Epsilon-Delta Definition, Continuity

Suppose we have a function f (x). If we let f (x) become arbitrarily close to a single number L as
x approaches a constant c from either side, then the limit of f (x) as x approaches c is L, which we
write as,
lim f (x) = L
x→c

But then again, we haven’t precisely defined the phrases “f (x) becomes arbitrarily close to L” and
“x approaches c”. This is where the ε-δ definition of the limit comes into play.
Let ε be a small positive real number. The part which says “f (x) becomes arbitrarily close to L”
indicates that f (x) lies in the interval (L − ε, L + ε). In absolute value notation we express this as,

|f (x) − L| < ε

Likewise, “x approaches c” indicates that there is a positive real number δ such that x lies in either
the interval (c − δ, c) or (c, c + δ). This can be expressed in absolute value notation as,

0 < |x − c| < δ

Thus, we are now ready to define the limit formally. Let f be a function defined on an open interval
containing c (except possibly at c) and let L ∈ R. The statement

lim f (x) = L
x→c

is equivalent to saying that for every ε > 0, there exists a δ > 0 such that

if 0 < |x − c| < δ then |f (x) − L| < ε

Next, we define the notion of continuity. For continuity at a point, a particular function f is said
to be continuous at c if the following three conditions are satisfied:

(a) f (c) is defined

(b) lim f (x) exists

x→c

(c) lim f (x) = f (c)

x→c

For continuity on an open interval, a function f is said to be continuous on an open interval (a, b)
if it is continuous at each point in that interval. A function that is continuous on the entire real
line (−∞, +∞) is said to be continuous everywhere.’
For continuity on a closed interval, a function f is said to be continuous on the closed interval [a, b]
if it is continuous on the open interval (a, b) and,

(a) lim+ f (x) = f (a)

x→a

(b) lim− f (x) = f (b)

x→b
I. Prove that lim (2x − 1) = 3 using the ε − δ definition.
x→2

Solution:

First, we need to find a suitable value for our delta so we work backwards. We want to show
that |(2x − 1) − 3| < ε whenever 0 < |x − 2| < δ. So we have,

|(2x − 1) − 3| < ε
|2x − 4| < ε
2|x − 2| < ε

This implies that a suitable value for δ is 2ε . We then proceed with the formal proof as follows:
ε
Let ε > 0 and take δ = 2
> 0 so that whenever we have 0 < |x − 2| < δ,

|(2x − 1) − 3| = |2x − 4|
= 2|x − 2|
ε
<2 =ε
2
Therefore, by definition, we have shown that lim (2x − 1) = 3.
x→2

II. Consider the piecewise-defined function:


|x + 2|
, if x < 0, x 6= −2


2
jx + x k− 2



f (x) = x
−1 , if 0 ≤ x ≤ 2
 5 √



− sec( 3x2 − 2x − 8), if x > 2


Determine if f is continuous or discontinuous at x = −2, 0 and 2. If discontinuous, classify

the type of discontinuity as removable, jump essential, or infinite essential.

Solution:

• Note that f is undefined at x = −2. Taking one-sided limits we have,

|x + 2|
lim − f (x) = lim −
x→−2 x→−2 x2 + x − 2
−(x + 2)
= lim −
x→−2 (x + 2)(x − 1)
1
= lim − −
x→−2 (x − 1)
1
=−
−2 − 1
1
=
3
 |x + 2|
lim + f (x) = lim +
x→−2 x→−2 x2
+x−2
x+2
= lim +
x→−2 (x + 2)(x − 1)
1
= lim +
x→−2 (x − 1)
1
=
−2 − 1
1
=−
3
Since lim − f (x) 6= lim + f (x), the function has a jump essential discontinuity at x = 0.
x→−2 x→−2

• Note that f (0) = −1. Testing for continuity at x = 0,

|x + 2|
lim− f (x) = lim−
x→0 x→0 x2 + x − 2
|0 + 2|
=
0+0−2
2
=
−2
= −1
jx k
lim+ f (x) = lim+ −1
x→0 x→0
 5
0
= −1
5
= b−1c
= −1
Since lim− f (x) = f (0) = lim+ f (x), the function is continuous at x = 0.
x→0 x→0

• Note that f (2) = −1. Testing for continuity at x = 2,

jx k
lim− f (x) = lim− f (x) −1
x→2 x→2
  5
2
= −1
5
= −1
√
lim+ f (x) = lim+ − sec( 3x2 − 2x − 8)
x→2 x→2
= − sec[3(2)2 − 2(2) − 8]
= − sec(0)
= −1
Since lim− f (x) = f (2) = lim+ f (x), the function is continuous at x = 2.
x→2 x→2