Piecewise Continuous and piecewise smooth functions

In summary, a piecewise continuous function is a function that is continuous on each interval or piece of its domain, while a continuous function is continuous on its entire domain. A piecewise smooth function is a function that is both continuous and has a continuous derivative on each interval or piece of its domain. A piecewise smooth function is a more specific type of piecewise continuous function and is commonly used in physics, engineering, economics, finance, and computer graphics.
  • #1
comfortablynumb
3
0
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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  • #2
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: \(\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 0^+} f(x) = 0\) (since f(0) = 0) and \(\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 0^-} f(x) = 0\).

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

-Dan
 
  • #3


Hi there,

Based on the given information, it seems like the function is piecewise continuous since it is defined for all values of x except for x=0, which is a removable discontinuity. However, it is not piecewise smooth since the derivative of the function is not continuous at x=0. The function also does not have any other piecewise definitions, so it cannot be classified as neither. Hope this helps!
 

1. What is the difference between piecewise continuous and piecewise smooth functions?

Piecewise continuous functions are continuous on each interval within their domain, but may have discontinuities at the endpoints of these intervals. Piecewise smooth functions, on the other hand, are not only continuous on each interval, but also have continuous derivatives on each interval.

2. How do you determine if a function is piecewise continuous or piecewise smooth?

To determine if a function is piecewise continuous, you can check for any discontinuities at the endpoints of the intervals within its domain. To determine if a function is piecewise smooth, you can check if it has continuous derivatives on each interval within its domain.

3. Can a function be both piecewise continuous and piecewise smooth?

Yes, a function can be both piecewise continuous and piecewise smooth. This means that it is continuous on each interval within its domain and also has continuous derivatives on each interval.

4. What are some real-world examples of piecewise continuous and piecewise smooth functions?

A real-world example of a piecewise continuous function is a piecewise linear function, such as a staircase function. A real-world example of a piecewise smooth function is a piecewise polynomial function, such as a cubic spline used in computer graphics.

5. How are piecewise continuous and piecewise smooth functions used in science?

Piecewise continuous and piecewise smooth functions are used in science to model real-world phenomena that may have discontinuities or changes in behavior. They are commonly used in physics, engineering, and computer science to represent functions that are not continuous or smooth throughout their entire domain.

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