Find all the points of discontinuity of the greatest integer function defined by $f(x) = [x]$,where $[x]$ denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to $x$.

Vedclass pdf generator app on play store
Vedclass iOS app on app store
(N/A) First,observe that $f$ is defined for all real numbers. The graph of the function is shown in the figure. From the graph,it appears that $f$ is discontinuous at every integral point. Below,we verify if this is true.
Case $1$: Let $c$ be a real number which is not an integer. It is evident from the graph that for all real numbers close to $c$,the value of the function is equal to $[c]$; i.e.,$\lim_{x \to c} f(x) = \lim_{x \to c} [x] = [c]$. Also,$f(c) = [c]$,and hence the function is continuous at all real numbers that are not integers.
Case $2$: Let $c$ be an integer. Then we can find a sufficiently small real number $r > 0$ such that $[c - r] = c - 1$,whereas $[c + r] = c$.
This,in terms of limits,means that:
$\lim_{x \to c^-} f(x) = c - 1$ and $\lim_{x \to c^+} f(x) = c$.
Since these limits are not equal to each other for any integer $c$,the function is discontinuous at every integral point.

Explore More

Similar Questions

If $f(x) = \begin{cases} ax^2 - b, & 0 \le x < 1 \\ 2, & x = 1 \\ x + 1, & 1 < x \le 2 \end{cases}$ is continuous at $x = 1$,then the most suitable values of $a$ and $b$ are:

Consider the function $f(x) = \begin{cases} \frac{P(x)}{\sin(x-2)}, & x \neq 2 \\ 7, & x = 2 \end{cases}$ where $P(x)$ is a polynomial such that $P''(x)$ is always a constant and $P(3) = 9$. If $f(x)$ is continuous at $x = 2$,then $P(5)$ is equal to:

If $[x]$ denotes the greatest integer not exceeding $x$ and if the function $f$ defined by $f(x)= \begin{cases} \frac{a+2 \cos x}{x^2} & , x < 0 \\ b \tan \frac{\pi}{[x+4]} & , x \geq 0 \end{cases}$ is continuous at $x=0$, then the ordered pair $(a, b)$ is equal to

If $f(x) = \begin{cases} [x] + [-x], & x \ne 2 \\ \lambda, & x = 2 \end{cases},$ then $f$ is continuous at $x = 2,$ provided $\lambda$ is (where $[.]$ is the Greatest Integer Function).

If $f(x) = \begin{cases} \frac{a \sin x - b x + c x^2 + x^3}{2 \log(1+x) - 2x + x^2 - \frac{2}{3}x^3} &, x \neq 0 \\ 0 &, x=0 \end{cases}$ is continuous at $x=0$,then find the relation between $a, b, c$.

Vedclass Products

For Students

Vedclass Test Series

Mock tests in real JEE/NEET style with performance analysis. 5-day free trial.

Start Free Trial
For Teachers

Exam Paper Generator

Generate Set A/B/C/D exam papers from 7.5L+ questions in 2 minutes. 3 chapters free.

Try Free
For Institutes

Online Exam Module

Live online exams with unlimited students, 360° analytics & white-label branding.

See Demo