Continuity: Definition & Inequality Signs

In summary, continuity is a property of a function or curve in which there are no abrupt changes or jumps. There are three types of continuity: point, interval, and uniform. Continuity and differentiability are related, with differentiability being a stronger condition. The inequality signs used to represent continuity are <, >, ≤, and ≥. To determine if a function is continuous, it must satisfy the three criteria of continuity.
  • #1
Bleys
74
0
I'm just wondering why in the definition of continuity, limit of function, or even just limit of a sequence, the inequality signs are strict? What would happen if you only required that
[tex] | f(x) - L |\leq \epsilon[/tex]. Or that [tex]|x-a|\leq \delta [/tex].
 
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  • #2
Without giving it much thought, I suspect it doesn't matter whether the inequalities are strict or not.
 
  • #3
So it was simply decided that the definition had this: it's just convention then? There is no special case that required them to be this way?
 

Related to Continuity: Definition & Inequality Signs

1. What is the definition of continuity?

The definition of continuity in mathematics is the property that a function or curve is unbroken and connected without any abrupt changes or jumps. In other words, it means that a small change in the input of a function results in a small change in the output.

2. What are the three types of continuity?

The three types of continuity are point continuity, interval continuity, and uniform continuity. Point continuity means that a function is continuous at a specific point, interval continuity means that a function is continuous over a specific interval, and uniform continuity means that a function is continuous over an entire domain.

3. How are continuity and differentiability related?

Continuity and differentiability are closely related concepts in mathematics. A function is differentiable at a point if it is continuous at that point and has a well-defined derivative. In other words, differentiability is a stronger condition than continuity.

4. What are the inequality signs used to represent continuity?

The inequality signs used to represent continuity are <, >, ≤, and ≥. These signs indicate the direction of the inequality and whether it includes or excludes the boundary points. For example, f(x) is continuous at x = a if and only if f(a+) = f(a) = f(a-).

5. How can you determine if a function is continuous?

A function is continuous if it satisfies the three criteria of continuity: the function is defined at the point, the limit of the function at the point exists, and the limit is equal to the value of the function at the point. In other words, a function is continuous if there are no breaks, holes, or jumps in its graph.

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