If a function is continuous everywhere, but undefined at one point, is it still continuous?
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6
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This is a question regarding the definition of continuity.
My understanding of continuity is that a function is continuous at a point when it holds that $$lim_{xto a^-}f(x) = f(a) = lim_{xto a^+}f(x) quad quad (1)$$
The book I'm currently reading has this image:

Note here that $f(x)$ is defined for $x=3$, but $g(x)$ is not.
This is followed by text stating that
g(x) is continuous because $D_g = [0, 6]text{\}{3}$, thus it is continuous for all values in its domain.
My point of contention here is that, how can we say that it is continuous at $x=3$ when $g(3)$ does not exist? Referring to the aforementioned definition $(1)$ that the limits converge to the actual value at this point.
I would have immediately declared both cases as jump discontinuities.
Am I mistaken here? Does $g(x)$ illustrate an exception to $(1)$?
limits continuity piecewise-continuity
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
This is a question regarding the definition of continuity.
My understanding of continuity is that a function is continuous at a point when it holds that $$lim_{xto a^-}f(x) = f(a) = lim_{xto a^+}f(x) quad quad (1)$$
The book I'm currently reading has this image:

Note here that $f(x)$ is defined for $x=3$, but $g(x)$ is not.
This is followed by text stating that
g(x) is continuous because $D_g = [0, 6]text{\}{3}$, thus it is continuous for all values in its domain.
My point of contention here is that, how can we say that it is continuous at $x=3$ when $g(3)$ does not exist? Referring to the aforementioned definition $(1)$ that the limits converge to the actual value at this point.
I would have immediately declared both cases as jump discontinuities.
Am I mistaken here? Does $g(x)$ illustrate an exception to $(1)$?
limits continuity piecewise-continuity
7
It is nowhere said that $g$ is continuous at $x=3$.
– Martin R
11 hours ago
1
There is a theorem saying that $g:Dtocdots$ is continuous iff $g$ is continuous at every $xin D$. Here $3notin D$ so is irrelevant if it comes to the question whether $g$ is continuous. See here for a related question.
– drhab
11 hours ago
Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
– Spitemaster
2 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
This is a question regarding the definition of continuity.
My understanding of continuity is that a function is continuous at a point when it holds that $$lim_{xto a^-}f(x) = f(a) = lim_{xto a^+}f(x) quad quad (1)$$
The book I'm currently reading has this image:

Note here that $f(x)$ is defined for $x=3$, but $g(x)$ is not.
This is followed by text stating that
g(x) is continuous because $D_g = [0, 6]text{\}{3}$, thus it is continuous for all values in its domain.
My point of contention here is that, how can we say that it is continuous at $x=3$ when $g(3)$ does not exist? Referring to the aforementioned definition $(1)$ that the limits converge to the actual value at this point.
I would have immediately declared both cases as jump discontinuities.
Am I mistaken here? Does $g(x)$ illustrate an exception to $(1)$?
limits continuity piecewise-continuity
This is a question regarding the definition of continuity.
My understanding of continuity is that a function is continuous at a point when it holds that $$lim_{xto a^-}f(x) = f(a) = lim_{xto a^+}f(x) quad quad (1)$$
The book I'm currently reading has this image:

Note here that $f(x)$ is defined for $x=3$, but $g(x)$ is not.
This is followed by text stating that
g(x) is continuous because $D_g = [0, 6]text{\}{3}$, thus it is continuous for all values in its domain.
My point of contention here is that, how can we say that it is continuous at $x=3$ when $g(3)$ does not exist? Referring to the aforementioned definition $(1)$ that the limits converge to the actual value at this point.
I would have immediately declared both cases as jump discontinuities.
Am I mistaken here? Does $g(x)$ illustrate an exception to $(1)$?
limits continuity piecewise-continuity
limits continuity piecewise-continuity
asked 11 hours ago
Alec
2,16111537
2,16111537
7
It is nowhere said that $g$ is continuous at $x=3$.
– Martin R
11 hours ago
1
There is a theorem saying that $g:Dtocdots$ is continuous iff $g$ is continuous at every $xin D$. Here $3notin D$ so is irrelevant if it comes to the question whether $g$ is continuous. See here for a related question.
– drhab
11 hours ago
Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
– Spitemaster
2 hours ago
add a comment |
7
It is nowhere said that $g$ is continuous at $x=3$.
– Martin R
11 hours ago
1
There is a theorem saying that $g:Dtocdots$ is continuous iff $g$ is continuous at every $xin D$. Here $3notin D$ so is irrelevant if it comes to the question whether $g$ is continuous. See here for a related question.
– drhab
11 hours ago
Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
– Spitemaster
2 hours ago
7
7
It is nowhere said that $g$ is continuous at $x=3$.
– Martin R
11 hours ago
It is nowhere said that $g$ is continuous at $x=3$.
– Martin R
11 hours ago
1
1
There is a theorem saying that $g:Dtocdots$ is continuous iff $g$ is continuous at every $xin D$. Here $3notin D$ so is irrelevant if it comes to the question whether $g$ is continuous. See here for a related question.
– drhab
11 hours ago
There is a theorem saying that $g:Dtocdots$ is continuous iff $g$ is continuous at every $xin D$. Here $3notin D$ so is irrelevant if it comes to the question whether $g$ is continuous. See here for a related question.
– drhab
11 hours ago
Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
– Spitemaster
2 hours ago
Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
– Spitemaster
2 hours ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
16
down vote
accepted
$G$ is continuous on the domain $[0,3)cup(3,6]$.
Referring to the aforementioned definition (1) that the limits converge to the actual value at this point.
3 is not in the domain. For every point in the domain of $g$, we have the required convergence.
Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
– user3482749
11 hours ago
It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
– Eevee Trainer
11 hours ago
It seems so obvious to me now. Why would I even consider the point at which the function is not defined? So why would that point have any impact on the continuity of the function?
– Alec
6 hours ago
Proofreading or proof reading? The former is checking the text for correctness, the latter refers to reading a proof (not a good failure for a mathematician).
– Barmar
4 hours ago
1
@Alec, don't chastize yourself. I'd say many make this "visual" error; the example is maximally counter-intuitive to drive home its point after the reader has understood the issue (i.e., it is designed to destroy the naive intuition that "continuous" means that you can draw everything with a pen without lifting it..., which was literally the motivation for "continuous" at least in school (for pupils 15'ish years old, some decades ago) in my neck of the woods).
– AnoE
4 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
2
down vote
The function is continuous everywhere in the interval except that point deleted from the domain, it's more a nuance of the language than anything else. Choose any point that is not $3$ in that interval: you can then find left- and right-hand limits to that point and show they're equal.
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
Although not mathematically rigorous, a good rule of thumb is if you can draw the graph without lifting your pencil, it is continuous.
But this is exactly a case where this hand-wavy rule breaks apart. Because g(x) is continuous but can't be drawn without lifting one's pencil.
– Alec
23 mins ago
But the limits to the left and right of x=3 on g(x) are not equal? Perhaps I misunderstood the question.
– K.defaoite
17 mins ago
If you look at the graph, we can see that the left and right limits go to different values.
– Alec
10 mins ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
16
down vote
accepted
$G$ is continuous on the domain $[0,3)cup(3,6]$.
Referring to the aforementioned definition (1) that the limits converge to the actual value at this point.
3 is not in the domain. For every point in the domain of $g$, we have the required convergence.
Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
– user3482749
11 hours ago
It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
– Eevee Trainer
11 hours ago
It seems so obvious to me now. Why would I even consider the point at which the function is not defined? So why would that point have any impact on the continuity of the function?
– Alec
6 hours ago
Proofreading or proof reading? The former is checking the text for correctness, the latter refers to reading a proof (not a good failure for a mathematician).
– Barmar
4 hours ago
1
@Alec, don't chastize yourself. I'd say many make this "visual" error; the example is maximally counter-intuitive to drive home its point after the reader has understood the issue (i.e., it is designed to destroy the naive intuition that "continuous" means that you can draw everything with a pen without lifting it..., which was literally the motivation for "continuous" at least in school (for pupils 15'ish years old, some decades ago) in my neck of the woods).
– AnoE
4 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
16
down vote
accepted
$G$ is continuous on the domain $[0,3)cup(3,6]$.
Referring to the aforementioned definition (1) that the limits converge to the actual value at this point.
3 is not in the domain. For every point in the domain of $g$, we have the required convergence.
Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
– user3482749
11 hours ago
It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
– Eevee Trainer
11 hours ago
It seems so obvious to me now. Why would I even consider the point at which the function is not defined? So why would that point have any impact on the continuity of the function?
– Alec
6 hours ago
Proofreading or proof reading? The former is checking the text for correctness, the latter refers to reading a proof (not a good failure for a mathematician).
– Barmar
4 hours ago
1
@Alec, don't chastize yourself. I'd say many make this "visual" error; the example is maximally counter-intuitive to drive home its point after the reader has understood the issue (i.e., it is designed to destroy the naive intuition that "continuous" means that you can draw everything with a pen without lifting it..., which was literally the motivation for "continuous" at least in school (for pupils 15'ish years old, some decades ago) in my neck of the woods).
– AnoE
4 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
16
down vote
accepted
up vote
16
down vote
accepted
$G$ is continuous on the domain $[0,3)cup(3,6]$.
Referring to the aforementioned definition (1) that the limits converge to the actual value at this point.
3 is not in the domain. For every point in the domain of $g$, we have the required convergence.
$G$ is continuous on the domain $[0,3)cup(3,6]$.
Referring to the aforementioned definition (1) that the limits converge to the actual value at this point.
3 is not in the domain. For every point in the domain of $g$, we have the required convergence.
edited 11 hours ago
answered 11 hours ago
user3482749
929411
929411
Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
– user3482749
11 hours ago
It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
– Eevee Trainer
11 hours ago
It seems so obvious to me now. Why would I even consider the point at which the function is not defined? So why would that point have any impact on the continuity of the function?
– Alec
6 hours ago
Proofreading or proof reading? The former is checking the text for correctness, the latter refers to reading a proof (not a good failure for a mathematician).
– Barmar
4 hours ago
1
@Alec, don't chastize yourself. I'd say many make this "visual" error; the example is maximally counter-intuitive to drive home its point after the reader has understood the issue (i.e., it is designed to destroy the naive intuition that "continuous" means that you can draw everything with a pen without lifting it..., which was literally the motivation for "continuous" at least in school (for pupils 15'ish years old, some decades ago) in my neck of the woods).
– AnoE
4 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
– user3482749
11 hours ago
It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
– Eevee Trainer
11 hours ago
It seems so obvious to me now. Why would I even consider the point at which the function is not defined? So why would that point have any impact on the continuity of the function?
– Alec
6 hours ago
Proofreading or proof reading? The former is checking the text for correctness, the latter refers to reading a proof (not a good failure for a mathematician).
– Barmar
4 hours ago
1
@Alec, don't chastize yourself. I'd say many make this "visual" error; the example is maximally counter-intuitive to drive home its point after the reader has understood the issue (i.e., it is designed to destroy the naive intuition that "continuous" means that you can draw everything with a pen without lifting it..., which was literally the motivation for "continuous" at least in school (for pupils 15'ish years old, some decades ago) in my neck of the woods).
– AnoE
4 hours ago
Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
– user3482749
11 hours ago
Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
– user3482749
11 hours ago
It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
– Eevee Trainer
11 hours ago
It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
– Eevee Trainer
11 hours ago
It seems so obvious to me now. Why would I even consider the point at which the function is not defined? So why would that point have any impact on the continuity of the function?
– Alec
6 hours ago
It seems so obvious to me now. Why would I even consider the point at which the function is not defined? So why would that point have any impact on the continuity of the function?
– Alec
6 hours ago
Proofreading or proof reading? The former is checking the text for correctness, the latter refers to reading a proof (not a good failure for a mathematician).
– Barmar
4 hours ago
Proofreading or proof reading? The former is checking the text for correctness, the latter refers to reading a proof (not a good failure for a mathematician).
– Barmar
4 hours ago
1
1
@Alec, don't chastize yourself. I'd say many make this "visual" error; the example is maximally counter-intuitive to drive home its point after the reader has understood the issue (i.e., it is designed to destroy the naive intuition that "continuous" means that you can draw everything with a pen without lifting it..., which was literally the motivation for "continuous" at least in school (for pupils 15'ish years old, some decades ago) in my neck of the woods).
– AnoE
4 hours ago
@Alec, don't chastize yourself. I'd say many make this "visual" error; the example is maximally counter-intuitive to drive home its point after the reader has understood the issue (i.e., it is designed to destroy the naive intuition that "continuous" means that you can draw everything with a pen without lifting it..., which was literally the motivation for "continuous" at least in school (for pupils 15'ish years old, some decades ago) in my neck of the woods).
– AnoE
4 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
2
down vote
The function is continuous everywhere in the interval except that point deleted from the domain, it's more a nuance of the language than anything else. Choose any point that is not $3$ in that interval: you can then find left- and right-hand limits to that point and show they're equal.
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
The function is continuous everywhere in the interval except that point deleted from the domain, it's more a nuance of the language than anything else. Choose any point that is not $3$ in that interval: you can then find left- and right-hand limits to that point and show they're equal.
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
The function is continuous everywhere in the interval except that point deleted from the domain, it's more a nuance of the language than anything else. Choose any point that is not $3$ in that interval: you can then find left- and right-hand limits to that point and show they're equal.
The function is continuous everywhere in the interval except that point deleted from the domain, it's more a nuance of the language than anything else. Choose any point that is not $3$ in that interval: you can then find left- and right-hand limits to that point and show they're equal.
answered 11 hours ago
Eevee Trainer
89011
89011
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
Although not mathematically rigorous, a good rule of thumb is if you can draw the graph without lifting your pencil, it is continuous.
But this is exactly a case where this hand-wavy rule breaks apart. Because g(x) is continuous but can't be drawn without lifting one's pencil.
– Alec
23 mins ago
But the limits to the left and right of x=3 on g(x) are not equal? Perhaps I misunderstood the question.
– K.defaoite
17 mins ago
If you look at the graph, we can see that the left and right limits go to different values.
– Alec
10 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
Although not mathematically rigorous, a good rule of thumb is if you can draw the graph without lifting your pencil, it is continuous.
But this is exactly a case where this hand-wavy rule breaks apart. Because g(x) is continuous but can't be drawn without lifting one's pencil.
– Alec
23 mins ago
But the limits to the left and right of x=3 on g(x) are not equal? Perhaps I misunderstood the question.
– K.defaoite
17 mins ago
If you look at the graph, we can see that the left and right limits go to different values.
– Alec
10 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
up vote
-1
down vote
Although not mathematically rigorous, a good rule of thumb is if you can draw the graph without lifting your pencil, it is continuous.
Although not mathematically rigorous, a good rule of thumb is if you can draw the graph without lifting your pencil, it is continuous.
answered 53 mins ago
K.defaoite
11
11
But this is exactly a case where this hand-wavy rule breaks apart. Because g(x) is continuous but can't be drawn without lifting one's pencil.
– Alec
23 mins ago
But the limits to the left and right of x=3 on g(x) are not equal? Perhaps I misunderstood the question.
– K.defaoite
17 mins ago
If you look at the graph, we can see that the left and right limits go to different values.
– Alec
10 mins ago
add a comment |
But this is exactly a case where this hand-wavy rule breaks apart. Because g(x) is continuous but can't be drawn without lifting one's pencil.
– Alec
23 mins ago
But the limits to the left and right of x=3 on g(x) are not equal? Perhaps I misunderstood the question.
– K.defaoite
17 mins ago
If you look at the graph, we can see that the left and right limits go to different values.
– Alec
10 mins ago
But this is exactly a case where this hand-wavy rule breaks apart. Because g(x) is continuous but can't be drawn without lifting one's pencil.
– Alec
23 mins ago
But this is exactly a case where this hand-wavy rule breaks apart. Because g(x) is continuous but can't be drawn without lifting one's pencil.
– Alec
23 mins ago
But the limits to the left and right of x=3 on g(x) are not equal? Perhaps I misunderstood the question.
– K.defaoite
17 mins ago
But the limits to the left and right of x=3 on g(x) are not equal? Perhaps I misunderstood the question.
– K.defaoite
17 mins ago
If you look at the graph, we can see that the left and right limits go to different values.
– Alec
10 mins ago
If you look at the graph, we can see that the left and right limits go to different values.
– Alec
10 mins ago
add a comment |
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7
It is nowhere said that $g$ is continuous at $x=3$.
– Martin R
11 hours ago
1
There is a theorem saying that $g:Dtocdots$ is continuous iff $g$ is continuous at every $xin D$. Here $3notin D$ so is irrelevant if it comes to the question whether $g$ is continuous. See here for a related question.
– drhab
11 hours ago
Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
– Spitemaster
2 hours ago