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0 such that E fl (p, p + S) = 4,. Thus if f': E -+ R and e > 0 is arbitrary, then If (x) - f (p)l < e for all x E. E fl ['p, p + S). Thus every f : E -> R is right continuous at p. In particular, if E is a closed interval [a, b], then every f : [a, b] -+ R is right continuous at b. Also, f is left continuous at b if and only if f is continuous at p. The following theorem, the proof of which is left to the exercises, is an immediate consequence of the definitions.
4A.3 THEOREM A function f : (a, b) -+R is right continuous at p E (a, b) if and only if f (p+) exists and equals f (p). Similarly, f is left continuous at p if and only if f (p- ) exists and equals f (p).
Proof.
Exercise 1. Q
Types of Discontinuities By the previous theorem a function f is continuous at p E (a, b) if and only if
(a) f (p+) and f (p-) both exist, and
(b) f(p+) =f(p-) =f(p). A real-valued function f defined on an interval I can fail to be continuous at a point p E 1 (the closure of I) for several reasons. One possibility is that lim f(x) exists but xZ either does not equal f (p), or f is not defined at p. Such a function can easily be made continuous at p by either defining or redefining f at p as follows: lim f(x). f(p) = X-P
For this reason, such a discontinuity is called a removable discontinuity. For example, the function
-4
g(x)
x-2'
x #.2,
2,
x = 2,
of Example 4.2.2(a) is not continuous at 2 since
1 m g(x) = 4 * g(2).
150
Chapter 4
Limits and Continuity
By redefining g such that g(2) = 4. the resulting function is then continuous at 2. Another example is given by f (x) = x sin(] /x), x E (0, oo), which is not defined at 0. If we define f on [0, oo) by
x=0
0,
f(x)
x sin
i , x > 0,
x
then by Example 4.2.2(e), f is now continuous at 0.
Another possibility is that f(p+) and f(p-) both exist, but are not equal. This type of discontinuity is called a jump discontinuity. (See Figure 4.13.)
4AA DEFINITION Let f be a real-valued function defined on an interval I. The function f has a jump discontinuity at p E Int(1) if f(p+) and f (p-) both exist, but f is not continuous at p. If p E I is the left (right) endpoint of 1, then f has a jump discontinu-
ity at p if f (p+) (f( p- )) exists, but f is not continuous at p.
Ap+)
AP-)
p
Figure 4.13 Jump Discontinuity off at p
Jump discontinuities are also referred to as simple discontinuities, or discontinuities of the first kind. All other discontinuities are said to be of second kind. If f( p+ ) and f (p-) both exist, but f is not continuous at p, then either
(a) f(p+) # f(p-), or
(b) f(p+) =f(p-) #f(p)
4.4
Monotone Functions and Discontinuities
151
In case (a) f has a jump discontinuity at p, whereas in case (b) the discontinuity is removable. All discontinuities for which f (p+) or f (p-) does not exist are discontinuities of the second kind.
4.4.5
EXAMPLES
(a) Let f be defined by x,
0<x-1,
f(x)= 3-x2, x> 1.
The graph off is given in Figure 4.14. If x < 1, then f(x) = x. Therefore,
f(I-)= lint f(x) = limx= 1 =f(1). X +F X-1 Likewise, the right limit off at 1 is
2
1
Figure 4.14
f(1+)=Xlimf(x)=lim(3-x2)=2. Therefore, f (I -) = f (l) = 1, and f (I +) = 2. Thus f is left continuous at 1, but not continuous. Since both right and left limits exist at 1, but are not equal, the function f has a jump discontinuity at 1.
(b) Let [x] denote the greatest Integer function; that is, for each x, [x] = largest integer n that is less than or equal to x. For example, [2.9] = 2,[3.1) = 3, and [
1.5] = -2. The graph of y = [x] is given in Figure 4.15. It is clear that for each n E Z,
lim [x] = n - 1
and
lim. [x] = n.
Thus f has a jump discontinuity at each n E Z. Also, since f (n) = [n] = n, f (x) = [x]
is right continuous at each integer. Finally, since f is constant on each interval (n - 1, n), n E Z, f is continuous at every x E R\7L.
152
Chapter4
Limits and Continuity
34-
24-
I +
-1
2
1
3
00 -1 Figure 4.15
Graph of [x]
(c) Let f be defined on R by if x<_0,
0,
f(x) =
sin
X
if x > 0.
Then f(0-) = 0, but f(0+) does not exist. Thus the discontinuity is of second kind. (d) Consider the function g : R -+ R defined by g(x) = sin (21rx[x]).
For x E (n, n + 1), n E Z, x[x] = nx, and thus g(x) is continuous on every interval (n, n + 1), n E Z. On the other hand, for n E 71,
lim sin(2ax[x]) = sin(21rn2) = 0, sn+
and
lim sin(2irx[x]) = sin(2an(n - 1)) = 0. Since g(n) = sin(21rn2) = 0, g is also continuous at each n E Z. Thus g is a bounded continuous function on R. The function g, however, is not uniformly continuous on R
(Exercise 7). The graph of g for x E (-4.4) is given in Figure 4.16. 0
Monotone Functions 4.4.6
DEFINITION
Let f be a real-valued function defined on an interval I.
(a) f is monotone increasing (increasing, nondecreasing) on I if f(x) < f(y) for all x, y E I with x < y.
4.4
AAIA
I
A
Monotone Functions and Discontinuities
153
A
AA
IV
TV-11-
Figure 4.16
A
V
Graph of g(x) = sin(2ax[x]), x E (-4,4)
(b) f is monotone decreasing (decreasing, nonincreasing) on I if f (x) at f (y)
for all x, y E I with x < y. (c) f is monotone on 1 if f is monotone increasing on I or monotone decreasing on I.
A function f is strictly increasing on I if f (x) < f (y) for all x, y E I with x < y. The concept of strictly decreasing is defined similarly. Also, f is strictly monotone on I if f is strictly increasing on I or strictly decreasing on I. Our main result for monotone functions is as follows.
4A.7 THEOREM Let I C R be an open interval and let f : I -+ H be monotone increasing on I. Then f (p+) and f (p-) exists for every p E I and
inff(x). supf(x) =f(p-) :5f(p):5 f(p+) = p<x x