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:



enter image description here



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 $(1)$?










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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















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:



enter image description here



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 $(1)$?










share|cite|improve this question


















  • 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













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:



enter image description here



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 $(1)$?










share|cite|improve this question













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:



enter image description here



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






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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














  • 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










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.






share|cite|improve this answer























  • 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


















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.






share|cite|improve this answer




























    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.






    share|cite|improve this answer





















    • 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











    Your Answer





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    3 Answers
    3






    active

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    3 Answers
    3






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    active

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    active

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    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.






    share|cite|improve this answer























    • 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















    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.






    share|cite|improve this answer























    • 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













    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.






    share|cite|improve this answer














    $G$ 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.







    share|cite|improve this answer














    share|cite|improve this answer



    share|cite|improve this answer








    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


















    • 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










    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.






    share|cite|improve this answer

























      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.






      share|cite|improve this answer























        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.






        share|cite|improve this answer












        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.







        share|cite|improve this answer












        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered 11 hours ago









        Eevee Trainer

        89011




        89011






















            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.






            share|cite|improve this answer





















            • 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















            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.






            share|cite|improve this answer





















            • 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













            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.






            share|cite|improve this answer












            Although not mathematically rigorous, a good rule of thumb is if you can draw the graph without lifting your pencil, it is continuous.







            share|cite|improve this answer












            share|cite|improve this answer



            share|cite|improve this answer










            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


















            • 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


















             

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