2/23/2017 The Uniqueness of Limits of a Function Theorem Mathonline

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TheUniquenessofLimitsofaFunctionTheorem
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TheUniquenessofLimitsofaFunctionTheorem

TheUniquenessofLimitsofaFunctionTheorem
RecallfromTheLimitofaFunctionpagethatforafunctionf : A R wherecisaclusterpointofA,thenlimxc f (x) = L if > 0 > 0such
thatifx A and0 < x c < then f (x) L < .WehavenotyetestablishedthatthelimitLisunique,soisitpossiblethatlimxc f (x) = L
andlimxc f (x) = M whereL M ?Thefollowingtheoremwillshowthatthiscannothappen.

Theorem(UniquenessofLimits):Letf : A R beafunctionandletcbeaclusterpointofA.ThenifL, M R arebothlimitsoff atc,thatis

lim xc f (x) = L and lim xc f (x) = M ,then L = M .

Proof:Letf : A R beafunctionandletcbeaclusterpointofA.Alsoletlimxc f (x) = L andlimxc f (x) = M .SupposethatL M .

Wewillshowthatthisleadstoacontradiction.Let > 0 begiven.

Sincelimxc f (x) = L ,thenfor 1 =
2
1 > 0 suchthatifx A and0 < x c < 1 then f (x) L < 1 =
2
.

Similarly,sincelimxc f (x) = M thenfor 2 =
2
2 > 0 suchthatifx A and0 < x c < 2 then f (x) M < 2 =
2
.Nowlet
= min{ 1 , 2 } andsowehavethat:

L M = L f (x) + f (x) M L f (x) + f (x) M < 1 + 2 = + = (1)
2 2

But > 0 isarbitrary,sothisimpliesthat L M = 0 ,thatisL = M ,acontradiction.SoourassumptionthatL M wasfalse,andsoif

lim xc f (x) = L thenLisunique.

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