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











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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
    2 days 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
    2 days ago












  • Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
    – Spitemaster
    2 days ago










  • If a function is continuous everywhere, but undefined at one point, the sky is purple.
    – immibis
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days ago












  • Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
    – Spitemaster
    2 days ago










  • If a function is continuous everywhere, but undefined at one point, the sky is purple.
    – immibis
    2 days 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 2 days ago









Alec

2,16211538




2,16211538








  • 7




    It is nowhere said that $g$ is continuous at $x=3$.
    – Martin R
    2 days 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
    2 days ago












  • Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
    – Spitemaster
    2 days ago










  • If a function is continuous everywhere, but undefined at one point, the sky is purple.
    – immibis
    2 days ago














  • 7




    It is nowhere said that $g$ is continuous at $x=3$.
    – Martin R
    2 days 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
    2 days ago












  • Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
    – Spitemaster
    2 days ago










  • If a function is continuous everywhere, but undefined at one point, the sky is purple.
    – immibis
    2 days ago








7




7




It is nowhere said that $g$ is continuous at $x=3$.
– Martin R
2 days ago




It is nowhere said that $g$ is continuous at $x=3$.
– Martin R
2 days 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
2 days 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
2 days ago














Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
– Spitemaster
2 days ago




Also potentially relevant: If there are finitely many points where there are discontinuities, then $g$ is continuous almost everywhere.
– Spitemaster
2 days ago












If a function is continuous everywhere, but undefined at one point, the sky is purple.
– immibis
2 days ago




If a function is continuous everywhere, but undefined at one point, the sky is purple.
– immibis
2 days ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

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up vote
17
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
    2 days ago










  • It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
    – Eevee Trainer
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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.






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    2 Answers
    2






    active

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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

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    active

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    active

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    up vote
    17
    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
      2 days ago










    • It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
      – Eevee Trainer
      2 days 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
      2 days 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
      2 days 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
      2 days ago















    up vote
    17
    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
      2 days ago










    • It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
      – Eevee Trainer
      2 days 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
      2 days 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
      2 days 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
      2 days ago













    up vote
    17
    down vote



    accepted







    up vote
    17
    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 2 days ago

























    answered 2 days ago









    user3482749

    1,088411




    1,088411












    • Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
      – user3482749
      2 days ago










    • It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
      – Eevee Trainer
      2 days 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
      2 days 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
      2 days 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
      2 days ago


















    • Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
      – user3482749
      2 days ago










    • It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
      – Eevee Trainer
      2 days 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
      2 days 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
      2 days 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
      2 days ago
















    Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
    – user3482749
    2 days ago




    Damnit, I failed at proof reading.
    – user3482749
    2 days ago












    It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
    – Eevee Trainer
    2 days ago




    It's understandable, I've made similar derps before, myself (one earlier today in fact >_>)
    – Eevee Trainer
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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 2 days ago









        Eevee Trainer

        97111




        97111






























             

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