I have seen many proofs using this approach:
Let us suppose that f is differentiable at x0. Then
limx→x0f(x)−f(x0)x−x0=f′(x)
and hence
limx→x0f(x)−f(x0)=limx→x0[f(x)−f(x0)x−x0]⋅limx→x0(x−x0)=0
We have therefore shown that, using the definition of continuous, if the function is differentiable at x0, it must also be continuous.
However, I was wondering if you can use this same proof using the sequential definition of differentiability that states:
If f is a function and has derivative f′(c) at the point c in the domain of f means that if (an)∞n=1 is any sequence converging to c such that an ≠cis in the domain of f for all n∈N, then: [f(xn)−f(c)xn−c]∞n=1
converges to f′(c)
My attempt using this definition:
(f(xn)−f(c)xn−c)∞n=1. Let ϵ>0. Then |f(xn)−f(c)xn−c−f′(c)|<ϵ <=> |f(an)−f(c)|<(ϵ+|f′(c)|)|an−c|
I thought this could be the start to a proof similar to the one above, but I am stuck after this point. I'm not sure if I have to use the delta-epsilon or sequential definition of continuity to continue with this proof, or if there is another way. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Answer
I presume xn is the same as an.
If |f(xn)−f(c)xn−c−f′(c)|<ϵ for all large n,
then the fact that |f(xn)−f(c)xn−c|−|f′(c)|≤|f(xn)−f(c)xn−c−f′(c)|
implies
|f(xn)−f(c)|≤(|f′(c)|+ϵ)|xn−c| for all large n.
Then taking n→∞, we have |xn−c|→0 so |f(xn)−f(c)|→0.
If you must use ϵ-δ notation, then note that for sufficiently large n we have |xn−c|<ϵ′|f′(c)|+ϵ so that |f(xn)−f(c)|<ϵ′.
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