Investigating Continuity of $f(x)

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SUMMARY

The function defined as $f(x) = \left\{\begin{array}{rcl}\sqrt{x}\cos\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)&\text{if}&x\neq 0\\0 &\text{if}&x=0\end{array}\right.$ is not continuous at 0. The left-hand limit does not exist due to the oscillatory behavior of $\cos\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)$ as x approaches 0. Although the right-hand limit approaches 0, the function cannot be considered continuous at 0 since it is not defined for negative values of x, confirming that the function is only continuous from the right at this point.

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alexmahone
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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?
 
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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.
 

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