MHB Investigating Continuity of $f(x)

  • Thread starter Thread starter alexmahone
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Continuity
Click For Summary
The function f(x) is defined piecewise, with f(0) = 0 and f(x) = √x cos(1/x) for x ≠ 0. The left-hand limit as x approaches 0 does not exist due to the oscillatory nature of cos(1/x). The right-hand limit approaches 0, leading to the conclusion that the function is continuous from the right at zero. However, since the function is not defined for negative x, it cannot be considered fully continuous at zero. Thus, the function is not continuous at 0.
alexmahone
Messages
303
Reaction score
0
Is the function

$f(x) = \left\{\begin{array}{rcl}\sqrt{x}\cos\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)&\text{if}&x\neq 0\\0 &\text{if}&x=0\end{array}\right.$

continuous at 0?

My answer is no, because the left hand limit does not exist. Am I right?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Alexmahone said:
Is the function

$f(x) = \left\{\begin{array}{rcl}\sqrt{x}\cos\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)&\text{if}&x\neq 0\\0 &\text{if}&x=0\end{array}\right.$

continuous at 0?

My answer is no, because the left hand limit does not exist. Am I right?

1. \cos\left(\frac1x\right) is oscillating between -1 and 1 if x approaches zero.

2. \lim_{x \to 0}(\sqrt{x}) = 0

3. Therefore
\lim_{x \to 0} \left(\sqrt{x}\cos\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) \right) = 0
 
earboth said:
1. \cos\left(\frac1x\right) is oscillating between -1 and 1 if x approaches zero.

2. \lim_{x \to 0}(\sqrt{x}) = 0

3. Therefore
\lim_{x \to 0} \left(\sqrt{x}\cos\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) \right) = 0

Thanks, but you didn't answer my question. I asked if the function is continuous at 0.
 
It is continuous from the right at zero. But, since the negative numbers are not in the domain (I'm assuming you're talking about a real-valued function only), it cannot be fully continuous at zero.
 
Thread 'Problem with calculating projections of curl using rotation of contour'
Hello! I tried to calculate projections of curl using rotation of coordinate system but I encountered with following problem. Given: ##rot_xA=\frac{\partial A_z}{\partial y}-\frac{\partial A_y}{\partial z}=0## ##rot_yA=\frac{\partial A_x}{\partial z}-\frac{\partial A_z}{\partial x}=1## ##rot_zA=\frac{\partial A_y}{\partial x}-\frac{\partial A_x}{\partial y}=0## I rotated ##yz##-plane of this coordinate system by an angle ##45## degrees about ##x##-axis and used rotation matrix to...

Similar threads

Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K