Chapter 3: Problem 9
Determine all values of \(\bar{x}\) such that the limit \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \bar{x}}(1+x-[x])\) exists.
Short Answer
Expert verified
The limit exists for all non-integer values of \(\bar{x}\).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Function Components
The given expression is \(1 + x - [x]\). Here, \([x]\) represents the floor function, which gives the greatest integer less than or equal to \( x \). Our goal is to find values of \(\bar{x}\) for which the limit exists as \(x\) approaches \(\bar{x}\).
02
Analyze the Limit
The expression \(1 + x - [x]\) simplifies to \(1 + \{x\}\), where \(\{x\} = x - [x]\) is the fractional part of \(x\). The function becomes \(1 + \{x\}\), which is a real value between 1 and 2, excluding 2, since \(\{x\}\) ranges from 0 to just less than 1.
03
Determine the Discontinuity Points
The function \(1 + \{x\}\) is continuous for all real \(x\) except at integer points where \(x = n\) (\(n\) is any integer). At these points, \(\lim_{{x \to n^-}} = 2\) and \(\lim_{{x \to n^+}} = 1\); hence, the limit does not exist at integer values.
04
Identify Values for Which Limit Exists
The limit \(\lim_{x \to \bar{x}} (1 + x - [x])\) exists for all non-integer values of \(\bar{x}\), as these are the points where the function is continuous.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Limit of a Function
In mathematical analysis, the term "limit" describes the behavior of a function as its argument approaches a particular value. When we talk about the limit of a function such as \( \lim_{x \to \bar{x}} (1 + x - [x]) \), we are examining how the function behaves near \( \bar{x} \). Here, the expression inside the limit simplifies to \( 1 + \{x\} \), where \( \{x\} \) represents the fractional part of \( x \).
- The "limit exists" if we can find a single value that the function approaches as \( x \) gets infinitely close to \( \bar{x} \) from both sides.
- For the given function, the limit fails to exist wherever there is a jump or discontinuity.
Floor Function
The floor function, denoted by \( [x] \) or sometimes \( \lfloor x \rfloor \), outputs the largest integer smaller than or equal to \( x \). In simpler terms, it "rounds down" to the nearest whole number.
- For example, \( [3.7] = 3 \) and \( [-2.3] = -3 \).
- In the context of our function, \( [x] \) represents the integer part of \( x \).
- This function creates a step-like graph where each step extends from one integer to just before the next one.
Continuity
Continuity at a point means that the graph of a function does not have any breaks, jumps, or holes at that point. For the function \( 1 + \{x\} \), continuity applies for all non-integer values of \( x \).
- A continuous function at a point \( x = a \) satisfies the condition: \( \lim_{x \to a} f(x) = f(a) \).
- In simpler terms, you can draw the function without lifting your pencil off the paper at that point.
Discontinuity
Discontinuity in a function is when it has breaks, jumps, or holes, meaning the limit does not exist at those points. For the function \( 1 + \{x\} \), discontinuities occur at integer values of \( x \).
- Discontinuity occurs because the fractional part \( \{x\} \) resets to zero each time \( x \) reaches an integer number.
- At an integer \( n \), \( \lim_{{x \to n^-}} \) approaches 2, and \( \lim_{{x \to n^+}} \) approaches 1.
- Because these two one-sided limits differ, the function is discontinuous at integers.
Fractional Part of a Number
The fractional part of a number \( x \), denoted as \( \{x\} \), is the non-integer part of the number, computed as \( x - [x] \).
- It always lies in the interval \( [0, 1) \).
- For example: if \( x = 3.75 \), then \( [x] = 3 \) and \( \{x\} = 0.75 \).
- This operation isolates the decimal component of \( x \), which repeats in the same manner between each pair of consecutive integers.