Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Jais, Amethi
Applied Mathematics-I (MA 123): BTech First Year, 2023
Assignment # 3: Continuity Instructor: Manoj K. Rajpoot
A1. Checking Continuity of Functions: (Here, Q is the set of Rational Numbers,
and R − Q is the set of Irrational Numbers).
1. Discuss the continuity of the following functions:
( (
1
if x < 4 x sin x1 if x 6= 0
i. f (x) = x−3 ii. f (x) =
2x + 3 if x ≥ 4 0 if x = 0
( (
0 if x ∈ Q 0 if x ∈ Q
iii. f (x) = iv. f (x) =
x if x ∈ R − Q 1 if x ∈ R − Q
( (
x if x ∈ Q 2x if x ∈ Q
v. f (x) = vi. f (x) =
0 if x ∈ R − Q x + 3 if x ∈ R − Q
2. Let f : [0, π] → R be defined by
(
x sin x1 − x1 cos x1 if x 6= 0
f (x) =
0 if x = 0.
Is f (x) continuous? Discuss.
3. If x ∈ R, we define [x] to be the greatest integer n ∈ Z such that n ≤ x. Determine the
points of continuity of the following functions:
(i.) f (x) = [x], x ∈ R
(ii.) h(x) = [sin x], x ∈ R
4. Let f be defined for all x ∈ R, x 6= 2, by
x2 + x − 6
f (x) =
x−2
Can f be defined at x = 2 in such a way that f is continuous at this point?
5. Show that f (x) = |x| is continuous at every point c ∈ R.
6. Let K > 0 and f : R → R satisfy the condition
|f (x) − f (y)| ≤ K|x − y| for all x, y ∈ R.
Show that f is continuous at every point c ∈ R.
7. Determine the point of continuity of the following functions:
2 p √
i. f (x) = x x+2x+1
2 +1 , x∈R ii. g(x) = x + x, x ≥ 0
√ √
1+| sin x|
iii. h(x) = x , x 6= 0 iv. k(x) = cos 1 + x2 , x ∈ R
v. l(x) = cos x, x∈R
8. Give an example of a function f : [0, 1] → R that is discontinuous at every point of [0, 1] but
such that |f | is continuous on [0, 1].
A2. Intermediate Value Theorem:
9. Show that every polynomial of odd degree with real coefficients has at least one real roots.
10. Show that polynomial p(x) = x4 + 7x3 − 9 has at least two real roots.
11. Show that equation x = cos x has a solution in the interval [0, π2 ].
√
12. Show that f (x) = 2 ln x + x − 2 has root in the interval [1, 2].
13. If f : [0, 1] → [0, 1] is continuous, then prove that there exists a point c ∈ [0, 1] such that
f (c) = c.
14. Show that, p(x) = x3 + ax + b, has a unique real root if a > 0.
{Hint: Requires Rolle’s Theorem}
15. Let p(x) = a0 + a1 x + ... + an−1 xn−1 + an xn , where n > 0 and ai ’s are in R. If n is even
with an = 1 and a0 = −1, show that f (x) has at least two real roots.
16. Let f : R → R be a continuous function. Show that f is constant if f (x) is rational for
each x ∈ R.
17. Let f : [0, 1] → R. Suppose f (x) is rational for irrational x, and f (x) is irrational for
rational x. Show that f (x) can not be continuous.
***
Reference Text Books:
1. Introduction to Real Analysis, 4th Ed., Robert G. Bartle and Donald R. Sherbert.
2. Thomas’ Calculus, 12th Ed., G. B. Thomas Jr., Maurice D. Weir, and Joel R. Hass.
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