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Lecture 10 (Continuity)

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Limit: Let f (x ) be defined on an open interval about x0 , except
possibly at x0 itself. We say L is the limit of f (x ) at x0 , and write

lim f (x ) = L,
x →x0

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if, for all  > 0, there exists a δ > 0 such that for all x in domain

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|f (x ) − L| <  whenever 0 < |x − x0 | < δ.

Continuity: Let D(6= φ) ⊆ R and let f : D → R

We say that f : D → R is continuous if f is continuous at each

b) lim x 2 = 4.
x →2

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x3 − 4 4
c) lim = .

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2
x →2 x + 1 5
4x + 1 9
d) lim = .
x →2 3x − 4 2
√
e) lim x − 1 = 2.
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Sequential criterion of continuity: f : D → R is continuous at
x0 ∈ D iff for every sequence (xn ) ∈ D such that xn → x0 , we have
f (xn ) → f (x0 ).

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Examples:

3x + 2 if x < 1,
1. f (x) =

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4x 2 if x ≥ 1.


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x sin x1 if x =
6 0,
2. f (x) =
0 if x = 0.

sin x1 if x =
6 0,
3. f (x) =
0MA if x = 0.

1 if x ∈ Q,
4. f (x) =
0 if x ∈ R \ Q.

x if x ∈ Q,
5. f (x) =
−x if x ∈ R \ Q.
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Result: Let f , g : D → R be continuous at x0 ∈ D. Then
(a) f + g , fg and |f | are continuous at x0 ,

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(b) f /g is continuous at x0 if g (x) 6= 0 for all x ∈ D.

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Result: Let f , g : D → R be continuous at x0 ∈ D. Then
(a) f + g , fg and |f | are continuous at x0 ,

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(b) f /g is continuous at x0 if g (x) 6= 0 for all x ∈ D.

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Result: Composition of two continuous functions is continuous.

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Result: Let f , g : D → R be continuous at x0 ∈ D. Then
(a) f + g , fg and |f | are continuous at x0 ,

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(b) f /g is continuous at x0 if g (x) 6= 0 for all x ∈ D.

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Result: Composition of two continuous functions is continuous.
Further examples of continuous functions:
Polynomial function, Rational function, sine function, cosine
function, exponential function, etc.
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Result: If f : [a, b] → R is continuous and if f (a) · f (b) < 0,
then there exists c ∈ (a, b) such that f (c) = 0.

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Result: If f : [a, b] → R is continuous and if f (a) · f (b) < 0,
then there exists c ∈ (a, b) such that f (c) = 0.

Intermediate value theorem: Let I be an interval of R and let

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f : I → R be continuous. If a, b ∈ I with a < b and if
f (a) < k < f (b), then there exists c ∈ (a, b) such that

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f (c) = k.

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Result: If f : [a, b] → R is continuous and if f (a) · f (b) < 0,
then there exists c ∈ (a, b) such that f (c) = 0.

Intermediate value theorem: Let I be an interval of R and let

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f : I → R be continuous. If a, b ∈ I with a < b and if
f (a) < k < f (b), then there exists c ∈ (a, b) such that

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f (c) = k.

Examples:
(a) The equation x 2 = x sin x + cos x has at least two real
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roots.
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Result: If f : [a, b] → R is continuous and if f (a) · f (b) < 0,
then there exists c ∈ (a, b) such that f (c) = 0.

Intermediate value theorem: Let I be an interval of R and let

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f : I → R be continuous. If a, b ∈ I with a < b and if
f (a) < k < f (b), then there exists c ∈ (a, b) such that

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f (c) = k.

Examples:
(a) The equation x 2 = x sin x + cos x has at least two real
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roots.
(b) If f : [0, 1] → [0, 1] is continuous, then there exists
c ∈ [0, 1] such that f (c) = c.
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Result: If f : [a, b] → R is continuous and if f (a) · f (b) < 0,
then there exists c ∈ (a, b) such that f (c) = 0.

Intermediate value theorem: Let I be an interval of R and let

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f : I → R be continuous. If a, b ∈ I with a < b and if
f (a) < k < f (b), then there exists c ∈ (a, b) such that

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f (c) = k.

Examples:
(a) The equation x 2 = x sin x + cos x has at least two real
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roots.
(b) If f : [0, 1] → [0, 1] is continuous, then there exists
c ∈ [0, 1] such that f (c) = c.
(c) Let f : [0, 2] → R be continuous such that f (0) = f (2).
Then there exist x1 , x2 ∈ [0, 2] such that x1 − x2 = 1 and
f (x1 ) = f (x2 ).
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Result: If f : [a, b] → R is continuous, then f : [a, b] → R is
bounded.

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Result: If f : [a, b] → R is continuous, then f : [a, b] → R is
bounded.

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Example: There does not exist any continuous function from
[0, 1] onto (0, ∞).
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