Reading Haaser-Sullivan's Real Analysis

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the interpretation of a statement from Haaser-Sullivan's Real Analysis regarding the derivative of a function g(x) defined on a closed interval [a,b]. Participants are exploring the implications of the condition |g'(x)| <= 1 for the differentiability and continuity of g(x).

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant interprets the condition |g'(x)| <= 1 as implying that g'(x) is defined and bounded between -1 and 1 for all x in [a,b].
  • Another participant suggests that the existence of |g'(x)| at every x in the interval implies continuity of g(x), but does not guarantee that g(x) itself is continuous.
  • A participant questions whether the stated condition is sufficient to conclude differentiability on [a,b], referencing their understanding from Calculus about the relationship between differentiability and the existence of derivatives.
  • There is a query regarding the term "contraction," with a participant seeking clarification on its meaning in the context of the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing interpretations of the implications of the condition on g'(x). There is no consensus on whether the condition guarantees differentiability or continuity of g(x), and the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully engaged with the formal definitions of differentiability and continuity, which may affect their interpretations. The discussion includes assumptions about the relationship between the derivative and the properties of the function g(x).

_DJ_british_?
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Hi peeps!

I was reading Haaser-Sullivan's Real Analysis and came across a problem for which I have a doubt. A part of it is stated like this : " For all x in the closed interval [a,b] in R, |g'(x)|<=1 '' (g(x) is, of course, a real-valued function of a real variable and that's all we know about it). Does that mean that for all x in [a,b], g'(x) is defined or that for all x in [a,b] such that g'(x) is defined, |g(x)|<=1?

Thanks in advance!
 
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I would interpret it as saying that g'(x) is defined and between -1 and 1, for all x in [a,b].
 


That's what I thought, thanks! I haven't touched the formal definition of differentiability, but in Calculus I learned that a function was differentiable on [a,b] iff its derivative exists on [a,b]. So the condition stated above is enough to show differentiability on [a,b] and thus, continuity and contraction?
 


_DJ_british_? said:
That's what I thought, thanks! I haven't touched the formal definition of differentiability, but in Calculus I learned that a function was differentiable on [a,b] iff its derivative exists on [a,b]. So the condition stated above is enough to show differentiability on [a,b] and thus, continuity and contraction?
I think that all we can say is that since |g'(x)| is defined at every x in the interval, then |g(x)| is continuous on the same interval, but that g(x) is not necessarily continuous.

What do you mean by "contraction?" Are you saying that |g(x)| <= x?
 

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