Let $f: [0,infty] to mathbb{R}$ be continuous such that its limit tends to $0$ as $x to infty$. Prove that...












3












$begingroup$


This question has been answered in the past but I am confused about a point in the proof.



Here is the problem statement:



Let $f$ be a continuous function from $[0, infty)$ to $mathbb{R}$ such that $$lim_{xtoinfty} f(x) = 0$$. Prove that $f$ is uniformly continuous on $[0, infty)$.



Proof:



Since $$lim_{xtoinfty} f(x) = 0$$ given $epsilon >0$ there exists an $N>0$ such that for all $x,y > N$, $|f(x)-f(y)| < epsilon$.



Now, since $[0,N]$ is a compact set, and $f$ is continuous, $f$ is uniformly continuous on $[0,N]$. That is, given the same $epsilon >0$, there exists a $delta > 0$ such that $|f(x)-f(y)| < epsilon$ for all $x,y in [0,N]$ with $|x-y| < delta$.



Now we just need to show that $f$ is uniformly continuous on $(N,infty)$.



My question is, can't we just say that for all $x,y > N$ with $|x-y| < delta$, $|f(x) - f(y)| < epsilon$ and hence, we have $f$ is uniformly continuous on all of $[0, infty)$?



A previous prove says to let $delta_j = min{1,delta}$ before proving uniform continuity of $f$ on $(N, infty)$ and I don't see the need for this step.










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    I would argue differently. For $varepsilon>0$ choose $N$ such that $|f(x)-f(y)|<varepsilon/2$ for $x,y >N$. Then for $[0,N]$ choose the $delta$ corresponding to $varepsilon/2$ from the uniform continuity property. This $delta$, then works for all $x,y$ since if $x,y>N$ or $x,y<N$ the property is obviously satisfied. If $x<N<y$, then apply the uniform continuity bound on $|f(x)-f(N)| <varepsilon/2$ and $|f(N)-f(y)|<varepsilon/2$.
    $endgroup$
    – Beni Bogosel
    Apr 8 '15 at 22:14










  • $begingroup$
    Another way to do it: Since $f$ has a limit at $+infty$, you can say that $f(x) = f(tan y)$ with $y in [0,pi/2]$. If you denote $g: [0,pi/2], g(y) = f(tan y)$, then $g$ is continuous. Furthermore, $f(x) = g(arctan x)$. Now use the fact that $g$ is uniformly continuous and that $|arctan x-arctan y| leq |x-y|$.
    $endgroup$
    – Beni Bogosel
    Apr 8 '15 at 22:19










  • $begingroup$
    Possible Duplicate
    $endgroup$
    – Empty
    Apr 9 '15 at 11:44
















3












$begingroup$


This question has been answered in the past but I am confused about a point in the proof.



Here is the problem statement:



Let $f$ be a continuous function from $[0, infty)$ to $mathbb{R}$ such that $$lim_{xtoinfty} f(x) = 0$$. Prove that $f$ is uniformly continuous on $[0, infty)$.



Proof:



Since $$lim_{xtoinfty} f(x) = 0$$ given $epsilon >0$ there exists an $N>0$ such that for all $x,y > N$, $|f(x)-f(y)| < epsilon$.



Now, since $[0,N]$ is a compact set, and $f$ is continuous, $f$ is uniformly continuous on $[0,N]$. That is, given the same $epsilon >0$, there exists a $delta > 0$ such that $|f(x)-f(y)| < epsilon$ for all $x,y in [0,N]$ with $|x-y| < delta$.



Now we just need to show that $f$ is uniformly continuous on $(N,infty)$.



My question is, can't we just say that for all $x,y > N$ with $|x-y| < delta$, $|f(x) - f(y)| < epsilon$ and hence, we have $f$ is uniformly continuous on all of $[0, infty)$?



A previous prove says to let $delta_j = min{1,delta}$ before proving uniform continuity of $f$ on $(N, infty)$ and I don't see the need for this step.










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    I would argue differently. For $varepsilon>0$ choose $N$ such that $|f(x)-f(y)|<varepsilon/2$ for $x,y >N$. Then for $[0,N]$ choose the $delta$ corresponding to $varepsilon/2$ from the uniform continuity property. This $delta$, then works for all $x,y$ since if $x,y>N$ or $x,y<N$ the property is obviously satisfied. If $x<N<y$, then apply the uniform continuity bound on $|f(x)-f(N)| <varepsilon/2$ and $|f(N)-f(y)|<varepsilon/2$.
    $endgroup$
    – Beni Bogosel
    Apr 8 '15 at 22:14










  • $begingroup$
    Another way to do it: Since $f$ has a limit at $+infty$, you can say that $f(x) = f(tan y)$ with $y in [0,pi/2]$. If you denote $g: [0,pi/2], g(y) = f(tan y)$, then $g$ is continuous. Furthermore, $f(x) = g(arctan x)$. Now use the fact that $g$ is uniformly continuous and that $|arctan x-arctan y| leq |x-y|$.
    $endgroup$
    – Beni Bogosel
    Apr 8 '15 at 22:19










  • $begingroup$
    Possible Duplicate
    $endgroup$
    – Empty
    Apr 9 '15 at 11:44














3












3








3





$begingroup$


This question has been answered in the past but I am confused about a point in the proof.



Here is the problem statement:



Let $f$ be a continuous function from $[0, infty)$ to $mathbb{R}$ such that $$lim_{xtoinfty} f(x) = 0$$. Prove that $f$ is uniformly continuous on $[0, infty)$.



Proof:



Since $$lim_{xtoinfty} f(x) = 0$$ given $epsilon >0$ there exists an $N>0$ such that for all $x,y > N$, $|f(x)-f(y)| < epsilon$.



Now, since $[0,N]$ is a compact set, and $f$ is continuous, $f$ is uniformly continuous on $[0,N]$. That is, given the same $epsilon >0$, there exists a $delta > 0$ such that $|f(x)-f(y)| < epsilon$ for all $x,y in [0,N]$ with $|x-y| < delta$.



Now we just need to show that $f$ is uniformly continuous on $(N,infty)$.



My question is, can't we just say that for all $x,y > N$ with $|x-y| < delta$, $|f(x) - f(y)| < epsilon$ and hence, we have $f$ is uniformly continuous on all of $[0, infty)$?



A previous prove says to let $delta_j = min{1,delta}$ before proving uniform continuity of $f$ on $(N, infty)$ and I don't see the need for this step.










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$




This question has been answered in the past but I am confused about a point in the proof.



Here is the problem statement:



Let $f$ be a continuous function from $[0, infty)$ to $mathbb{R}$ such that $$lim_{xtoinfty} f(x) = 0$$. Prove that $f$ is uniformly continuous on $[0, infty)$.



Proof:



Since $$lim_{xtoinfty} f(x) = 0$$ given $epsilon >0$ there exists an $N>0$ such that for all $x,y > N$, $|f(x)-f(y)| < epsilon$.



Now, since $[0,N]$ is a compact set, and $f$ is continuous, $f$ is uniformly continuous on $[0,N]$. That is, given the same $epsilon >0$, there exists a $delta > 0$ such that $|f(x)-f(y)| < epsilon$ for all $x,y in [0,N]$ with $|x-y| < delta$.



Now we just need to show that $f$ is uniformly continuous on $(N,infty)$.



My question is, can't we just say that for all $x,y > N$ with $|x-y| < delta$, $|f(x) - f(y)| < epsilon$ and hence, we have $f$ is uniformly continuous on all of $[0, infty)$?



A previous prove says to let $delta_j = min{1,delta}$ before proving uniform continuity of $f$ on $(N, infty)$ and I don't see the need for this step.







real-analysis






share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question











share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question










asked Apr 8 '15 at 21:56









JohnverJohnver

892610




892610












  • $begingroup$
    I would argue differently. For $varepsilon>0$ choose $N$ such that $|f(x)-f(y)|<varepsilon/2$ for $x,y >N$. Then for $[0,N]$ choose the $delta$ corresponding to $varepsilon/2$ from the uniform continuity property. This $delta$, then works for all $x,y$ since if $x,y>N$ or $x,y<N$ the property is obviously satisfied. If $x<N<y$, then apply the uniform continuity bound on $|f(x)-f(N)| <varepsilon/2$ and $|f(N)-f(y)|<varepsilon/2$.
    $endgroup$
    – Beni Bogosel
    Apr 8 '15 at 22:14










  • $begingroup$
    Another way to do it: Since $f$ has a limit at $+infty$, you can say that $f(x) = f(tan y)$ with $y in [0,pi/2]$. If you denote $g: [0,pi/2], g(y) = f(tan y)$, then $g$ is continuous. Furthermore, $f(x) = g(arctan x)$. Now use the fact that $g$ is uniformly continuous and that $|arctan x-arctan y| leq |x-y|$.
    $endgroup$
    – Beni Bogosel
    Apr 8 '15 at 22:19










  • $begingroup$
    Possible Duplicate
    $endgroup$
    – Empty
    Apr 9 '15 at 11:44


















  • $begingroup$
    I would argue differently. For $varepsilon>0$ choose $N$ such that $|f(x)-f(y)|<varepsilon/2$ for $x,y >N$. Then for $[0,N]$ choose the $delta$ corresponding to $varepsilon/2$ from the uniform continuity property. This $delta$, then works for all $x,y$ since if $x,y>N$ or $x,y<N$ the property is obviously satisfied. If $x<N<y$, then apply the uniform continuity bound on $|f(x)-f(N)| <varepsilon/2$ and $|f(N)-f(y)|<varepsilon/2$.
    $endgroup$
    – Beni Bogosel
    Apr 8 '15 at 22:14










  • $begingroup$
    Another way to do it: Since $f$ has a limit at $+infty$, you can say that $f(x) = f(tan y)$ with $y in [0,pi/2]$. If you denote $g: [0,pi/2], g(y) = f(tan y)$, then $g$ is continuous. Furthermore, $f(x) = g(arctan x)$. Now use the fact that $g$ is uniformly continuous and that $|arctan x-arctan y| leq |x-y|$.
    $endgroup$
    – Beni Bogosel
    Apr 8 '15 at 22:19










  • $begingroup$
    Possible Duplicate
    $endgroup$
    – Empty
    Apr 9 '15 at 11:44
















$begingroup$
I would argue differently. For $varepsilon>0$ choose $N$ such that $|f(x)-f(y)|<varepsilon/2$ for $x,y >N$. Then for $[0,N]$ choose the $delta$ corresponding to $varepsilon/2$ from the uniform continuity property. This $delta$, then works for all $x,y$ since if $x,y>N$ or $x,y<N$ the property is obviously satisfied. If $x<N<y$, then apply the uniform continuity bound on $|f(x)-f(N)| <varepsilon/2$ and $|f(N)-f(y)|<varepsilon/2$.
$endgroup$
– Beni Bogosel
Apr 8 '15 at 22:14




$begingroup$
I would argue differently. For $varepsilon>0$ choose $N$ such that $|f(x)-f(y)|<varepsilon/2$ for $x,y >N$. Then for $[0,N]$ choose the $delta$ corresponding to $varepsilon/2$ from the uniform continuity property. This $delta$, then works for all $x,y$ since if $x,y>N$ or $x,y<N$ the property is obviously satisfied. If $x<N<y$, then apply the uniform continuity bound on $|f(x)-f(N)| <varepsilon/2$ and $|f(N)-f(y)|<varepsilon/2$.
$endgroup$
– Beni Bogosel
Apr 8 '15 at 22:14












$begingroup$
Another way to do it: Since $f$ has a limit at $+infty$, you can say that $f(x) = f(tan y)$ with $y in [0,pi/2]$. If you denote $g: [0,pi/2], g(y) = f(tan y)$, then $g$ is continuous. Furthermore, $f(x) = g(arctan x)$. Now use the fact that $g$ is uniformly continuous and that $|arctan x-arctan y| leq |x-y|$.
$endgroup$
– Beni Bogosel
Apr 8 '15 at 22:19




$begingroup$
Another way to do it: Since $f$ has a limit at $+infty$, you can say that $f(x) = f(tan y)$ with $y in [0,pi/2]$. If you denote $g: [0,pi/2], g(y) = f(tan y)$, then $g$ is continuous. Furthermore, $f(x) = g(arctan x)$. Now use the fact that $g$ is uniformly continuous and that $|arctan x-arctan y| leq |x-y|$.
$endgroup$
– Beni Bogosel
Apr 8 '15 at 22:19












$begingroup$
Possible Duplicate
$endgroup$
– Empty
Apr 9 '15 at 11:44




$begingroup$
Possible Duplicate
$endgroup$
– Empty
Apr 9 '15 at 11:44










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















2












$begingroup$

A possible leak in the proof follows if we ask: Is $f$ continuous on $N$.
A simple way to solve this:
In stead of taking $[0,N]$, take $[0,N+1]$ as the compact set.
Where $N$ is chosen such that: $$forall x>N: |f(x)-0|<frac{epsilon}{2}$$
Than we have:
$$forall x,y>N: |f(x)-f(y)| leq |f(x)-0|+|f(y)-0|<frac{epsilon}{2}+frac{epsilon}{2}=epsilon : : (1)$$
As in the OP we have a $delta_1>0$ such that: $$forall x,y: x,y in [0,N+1]: |x-y|<delta_1 Rightarrow |f(x)-f(y)| <epsilon : : (2)$$
Now take $delta$ such that: $0<delta <min {frac{1}{2},delta_1 }$.




Final step: Take $x,y in [0,+infty[$.
There can be three cases:



Case 1: $:$ $x,y in [0,N+frac{1}{2}]$.
Then it follows directly from $(2)$ that: $|f(x)-f(y)|<epsilon$.
Case 2: $:$ $x,y in [N+frac{1}{2},+infty]$. Then: it follows directly from $(1)$.
Case 3: By the choice of $delta$ we can see that $y<N+1$ so both $x,y$ are smaller than $N+1$. And thus case 1 applies.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













    Your Answer





    StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
    return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
    StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
    StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
    });
    });
    }, "mathjax-editing");

    StackExchange.ready(function() {
    var channelOptions = {
    tags: "".split(" "),
    id: "69"
    };
    initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

    StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
    // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
    if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
    StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
    createEditor();
    });
    }
    else {
    createEditor();
    }
    });

    function createEditor() {
    StackExchange.prepareEditor({
    heartbeatType: 'answer',
    autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
    convertImagesToLinks: true,
    noModals: true,
    showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
    reputationToPostImages: 10,
    bindNavPrevention: true,
    postfix: "",
    imageUploader: {
    brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
    contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
    allowUrls: true
    },
    noCode: true, onDemand: true,
    discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
    ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
    });


    }
    });














    draft saved

    draft discarded


















    StackExchange.ready(
    function () {
    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f1226121%2flet-f-0-infty-to-mathbbr-be-continuous-such-that-its-limit-tends-to-0%23new-answer', 'question_page');
    }
    );

    Post as a guest















    Required, but never shown

























    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

    votes








    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    2












    $begingroup$

    A possible leak in the proof follows if we ask: Is $f$ continuous on $N$.
    A simple way to solve this:
    In stead of taking $[0,N]$, take $[0,N+1]$ as the compact set.
    Where $N$ is chosen such that: $$forall x>N: |f(x)-0|<frac{epsilon}{2}$$
    Than we have:
    $$forall x,y>N: |f(x)-f(y)| leq |f(x)-0|+|f(y)-0|<frac{epsilon}{2}+frac{epsilon}{2}=epsilon : : (1)$$
    As in the OP we have a $delta_1>0$ such that: $$forall x,y: x,y in [0,N+1]: |x-y|<delta_1 Rightarrow |f(x)-f(y)| <epsilon : : (2)$$
    Now take $delta$ such that: $0<delta <min {frac{1}{2},delta_1 }$.




    Final step: Take $x,y in [0,+infty[$.
    There can be three cases:



    Case 1: $:$ $x,y in [0,N+frac{1}{2}]$.
    Then it follows directly from $(2)$ that: $|f(x)-f(y)|<epsilon$.
    Case 2: $:$ $x,y in [N+frac{1}{2},+infty]$. Then: it follows directly from $(1)$.
    Case 3: By the choice of $delta$ we can see that $y<N+1$ so both $x,y$ are smaller than $N+1$. And thus case 1 applies.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$


















      2












      $begingroup$

      A possible leak in the proof follows if we ask: Is $f$ continuous on $N$.
      A simple way to solve this:
      In stead of taking $[0,N]$, take $[0,N+1]$ as the compact set.
      Where $N$ is chosen such that: $$forall x>N: |f(x)-0|<frac{epsilon}{2}$$
      Than we have:
      $$forall x,y>N: |f(x)-f(y)| leq |f(x)-0|+|f(y)-0|<frac{epsilon}{2}+frac{epsilon}{2}=epsilon : : (1)$$
      As in the OP we have a $delta_1>0$ such that: $$forall x,y: x,y in [0,N+1]: |x-y|<delta_1 Rightarrow |f(x)-f(y)| <epsilon : : (2)$$
      Now take $delta$ such that: $0<delta <min {frac{1}{2},delta_1 }$.




      Final step: Take $x,y in [0,+infty[$.
      There can be three cases:



      Case 1: $:$ $x,y in [0,N+frac{1}{2}]$.
      Then it follows directly from $(2)$ that: $|f(x)-f(y)|<epsilon$.
      Case 2: $:$ $x,y in [N+frac{1}{2},+infty]$. Then: it follows directly from $(1)$.
      Case 3: By the choice of $delta$ we can see that $y<N+1$ so both $x,y$ are smaller than $N+1$. And thus case 1 applies.






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$
















        2












        2








        2





        $begingroup$

        A possible leak in the proof follows if we ask: Is $f$ continuous on $N$.
        A simple way to solve this:
        In stead of taking $[0,N]$, take $[0,N+1]$ as the compact set.
        Where $N$ is chosen such that: $$forall x>N: |f(x)-0|<frac{epsilon}{2}$$
        Than we have:
        $$forall x,y>N: |f(x)-f(y)| leq |f(x)-0|+|f(y)-0|<frac{epsilon}{2}+frac{epsilon}{2}=epsilon : : (1)$$
        As in the OP we have a $delta_1>0$ such that: $$forall x,y: x,y in [0,N+1]: |x-y|<delta_1 Rightarrow |f(x)-f(y)| <epsilon : : (2)$$
        Now take $delta$ such that: $0<delta <min {frac{1}{2},delta_1 }$.




        Final step: Take $x,y in [0,+infty[$.
        There can be three cases:



        Case 1: $:$ $x,y in [0,N+frac{1}{2}]$.
        Then it follows directly from $(2)$ that: $|f(x)-f(y)|<epsilon$.
        Case 2: $:$ $x,y in [N+frac{1}{2},+infty]$. Then: it follows directly from $(1)$.
        Case 3: By the choice of $delta$ we can see that $y<N+1$ so both $x,y$ are smaller than $N+1$. And thus case 1 applies.






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        A possible leak in the proof follows if we ask: Is $f$ continuous on $N$.
        A simple way to solve this:
        In stead of taking $[0,N]$, take $[0,N+1]$ as the compact set.
        Where $N$ is chosen such that: $$forall x>N: |f(x)-0|<frac{epsilon}{2}$$
        Than we have:
        $$forall x,y>N: |f(x)-f(y)| leq |f(x)-0|+|f(y)-0|<frac{epsilon}{2}+frac{epsilon}{2}=epsilon : : (1)$$
        As in the OP we have a $delta_1>0$ such that: $$forall x,y: x,y in [0,N+1]: |x-y|<delta_1 Rightarrow |f(x)-f(y)| <epsilon : : (2)$$
        Now take $delta$ such that: $0<delta <min {frac{1}{2},delta_1 }$.




        Final step: Take $x,y in [0,+infty[$.
        There can be three cases:



        Case 1: $:$ $x,y in [0,N+frac{1}{2}]$.
        Then it follows directly from $(2)$ that: $|f(x)-f(y)|<epsilon$.
        Case 2: $:$ $x,y in [N+frac{1}{2},+infty]$. Then: it follows directly from $(1)$.
        Case 3: By the choice of $delta$ we can see that $y<N+1$ so both $x,y$ are smaller than $N+1$. And thus case 1 applies.







        share|cite|improve this answer












        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered Apr 8 '15 at 22:26









        abcdefabcdef

        912416




        912416






























            draft saved

            draft discarded




















































            Thanks for contributing an answer to Mathematics Stack Exchange!


            • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

            But avoid



            • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

            • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


            Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


            To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




            draft saved


            draft discarded














            StackExchange.ready(
            function () {
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f1226121%2flet-f-0-infty-to-mathbbr-be-continuous-such-that-its-limit-tends-to-0%23new-answer', 'question_page');
            }
            );

            Post as a guest















            Required, but never shown





















































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown

































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown







            Popular posts from this blog

            Bundesstraße 106

            Verónica Boquete

            Ida-Boy-Ed-Garten