Module 2 : Limits and Continuity of Functions
Lecture 5 : Continuity [ Section 5.1 : Extending the Limit concept ]
Objectives
In this section you will learn the following
The meaning of
as
The meaning of
5.1
5.1 .1
as
Extending the limit concept
Definition :
(i) We write
(ii) We write
if for every
there is some
if for every
there is some
such that for every
such that
.
5.1 .2
Examples :
(i)
, since for a given
(ii)
5.1 .3
, we can choose
as per requirements.
Definitions :
(i)
if for every
, there exists some
implies
such that
(ii)
if for every
, there exists some
such that
implies
Similarly,
5.1 .4
or
as
or
can be defined.
Examples :
(i)
(ii)
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Practice Exercises : Extension of the limit concept
.
Let
1)
Show that
Let
2)
If
3)
, what can you say about
Interpret geometrically the following :
.
(i)
.
(ii)
(iii)
Let
(4)
Compute
Recap
In this section you have learnt the following
The meaning of
The meaning of
Objectives
In this section you will learn the following
The concept of contiinuity of a function at a point.
Elementary properties of continuous functions.
5.2
Continuity of functions
Recall that for a function
, which may or may not be defined at a point c , if
exists, then
is expected to take in consideration of its values at points in a
it is the value that the function
neighborhood of c. Suppose, the function is actually defined at c . In case the value expected of the
function at x = c exists and is equal to the actual value
, it is natural to say that there is a
continuity in the behaviour of
5.2.1
. This motivates our next definition.
Definition:
Let
and
exists and is equal to
be an interior point of
. Equivalently
. We say
is continuous at
is continuous at c if for every
if
, there is
such that
.
We say
is continuous on
continuous at
if
exists and is equal to
5.2.2
if
is continuous at each
exists and is equal to
. If
, and
we say
that is
is continuous at b if
Examples:
(i)
The function
is continuous at every point. For example we can take
, for any
to
given
claim that
.
(ii) The function
we can
choose
is continuous everywhere as
, and hence once again
to claim that
(iii) The trigonometric functions
are continuous on
. To see this
note that
Thus, we can choose
(iv) Let
for any given
to satisfy the given requirement of continuity.
For any given
, let
be chosen such that
. Then, for
Hence,
implies that
is continuous at
Hence,
. For
, given
. Finally, for any
implies that
using limit theorems, we have
.
Hence,
is continuous everywhere on
(v) The function
, is not continuous at c, if c is an integer since the left hand limit is not
equal to the
right hand limit.
(vi) Consider the function
if x is rational, and
if x is irrational. It is discontinuous
at every
. To see this note that given
to c,
where each
, we can choose
is a rational an each
and
both conveying
is an irrational. Then,
. Thus,
does not exist.
(vii) The function
is discontinuous at
. To see this, let
.
Then,
not
5.2 .3
. However,
. Hence,
does
exist.
Theorem:
Let
. Let
following holds:
(i)
be functions,both continuous at
are continuous at
is defined in a neighbourhood of
(ii)If
. Then the
and is continuous at
5.2 .3 Theorem:
Let
. Let
be functions,both continuous at
Then the following holds:
(i)
(ii)If
are continuous at
is defined in a neighbourhood of
and is continuous at
Proof:
Follows from theorem 3.1.3
5.2 .4
Examples:
(i) It follows from the above theorem that every polynomial function
where
is continuous. Also, any rational function , that is, a function of
the form
where p and q are polynomial functions, is continuous at every point
for which
5.2 .5
with
(ii) All trigonometric functions (and also, rational functions in them) are continuous wherever they are
defined.
Theorem:
Let
and
with range
. For
, if
is continuous at
is
continuous at
, then
is continuous at
5.2 .5 Theorem:
Let
continuous at
, then
with
is continuous at
. For
, if
is continuous at
and
is
Proof:
Let
Then, by the continuity of
Now, by the continuity of
Thus,
5.2 .6
is continuous at
.
.
Example:
As an application of theorems 5.2.3 and 5.2.5, it follows that the function
defined by
is continuous.
5.2 .7
Note:
Geometrically, saying that a function
is continuous on the interval, means that there is
no break in the graph of the function, we can draw its graph on paper starting with
without lifting the pen.
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Practice Exercises 5.2 : Continuity of a function
(1) Discuss the continuity of the following functions :
to
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(2) Discuss continuity of
at x = 2, where
is such that
for all
and is continuous on
(3) Let
be continuous function such that in every neighbourhood of 0, there exists a
point where
takes the value 0. Show that
(4) Let
that
satisfy
is
for all
If
is continuous at 0, show
continuous at every
(5) Let
, and
be such that for every
Show that
(6) Construct a function
(7) Let
is continuous.
such that
is one-one, onto but not continuous.
satisfy the following:
for some M, for all
(i)
(ii)
for every
Show that
with
is continuous.
Optional Exercises:
Show that the function
in Problem 4 satisfies the following relation:
,
(a) for all
(b) for all
(c) for all
(d) for all
Deduce that
and for some
Historical Comments
The idea of limit existed implicitly in the method of exhaustion' a method used by the Greek
mathematicians (500-200 B.C.) such as Eudoxes and Archimedes. It was Isaac Newton who first talked
explicitly about limits in his work on Calculus. The concept of limit was finally defined by Cauchy (17891857). Cauchy worked as a civil engineer in Napoleon's army. Despite his busy schedule, he helped local
authorities in conducting school examinations and continued doing his research. He produced about 500
research papers in diverse branches of mathematics.
Recap
In this section you have learnt the following
The concept of continuity of a function at a point.
Various theorems analyzing algera of continuous functions.
Congratulations ! You have finished Lecture - 5. To view the next Lecture select it from the left hand side
of the page.
