Is \frac{1}{\sqrt{x}} uniformly continuous in (0,1)?

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In summary, the goal is to prove that \frac{1}{\sqrt{x}} is not uniformly continuous in (0,1) by showing that there exists an epsilon value of 0.5 for which the expression |\frac{1}{\sqrt{x}}-\frac{1}{\sqrt{y}}| is larger than 0.5. However, it is important to note that for any given delta, x and y can be chosen such that |x-y| is smaller than delta, making the proof of uniform continuity invalid. The suggested method is to multiply \frac{1}{\sqrt{x}}-\frac{1}{\sqrt{y}} by \frac{\sqrt{x}+\sqrt{y}}{\
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nhrock3
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i need to prove that [TEX]\frac{1}{\sqrt{x}}[/TEX] is not uniformly continues in (0,1)







for epsilon=0.5



[TEX]|\frac{1}{\sqrt{x}}-\frac{1}{\sqrt{y}}|=|[/TEX][TEX]]\frac{\sqrt{y}-\sqrt{x}}{\sqrt{xy}}\frac{\sqrt{y}+\sqrt{x}}{\sqrt {y}+\sqrt{x}}|[/TEX][TEX]=|\frac{y-x}{(\sqrt{y}-\sqrt{x})\sqrt{xy}}|[/TEX]







i need to prove that the above exprseesion bigger then 0.5







but i don't know what x and y to choose



?
 
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  • #2
So, for each delta, you need to find an x and y such that |x-y| is smaller then delta but f(x)-f(y) is less than 1/2, as you have stated. But, realize two things:

1) So long as |x-y| is smaller than delta, you can let |x-y| be anything you want (think about why this is true.) For example, if delta is bigger than zero, you can choose x and y such that (I'm going to write "d" for delta here) d/4 < |x-y| < d. In other words, you aren't proving that it is uniformly continuous, you are proving that it isn't (so think of the negation of the definition of uniform continuity.)

2) multiply [TEX]\frac{1}{\sqrt{y}}-\frac{1}{\sqrt{x}}[/TEX] by [TEX]\frac{\sqrt{x}+\sqrt{y}}{\sqrt{x}+\sqrt{y}}[/TEX] and then use the fact that |x-y| is bigger than something (see the above.)

Does this make sense?
 

1. What is uniform continuity?

Uniform continuity is a property of a function where the limit of the difference between the function values at any two points in its domain approaches zero as the distance between the two points also approaches zero. In simpler terms, this means that the function does not have any sudden or abrupt changes in its behavior.

2. How is uniform continuity different from continuity?

Continuity is a more general concept that refers to the smoothness of a function at every point in its domain. A continuous function may have some sudden changes or discontinuities, but they are limited and do not affect the overall smoothness of the function. Uniform continuity, on the other hand, requires that the function is not only continuous at every point, but also that the rate of change is consistent throughout its domain.

3. How do you prove that a function is not uniformly continuous?

The most common method to disprove uniform continuity is by providing a counterexample. This means finding two points in the function's domain that are close together, but the difference between their function values is not approaching zero. Another approach is to use the epsilon-delta definition of uniform continuity and show that there exists an epsilon value for which the delta value cannot be found.

4. Can a function be continuous but not uniformly continuous?

Yes, a function can be continuous but not uniformly continuous. As mentioned earlier, continuity only requires that the function is smooth at every point, but it does not necessarily mean that the rate of change is consistent. A function can have some sharp turns or discontinuities, as long as they are limited and do not affect the overall smoothness of the function.

5. Why is uniform continuity important in mathematics?

Uniform continuity is an essential concept in mathematics because it allows us to make more precise statements about the behavior of functions. It is also closely related to other important concepts such as differentiability and integrability. In applications, uniform continuity is used to ensure that a function behaves as expected and does not have any sudden or unexpected changes that could lead to errors in calculations.

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