Question

In shape functions, first derivatives must be _______ within an element.

(a) Infinite

(b) Finite

(c) Natural

(d) Integer

This question was posed to me in an internship interview.

This is a very interesting question from One Dimensional Problems in portion One Dimensional Problems of Finite Element Method

Answer 1

Correct answer is (b) Finite

The explanation is: In general shape functions need to satisfy that, first derivatives must be finite within element. Shape functions are interpolation functions. First derivatives are finite within element because for easy calculations.