Dr. Nestler - Math 7 - 2.

5 - Continuous Functions

Defns. A function 0 B is continuous at an interior point - of its domain if

B-

lim 0 B 0 -.

If - is a left endpoint of the domain, then we only require

B-

lim 0 B 0 -

If - is a right endpoint of the domain, then we only require

B-

lim 0 B 0 -

We say 0 is discontinuous at - if 0 is not continuous at - . We say 0 is continuous on an interval if it is continuous at each point of the interval. Previously we showed that if :B is a polynomial function, then lim :B :- for any
B-

number - . In other words: Example: Where is 0 B lBl continuous?

Thm. If - is an interior point (or a left endpoint or a right endpoint) of the domains of both 0 and 1, then 0 1, 0 1 and 0 1 are continuous at - , and 1- !. Proof: Corollary: Rational functions
:B ;B 0 1

is continuous at - provided that

are continuous on their domains.

B# * B$

Example (#40): Where is 0 B

continuous?

It is apparent from their graphs that sin B and cos B are continuous everywhere. We will prove this in Chapter 3. Example: Consider 0 B B# with restricted domain ! .

Thm. A composition of continuous functions is continuous on intervals in its domain. Proof: Example: 0 B l#B# %(l

Example: 0 B B &B' B%
#

B# " Example: 0 B $ #B %

if B # if B #