Continuity and Uniform Continuity

Aye Pyone
Professor
Department of Mathematics
Panglong University
48th Birth Day
13.4.2022
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,
from , the set of natural numbers, to a set . We denote the image of under the
function by ( ) . We will also denote sequences by * +. Each value is
called -th term of the sequence. For example, consider the sequence for
. This is a sequence of rational numbers and we may list the terms as in

Let * + be a sequence of real numbers. We say that the sequence * +

converges to , the set of all real numbers if, for any , there exists a positive
integer such that
| |
In this case, we call the limit of the sequence and write
Now, we recall some results on limits of functions.
1.1 Definition Let be a nonempty subset of . Let and let be a limit
point of . We say that has a limit at if there exists a real number such that for
every , there exists with
| ( ) |
for all for which | | . In this case, we write
( )

The following theorem is a result on limits of functions.

1.2 Theorem Let and let be a limit point of . Then
( ) (1.1)
if and only if
( ) (1.2)
for every sequence * + in such that for every and * + converges to .
1.3 Theorem If * + is a convergent sequence in a closed interval , - then its limit
is in the given interval.
1.4 Theorem (Bolzano-Weiestrass Theorem) A bounded sequence of real numbers
has a convergent subsequence.

2. Continuity
 2

2.1 Definition Let be a nonempty subset of and let be a function. The

function is said to be continuous at if for any real number , there
exists such that if and | | then
| ( ) ( )|
If is continuous at each point of , then is said to be continuous on .
In other words, the function is said to be continuous on if
,| | | ( ) ( )| -

Figure 2.1: Definition of continuity

A point in at which is not continuous is called a discontinuity of . In other
words, is not continuous on if
,| | and | ( ) ( )| -.
Note that every function is continuous at an isolated point of its domain. For if
is an isolated point of , then there is such that ( ) * +. It
follows that for ( ), | ( ) ( )| for any . Therefore,
every function is continuous at an isolated point of its domain.
2.2 Example Let be given by ( ) Let and .
Choose Then | | , we have
| ( ) ( )| | |
This shows that is continuous at (See Figure 2.2).

2.3 Example The function is defined by

( ) {
 3

is not continuous. Indeed, let and let . Choose . Let . Then

| | but | ( ) ( )| (See Figure 2.3).

2.4 Example Let ( ) be defined by ( ) . Then is continuous on

( ). Indeed, let be given. Let , ( ) and choose . Then
| |
| | | ( ) ( )| .

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

Figure 2.4).

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

follows directly from the definitions of continuity and limit.
2.5 Theorem Let and let be a limit point of . Then is
continuous at if and only if
( ) ( ) (2.1)
Proof. Suppose is continuous at . Then for every there is such that
,| | | ( ) ( )| .
Then by Definition 1.1, ( ) ( ).
 4

Conversely, suppose that (2.1) holds. Then by Definition 1.1, for every
there exists such that
, | | | ( ) ( )| .

Hence is continuous at . 

2.6 Example Let be defined by ( ) . Fix . Since

( ) ( ),

is continuous at 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 and let . Then is continuous at if and only if
for any sequence * + in that converges to , the sequence * ( )+ converges to
( ).
Proof. Suppose is continuous at . Then by Theorem 2.5, (2.1) holds. The desired
part follows from (1.2).
Conversely, suppose that (1.2) holds. Then, is continuous at by (1.1) and
(2.1). 

3. Uniform Continuity
We discuss a stronger notion of continuity.
3.1 Definition Let be a nonempty subset of . A function is called
uniformly continuous on if for every , there exists such that if ,
and | | then
| ( ) ( )| .
In other words, the function is said to be uniformly continuous on if
,| | | ( ) ( )| -
The function is not uniformly continuous on if
,| | and | ( ) ( )| -.
3.2 Example Let be defined by ( ) | |. Then we have for every
, ,
| ( ) ( )| || | | || | |
since | | | | | | and | | | | | |. Thus, choosing for given
, we have
, and | | | ( ) ( )| . (3.1)

Therefore, is uniformly continuous. For instance, we take and ; then

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| ( ) ( )| .

Also, if we take and then

| ( ) ( )| .
Hence they span an interval no greater than ; the bound (3.1) holds (See Figure 3.1).

3.3 Example The function in Example 2.2 is uniformly continuous.

3.4 Example The function in Example 2.4 is not uniformly continuous on (0,1). For
any ( ) we choose , .

| | | ( ) ( )|

Provided we pick and choose to 0, where the function blow up we can make
their difference as small as we like and still | ( ) ( )| (See Figure 3.2).

But is uniformly continuous on , ) where as

| | | |
| ( ) ( )| ( )
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(See Figure 3.3).

3.5 Theorem If is uniformly continuous on , then is continuous at

every point .
Proof. Since is uniformly continuous on , for every , there exists such
that if , and | | then
| ( ) ( )|
Then by Definition 2.1, is continuous at . Since was arbitrary in , is
continuous at every point . 

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 is uniformly continuous on if and only if ( )
( ) as for all sequences * + and * + in with as
.
Proof. Let be uniformly continuous on and let * + and * + in with
. Since is uniformly continuous on , for every there exists
such that
, and | | | ( ) ( )|
Thus, choose (the set of natural numbers) such that
and | | | ( ) ( )|
Thus if ( ) ( ) as .
Conversely, suppose that if ( ) ( ) as for all sequences
* + and * + in with as . Suppose, by way of contradiction,
that is not uniformly continuous on . Then there exists such that for any
, there exists , with
| | and | ( ) ( )|
Thus, for every , there exist , with
| | and | ( ) ( )|
It follows that for such sequences, as but * ( ) ( )+
does not converge to zero, which contradict the assumption. 
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3.7 Example By using this theorem, we show that the function in Example 3.4 is
not uniformly continuous on (0,1). For if , , then ;
but ( ) ( ) as .
The function in Example 3.4 is uniformly continuous on , , ). For suppose
the two sequences * + and * + in , , ) with as . Then
| |
| ( ) ( )| | | as .

The next theorem shows that the notions of continuity and uniform continuity
coincide on closed and bounded intervals.
3.8 Theorem Let be a closed and bounded interval and let be continuous
on . Then is uniformly continuous on .
Proof. Suppose, by contradiction, that is not uniformly continuous on . Then
there exists such that for any , there exist , with
| | and | ( ) ( )|
Thus, for every , there exist , with
| | and | ( ) ( )|

Since is closed and bounded, there exist and a subsequence * + of * +

such that
as
by Theorems 1.3 and 1.4. Then

| | ,

for all and hence

| | | | | | as
By the continuity of ,
( ) ( ) and ( ) ( )

Therefore, * ( ) ( )+ converges to zero, which contradiction. The proof is

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.