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Mathematics 12 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

Do all functions have an antiderivative? Do all functions have a derivative?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

no, and no XD

OpenStudy (jamesj):

No and no. For instance f(x) = 1, if x is a rational number = 0, if x is an irrational number This function has neither a derivative nor an anti-derivative.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

best function ever! XD

OpenStudy (jamesj):

In fact, any function that isn't continuous at a point doesn't have a derivative at that point. The set of functions that have anti-derivatives is interesting, but still quite restrictive.

OpenStudy (jamesj):

[ It turns out there is a better notion of integration that can integrate the function I wrote down above. It would integrate it to zero, because if you chose a real number at random, call it x, it would be irrational with probability 1 and hence f(x) = 0. This notion of integration is called the Lebesgue integral, and is studied in Real Analysis. ]

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