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Definition of second derivative as a limit

Mathematics Asked by kiwifruit on December 27, 2021

I found a statement that the second derivative can be defined as:

$$lim_{x to a} frac{f ‘(x)-f ‘(a)}{x-a}$$.

Does this definion follow from the definition of the first derivative as:

$$f ‘ (x) = lim_{h to 0} frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}$$

If so, how? If not, where does it come from?

Edit: Mistake corrected, sorry.

5 Answers

Assuming that $f$ is $C^2$ then $displaystylelim_{hrightarrow 0} frac{f(x+h)-2f(x)+f(x-h)}{h^2}=^{text{L'Hospital's}}displaystylelim_{hrightarrow 0} frac{f'(x+h)-f'(x-h)}{2h}$

$=^{text{L'Hospital's}}displaystylelim_{hrightarrow 0} frac{f''(x+h)+f''(x-h)}{2}=f''(x) $

Answered by BigM on December 27, 2021

Yes, since

$$f'(x) = lim_{hrightarrow 0} frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h},$$

and the second derivative is the derivative of the derivative, we get

$$f''(x) = lim_{hrightarrow 0} frac{f'(x+h)-f'(x)}{h}.$$

There are also difference quotients for the second derivative defined immediately in terms of $f$. The most commonly seen is

$$f''(x) = lim_{hrightarrow 0} frac{f(x+h)-2f(x)+f(x-h)}{h^2}.$$

This is commonly derived using Taylor expansions.

Answered by Mark McClure on December 27, 2021

The second derivative is defined applying the definition of derivative to the first derivative, i.e.: $$ f''(x)=lim_{hto0}frac{f'(x+h)-f'(x)}{h}, $$ where: $$ f'(y)=lim_{hto0}frac{f(y+h)-f(y)}{h}. $$ I do not think the first expression you wrote makes any sense. What is $n$? If you meant $x$, that is the definition of the first derivative.

Answered by 7raiden7 on December 27, 2021

This is not a definition for the second derivative. This is an alternative definition for the first derivative.

Answered by lemon on December 27, 2021

The first formula does not define you the second derivative of $f$ at $a$, only the first derivative. These two definitions are equivalent. If you put $h=a-x$, you get one definition from the other.

And also, in the first formula under the limit sign you should have $ato x$

Answered by Sasha Patotski on December 27, 2021

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