A Gentle Introduction to Continuous Functions
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Many areas of calculus require an understanding of regular options. The traits of regular options, and the study of things of discontinuity are of good curiosity to the mathematical neighborhood. Because of their obligatory properties, regular options have wise capabilities in machine finding out algorithms and optimization methods.
In this tutorial, you will uncover what regular options are, their properties, and two obligatory theorems throughout the study of optimization algorithms, i.e., intermediate value theorem and extreme value theorem.
After ending this tutorial, you will know:
- Definition of regular options
- Intermediate value theorem
- Extreme value theorem
Let’s get started.

A Gentle Introduction to regular options Photo by Jeeni Khala, some rights reserved.
Tutorial Overview
This tutorial is break up into 2 elements; they’re:
- Definition of regular options
- Informal definition
- Formal definition
- Theorems
- Intermediate value theorem
- Extreme value theorem
Prerequisites
This tutorial requires an understanding of the thought of limits. To refresh your memory, you’ll take a look at limits and continuity, the place regular options are moreover briefly outlined. In this tutorial we’ll go into additional particulars.
We’ll moreover make use of intervals. So sq. brackets suggest closed intervals (embody the boundary elements) and parenthesis suggest open intervals (do not embody boundary elements), for example,
- [a,b] means a<=x<=b
- (a,b) means a<x<b
- [a,b) means a<=x<b
From the above, you can note that an interval can be open on one side and closed on the other.
As a last point, we’ll only be discussing real functions defined over real numbers. We won’t be discussing complex numbers or functions defined on the complex plane.
An Informal Definition of Continuous Functions
Suppose we have a function f(x). We can easily check if it is continuous between two points a and b, if we can plot the graph of f(x) without lifting our hand. As an example, consider a straight line defined as:
f(x)=2x+1
We can draw the straight line between [0,1] with out lifting our hand. In fact, we’re in a position to attract this line between any two values of x and we obtained’t want to boost our hand (see decide beneath). Hence, this carry out is regular over the whole space of precise numbers. Now let’s see what happens as soon as we plot the ceil carry out:

Continuous carry out (left), and by no means a gentle carry out (correct)
The ceil carry out has a value of 1 on the interval (0,1], for example, ceil(0.5)= 1, ceil(0.7) = 1, and so forth. As a consequence, the carry out is regular over the realm (0,1]. If we modify the interval to (0,2], ceil(x) jumps to 2 as shortly as x>1. To plot ceil(x) for the realm (0,2], we should always now increase our hand and start plotting as soon as extra at x=2. As a consequence, the ceil carry out isn’t a gentle carry out.
If the carry out is regular over the whole space of precise numbers, then it is a regular carry out as a whole, in every other case, it isn’t regular as total. For the later kind of options, we’re capable of take a look at over which interval they’re regular.
A Formal Definition
A carry out f(x) is regular at a level a, if the carry out’s value approaches f(a) when x approaches a. Hence to examine the continuity of a carry out at a level x=a, take a look at the following:
- f(a) should exist
- f(x) has a prohibit as x approaches a
- The prohibit of f(x) as x->a is identical as f(a)
If your complete above keep true, then the carry out is regular on the extent a.
Examples
Some examples are listed beneath and likewise confirmed throughout the decide:
- f(x) = 1/x should not be regular as it isn’t outlined at x=0. However, the carry out is regular for the realm x>0.
- All polynomial options are regular options.
- The trigonometric options sin(x) and cos(x) are regular and oscillate between the values -1 and 1.
- The trigonometric carry out tan(x) should not be regular because it’s undefined at x=𝜋/2, x=-𝜋/2, and so forth.
- sqrt(x) should not be regular as it isn’t outlined for x<0.
- |x| is regular everywhere.

Examples of regular options and options with discontinuities
Connection of Continuity with Function Derivatives
From the definition of continuity in relation to limits, now we have now one other definition. f(x) is regular at x, if:
f(x+h)-f(x)→ 0 when (h→0)
Let’s take a look on the definition of a by-product:
f'(x) = lim(h→0) (f(x+h)-f(x))/h
Hence, if f'(x) exists at a level a, then the carry out is regular at a. The converse should not be on a regular basis true. A carry out is also regular at a level a, nevertheless f'(a) won’t exist. For occasion, throughout the above graph |x| is regular everywhere. We can draw it with out lifting our hand, however, at x=0 its by-product would not exist as a result of sharp flip throughout the curve.
Intermediate Value Theorem
The intermediate value theorem states that:
If:
- carry out f(x) is regular on [a,b]
- and f(a) <= Ok <= f(b)
then:
- There is a level c between a and b, i.e., a<=c<=b such that f(c) = Ok
In quite simple phrases, this theorem says that if a carry out is regular over [a,b], then all values of the carry out between f(a) and f(b) will exist inside this interval as confirmed throughout the decide beneath.

Illustration of intermediate value theorem (left) and extreme value theorem (correct)
Extreme Value Theorem
This theorem states that:
If:
- carry out f(x) is regular on [a,b]
then:
- There are elements x_min and x_max contained within the interval [a,b], i.e.,
- a<=x_min<=b
- a<=x_max<=b
- and the carry out f(x) has a minimal value f(x_min), and a most value f(x_max), i.e.,
- f(x_min)<=f(x)<=f(x_max) when a<=x<=b
In simple phrases a gentle carry out on a regular basis has a minimal and most value inside an interval as confirmed throughout the above decide.
Continuous Functions and Optimization
Continuous options are important throughout the study of optimization points. We can see that the extreme value theorem ensures that inside an interval, there’ll on a regular basis be a level the place the carry out has a most value. The comparable may very well be talked about for a minimal value. Many optimization algorithms are derived from this fundamental property and would possibly perform great duties.
Extensions
This half lists some ideas for extending the tutorial that you possibly can be need to uncover.
- Converging and diverging sequences
- Weierstrass and Jordan definitions of regular options based totally on infinitesimally small constants
If you uncover any of these extensions, I’d prefer to know. Post your findings throughout the suggestions beneath.
Further Reading
This half provides additional property on the topic in case you might be searching for to go deeper.
Tutorials
- Limits and Continuity
- Evaluating limits
- Derivatives
Resources
- Additional property on Calculus Books for Machine Learning
Books
- Thomas’ Calculus, 14th model, 2023. (based totally on the distinctive works of George B. Thomas, revised by Joel Hass, Christopher Heil, Maurice Weir)
- Calculus, third Edition, 2023. (Gilbert Strang)
- Calculus, eighth model, 2023. (James Stewart)
Summary
In this tutorial, you discovered the thought of regular options.
Specifically, you realized:
- What are regular options
- The formal and informal definitions of regular options
- Points of discontinuity
- Intermediate value theorem
- Extreme value theorem
- Why regular options are obligatory
Do you’ll have any questions?
Ask your questions throughout the suggestions beneath and I’ll do my best to answer.
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