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Topology in calculus

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It's mostly about continuous functions...

Definition. A function $f \colon A \rightarrow {\bf R}$ defined on a subset of ${\bf R}$ is called continuous at $x=a$ in $A$ if $${\rm for \hspace{3pt} any \hspace{3pt}} \epsilon >0 {\rm \hspace{3pt} there \hspace{3pt} is \hspace{3pt} a \hspace{3pt}} \delta >0 {\rm \hspace{3pt} such \hspace{3pt} that \hspace{3pt}} |x - a| < \delta \rightarrow |f(x) - f(a)| < \epsilon.$$

Properties:

  • Differentiable $\rightarrow$ continuous (but not vice versa, example $|x|$)
  • Graph is one piece (i.e. it is connected)
  • If $f, g$ are continuous at $a$ then so are $f+g, f-g, fg$, and $\frac{f}{g}$ (in the last case provided $g(a)≠0$)

Intermediate Value Theorem. Suppose $f \colon [a, b] \rightarrow {\bf R}$ continuous. Then for any $c$ between $f(a)$ and $f(b)$, there is $d$ in $[a,b]$ such that $f(d) = c$.

Continuous and discontinuous:

Intermediate value theorem.jpg

The existence of $d$ shows that as the domain $[a,b]$ is connected then so is the image $f([a,b])$.

Exercise. Is it possible that $d$ exists even though $f$ is not continuous? Solution: IVP for discontinuous.jpg

Once we go to higher dimensions $f \colon A \rightarrow {\bf R}^n$, some of the algebraic properties above disappear as there is no multiplication and division any more. You can still add vectors. There are many new topological results though because the topology of ${\bf R}^n$ is much richer.

Recall a vector field is a function $f \colon {\bf R}^2 \rightarrow {\bf R}^2$. It is called conservative if it is a gradient of a scalar function: $F = {\rm grad \hspace{3pt}} f$.

Theorem. Suppose $F=(P,Q)$ and $P_y=Q_x$ on region $D$. Then $F$ is conservative provided $D$ is simply connected.

Simply connected means that any closed curve can be contracted to point, without leaving the set. For example a circle is not simply connected.

Exercise. Determine which ones of these surfaces are simply connected (sphere, torus, pretzel, cylinder, cone, plane, paraboloid, saddle, double cone).

Surfaces.jpg

Another topological topic in calculus is sequences.

To go deeper consider

 Calculus is topology.