Continuity and Uniform Continuity

Aye Pyone
Professor
Department of Mathematics
Panglong University
48th Birth Day
19.5.2022
Abstract: In this paper, it is studied how to connect definitions and sequential
characterizations of continuity and uniform continuity of a function. It is illustrated
some examples. Also, it is shown that a continuous function on its domain is
uniformly continuous if its domain is closed and bound.
1. Limit of a Function
We introduce the notion of limit through sequences. A sequence is a function, f
from N , the set of natural numbers, to a set A . We denote the image of n under the
function f by f ( n )=a n. We will also denote sequences by { a n }. Each value a n is called
n -th term of the sequence. For example, consider the sequence a n=1/n for n ∈ N . This
is a sequence of rational numbers and we may list the terms as in
1 1 1
1, , , ,….
2 3 4
Let {an } be a sequence of real numbers. We say that the sequence {an }
converges to ∈ R , the set of all real numbers if, for any ϵ >0 , there exists a positive
integer N such that
n ≥ N ⟹|an−a|<ϵ .

In this case, we call a the limit of the sequence and write nlim
→∞
an =a .
Now, we recall some results on limits of functions.
1.1 Definition Let D be a nonempty subset of R . Let f : D ⟶ R and let x 0 be a limit
point of D . We say that f has a limit at x 0 if there exists a real number l such that for
every ϵ >0 , there exists δ >0 with
|f ( x ) −l|<ϵ
for all x ∈ D for which 0<| x−x 0|<δ . In this case, we write
lim f ( x )=l.
x→ x 0

The following theorem is a result on limits of functions.

1.2 Theorem Let f : D ⟶ R and let x 0 be a limit point of D . Then
lim f ( x )=l (1.1)
x→ x 0
if and only if
lim f ( x n ) =l (1.2)
n→∞
for every sequence {x n } in D such that x n ≠ x 0 for every n and {x n } converges to x 0.
1.3 Theorem If {x n } is a convergent sequence in a closed interval [a , b] then its limit
is in the given interval.
1.4 Theorem (Bolzano-Weiestrass Theorem) A bounded sequence of real numbers
has a convergent subsequence.
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2. Continuity
2.1 Definition Let D be a nonempty subset of R and let f : D → R be a function. The
function f is said to be continuous at x 0 ∈ D if for any real number ϵ >0 , there exists
δ >0 such that if x ∈ D and |x−x 0|< δ then
|f ( x ) −f ( x 0 )|< ϵ .
If f is continuous at each point of D , then f is said to be continuous on D .
In other words, the function is said to be continuous on D if
∀ x 0 ∈ D ∀ ϵ >0 ∃ δ>0 ∀ x ∈ D [| x−x 0|<δ ⟹|f ( x )−f ( x 0 )|<ϵ ] .

f ( x0 )  
f ( x)
f ( x)
f ( x0 )

f ( x0 )  
x0   x0xx0  
Figure 2.1: Definition of continuity
A point in D at which f is not continuous is called a discontinuity of f . In other
words, f is not continuous on D if
∃ x 0 ∈ D ∃ϵ >0 ∀ δ > 0∃ x ∈ D ¿ and |f ( x ) −f ( x 0 )|≥ ϵ ¿ .
Note that every function is continuous at an isolated point of its domain. For if
x 0 is an isolated point of D , then there is δ >0 such that ( x 0−δ , x0 + δ ) ={ x 0 }. It follows
that for x ∈ ( x 0−δ , x 0 +δ ), ¿ f ( x )−f ( x 0 )∨¿ 0< ϵ for any ϵ . Therefore, every function is
continuous at an isolated point of its domain.
2.2 Example Let f : R ⟶ R be given by f ( x )=2 x +8. Let x 0 ∈ R and ϵ >0 . Choose
ϵ
δ= . Then ¿ x−x 0∨¿ δ , we have
2
|f ( x ) −f ( x 0 )|=2|x −x0|< 2 δ=ϵ .
This shows that f is continuous at x 0(See Figure 2.2).

2.3 Example The function f is defined by

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f ( x )= {10 if x >0
if x ≤ 0
δ
is not continuous. Indeed, let x 0=0 and let ϵ=1. Choose δ >0. Let x= . Then
2
δ
|x−x ❑0|= 2 < δ but |f ( x ) −f ( x 0 )|=1=ϵ (See Figure 2.3).

1
2.4 Example Let f :(0,1)⟶ R be defined by f ( x )= . Then f is continuous on ( 0,1 ) .
x
Indeed, let ϵ >0 be given. Let x 0, x ∈ ( 0,1 ) and choose δ =x x0 ϵ . Then

|x 0−x| δ
|x−x 0|< δ ⟹|f ( x )−f ( x 0 )|= x x0
<
x x0
=ϵ .

Hence f is continuous at x 0. Since x 0 was arbitrary, f is continuous on (0,1) (See

Figure 2.4).

To study continuity at limit points of D , we have the following theorem which

follows directly from the definitions of continuity and limit.
2.5 Theorem Let f : D ⟶ R and let x 0 ∈ D be a limit point of D . Then f is continuous
at x 0 if and only if
lim f ( x )=f ( x 0 ) ⁡. (2.1)
x⟶ x0
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Proof. Suppose f is continuous at x 0. Then for every ϵ >0 there is δ >0 such that

∀ x ∈ D , |x−x 0|< δ ⟹|f ( x )−f ( x 0 )|< ϵ .

lim f ( x )=f ( x 0 ).
Then by Definition 1.1, x⟶ x 0

Conversely, suppose that (2.1) holds. Then by Definition 1.1, for every ϵ >0
there exists δ >0 such that
∀ x ∈ D , 0<| x−x 0|<δ ⟹|f ( x )−f ( x 0 )|<ϵ .

Hence f is continuous at x 0. 

2.6 Example Let f : R ⟶ R be defined by f ( x )=3 x 2−2 x+ 1. Fix x 0 ∈ R. Since

2
lim f ( x )=3 x 0−2 x 0 +1=f ( x 0 ),
x⟶ x0

f is continuous at x 0 by Theorem 2.5.

The following theorem is directly from the definition of continuity, Theorem 1.2
and Theorem 2.5.
2.7 Theorem Let f : D ⟶ R and let x 0 ∈ D. Then f is continuous at x 0 if and only if
for any sequence {x k } in D that converges to x 0, the sequence {f (x ¿¿ k )}¿ converges
to f ( x 0).
Proof. Suppose f is continuous at x 0. Then by Theorem 2.5, (2.1) holds. The desired
part follows from (1.2).
Conversely, suppose that (1.2) holds with l=f ( x 0 ). Then, f is continuous at x 0
by (1.1) and (2.1). 
3. Uniform Continuity
We discuss a stronger notion of continuity.
3.1 Definition Let D be a nonempty subset of R . A function f : D ⟶ R is called
uniformly continuous on D if for every ϵ >0 , there exists δ >0 such that if x , y ∈ D
and |x− y|< δ then
|f ( x ) −f ( y )|<ϵ .
In other words, the function is said to be uniformly continuous on D if

[
∀ ϵ >0 ∃δ >0 ∀ x0 ∈ D ∀ x ∈ D | x−x 0|<δ ⟹|f ( x )−f ( x 0 )|<ϵ . ]
The function is not uniformly continuous on D if
∃ ϵ> 0 ∀ δ >0 ∃ x 0 ∈ D∃ x ∈ D ¿ and |f ( x ) −f ( x 0 )|≥ ϵ ¿ .

3.2 Example Let f : R ⟶ R be defined by f ( x )=| x|. Then we have for every x , y ∈ R ,
|f ( x ) −f ( y )|=||x|−| y||≤|x− y|
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since |x|−| y|≤|x − y| and | y|−|x|≤|x − y|. Thus, choosing δ =ϵ for given ϵ >0 , we
have
x , y ∈ R and |x− y|< δ ⟹|f ( x )−f ( y )|<ϵ . (3.1)
ϵ
Therefore, f is uniformly continuous. For instance, we take x=0 and y= ; then
2

|f ( x ) −f ( y )|= ϵ <ϵ .
2
ϵ
Also, if we take x=400+ and y=400 then
50
ϵ
|f ( x ) −f ( y )|=
<ϵ .
50
Hence they span an interval no greater than ϵ ; the bound (3.1) holds (See Figure 3.1).

3.3 Example The function f in Example 2.2 is uniformly continuous.

3.4 Example The function f in Example 2.4 is not uniformly continuous on (0,1). For
δ 3δ
any δ ∈(0,1) we choose x= , y= .
4 4
8 8
|x− y|< δ ⟹|f ( x )−f ( y )|= > ≥ϵ .
3δ 3
Provided we pick x and y choose to 0, where the function f blow up we can make
their difference as small as we like and still |f ( x ) −f ( y )|≥ ϵ (See Figure 3.2).
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But f is uniformly continuous on ¿ where r >0 as

|x− y| |x− y|
|f ( x ) −f ( y )|= ≤ ( x, y ≥ r)
xy r
2

(See Figure 3.3).

3.5 Theorem If f : D ⟶ R is uniformly continuous on D , then f is continuous at

every point x 0 ∈ D.
Proof. Since f is uniformly continuous on D , for every ϵ >0 , there exists δ >0 such
that if x , y ∈ D and |x− y|< δ then
¿ f ( x )−f ( y )∨¿ ϵ .
Then by Definition 2.1, f is continuous at y . Since y was arbitrary in D , f is
continuous at every point x 0 ∈ D. 
The converse is not true. For instance, see Example 3.4.
The following result is determining whether or not a function is uniformly
continuous.
3.6 Theorem A function f is uniformly continuous on D ⊂R if and only if
f ( x n ) −f ( y n) ⟶ 0 as n ⟶ ∞ for all sequences {x n } and { y n } in D with x n− y n ⟶ 0 as
n ⟶ ∞.
Proof. Let f be uniformly continuous on D and let {x n } and { y n } in D with
x n− y n ⟶ 0. Since f is uniformly continuous on D , for every ϵ >0 there exists δ >0
such that
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∀ x , y ∈ D and |x− y|< δ ⟹|f ( x )−f ( y )|<ϵ .

Thus, choose N ∈ N (the set of natural numbers) such that
n ≥ N and |x n− y n|< δ ⟹|f ( x n ) −f ( y n )|< ϵ .

Thus if f ( x n ) −f ( y n) ⟶ 0 as n ⟶ ∞ .

Conversely, suppose that if f ( x n ) −f ( y n) ⟶ 0 as n ⟶ ∞ for all sequences {x n }

and { y n } in D with x n− y n ⟶ 0 as n ⟶ ∞ . Suppose, by way of contradiction, that f is
not uniformly continuous on D . Then there exists ϵ 0 >0 such that for any δ >0, there
exists x , y ∈ D with
|x− y|< δ and |f ( x ) −f ( y )|≥ ϵ 0 .
Thus, for every n ∈ N , there exist x n, y n ∈ D with
1
|x n− y n|≤ n and |f ( x n) −f ( y n )|≥ ϵ 0 .
It follows that for such sequences, x n− y n ⟶ 0 as n ⟶ ∞ but {f ( x n )−f ( y n ) } does not
converge to zero, which contradict the assumption. 
3.7 Example By using this theorem, we show that the function f in Example 3.4 is
1 1 −1
not uniformly continuous on (0,1). For if x n= , y n= , then x n− y n = ⟶ 0 ; but
2n n 2n
f ( x n ) −f ( y n ) =n ⟶+∞ as n ⟶ ∞.

The function f in Example 3.4 is uniformly continuous on ¿,+ ∞ ¿. For suppose

the two sequences {x n } and { y n } in ¿,+ ∞¿ with x n− y n ⟶ 0 as n ⟶ ∞ . Then

| |
| y −x |
|f ( x n) −f ( y n )|= x1 − y1 = xn y n ⟶ 0 as n ⟶ ∞.
n n n n

The next theorem shows that the notions of continuity and uniform continuity
coincide on closed and bounded intervals.
3.8 Theorem Let D be a closed and bounded interval and let f : D ⟶ R be continuous
on D . Then f is uniformly continuous on D .
Proof. Suppose, by contradiction, that f is not uniformly continuous on D . Then
there exists ϵ 0 >0 such that for any δ >0, there exist x , y ∈ D with
|x− y|< δ and |f ( x ) −f ( y )|≥ ϵ 0 .
Thus, for every n ∈ N , there exist x n, y n ∈ D with
1
|x n− y n|≤ n and |f ( x n) −f ( y n )|≥ ϵ 0 .
Since D is closed and bounded, there exist x 0 ∈ D and a subsequence {x n } of {x n }
k

such that
x n ⟶ x 0 as k ⟶ ∞
k

by Theorems 1.3 and 1.4. Then

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1
|x n − y n |≤ n ,
k k
k

for all k and hence

|y n −x 0|≤| y n − xn |+|x n −x 0|⟶ 0 as k ⟶ ∞ .

k k k k

By the continuity of f ,
f ( x n )⟶ f ( x 0 ) and f ( y n ) ⟶ f ( x 0 ) .
k k

Therefore, {f ( x n )−f ( y n ) } converges to zero, which contradiction. The proof is

k k

complete. 
Acknowledgements
This paper has benefited from all of our teachers and colleagues who gave generously of their
time and expertise. My special thanks to our parents and all brothers and sisters who give patiently
support throughout our life.
References
[1] B. Lafferriere, G. Lafferriere, and N. M. Nam, Introduction to Mathematical Analysis I, Second
Edt., Portland State University Library, Portland, 2018.
[2] H. D. Junghenn, A Course in Real Analysis, CRC, Press, Taylor & Francis Group, New York,
2015.