ECON2174 Mathematics for Economists

Problem Set 3 Solution

1. We suppose the contrary that the limit of (xi ) is a point outside T . Suppose that point is
x ̸∈ T , by the definition of limit, we have

∀ϵ > 0, ∃n ∈ N, i > n

=⇒ |xi − x| < ϵ
=⇒ xi ∈ Bϵ (x)
Note that these xi are in the set T . Hence we have the set (Bϵ (x) \ {x}) ∩ T at least contains
those xi , hence nonempty. As a result, x is a limit point of T . However, since T is a closed
set, x should be in T , reaching a contradiction.

2. We consider every limit point x of the set A ∩ B. We have,

(Bϵ (x) \ {x}) ∩ (A ∩ B) ̸= ∅

By the associative law, we have

((Bϵ (x) \ {x}) ∩ A) ∩ B ̸= ∅

=⇒ (Bϵ (x) \ {x}) ∩ A ̸= ∅

Hence, x is a limit point of A. Since A is closed, it should also be included in A.
Similarly, by the associative and commutative law, we have

((Bϵ (x) \ {x}) ∩ B) ∩ A ̸= ∅

=⇒ (Bϵ (x) \ {x}) ∩ B ̸= ∅

Again, since B is closed, x should be in B. Together, we have x in A ∩ B. Since every limit
point of A ∩ B is in A ∩ B, A ∩ B is closed.

3. We show that every point outside the set [a, b] × [c, d] would not be a limit point of the set.
Consider every point (x1 , x2 ) outside the set [a, b]×[c, d], then there are 4 possibilities, x1 < a,
x1 > b, x2 < c or x2 > d. Note that if we take ϵ to be smaller than the distance from the
closest boundary point in each case, that is ϵ = min{|x1 − a|, |x1 − b|, |x2 − c|, |x2 − d|}, the
open ball Bϵ (x) would be completely outside the set. Hence, x would not be a limit point of
the set [a, b] × [c, d] if it is outside the set. [a, b] × [c, d] therefore has included all of its limit
point and therefore closed.
4. Suppose that lim f (x) = L for some L. Then, let ϵ = 1, we should be able to find a δ > 0
x→0
1
such that 0 < |x| < δ implies − L < 1.
x
Suppose L ≥ 0,
1
=⇒ L − 1 < <L+1
x
1
=⇒ x >
L+1
1
However, no matter which δ > 0 we choose, there exists some x < . Hence L cannot be
L+1
greater than or equal to 0.
Suppose L < 0,
1
=⇒ x <
L−1
1
Again, no matter which δ we choose, there exists some 0 > x > . Hence, L cannot be
L−1
negative.
Together, we have the limit of f (x) at x = 0 does not exist.

5. Since f is continuous at x0 , we have lim f (x) exists and lim f (x) = f (x0 ).
x→x0 x→x0
Similarly, we have lim g(x) exists and lim g(x) = g(x0 ).
x→x0 x→x0
We then look at the limit lim f (x)g(x). Since both limits exist, we have
x→x0
  
lim f (x)g(x) = lim f (x) lim g(x) = f (x0 )g(x0 )
x→x0 x→x0 x→x0

As a result, we have h(x) := f (x)g(x) continuous at x = x0 .

6. (
x, if x ≥ 0
f (x) = |x| =
−x, if x < 0
For the part x > 0, it is a linear function so that the limit of any point is the same as the
function value at that point. As a result, f is continuous for x > 0. Similarly, f is continuous
for x < 0.
For x = 0, we want to show that lim f (x) = 0.
x→0
∀ϵ > 0, take δ = ϵ, when |x| < δ = ϵ

=⇒ | − x| < ϵ and |x| < ϵ

=⇒ |f (x) − 0| < ϵ
Hence, we have lim f (x) = 0 = f (0). f is therefore also continuous at x = 0. Together, we
x→0
have f is continuous.

2
 ϵ ϵ
7. ∀ϵ > 0, take δ = . Let x = (x1 , x2 , ...xn ) ∈ Rn , ∀x0 ∈ Rn , d(x − x0 ) < δ =
n n
v
u n
uX ϵ
=⇒ t (xi − x0,i )2 <
n
i=1

n
X ϵ2
=⇒ (xi − x0,i )2 <
n2
i=1

ϵ2
=⇒ (xi − x0,i )2 < , i = 1, 2, ..., n
n2
ϵ
=⇒ |xi − x0,i | < , i = 1, 2, ..., n
n
Then, we have
n
X n
X n
X
|f (x) − f (x0 )| = xi − x0,i = (xi − x0,i )
i=1 i=1 i=1
n
X ϵ
< |xi − x0,i | < n =ϵ
n
i=0

As a result, we have lim f (x) = f (x0 ) for all x0 ∈ Rn . Hence f is continuous.

x→x0