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Find all points of discontinuity of the greatest integer function defined by f(x) = [x], where [x] denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to x. |
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Answer» Given function is (x) = [x], where [x] denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to . i.e., f(x) = [x] = f(x) = \(f(n) = \begin{cases} x & \quad x \,is\, an\, integer\\ x-1 & x \,is\, not\, an\, integer \end{cases}\) Since, both functions x and x − 1 are continuous function. (Because, all polynomial functions are continuous and both functions x and x − 1 are polynomial of degree 1. ) Then, only doubtful points are integers. Let us discuss about the continuity of function f(x) at arbitrary integer x = c. The left hand limit of function f(x) at x = c is f(c −) = \(\lim\limits_{x \to c^-} f(x)\) = \(\lim\limits_{h \to 0} f(c - h)\) = \(\lim\limits_{h \to 0} [c - h]\) = c. (Because, c is an integer, therefore, c + h > c and not an integer, therefore, [c + h] = c ) Therefore, f(\(c^-\)) ≠ f(\(c^+\)) means the left hand limit and the right hand limit of function f(x) = [x] at x = c is not equals. Therefore, the function f(x) = [x] is not continuous at x = c and c is an arbitrary integer. Therefore, the function (x) = [x] is not continuous at any integer. Hence, the function f(x) = [x] is discontinuous at all integers. |
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