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NCERT Solutions · Class 12 · Chapter 5: Continuity and Differentiability

NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Maths Chapter 5 Exercise 5.2

Exercise 5.2: Chain rule; where derivatives fail. Chain rule: \(\dfrac{d}{dx}f(g(x)) = f'(g(x))\,g'(x)\), working from the outside in. A function is differentiable at c only if the left and right derivatives agree there; a corner (like \(|x - 1|\) at 1) or a jump (like \([x]\) at an integer) spoils this.

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Exercise 5.2 questions and solutions

Exercise 5.2, Question 4

Differentiate \(\sec(\tan\sqrt x)\).
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  1. Three layers: \(\sec u \to \sec u\tan u\), \(u = \tan v \to \sec^2 v\), \(v = \sqrt x \to \dfrac{1}{2\sqrt x}\).
Answer: \[\dfrac{\sec(\tan\sqrt x)\tan(\tan\sqrt x)\sec^2\sqrt x}{2\sqrt x}\]

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Exercise 5.2, Question 5

Differentiate \(\dfrac{\sin(ax + b)}{\cos(cx + d)}\).
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  1. Quotient rule: \[\dfrac{a\cos(ax + b)\cos(cx + d) - \sin(ax + b)\cdot(-c\sin(cx + d))}{\cos^2(cx + d)}\]
Answer: \[\dfrac{a\cos(ax + b)\cos(cx + d) + c\sin(ax + b)\sin(cx + d)}{\cos^2(cx + d)}\]

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Exercise 5.2, Question 6

Differentiate \(\cos x^3 \cdot \sin^2(x^5)\).
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  1. Product rule: \((\cos x^3)' = -3x^2\sin x^3\); \[(\sin^2 x^5)' = 2\sin x^5\cos x^5 \cdot 5x^4\]
Answer: \[10x^4\sin x^5\cos x^5\cos x^3 - 3x^2\sin x^3\sin^2 x^5\]

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Exercise 5.2, Question 7

Differentiate \(2\sqrt{\cot(x^2)}\).
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  1. \[2 \cdot \dfrac{1}{2\sqrt{\cot x^2}} \cdot (-\csc^2 x^2) \cdot 2x\]
Answer: \(-\dfrac{2x\csc^2(x^2)}{\sqrt{\cot(x^2)}}\)

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Exercise 5.2, Question 9

Prove \(f(x) = |x - 1|\) is not differentiable at \(x = 1\).
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  1. Left derivative: \[\begin{aligned}\lim_{h \to 0^-}\dfrac{|h| - 0}{h} &= \lim_{h \to 0^-}\dfrac{-h}{h} \\ &= -1\end{aligned}\]
  2. Right derivative: \(\lim_{h \to 0^+}\dfrac{|h|}{h} = 1\).
  3. They differ, so \(f'(1)\) does not exist.
Answer: Proved

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Exercise 5.2, Question 10

Prove \(f(x) = [x]\), \(0 < x < 3\), is not differentiable at \(x = 1\) and \(x = 2\).
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  1. At 1: for small \(h < 0\), \[\begin{aligned}\dfrac{[1 + h] - [1]}{h} &= \dfrac{0 - 1}{h} \\ &= -\dfrac1h \to +\infty\end{aligned}\], so the left derivative does not exist. (The right derivative is \(\dfrac{1 - 1}{h} = 0\).)
  2. At 2 the same happens: \(\dfrac{[2 + h] - 2}{h} = -\dfrac1h\) for small \(h < 0\).
  3. (Also, f is not even continuous at 1 and 2, and a differentiable function must be continuous.)
Answer: Proved

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Done the NCERT exercises? The board paper asks more

Continuity and Differentiability has 40 original board-style questions (MCQ, assertion–reason, short and long answers, case studies) with step mark schemes, revision notes and a four-step Route to 95. Three sample questions are open to everyone; a free account opens the rest.

Continuity and Differentiability in our sample papers: Sample paper 1 (questions 8, 9, 10, 22, 26) · Sample paper 2 (questions 8, 9, 10, 22, 26) · Sample paper 3 (questions 8, 9, 22, 26, 27) · Sample paper 4 (questions 8, 9, 10, 22, 26) · Sample paper 5 (questions 8, 9, 22, 26, 27).

Also useful: free MCQs and case studies for Continuity and Differentiability · formulas for this chapter (Class 12 formula sheet, free PDF) · official CBSE board and sample papers · our sample papers with marking scheme · the Route to 95 plan

Textbook: NCERT Mathematics Class 12, Parts I and II (rationalised edition, 2023-24 reprint onward), free from ncert.nic.in. Question statements are shortened to the minimum needed; the solutions and tips are our own. CBSE Math Revision is independent and not affiliated with NCERT or CBSE. Spotted a slip? Tell us and it goes in the corrections log.