Definition 2.1 (Continuous functions): (i) For x0 ∈ X, f is continuous at x0 if for every
ε > 0 there exists δ > 0 such that for all x ∈ X, d_X x x0 < δ implies
d_Y (f x) (f x0) < ε. (ii) f is continuous on X if it is continuous at every x ∈ X.
Equations
- IsContinuousAt f x0 = ContinuousAt f x0
Instances For
A function between metric spaces is continuous if it is continuous at every point.
Equations
- IsContinuous f = ∀ (x : X), IsContinuousAt f x
Instances For
Proposition 2.1: Let X be a topological space and let f : X → ℝ be continuous. Define
f^2 : X → ℝ by f^2 x := (f x)^2. Then f^2 is continuous.
Helper for Theorem 2.1: open-set formulation of continuity at a point.
Theorem 2.1 (Continuity preserves convergence): Let (X,d_X) and (Y,d_Y) be metric spaces,
f : X → Y, and x0 ∈ X. The following statements are equivalent: (a) f is continuous at x0.
(b) For every sequence x : ℕ → X with x → x0, one has f ∘ x → f x0. (c) For every open set
V ⊆ Y with f x0 ∈ V, there exists an open set U ⊆ X with x0 ∈ U such that f '' U ⊆ V.
Proposition 2.2: Let (X, d) be a metric space and let (E, d|_{E × E}) be a subspace of
(X, d). The inclusion map ι_{E → X} : E → X, defined by ι_{E → X}(x) = x, is continuous.
Helper for Theorem 2.2: IsContinuous matches Continuous for metric spaces.
Theorem 2.2: Let (X, d_X) and (Y, d_Y) be metric spaces and f : X → Y. The following
statements are equivalent: (a) f is continuous. (b) Whenever a sequence x in X converges to
x0, the sequence fun n => f (x n) converges to f x0. (c) For every open set V ⊆ Y, the
preimage f ⁻¹' V is open in X. (d) For every closed set F ⊆ Y, the preimage f ⁻¹' F is
closed in X.
Helper for Proposition 2.3: continuity at a point is preserved under restriction to a subset.
Helper for Proposition 2.3: global continuity is preserved under restriction to a subset.
Proposition 2.3: If f : X → Y is continuous at x0 ∈ E, then the restriction f|_E is
continuous at x0; in particular, if f is continuous on X, then f|_E is continuous on E.
Theorem 2.3 (Continuity preserved by composition): Let (X,d_X), (Y,d_Y), and (Z,d_Z) be
metric spaces. (a) If f : X → Y is continuous at x0 and g : Y → Z is continuous at f x0,
then g ∘ f is continuous at x0. (b) If f is continuous on X and g is continuous on Y,
then g ∘ f is continuous on X.
Proposition 2.4: Let f : X → Y be a function between metric spaces, and let E ⊆ Y
contain the image of f. Let g : X → E be the codomain restriction of f with g x = f x.
Then for any x0 ∈ X, f is continuous at x0 iff g is continuous at x0.