TITLE: Can a function be differentiable if the limit does not exist?
QUESTION [7 upvotes]: I'm trying to find if the function is differentiable at $x=1$. Upon solving, the limit does not exist. But when I tried to solve for the limit of $f '(1)$, I both got $3\over2$, so $f '(1)$ exists. So, is the function differentiable at $x=1$?
$$f(x) = \begin{cases}
\ln(x^2+x) & x ≤ 1 \\
3\sqrt x & x > 1 \\
\end{cases}$$
I. $$ f(1) = \ln (1^2 +1) = \ln(2)$$
II. $$\lim_{x\to1^-} f(x) = \lim_{x\to1^-} \ln(x^2+x) = \ln(1^2+1) = \ln(2)$$
$$\lim_{x\to1^+} f(x) = \lim_{x\to1^+} 3 \sqrt x= 3\sqrt1 = 3 $$
$$\lim_{x\to1^-} f(x) ≠ \lim_{x\to1^+} f(x) $$
Thus the $\lim_{x\to1}f(x)$ does not exist.
$$f'(x) = \begin{cases}
\frac{2x+1}{x^2+x} & x < 1 \\
\frac{3}{2\sqrt x} & x > 1 \\
\end{cases}$$
a) $$ f'_+(1) = \lim_{x\to1^+}f'(x )=  \lim_{x\to1^+}\frac{3}{2\sqrt x} = \frac{3}{2\sqrt1} = \frac{3}{2}$$
b)$$ f'_-(1) = \lim_{x\to1^-}f'(x)=  \lim_{x\to1^+}\frac{2x+1}{x^2+ x} = \frac{2 + 1}{1+1} = \frac{3}{2}$$

REPLY [8 votes]: A simple example: let $$f(x) = \begin{cases}
-1 & x ≤ 0 \\
1 & x > 0 \\
\end{cases}$$
The left and right limits of $f'$ at $x=0$ both exist and are equal to the same value (namely, zero), but that doesn't mean that $f'(0)$ exists.