Differentiability Absolute 31E554
1. **State the problem:** Check the differentiability of the function $$f(x) = 1 - 3\sqrt{(x-1)^2}$$.
2. **Rewrite the function:** Note that $$\sqrt{(x-1)^2} = |x-1|$$, so the function becomes $$f(x) = 1 - 3|x-1|$$.
3. **Recall the definition of differentiability:** A function is differentiable at a point if the left-hand derivative and right-hand derivative at that point exist and are equal.
4. **Check differentiability at all points except $$x=1$$:** For $$x \neq 1$$, $$|x-1|$$ is differentiable because it is composed of differentiable functions.
5. **Check differentiability at $$x=1$$:**
- For $$x > 1$$, $$|x-1| = x-1$$, so $$f(x) = 1 - 3(x-1) = 1 - 3x + 3 = 4 - 3x$$.
- For $$x < 1$$, $$|x-1| = -(x-1) = 1 - x$$, so $$f(x) = 1 - 3(1 - x) = 1 - 3 + 3x = 3x - 2$$.
6. **Calculate the right-hand derivative at $$x=1$$:**
$$f'_+(1) = \lim_{h \to 0^+} \frac{f(1+h) - f(1)}{h} = \lim_{h \to 0^+} \frac{(4 - 3(1+h)) - (1 - 3|1-1|)}{h} = \lim_{h \to 0^+} \frac{4 - 3 - 3h - 1}{h} = \lim_{h \to 0^+} \frac{0 - 3h}{h} = -3$$.
7. **Calculate the left-hand derivative at $$x=1$$:**
$$f'_-(1) = \lim_{h \to 0^-} \frac{f(1+h) - f(1)}{h} = \lim_{h \to 0^-} \frac{(3(1+h) - 2) - (1 - 3|1-1|)}{h} = \lim_{h \to 0^-} \frac{3 + 3h - 2 - 1}{h} = \lim_{h \to 0^-} \frac{0 + 3h}{h} = 3$$.
8. **Compare derivatives:** Since $$f'_+(1) = -3$$ and $$f'_-(1) = 3$$, the derivatives are not equal.
9. **Conclusion:** The function $$f(x) = 1 - 3|x-1|$$ is not differentiable at $$x=1$$ but differentiable everywhere else.
**Final answer:** $$f(x)$$ is differentiable for all $$x \neq 1$$ and not differentiable at $$x=1$$.