Piecewise Continuous and piecewise smooth functions

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on determining the properties of four specific functions regarding their piecewise continuity and piecewise smoothness. The functions analyzed are: $f(x)=\sin(\frac{1}{x})$, $f(x)=x\sin(\frac{1}{x})$, $f(x)={x}^{2}\sin(\frac{1}{x})$, and $f(x)={x}^{3}\sin(\frac{1}{x})$. It is established that $f(x)=\sin(\frac{1}{x})$ is piecewise continuous but not piecewise smooth due to discontinuities in its first derivative. The other functions are piecewise continuous and piecewise smooth as their first derivatives remain continuous.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of piecewise functions
  • Knowledge of limits and continuity
  • Familiarity with derivatives and their continuity
  • Basic trigonometric functions and their properties
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the concept of piecewise continuity in depth
  • Learn about piecewise smooth functions and their characteristics
  • Explore the behavior of limits involving trigonometric functions
  • Investigate the implications of continuity on the derivatives of functions
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Mathematicians, calculus students, and educators looking to deepen their understanding of piecewise functions and their properties in mathematical analysis.

comfortablynumb
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I do not know to start. Here is the problem.Determine if the given function is piecewise continuous, piecewise smooth, or neither. Here $x\neq0$ is in the interval $[-1,1]$ and $f(0)=0$ in all cases.

1. $f(x)=sin(\frac{1}{x})$
2. $f(x)=xsin(\frac{1}{x})$
3. $f(x)={x}^{2}sin(\frac{1}{x})$
4. $f(x)={x}^{3}sin(\frac{1}{x})$ .
 
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comfortablynumb said:
I do not know to start. Here is the problem.Determine if the given function is piecewise continuous, piecewise smooth, or neither. Here $x\neq0$ is in the interval $[-1,1]$ and $f(0)=0$ in all cases.

1. $f(x)=sin(\frac{1}{x})$
2. $f(x)=xsin(\frac{1}{x})$
3. $f(x)={x}^{2}sin(\frac{1}{x})$
4. $f(x)={x}^{3}sin(\frac{1}{x})$ .
Surely you can do the piecewise continuous part? It's just matching up if the curves are continous. So, for example, sin(1/x) has to have two limits: [math]\lim_{x \to 0^+} f(x) = 0[/math] (since f(0) = 0) and [math]\lim_{x \to 0^-} f(x) = 0[/math].

Piecewise smooth would be if the first derivatives are continuous. Do you need help with that part?

-Dan
 

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