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?
real-analysis continuity
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up vote
1
down vote
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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?
real-analysis continuity
check again for $x=1$.
â Thomas
Sep 1 at 5:55
Maybe $f(x)$ is continuous for $x=pm1$.
â 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 $pm 1$
â BAYMAX
Sep 1 at 5:57
I see that now. My justification breaks down for $x=pm 1$.
â Ashish K
Sep 1 at 5:58
1
It's ok for me. Well done!
â Ixion
Sep 1 at 6:40
 |Â
show 2 more comments
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?
real-analysis continuity
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
real-analysis continuity
edited Sep 1 at 6:35
asked Sep 1 at 5:45
Ashish K
560412
560412
check again for $x=1$.
â Thomas
Sep 1 at 5:55
Maybe $f(x)$ is continuous for $x=pm1$.
â 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 $pm 1$
â BAYMAX
Sep 1 at 5:57
I see that now. My justification breaks down for $x=pm 1$.
â Ashish K
Sep 1 at 5:58
1
It's ok for me. Well done!
â Ixion
Sep 1 at 6:40
 |Â
show 2 more comments
check again for $x=1$.
â Thomas
Sep 1 at 5:55
Maybe $f(x)$ is continuous for $x=pm1$.
â 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 $pm 1$
â BAYMAX
Sep 1 at 5:57
I see that now. My justification breaks down for $x=pm 1$.
â Ashish K
Sep 1 at 5:58
1
It's ok for me. Well done!
â Ixion
Sep 1 at 6:40
check again for $x=1$.
â Thomas
Sep 1 at 5:55
check again for $x=1$.
â Thomas
Sep 1 at 5:55
Maybe $f(x)$ is continuous for $x=pm1$.
â Ixion
Sep 1 at 5:56
Maybe $f(x)$ is continuous for $x=pm1$.
â 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 $pm 1$
â 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 $pm 1$
â BAYMAX
Sep 1 at 5:57
I see that now. My justification breaks down for $x=pm 1$.
â Ashish K
Sep 1 at 5:58
I see that now. My justification breaks down for $x=pm 1$.
â Ashish K
Sep 1 at 5:58
1
1
It's ok for me. Well done!
â Ixion
Sep 1 at 6:40
It's ok for me. Well done!
â Ixion
Sep 1 at 6:40
 |Â
show 2 more comments
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 $x=-1$
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
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active
oldest
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up vote
0
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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 $x=-1$
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
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 $x=-1$
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
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 $x=-1$
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 $x=-1$
answered Sep 1 at 6:45
Mostafa Ayaz
10.3k3730
10.3k3730
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check again for $x=1$.
â Thomas
Sep 1 at 5:55
Maybe $f(x)$ is continuous for $x=pm1$.
â 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 $pm 1$
â BAYMAX
Sep 1 at 5:57
I see that now. My justification breaks down for $x=pm 1$.
â Ashish K
Sep 1 at 5:58
1
It's ok for me. Well done!
â Ixion
Sep 1 at 6:40