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Question

Direction: For the next two (2) items that follow:

Consider the function f(x) = |x 2– 5x + 6|

What is f’(4) equal to?

This question was previously asked in
NDA I 2016 GAT Previous Year Paper (17-Apr-2016)
The correct answer is

3

Understanding the Absolute Value Function

The given function is \(f(x) = |x^2 - 5x + 6|\). This is an absolute value function, and its derivative needs to be handled carefully, especially around points where the expression inside the absolute value is zero. The expression inside the absolute value is \(g(x) = x^2 - 5x + 6\). To determine the behavior of \(f(x)\), we first need to find the roots of \(g(x)\). Let's solve \(x^2 - 5x + 6 = 0\). Factoring the quadratic expression, we get \((x-2)(x-3) = 0\). The roots are \(x = 2\) and \(x = 3\). These roots divide the number line into intervals: \((-\infty, 2)\), \((2, 3)\), and \((3, \infty)\). The sign of \(g(x) = x^2 - 5x + 6\) is constant within each interval. * For \(x < 2\), \(x-2 < 0\) and \(x-3 < 0\), so \((x-2)(x-3) > 0\). Thus, \(g(x) > 0\). * For \(2 < x < 3\), \(x-2 > 0\) and \(x-3 < 0\), so \((x-2)(x-3) < 0\). Thus, \(g(x) < 0\). * For \(x > 3\), \(x-2 > 0\) and \(x-3 > 0\), so \((x-2)(x-3) > 0\). Thus, \(g(x) > 0\). The function \(f(x)\) can be written piecewise based on the sign of \(g(x)\): \[ f(x) = \begin{cases} x^2 - 5x + 6 & \text{if } x \le 2 \text{ or } x \ge 3 \\ -(x^2 - 5x + 6) & \text{if } 2 < x < 3 \end{cases} \]

Evaluating the Derivative at x = 4

We need to find \(f'(4)\). The point \(x=4\) is in the interval \(x \ge 3\). In this interval, \(x^2 - 5x + 6\) is positive. So, for \(x\) values around 4 (specifically, for \(x > 3\)), the function is defined as: \(f(x) = x^2 - 5x + 6\) Now, we can find the derivative \(f'(x)\) for \(x > 3\). The derivative of \(f(x) = x^2 - 5x + 6\) is: \(f'(x) = \frac{d}{dx}(x^2 - 5x + 6)\) \(f'(x) = 2x - 5\) We can evaluate this derivative at \(x=4\) because \(g(4) = 4^2 - 5(4) + 6 = 16 - 20 + 6 = 2 \neq 0\). The function is differentiable at \(x=4\). Substitute \(x=4\) into the expression for \(f'(x)\): \(f'(4) = 2(4) - 5\) \(f'(4) = 8 - 5\) \(f'(4) = 3\) Thus, the value of \(f'(4)\) is 3. Let's compare this result with the given options:
  • Option 1: -4
  • Option 2: -3
  • Option 3: 3
  • Option 4: 2
The calculated value \(f'(4) = 3\) matches Option 3. The final answer is 3.
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Important Questions from Differentiability

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