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Consider the function $$f: \mathbb R\to\mathbb R, x\mapsto\begin{cases}\frac{\sin^2(x)}x, & x\neq 0, \\ 0, & x=0.\end{cases}$$

It is true that $f\in\mathcal C^1(\mathbb R)$ and that $$f'(x)=\begin{cases}\frac{2 \sin (x) \cos (x)}{x}-\frac{\sin ^2(x)}{x^2}, & x\neq 0, \\ 1, & x=0.\end{cases}$$

(The fact that $f'(0)=1$ can be derived directly from the definition of the derivative.)

However, when I enter $f'(0)$ into Mathematica (in this case Wolfram Alpha but it makes no difference), I get $f'(0)=0$. Even more astonishingly, if I define $$g:\mathbb R\to\mathbb R, x\mapsto\begin{cases} \frac{\sin^2(x)}x, & x\neq0, \\ x, & x=0,\end{cases}$$

then $f=g$. However, Mathematica gives $g'(0)=1\color{red}\neq f'(0)$. It seems that Mathematica has a massive programming error when it comes to differentiating piecewise functions!

Is this a known error?

Note: This bug was originally discovered by Micah Windsor in a discussion on $f'(0)$ here.

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    $\begingroup$ if you do Limit[D[f[x], x], x -> 0] it gives 1 I do not know why it does not work on the Piecewise function itself. $\endgroup$ – Nasser Apr 10 '20 at 20:49
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    $\begingroup$ SeriesCoefficient[f[x], {x, 0, 1}] works (12.1.0), but SeriesCoefficient[f[$x], {$x, x, 1}, Assumptions -> x \[Element] Reals] gives a rather interesting answer. $\endgroup$ – Michael E2 Apr 11 '20 at 3:49
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    $\begingroup$ It's not a bug (or an error). Substituting 0 for x in the derivative gives an indeterminate form that happens to be at a removable singularity. Series can be quite useful in such cases (and so can Limit, but that's a heavier hammer). $\endgroup$ – Daniel Lichtblau Apr 11 '20 at 17:18
  • $\begingroup$ This is a task usually given in the introductory course of mathematical analysis. It is for proving considerations an example working for small values around a point, x=0. The students are requested to make use of the Taylor expansion Series and an idea of limit introduced in the lessons. It is not an example of Piesewise or D or f'. It is an easy hand or head task. The function is not in need for Piecewise at all. Taylor series multiplication may be another context. $\endgroup$ – Steffen Jaeschke Apr 12 '20 at 10:02
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    $\begingroup$ Limit[D[Sinc[x] Sin[x], x], x -> 0] works perfectly fine. $\endgroup$ – J. M.'s ennui♦ Jan 30 at 10:11
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See the possible issues section of the documentation for Piecewise. The proper method for defining f is

Clear["Global`*"]

f[x_] := Piecewise[{{Sin[x]^2/x, x < 0 || x > 0}}]

f[0]

(* 0 *)

f'[0]

(* 1 *)
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    $\begingroup$ Side note: in v9.0.1 f'[x] still gives the undesired result Piecewise[{{(2*Cos[x]*Sin[x])/x - Sin[x]^2/x^2, x > 0 || x < 0}}, 0], but D[f[x], x] gives the desired Piecewise[{{(2*Cos[x]*Sin[x])/x - Sin[x]^2/x^2, x < 0}, {1, x == 0}}, (2*Cos[x]*Sin[x])/x - Sin[x]^2/x^2], seems like a bug in v9. $\endgroup$ – xzczd Apr 11 '20 at 3:23

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