Find the values of a and b so that the function

Solution:

Given:

$f(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{l}x^{2}+3 x+a, \quad x \leq 1 \\ b x+2, \quad x>1\end{array}\right.$

It is given that the function is differentiable at each $x \in R$ and every differentiable function is continuous. So, $f(x)$ is continuous at $x=1$.

Therefore,

$\lim _{x \rightarrow 1^{-}} f(x)=\lim _{x \rightarrow 1^{+}} f(x)=f(1)$

$\Rightarrow \lim _{x \rightarrow 1} x^{2}+3 x+a=\lim _{x \rightarrow 1} b x+2=a+4$           [Using def. of $f(x)$ ]

$\Rightarrow a+4=b+2=a+4 \quad \ldots(\mathrm{i})$

Since, $f(x)$ is differentiable at $x=1$. So,

$\lim _{x \rightarrow 1^{-}} \frac{f(x)-f(1)}{x-1}=\lim _{x \rightarrow 1^{+}} \frac{f(x)-f(1)}{x-1}$

$\Rightarrow \lim _{x \rightarrow 1} \frac{x^{2}+3 x+a-a-4}{x-1}=\lim _{x \rightarrow 1} \frac{b x+2-4-a}{x-1}$          [Using def. of $f(x)$ ]

$\Rightarrow \lim _{x \rightarrow 1} \frac{(x+4)(x-1)}{x-1}=\lim _{x \rightarrow 1} \frac{b x-2-a}{x-1}$

$\Rightarrow \lim _{x \rightarrow 1} \frac{(x+4)(x-1)}{x-1}=\lim _{x \rightarrow 1} \frac{b x-b}{x-1}$        [Using (i)]

$\Rightarrow \lim _{x \rightarrow 1} \frac{(x+4)(x-1)}{x-1}=\lim _{x \rightarrow 1} \frac{b(x-1)}{x-1}$

$\Rightarrow 5=b$

From (i)">(i)(i), we have

$a+4=b+2$

$\Rightarrow a+4=5+2$

$\Rightarrow a=7-4$

$\Rightarrow a=3$

Hence, $a=3, b=5$.