# Homework Help: Continuous Function?

1. Jan 10, 2010

### Chewy0087

EDIT: just realised i might've been really stupid;

very simple question which will answer my stupidly long question;

is f(x) = 1 continuous?]

The reason I ask is that my book says;

$$f(x,y) \in C^{N}$$ in R $$\Leftrightarrow \frac{\partial ^{n} f}{\partial x^n} , \frac{\partial ^{n} f}{\partial x^{n-1}\partial y}, etc \in C$$ in R.

however you can imagine for f (x, y) = x which IS continuous,

f1(x, y) = 1 , would this be considered continuous, and if not, isn't that at ends with the definition above?

Last edited: Jan 10, 2010
2. Jan 10, 2010

### Dick

Of course it's continuous. lim (x1,y1)->(x,y) f(x1,y1)=1. f(x,y)=1. It's easy using any definition of continuity. Look one up!

3. Jan 10, 2010

### Chewy0087

Yes, I thought as much, but why then would;

f(x) = x (for x greater than/equal to 0) / 0 (for x less than 0)

Why then for this function would

$$f(x) \notin C^{1}$$

?

Would it be because there is a jump, a "discontinuity" at 0, where f(x) goes from 1 to 0 instantly?

4. Jan 10, 2010

### Dick

Sure. f(x) is continuous. f'(x) is not continuous (I'm assuming you meant to say f'(x)). So it's not in C^1.

5. Jan 10, 2010

### Chewy0087

Hmmm so it's not continuous?

But then sureley it is at ends with the definition posted earlier; namingly

$$f(x,y) \in C^{N}$$ $$\Leftrightarrow \frac{\partial ^{n} f}{\partial x^n} , \frac{\partial ^{n} f}{\partial x^{n-1}\partial y}, etc \in C$$

because df/dx is not continuous, so it is implied that f(x) is not continuous, or is there a flaw in my reasoning?

edit: and yeah sorry i meant f'(x)

6. Jan 10, 2010

### Chewy0087

sorry I just realised i'm being a major douche...i'm stupid, nevermind