify the Limit Relation

The given relation is:

$x = \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{\sum_{k=1}^{n} \left[ k^2 (f(x))^x \right]}{n^3}$

Let $y = (f(x))^x$. The expression becomes:

$x = \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{\sum_{k=1}^{n} \left[ k^2 y \right]}{n^3}$

Using the property $[z] \le z < [z] + 1$, we have:

$\sum_{k=1}^{n} k^2 y - n \le \sum_{k=1}^{n} \left[ k^2 y \right] < \sum_{k=1}^{n} k^2 y + n$

Divide by $n^3$ and take the limit $n \to \infty$. The sum $\sum_{k=1}^{n} k^2 y = y \sum_{k=1}^{n} k^2 = y \frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}$.

The limit of the term $\frac{y \frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}}{n^3}$ as $n \to \infty$ is $y \cdot \frac{2}{6} = \frac{y}{3}$. The terms $\frac{n}{n^3}$ vanish as $n \to \infty$. By the Squeeze Theorem, the limit is $\frac{y}{3}$.

Thus, the relation simplifies to $x = \frac{y}{3}$.

Solve for the Function $f(x)$

Substitute back $y = (f(x))^x$:

$x = \frac{(f(x))^x}{3}$

Rearrange the terms:

$3x = (f(x))^x$

To isolate $f(x)$, raise both sides to the power of $\frac{1}{x}$:

$(3x)^{\frac{1}{x}} = \left( (f(x))^x \right)^{\frac{1}{x}}$

This gives:

$f(x) = (3x)^{\frac{1}{x}}$

Calculate the Derivative $f'(x)$

Use logarithmic differentiation. Let $y = f(x) = (3x)^{\frac{1}{x}}$.

Take the natural logarithm of both sides:

$\log y = \log \left( (3x)^{\frac{1}{x}} \right)$

Apply logarithm properties:

$\log y = \frac{1}{x} \log(3x)$

Differentiate both sides with respect to $x$ using the quotient rule on the right side:

$\frac{1}{y} \frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{d}{dx} \left( \frac{\log(3x)}{x} \right)$

$\frac{1}{y} \frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{(\frac{3}{3x}) \cdot x - \log(3x) \cdot 1}{x^2}$

$\frac{1}{y} \frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{\frac{1}{x} \cdot x - \log(3x)}{x^2}$

$\frac{1}{y} \frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{1 - \log(3x)}{x^2}$

Solve for $\frac{dy}{dx}$:

$\frac{dy}{dx} = y \left( \frac{1 - \log(3x)}{x^2} \right)$

Substitute back $y = (3x)^{\frac{1}{x}}$:

$f'(x) = (3x)^{\frac{1}{x}} \left[ \frac{1 - \log(3x)}{x^2} \right]$

This matches Option 3.

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. For a real number $y$, consider $[y]$ denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to $y$. 
    If $f(x) = \frac{\tan(\pi[x-\pi])}{1+[x]^2}$, then

  2. Consider a function $f(x)$ which has exactly two roots at $x=a$. If $\lim_{x \to a}\left(\frac{\lambda f'(x)}{f(x)} - \frac{1}{x-a}\right) = m \, (\neq 0)$, then the value of $\lambda$ is
  3. Which of the following statements is always true?
  4. Number of elements in the range set of $f(x) = \left[ \frac{x}{15} \right] \left[ -\frac{15}{x} \right]$, for all $x \in (0, 90)$; (where $[\cdot]$ denotes the greatest integer function) is
  5. Let domain and range of $f(x)$ and $g(x)$ is $[0, \infty)$. If $f(x)$ is an increasing function, $g(x)$ is a decreasing function, $h(x) = f\{g(x)\}, h(0) = 0$ and $p(x) = h(x^3 - 2x^2 + 2x) - h(4)$, then for all $x \in (0, 2)$
  6. If the domain of $f(x)$ is $(0, 1)$, then the domain of $y = f(e^x) + f(\ln|x|)$ is
  7. A figure is bounded by the curves $y = x^2 + 1, y = 0, x = 0$ and $x = 1$. The point at which a tangent should be drawn to the curve $y = x^2 + 1$ for it to cut off trapezium of the greatest area from the figure is
  8. If $f$ be a real valued function defined for all real numbers $x$ such that for some fixed $a > 0$, it satisfies $f(x+a) = \frac{1}{2} + \sqrt{f(x) - (f(x))^2} \, \forall x$, then $f(x)$ is periodic with period
  9. If a differentiable function satisfies $(x-y) f(x+y) - (x+y) f(x-y) = 2(x^2y - y^3) \, \forall x, y \in \mathbb{R}$ and $f(1) = 2$, then
  10. Consider the curve $x = 1 - 3t^2, y = t - 3t^3$. The tangent to the curve at the point $t$ is inclined at an angle $\phi$ to OX and the tangent at P $(-2, 2)$ meets the curve again at Q. Then

Important Questions from Differential Calculus

  1. Let $(2\alpha, \alpha)$ be the largest interval in which the function $f(t) = \frac{|t+1|}{t^2}, t < 0$, is strictly decreasing. Then the local maximum value of the function $g(x) = 2\log_e(x - 2) + \alpha x^2 + 4x - \alpha$, $x > 2$, is ______
  2. Let $f: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ be a twice differentiable function such that the quadratic equation $f(x)m^2 - 2f'(x)m + f''(x) = 0$ in m, has two equal roots for every $x \in \mathbb{R}$. If $f(0) = 1, f'(0) = 2$, and $(\alpha, \beta)$ is the largest interval in which the function $f(\log_e x - x)$ is increasing, then $\alpha + \beta$ is equal to ____________.
  3. For a real number $y$, consider $[y]$ denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to $y$. 
    If $f(x) = \frac{\tan(\pi[x-\pi])}{1+[x]^2}$, then

  4. The number of points in the interval $[2, 4]$, at which the function $f(x) = \left[ x^2 - x - \frac{1}{2} \right]$, where $[\cdot]$ denotes the greatest integer function, is discontinuous, is __________.
  5. The number of points of discontinuity of the function $f (x) = \left[\frac{x^2}{2}\right] - [\sqrt{x}], x \in [0,4]$, where $[.]$denotes the greatest integer function, is ________
Need Expert Advice?
More Questions from WBJEE

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App