Classification of discontinuities

Continuous functions are of utmost importance in mathematics and applications. However, not all functions are continuous. If a function is not continuous at a point in its domain, one says that it has a discontinuity there. The set of all points of discontinuity of a function may be a discrete set, a dense set, or even the entire domain of the function.

This article describes the classification of discontinuities in the simplest case of functions of a single real variable taking real values.

Classification of discontinuities

Consider a function $f$ of real variable $x$ with real values defined in a neighborhood of a point $x\_0.$ Then three situations are possible:

1. The one-sided limit from the negative direction

$L^\{-\}=lim\_\{xrarr\; x\_0^\{-\}\}\; f(x)$

and the one-sided limit from the positive direction

$L^\{+\}=lim\_\{xrarr\; x\_0^\{+\}\}\; f(x)$

at $x\_0$ exist, are finite, and are equal. Then, if f(x₀) is not equal to L, x₀ is called a removable discontinuity. This discontinuity can be removed (so f can be made continuous at x₀) by setting $f(x\_0)=L.$

2. The limits $L^\{-\}$ and $L^\{+\}$ exist and are finite, but not equal. Then, x₀ is called a jump discontinuity or step discontinuity.

3. One or both of the limits $L^\{-\}$ and $L^\{+\}$ does not exist or is infinite. Then, x₀ is called an essential discontinuity.

The term removable discontinuity is sometimes (improperly) used for cases in which the limits in both directions exist and are equal, while the function is undefined at the point $x\_0.$ This use is improper because continuity and discontinuity of a function are concepts defined only for points in the function's domain.

Examples

1. Consider the function

Then, the point $x\_0=1$ is a removable discontinuity.

2. Consider the function

Then, the point $x\_0=1$ is a jump discontinuity.

3. Consider the function

Then, the point $x\_0=1$ is an essential discontinuity. For it to be an essential discontinuity, it would have sufficed that only one of the two one-sided limits did not exist or were infinite.

The set of discontinuities of a function

The set of points at which a function is continuous is always a G_δ set. The set of discontinuities is an F_σ set.

Thomae's function is discontinuous at every rational point, but continuous at every irrational point.

The indicator function of the rationals, also known as the Dirichlet function, is discontinuous everywhere.

See also

• Removable singularity
• Mathematical singularity

Notes

References

• Malik, S. C.; Arora, Savita Mathematical analysis, 2nd ed. New York: Wiley.

External links

• "Discontinuity" by Ed Pegg, Jr., The Wolfram Demonstrations Project, 2007.