MAL100: Mathematics I

Tutorial Sheet 6: Limit and Continuity

Solutions
Department of Mathematics
Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai

1. Discuss whether the following limits exist or not:

 j k
1
(a) limx→0 x2 1 + 2 + 3 + · · · + |x| .
j k j k
n(n+1) 1 1
Note that the sum 1 + 2 + 3 + · · · + n = 2
.
Here, n = |x|
. Let n = |x| .
Then:
1
n≤ <n+1
|x|
1 1
⇒ < |x| ≤
n+1 n
1 1
⇒ 2
< x2 ≤ 2
(n + 1) n
The expression becomes:
n(n + 1)
x2 ·
2
So we have:
n(n + 1) n(n + 1) n(n + 1)
2
< x2 ≤
2(n + 1) 2 2n2
1 n n(n + 1) 1 n+1
⇒ · < x2 ≤ ·
2 n+1 2 2 n
As x → 0, n → ∞, so:
1 n 1 1 n+1 1
lim · = , lim · =
n→∞ 2 n + 1 2 n→∞ 2 n 2
Hence, by the Sandwich theorem the limit exists and equals 12 .
(
x if x ∈ Q
(b) limx→c f (x) for any c ∈ R, where f (x) =
2 − x if x ∈ R \ Q.
We analyze the limit at x = c.
Consider two sequences:

1
 i. A sequence of rational numbers {xn } converging to c. Then f (xn ) = xn → c.
ii. A sequence of irrational numbers {yn } converging to c. Then f (yn ) = 2 − yn →
2 − c.
For the limit to exist at x = c, we must have c = 2 − c, i.e., c = 1.
Therefore:
• If c ̸= 1, the limit does not exist because the sequential limits differ.
• If c = 1, then both sequences give f (xn ) → 1 and f (yn ) → 1. So limx→1 f (x) = 1.

2. Let f : (−1, 1) \ {0} → R. Show that limx→0 f (x) = l implies that limx→0 f (sin x) = l.
Given limx→0 f (x) = l, we have:

∀ϵ > 0, ∃δ > 0 such that 0 < |x| < δ ⇒ |f (x) − l| < ϵ.

Now, consider f (sin x). As x → 0, sin x → 0. Also, for x near 0 (but x ̸= 0), sin x ̸= 0
and | sin x| < |x|. So, for any ϵ > 0, choose δ1 > 0 such that 0 < |x| < δ1 ⇒ |f (x) − l| < ϵ.
Then, for 0 < |x| < min(δ1 , π/2) (to ensure sin x ̸= 0 and | sin x| < |x| < δ1 ), we have:

|f (sin x) − l| < ϵ.

Hence, limx→0 f (sin x) = l.

(−1)n
3. Let f : R → R be defined by f (x) = n
sin(πx) for x ∈ [n, n + 1) for n ∈ Z. Then
prove that limx→±∞ f (x) = 0.
(−1)n 1
For x ∈ [n, n + 1), we have |f (x)| = n
sin(πx) ≤ |n|
, since | sin(πx)| ≤ 1.
1 1
As x → ∞, n → ∞, so |n|
→ 0. Similarly, as x → −∞, n → −∞, |n| → ∞, so |n|
→ 0.
Therefore, by the squeeze theorem, limx→±∞ f (x) = 0.

4. Discuss the continuity of the following functions:

(
x if x ∈ Q
(a) f (x) =
−x if x ∈ R \ Q.
Check continuity at x = c:
• If c = 0: For any sequence xn → 0, |f (xn )| = |xn | → 0. So f (xn ) → 0 = f (0).
Hence, continuous at 0.
• If c ̸= 0: Consider a rational sequence {xn } → c, then f (xn ) = xn → c. Consider
an irrational sequence {yn } → c, then f (yn ) = −yn → −c. For continuity, we
need c = −c ⇒ c = 0. So for c ̸= 0, the limit does not exist, hence f is
discontinuous at all c ̸= 0.
Therefore, f is continuous only at x = 0.
(
x sin x1 if x ̸= 0
(b) f (x) =
0 if x = 0.
For x ̸= 0, f is continuous as it is a product of continuous functions.

2
 At x = 0: Note that |x sin(1/x)| ≤ |x|. So as x → 0, |f (x)| → 0. Hence,
limx→0 f (x) = 0 = f (0). Therefore, f is continuous at 0.
Thus, f is continuous on R.

5. Using ϵ − δ definition discuss whether the following functions are continuous or not:

(a) f (x) = xn for x ∈ R.

For any c ∈ R, we want to show:

∀ϵ > 0, ∃δ > 0 such that |x − c| < δ ⇒ |xn − cn | < ϵ.

Note that |xn − cn | = |x − c| · |xn−1 + xn−2 c + · · · + cn−1 |. For x in a bounded interval

around c, the sum is bounded by some M . Then |xn − cn | ≤ M |x − c|. So choose
δ = ϵ/M . Hence, f is continuous on R.
(b) f (x) = x−1 for x ∈ (0, ∞).
For any c > 0, we have:
1 1 |x − c|
|f (x) − f (c)| = − = .
x c |x||c|
For x near c, say |x − c| < c/2, then x > c/2, so 1/|x| < 2/c. Then:
|x − c| · 2/c 2|x − c|
|f (x) − f (c)| < = .
c c2
Given ϵ > 0, choose δ = min(c/2, ϵc2 /2). Then |x − c| < δ ⇒ |f (x) − f (c)| < ϵ.
Hence, f is continuous on (0, ∞).
(c) f (x) = x−1 for x ∈ (α, ∞), α > 0.
Similar to (b), for any c > α, we have x > α, so 1/|x| < 1/α. Then:
|x − c| |x − c|
|f (x) − f (c)| = < .
|x||c| α2

Given ϵ > 0, choose δ = ϵα2 . Then |x − c| < δ ⇒ |f (x) − f (c)| < ϵ. Hence, f is
continuous on (α, ∞).
(d) f (x) = x1/n for x ∈ (0, ∞) and n ∈ N.
For any c > 0, we want to show continuity of f (x) = x1/n . Note that for x, y > 0:
|x − c|
|x1/n − c1/n | = .
x(n−1)/n + x(n−2)/n c1/n + · · · + c(n−1)/n
For x near c, the denominator is bounded below by c(n−1)/n > 0. So:
|x − c|
|x1/n − c1/n | ≤ .
c(n−1)/n
Given ϵ > 0, choose δ = ϵ · c(n−1)/n . Then |x − c| < δ ⇒ |f (x) − f (c)| < ϵ. Hence, f
is continuous on (0, ∞).

3
 Using sequential criterion, prove that the function f : R → R defined by f (x) =
6. (
1 if x ∈ Q
is nowhere continuous.
0 if x ∈ R \ Q
Take any c ∈ R. We show that f is not continuous at c.
Since both Q and R \ Q are dense in R, we can choose:

• A sequence {xn } ⊂ Q such that xn → c. Then f (xn ) = 1 → 1.

• A sequence {yn } ⊂ R \ Q such that yn → c. Then f (yn ) = 0 → 0.

Unless 1 = 0, the sequential limit is not unique. Hence, limx→c f (x) does not exist.
Therefore, f is discontinuous at every c ∈ R.

7. A function f : J → R is called Lipschitz function on J if there exists L > 0 such that

|f (x) − f (y)| ⩽ L|x − y| for all x, y ∈ J. Show that any Lipschitz function is continuous.
Given f is Lipschitz with constant L. For any c ∈ J, we have:

|f (x) − f (c)| ≤ L|x − c|.

Given ϵ > 0, choose δ = ϵ/L. Then for all x with |x − c| < δ, we have:
ϵ
|f (x) − f (c)| ≤ L|x − c| < L · = ϵ.
L
Hence, f is continuous at c. Since c is arbitrary, f is continuous on J.

8. Let f : R → R be a continuous function such that, for all x, y ∈ R,

f (x + y) = f (x) + f (y).

Show that f (x) = ax for some a ∈ R.

Let x = y = 0:
f (0) = f (0 + 0) = f (0) + f (0) =⇒ f (0) = 0.
Now,

f (0) = f (x + (−x)) = f (x) + f (−x) =⇒ 0 = f (x) + f (−x) =⇒ f (−x) = −f (x).

For any n ∈ N, by induction:

f (nx) = nf (x).
For negative integers, since f (−x) = −f (x), we have:

f (−nx) = −f (nx) = −nf (x).

So f (nx) = nf (x) for all n ∈ Z.

For rational numbers, let q ∈ N:
     
x x x 1
f (x) = f q · = qf =⇒ f = f (x).
q q q q

4
 Then for any p ∈ Z, q ∈ N:
     
p x x p
f x =f p· = pf = f (x).
q q q q
In particular, for x = 1, let a = f (1). Then for any r ∈ Q:

f (r) = rf (1) = ar.

Since f is continuous and Q is dense in R, for any x ∈ R, take a sequence {rn } ⊂ Q such
that rn → x. Then:
f (x) = lim f (rn ) = lim arn = ax.
n→∞ n→∞

Hence, f (x) = ax for all x ∈ R.

9. A function f : R → R be continuous such that f (x + y) = f (x)f (y) for all x, y ∈ R. Then

prove that f is either the zero function or f (x) = ax for some a > 0.

(a) If f (a) = 0 for some a ∈ R, then for any x ∈ R:

f (x) = f ((x − a) + a) = f (x − a)f (a) = 0.

So f ≡ 0.
(b) Now assume f (x) ̸= 0 for all x ∈ R. Then:
 x x    x 2
f (x) = f + = f ≥ 0.
2 2 2
So f (x) > 0 for all x ∈ R.
(c) Define g(x) = ln f (x). Then:

g(x + y) = ln f (x + y) = ln(f (x)f (y)) = ln f (x) + ln f (y) = g(x) + g(y).

Also, g is continuous. By the previous problem, g(x) = cx for some c ∈ R. So:

ln f (x) = cx =⇒ f (x) = ecx = (ec )x .

Let a = ec > 0. Then f (x) = ax .

Hence, f is either the zero function or f (x) = ax for some a > 0.

10. Does a continuous function map a Cauchy sequence to a Cauchy sequence? Describe.
Not necessarily. For example, consider f (x) = 1/x on (0, 1). The sequence {1/n} is
Cauchy in (0, 1), but f (1/n) = n is not Cauchy.
However, if the domain is closed and bounded (i.e., compact), then a continuous function
will map Cauchy sequences to Cauchy sequences. In fact, on compact sets, continuous
functions are uniformly continuous, and uniformly continuous functions preserve Cauchy
sequences.