We have seen many examples of functions earlier. Let us also consider the example of the range of r of a gun pointed at an angle to the horizon. Gun, shell and other conditions remaining the same, we know that for every angle
we have a definite range
, giving rise to the function r. Suppose we know that the target is at a distance d from the gun and that
for some
. Then, we point our gun at an angle
to the horizon to hit the target. A little deviation in
in likely to cause an error in our hit. But, we also know that if our hit is within a certain distance from the target, then our objective is achieved (depending on the shell). Now, if want the hit to be within a distance
from the target, can we adjust the deviation
in
around
accordingly? Another way of putting the same question is to ask if for a small change in angle
latex r(\theta)$? If yes, then we are allowed a little play in aiming our gun. If not, a small play might result in a wide miss. What we are asking is: for every
, can we find a $\delta >0$ such that
whenever
? We shall come across similar questions in other situations too. For example, perhaps, you might be knowing how to obtain the values of
through the series called Madhava-Gregory’s series. That method takes a long time to evaluate the value of
correctly to, say, 4 places of decimal. There is also the formula:
.
To find the sum of the above series correct to, say, 4 places of decimal, it is enough to sum the first 25 terms. But the sum gives an approximate value of . To get the value of $\pi$, we need to multiply the sum by
and then extract its fourth root. Now the question is how would the error committed in evaluating
be propagated in the subsequent calculations? Put in a different way, let us write
and
, and let
b/ e the approximate value of
calculated by summing the first n terms of the series. So, the approximate value of $\pi$ would be
. This leads naturally to the question: how is the error
in the value of
related to the error
in the value of x? Can we calculate
correct to the desired accuracy by calculating x sufficiently accurately? If not, then this method of calculation is not very useful. If a small perturbation in x causes an abrupt change in
, then we should perhaps think of some other method of calculation. It may be noted that, philosophically, continuity forms the basis of large parts of the experimental sciences where it is tacitly assumed that small errors in measurement will not lead to drastic changes in conclusions.
These ideas lead to the definition of continuity of functions.
Definition. let be a function. W say that the function is continuous at
if for every
, we can find a
such that
whenever
. This is to say that for continuous functions, f, the value of
can be restricted within the interval
by restricting the value of x within
. Try to do draw a figure based on this!!
Note that for continuity at . we need an interval containing
to be contained in its domain, and hence, it is enough that the function f has its domain an interval in
. So we can define continuity of a function
in the same way as above. In the case of the end points a and b, we can only talk of the right and left continuity, respectively.
More later,
Nalin Pithwa