Thomas' Calculus 13th Edition

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32187-896-5
ISBN 13: 978-0-32187-896-0

Chapter 2: Limits and Continuity - Section 2.5 - Continuity - Exercises 2.5 - Page 86: 64

Answer

Take, for example $g(x)=x+1,\ \displaystyle \quad f(x)=\frac{1}{x-1}$. This does not contradict Th.9.

Work Step by Step

Observe the hypotheses of theorem 9: If $f$ is continuous at $c$ and $g$ is continuous at $f(c)$... then the composite function etc. Select a continuous function $g(x)=x+1$ Note that g is continuous at x=0, $g(0)=1.$ Now, select f so that Theorem 9 does not apply. We want f that is NOT defined at $x=g(0)=1$ Place $(x-1)$ in the denominator. $f(x)=\displaystyle \frac{1}{x-1}$ Note that $f$ is continuous at x=0, $ f(0)=-1.$ The composition, $f\displaystyle \circ g(x)=f[g(x)]=\frac{1}{g(x)-1}=\frac{1}{x+1-1}=\frac{1}{x}$, is discontinuous at x=0. No contradictions with Theorem 9, as it did not apply to this case.
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