Is Every Continuous Function on an Unbounded Set Uniformly Continuous?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Bachelier
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Continuity
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the proposition that every continuous function defined on an unbounded set is uniformly continuous. Participants clarify that this assertion is incorrect, citing Rudin's theorem which states that boundedness is a necessary condition for uniform continuity. The example of the set of integers, which is unbounded yet allows all functions to be uniformly continuous due to its discrete nature, is highlighted. Additionally, a counterexample involving the function f(x) = 1/(x-√2) on the unbounded set of rational numbers demonstrates that not all continuous functions on unbounded sets are uniformly continuous.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of continuous functions and their properties
  • Familiarity with uniform continuity and its definitions
  • Knowledge of bounded and unbounded sets in real analysis
  • Basic concepts of discrete sets and their implications on continuity
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Rudin's "Principles of Mathematical Analysis" focusing on Theorem 4.20
  • Explore examples of continuous functions on unbounded sets and their continuity properties
  • Investigate the relationship between compactness and uniform continuity
  • Learn about discrete sets and their characteristics in the context of real analysis
USEFUL FOR

Mathematics students, educators, and researchers interested in real analysis, particularly those exploring the nuances of continuity and uniform continuity in relation to boundedness.

Bachelier
Messages
375
Reaction score
0
##prop:## let set ##E \subset \mathbb{R}## be unbounded, then ##\forall f## well-defined on ##E##, if ##f## is continuous, then ##f## is uniformly continuous.

First am I reading this correctly, and second, I am having a hard time seeing this. Could someone please shed some light on this?

Thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
surely you meant bounded instead of unbounded, right?
 
jibbles said:
surely you meant bounded instead of unbounded, right?

If it was bounded, then ##E## must be closed as well for ##f## to be uniform continuous. I am citing a case where ##E## is

not bounded. Rudin gives the example of ##\mathbb{Z}## and states that ANY function defined on ##\mathbb{Z}## is

indeed uniformly continuous.
 
Is your definition of unbounded weird? Because if E=R then it's saying that all continuous functions are uniformly continuous.

The example of Z isn't because Z is Z is unbounded, the key property is that Z is discrete - any discrete set has that all functions on them are uniformly continuous.
 
Office_Shredder said:
Is your definition of unbounded weird? Because if E=R then it's saying that all continuous functions are uniformly continuous.

The example of Z isn't because Z is Z is unbounded, the key property is that Z is discrete - any discrete set has that all functions on them are uniformly continuous.

Yea I agree. That is why I am asking. Please see the attached theorem 4.20. The assumption on the boundedness is at the end of page 2
 

Attachments

Bachelier said:
Yea I agree. That is why I am asking. Please see the attached theorem 4.20. The assumption on the boundedness is at the end of page 2

the theorem says there exists a continuous function on E that is notuniformly continuous
 
lavinia said:
the theorem says there exists a continuous function on E that is notuniformly continuous

Maybe I am reading too much into this.

After equation (23), Rudin writes:

"...Assertion (c) would be false if boundedness were omitted from the hypotheses."

Can you explain this further? especially via an example without using the set of integers.
 
Bachelier said:
Maybe I am reading too much into this.

After equation (23), Rudin writes:

"...Assertion (c) would be false if boundedness were omitted from the hypotheses."

Can you explain this further? especially via an example without using the set of integers.
He means there are some noncompact unbounded sets E for which all continuous functions on E are uniformly continuous. Of course, any unbounded set is noncompact, so he is saying that there are some unbounded sets E for which all continuous functions on E are uniformly conitnuous.

By the way, note the word "some". That's why the proposition in your OP isn't stated correctly.
 
It is definitely not always true, if I understood correctly ( or, If I have not jumped the gun, like I have sometimes done, embarrassingly).

Take f: Q<ℝ → Q , with f(x)=1/(x-√2) .

Q is unbounded in ℝ , but f is not uniformly-continuous (fails near √2 ; if you want it to fail
at more points, you can repeat the idea.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K