If a function is continuous everywhere, but undefined at one point, is it still continuous?












8












$begingroup$


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









$endgroup$








  • 7




    $begingroup$
    It is nowhere said that $g$ is continuous at $x=3$.
    $endgroup$
    – Martin R
    Nov 20 '18 at 10:01






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    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.
    $endgroup$
    – drhab
    Nov 20 '18 at 10:06












  • $begingroup$
    Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
    $endgroup$
    – Spitemaster
    Nov 20 '18 at 19:06










  • $begingroup$
    If a function is continuous everywhere, but undefined at one point, the sky is purple.
    $endgroup$
    – immibis
    Nov 20 '18 at 21:44
















8












$begingroup$


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









$endgroup$








  • 7




    $begingroup$
    It is nowhere said that $g$ is continuous at $x=3$.
    $endgroup$
    – Martin R
    Nov 20 '18 at 10:01






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    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.
    $endgroup$
    – drhab
    Nov 20 '18 at 10:06












  • $begingroup$
    Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
    $endgroup$
    – Spitemaster
    Nov 20 '18 at 19:06










  • $begingroup$
    If a function is continuous everywhere, but undefined at one point, the sky is purple.
    $endgroup$
    – immibis
    Nov 20 '18 at 21:44














8












8








8





$begingroup$


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









$endgroup$




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






share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question











share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question










asked Nov 20 '18 at 9:58









AlecAlec

2,21911541




2,21911541








  • 7




    $begingroup$
    It is nowhere said that $g$ is continuous at $x=3$.
    $endgroup$
    – Martin R
    Nov 20 '18 at 10:01






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    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.
    $endgroup$
    – drhab
    Nov 20 '18 at 10:06












  • $begingroup$
    Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
    $endgroup$
    – Spitemaster
    Nov 20 '18 at 19:06










  • $begingroup$
    If a function is continuous everywhere, but undefined at one point, the sky is purple.
    $endgroup$
    – immibis
    Nov 20 '18 at 21:44














  • 7




    $begingroup$
    It is nowhere said that $g$ is continuous at $x=3$.
    $endgroup$
    – Martin R
    Nov 20 '18 at 10:01






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    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.
    $endgroup$
    – drhab
    Nov 20 '18 at 10:06












  • $begingroup$
    Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
    $endgroup$
    – Spitemaster
    Nov 20 '18 at 19:06










  • $begingroup$
    If a function is continuous everywhere, but undefined at one point, the sky is purple.
    $endgroup$
    – immibis
    Nov 20 '18 at 21:44








7




7




$begingroup$
It is nowhere said that $g$ is continuous at $x=3$.
$endgroup$
– Martin R
Nov 20 '18 at 10:01




$begingroup$
It is nowhere said that $g$ is continuous at $x=3$.
$endgroup$
– Martin R
Nov 20 '18 at 10:01




1




1




$begingroup$
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.
$endgroup$
– drhab
Nov 20 '18 at 10:06






$begingroup$
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.
$endgroup$
– drhab
Nov 20 '18 at 10:06














$begingroup$
Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
$endgroup$
– Spitemaster
Nov 20 '18 at 19:06




$begingroup$
Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
$endgroup$
– Spitemaster
Nov 20 '18 at 19:06












$begingroup$
If a function is continuous everywhere, but undefined at one point, the sky is purple.
$endgroup$
– immibis
Nov 20 '18 at 21:44




$begingroup$
If a function is continuous everywhere, but undefined at one point, the sky is purple.
$endgroup$
– immibis
Nov 20 '18 at 21:44










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















19












$begingroup$

$G$ 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











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
    $endgroup$
    – user3482749
    Nov 20 '18 at 10:03










  • $begingroup$
    It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
    $endgroup$
    – Eevee Trainer
    Nov 20 '18 at 10:05










  • $begingroup$
    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?
    $endgroup$
    – Alec
    Nov 20 '18 at 14:37










  • $begingroup$
    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).
    $endgroup$
    – Barmar
    Nov 20 '18 at 16:36






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @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).
    $endgroup$
    – AnoE
    Nov 20 '18 at 16:39



















3












$begingroup$

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









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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    19












    $begingroup$

    $G$ 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











    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
      $endgroup$
      – user3482749
      Nov 20 '18 at 10:03










    • $begingroup$
      It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
      $endgroup$
      – Eevee Trainer
      Nov 20 '18 at 10:05










    • $begingroup$
      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?
      $endgroup$
      – Alec
      Nov 20 '18 at 14:37










    • $begingroup$
      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).
      $endgroup$
      – Barmar
      Nov 20 '18 at 16:36






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @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).
      $endgroup$
      – AnoE
      Nov 20 '18 at 16:39
















    19












    $begingroup$

    $G$ 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











    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
      $endgroup$
      – user3482749
      Nov 20 '18 at 10:03










    • $begingroup$
      It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
      $endgroup$
      – Eevee Trainer
      Nov 20 '18 at 10:05










    • $begingroup$
      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?
      $endgroup$
      – Alec
      Nov 20 '18 at 14:37










    • $begingroup$
      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).
      $endgroup$
      – Barmar
      Nov 20 '18 at 16:36






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @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).
      $endgroup$
      – AnoE
      Nov 20 '18 at 16:39














    19












    19








    19





    $begingroup$

    $G$ 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











    $endgroup$



    $G$ 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 Nov 20 '18 at 10:03

























    answered Nov 20 '18 at 10:00









    user3482749user3482749

    4,286919




    4,286919












    • $begingroup$
      Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
      $endgroup$
      – user3482749
      Nov 20 '18 at 10:03










    • $begingroup$
      It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
      $endgroup$
      – Eevee Trainer
      Nov 20 '18 at 10:05










    • $begingroup$
      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?
      $endgroup$
      – Alec
      Nov 20 '18 at 14:37










    • $begingroup$
      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).
      $endgroup$
      – Barmar
      Nov 20 '18 at 16:36






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @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).
      $endgroup$
      – AnoE
      Nov 20 '18 at 16:39


















    • $begingroup$
      Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
      $endgroup$
      – user3482749
      Nov 20 '18 at 10:03










    • $begingroup$
      It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
      $endgroup$
      – Eevee Trainer
      Nov 20 '18 at 10:05










    • $begingroup$
      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?
      $endgroup$
      – Alec
      Nov 20 '18 at 14:37










    • $begingroup$
      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).
      $endgroup$
      – Barmar
      Nov 20 '18 at 16:36






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @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).
      $endgroup$
      – AnoE
      Nov 20 '18 at 16:39
















    $begingroup$
    Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
    $endgroup$
    – user3482749
    Nov 20 '18 at 10:03




    $begingroup$
    Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
    $endgroup$
    – user3482749
    Nov 20 '18 at 10:03












    $begingroup$
    It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
    $endgroup$
    – Eevee Trainer
    Nov 20 '18 at 10:05




    $begingroup$
    It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
    $endgroup$
    – Eevee Trainer
    Nov 20 '18 at 10:05












    $begingroup$
    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?
    $endgroup$
    – Alec
    Nov 20 '18 at 14:37




    $begingroup$
    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?
    $endgroup$
    – Alec
    Nov 20 '18 at 14:37












    $begingroup$
    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).
    $endgroup$
    – Barmar
    Nov 20 '18 at 16:36




    $begingroup$
    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).
    $endgroup$
    – Barmar
    Nov 20 '18 at 16:36




    1




    1




    $begingroup$
    @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).
    $endgroup$
    – AnoE
    Nov 20 '18 at 16:39




    $begingroup$
    @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).
    $endgroup$
    – AnoE
    Nov 20 '18 at 16:39











    3












    $begingroup$

    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









    $endgroup$


















      3












      $begingroup$

      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









      $endgroup$
















        3












        3








        3





        $begingroup$

        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









        $endgroup$



        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 Nov 20 '18 at 10:01









        Eevee TrainerEevee Trainer

        6,79311237




        6,79311237






























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