Determining where a given function is continuous

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An analysis book asks the following question:




Determine where the following function is continuous:



$$ f(x) = left{ beginarrayll x & quad textif x text is
rational \ frac1x & quad textif x text is irrational
endarray right. $$




I claim that $f$ is discontinuous everywhere. For if $(x_n)$ is an irrational sequence converging to some $c in mathbbQ$ then $lim f(x_n) = lim frac1x_n = 1/c ne f(c)$ and similarly if $(x_n)$ is a rational sequence converging to some $c in mathbbR setminus mathbbQ$ then $lim f(x_n) = lim x_n = c ne f(c)$.



Is my answer and justification correct?



Update :
It looks as if $f$ is continuous at $pm 1$. Here's my attempted proof of claim made:



Suppose $(x_n)$ be a real sequence converging to 1. Let $varepsilon > 0$ be given.



Then there exists $N_1 in mathbbN$ such that $|x_n-1|< varepsilon$ for all $nge N_1$.



Also there exists $N_2 in mathbbN$ such that $|x_n-1|< varepsilon / 2 $ for all $nge N_2$.



And finally, there exists $N_3 in mathbbN$ such that $|x_n|ge frac12$ for all $nge N_3$.



Let $N:=max N_1 , N_2, N_3 $. Now for all $n ge N$ and $x_n in mathbbQ$, we have



$|f(x_n) - f(1)|= |x_n -1| < varepsilon $



and for $x_n in mathbbR setminus mathbbQ$, we have



$|f(x_n) - f(1)| = |frac1x_n -1| = fracx_n < 2 cdot fracvarepsilon2 = varepsilon$.



Similarly it can be done for $c=-1$.



Is this okay or is there any better way this can be done?










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  • check again for $x=1$.
    – Thomas
    Sep 1 at 5:55










  • Maybe $f(x)$ is continuous for $x=pm1$.
    – Ixion
    Sep 1 at 5:56










  • Is $f$ discontinuous everywhere except $x = pm 1$?, s from OP's analysis it seems that the function is discontinuous at all rational and irrational sequences except $pm 1$
    – BAYMAX
    Sep 1 at 5:57











  • I see that now. My justification breaks down for $x=pm 1$.
    – Ashish K
    Sep 1 at 5:58






  • 1




    It's ok for me. Well done!
    – Ixion
    Sep 1 at 6:40














up vote
1
down vote

favorite












An analysis book asks the following question:




Determine where the following function is continuous:



$$ f(x) = left{ beginarrayll x & quad textif x text is
rational \ frac1x & quad textif x text is irrational
endarray right. $$




I claim that $f$ is discontinuous everywhere. For if $(x_n)$ is an irrational sequence converging to some $c in mathbbQ$ then $lim f(x_n) = lim frac1x_n = 1/c ne f(c)$ and similarly if $(x_n)$ is a rational sequence converging to some $c in mathbbR setminus mathbbQ$ then $lim f(x_n) = lim x_n = c ne f(c)$.



Is my answer and justification correct?



Update :
It looks as if $f$ is continuous at $pm 1$. Here's my attempted proof of claim made:



Suppose $(x_n)$ be a real sequence converging to 1. Let $varepsilon > 0$ be given.



Then there exists $N_1 in mathbbN$ such that $|x_n-1|< varepsilon$ for all $nge N_1$.



Also there exists $N_2 in mathbbN$ such that $|x_n-1|< varepsilon / 2 $ for all $nge N_2$.



And finally, there exists $N_3 in mathbbN$ such that $|x_n|ge frac12$ for all $nge N_3$.



Let $N:=max N_1 , N_2, N_3 $. Now for all $n ge N$ and $x_n in mathbbQ$, we have



$|f(x_n) - f(1)|= |x_n -1| < varepsilon $



and for $x_n in mathbbR setminus mathbbQ$, we have



$|f(x_n) - f(1)| = |frac1x_n -1| = fracx_n < 2 cdot fracvarepsilon2 = varepsilon$.



Similarly it can be done for $c=-1$.



Is this okay or is there any better way this can be done?










share|cite|improve this question























  • check again for $x=1$.
    – Thomas
    Sep 1 at 5:55










  • Maybe $f(x)$ is continuous for $x=pm1$.
    – Ixion
    Sep 1 at 5:56










  • Is $f$ discontinuous everywhere except $x = pm 1$?, s from OP's analysis it seems that the function is discontinuous at all rational and irrational sequences except $pm 1$
    – BAYMAX
    Sep 1 at 5:57











  • I see that now. My justification breaks down for $x=pm 1$.
    – Ashish K
    Sep 1 at 5:58






  • 1




    It's ok for me. Well done!
    – Ixion
    Sep 1 at 6:40












up vote
1
down vote

favorite









up vote
1
down vote

favorite











An analysis book asks the following question:




Determine where the following function is continuous:



$$ f(x) = left{ beginarrayll x & quad textif x text is
rational \ frac1x & quad textif x text is irrational
endarray right. $$




I claim that $f$ is discontinuous everywhere. For if $(x_n)$ is an irrational sequence converging to some $c in mathbbQ$ then $lim f(x_n) = lim frac1x_n = 1/c ne f(c)$ and similarly if $(x_n)$ is a rational sequence converging to some $c in mathbbR setminus mathbbQ$ then $lim f(x_n) = lim x_n = c ne f(c)$.



Is my answer and justification correct?



Update :
It looks as if $f$ is continuous at $pm 1$. Here's my attempted proof of claim made:



Suppose $(x_n)$ be a real sequence converging to 1. Let $varepsilon > 0$ be given.



Then there exists $N_1 in mathbbN$ such that $|x_n-1|< varepsilon$ for all $nge N_1$.



Also there exists $N_2 in mathbbN$ such that $|x_n-1|< varepsilon / 2 $ for all $nge N_2$.



And finally, there exists $N_3 in mathbbN$ such that $|x_n|ge frac12$ for all $nge N_3$.



Let $N:=max N_1 , N_2, N_3 $. Now for all $n ge N$ and $x_n in mathbbQ$, we have



$|f(x_n) - f(1)|= |x_n -1| < varepsilon $



and for $x_n in mathbbR setminus mathbbQ$, we have



$|f(x_n) - f(1)| = |frac1x_n -1| = fracx_n < 2 cdot fracvarepsilon2 = varepsilon$.



Similarly it can be done for $c=-1$.



Is this okay or is there any better way this can be done?










share|cite|improve this question















An analysis book asks the following question:




Determine where the following function is continuous:



$$ f(x) = left{ beginarrayll x & quad textif x text is
rational \ frac1x & quad textif x text is irrational
endarray right. $$




I claim that $f$ is discontinuous everywhere. For if $(x_n)$ is an irrational sequence converging to some $c in mathbbQ$ then $lim f(x_n) = lim frac1x_n = 1/c ne f(c)$ and similarly if $(x_n)$ is a rational sequence converging to some $c in mathbbR setminus mathbbQ$ then $lim f(x_n) = lim x_n = c ne f(c)$.



Is my answer and justification correct?



Update :
It looks as if $f$ is continuous at $pm 1$. Here's my attempted proof of claim made:



Suppose $(x_n)$ be a real sequence converging to 1. Let $varepsilon > 0$ be given.



Then there exists $N_1 in mathbbN$ such that $|x_n-1|< varepsilon$ for all $nge N_1$.



Also there exists $N_2 in mathbbN$ such that $|x_n-1|< varepsilon / 2 $ for all $nge N_2$.



And finally, there exists $N_3 in mathbbN$ such that $|x_n|ge frac12$ for all $nge N_3$.



Let $N:=max N_1 , N_2, N_3 $. Now for all $n ge N$ and $x_n in mathbbQ$, we have



$|f(x_n) - f(1)|= |x_n -1| < varepsilon $



and for $x_n in mathbbR setminus mathbbQ$, we have



$|f(x_n) - f(1)| = |frac1x_n -1| = fracx_n < 2 cdot fracvarepsilon2 = varepsilon$.



Similarly it can be done for $c=-1$.



Is this okay or is there any better way this can be done?







real-analysis continuity






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edited Sep 1 at 6:35

























asked Sep 1 at 5:45









Ashish K

560412




560412











  • check again for $x=1$.
    – Thomas
    Sep 1 at 5:55










  • Maybe $f(x)$ is continuous for $x=pm1$.
    – Ixion
    Sep 1 at 5:56










  • Is $f$ discontinuous everywhere except $x = pm 1$?, s from OP's analysis it seems that the function is discontinuous at all rational and irrational sequences except $pm 1$
    – BAYMAX
    Sep 1 at 5:57











  • I see that now. My justification breaks down for $x=pm 1$.
    – Ashish K
    Sep 1 at 5:58






  • 1




    It's ok for me. Well done!
    – Ixion
    Sep 1 at 6:40
















  • check again for $x=1$.
    – Thomas
    Sep 1 at 5:55










  • Maybe $f(x)$ is continuous for $x=pm1$.
    – Ixion
    Sep 1 at 5:56










  • Is $f$ discontinuous everywhere except $x = pm 1$?, s from OP's analysis it seems that the function is discontinuous at all rational and irrational sequences except $pm 1$
    – BAYMAX
    Sep 1 at 5:57











  • I see that now. My justification breaks down for $x=pm 1$.
    – Ashish K
    Sep 1 at 5:58






  • 1




    It's ok for me. Well done!
    – Ixion
    Sep 1 at 6:40















check again for $x=1$.
– Thomas
Sep 1 at 5:55




check again for $x=1$.
– Thomas
Sep 1 at 5:55












Maybe $f(x)$ is continuous for $x=pm1$.
– Ixion
Sep 1 at 5:56




Maybe $f(x)$ is continuous for $x=pm1$.
– Ixion
Sep 1 at 5:56












Is $f$ discontinuous everywhere except $x = pm 1$?, s from OP's analysis it seems that the function is discontinuous at all rational and irrational sequences except $pm 1$
– BAYMAX
Sep 1 at 5:57





Is $f$ discontinuous everywhere except $x = pm 1$?, s from OP's analysis it seems that the function is discontinuous at all rational and irrational sequences except $pm 1$
– BAYMAX
Sep 1 at 5:57













I see that now. My justification breaks down for $x=pm 1$.
– Ashish K
Sep 1 at 5:58




I see that now. My justification breaks down for $x=pm 1$.
– Ashish K
Sep 1 at 5:58




1




1




It's ok for me. Well done!
– Ixion
Sep 1 at 6:40




It's ok for me. Well done!
– Ixion
Sep 1 at 6:40










1 Answer
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For $x_0=1$ notice that $$|x-x_0|<epsilonto 1-epsilon<x<1+epsilon$$then we have $$textif xinBbb Q to |x-1|<epsilon\textif xnotinBbb Q to 1-2epsilon<dfrac11+epsilon<dfrac1x<dfrac11-epsilon<1+2epsilon$$where $epsilon$ is small enough therefore $$|dfrac1x-1|<2epsilon$$and the function is continuous $x=1$ similarly $x=-1$






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    For $x_0=1$ notice that $$|x-x_0|<epsilonto 1-epsilon<x<1+epsilon$$then we have $$textif xinBbb Q to |x-1|<epsilon\textif xnotinBbb Q to 1-2epsilon<dfrac11+epsilon<dfrac1x<dfrac11-epsilon<1+2epsilon$$where $epsilon$ is small enough therefore $$|dfrac1x-1|<2epsilon$$and the function is continuous $x=1$ similarly $x=-1$






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      up vote
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      down vote













      For $x_0=1$ notice that $$|x-x_0|<epsilonto 1-epsilon<x<1+epsilon$$then we have $$textif xinBbb Q to |x-1|<epsilon\textif xnotinBbb Q to 1-2epsilon<dfrac11+epsilon<dfrac1x<dfrac11-epsilon<1+2epsilon$$where $epsilon$ is small enough therefore $$|dfrac1x-1|<2epsilon$$and the function is continuous $x=1$ similarly $x=-1$






      share|cite|improve this answer






















        up vote
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        up vote
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        down vote









        For $x_0=1$ notice that $$|x-x_0|<epsilonto 1-epsilon<x<1+epsilon$$then we have $$textif xinBbb Q to |x-1|<epsilon\textif xnotinBbb Q to 1-2epsilon<dfrac11+epsilon<dfrac1x<dfrac11-epsilon<1+2epsilon$$where $epsilon$ is small enough therefore $$|dfrac1x-1|<2epsilon$$and the function is continuous $x=1$ similarly $x=-1$






        share|cite|improve this answer












        For $x_0=1$ notice that $$|x-x_0|<epsilonto 1-epsilon<x<1+epsilon$$then we have $$textif xinBbb Q to |x-1|<epsilon\textif xnotinBbb Q to 1-2epsilon<dfrac11+epsilon<dfrac1x<dfrac11-epsilon<1+2epsilon$$where $epsilon$ is small enough therefore $$|dfrac1x-1|<2epsilon$$and the function is continuous $x=1$ similarly $x=-1$







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        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered Sep 1 at 6:45









        Mostafa Ayaz

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