Prove Uniform Continuity: y^2 arctan y - x^2 arctan x

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on proving uniform continuity for the function \( f(x) = x^2 \arctan(x) \) under the condition \( y \geq x \geq 0 \). The participants confirm that the inequalities \( y^2 \arctan(y) - x^2 \arctan(x) \geq (y^2 - x^2) \arctan(x) \) and \( |y^2 \arctan(y) - x^2 \arctan(x)| \geq (y^2 - x^2) \arctan(x) \) hold true. However, they conclude that \( f(x) \) is not uniformly continuous on \( \mathbb{R}^+ \) by demonstrating that for any \( \epsilon = 1/2 \), there exists \( N > 0 \) such that the difference \( |f(y) - f(x)| \) exceeds \( \epsilon \) for \( x, y > N \.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of uniform continuity in real analysis
  • Familiarity with the properties of the arctangent function
  • Knowledge of limits and epsilon-delta definitions
  • Basic proficiency in calculus, particularly derivatives and monotonic functions
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the Mean Value Theorem and its applications in proving inequalities
  • Learn about the properties of the arctangent function and its behavior at infinity
  • Explore the concept of uniform continuity and its implications in real analysis
  • Investigate proofs by contradiction in mathematical analysis
USEFUL FOR

Students and educators in mathematics, particularly those studying real analysis, calculus, and uniform continuity. This discussion is beneficial for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of function behavior and continuity proofs.

daniel_i_l
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Homework Statement


Prove that if y>=x>=0:
a) y^2 arctan y - x^2 arctan x >= (y^2 - x^2) arctan x

b) \ | \ y^2 arctan y - x^2 arctan x \ | \ >= (y^2 - x^2) arctan x

c) use (b) to prove that x^2 arctan(x) isn't UC in R.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



a) We have to prove that y^2 ( arctan y - arctan x ) >= 0
And since arctan(y) - arctan(x) >= 0 for all y>=x and y^2 > 0 this is true.
b)Since y^2 arctan y - x^2 arctan x >= 0 for all y>=x>=0 then this is obviously true from a.

c)If we choose Epsilon (E) = 1/2 , Lambda (L) > 0 and y = x+L then
(y^2 - x^2)arctan(x) = (2xL - L^2)arctanx and the limit of that at infinity is infinity. So we can find N>0 so that for every x>N
(y^2 - x^2)arctan(x) = |y^2 arctan(y) - x^2 arctan(x)| > E

Now my questions are:
1) a & b seemed too trivial -are those the right are answers?
2)Is (c) right?

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
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How are a and b different?
 
Oops, in b you need to prove that
|y^2 arctan(y) - x^2 arctan(x)| >= (y^2 - x^2)arctanx
the same as (a) just with the absolute value on the right.
Thanks.
 
These look suspiciously like mean value theorem applications.
 
These look suspiciously like mean value theorem applications.

Edit: Sorry for me being a dolt.

a and b are both correct. The reasoning is thusly: Suppose y>x>=0

We have arctan(y)\ge\arctan(x) since f(x)=\arctan(x) is monotonically increasing (f' \ge 0 on that particular domain). Therefore y^2\arctan(y)-x^2\arctan(x) \ge 0. Since arctan(y)\ge\arctan(x) we have y^2\arctan(y)-x^2arctan(x) \ge y^2\arctan(x)-x^2\arctan(x)=(y^2-x^2)\arctan(x).

b follows since both sides are positive, hence their absolute values are the same.

you haven't properly finished c. "(y^2 - x^2)arctan(x) = |y^2 arctan(y) - x^2 arctan(x)| > E" is dead wrong, as the equality does not hold. You actually want to be doing a proof by contradiction. Suppose it was U.C. on the positive reals. Let E=1/2. Suppose L is the delta that works, ie for |y-x|<L then |f(y)-f(x)|<E=1/2. Since y>x then y=x+a for some constant a>0. Etc Etc and look for your contradiction. Your idea was right, that for large enough x, regardless of distance between x and y, the difference between f(x) and f(y) exceed 1/2.

I would do a finishing statement, saying something along the lines of "therefore, there does not exist any L>0 such that when |y-x|<L, |f(y)-f(x)|<1/2, ie, f is not UC on the positive reals.

A cople of notes, use \ge and \le for your greater/less then or equal to signs. Classically we use the definitions of |x-y|&lt;\delta, |f(x)-f(y)|&lt;\epsilon, which is no big deal.
 
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| "(y^2 - x^2)arctan(x) = |y^2 arctan(y) - x^2 arctan(x)| > E" is dead
| wrong, as the equality does not hold.
But isn't it enough to prove that there's some N>0 so that for all x>N it holds?
Thanks.
 

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