Definition:Piecewise Continuous Function/One-Sided Limits

Definition
Let $f$ be a real function defined on a closed interval $\closedint a b$.

$f$ is piecewise continuous with one-sided limits :


 * there exists a finite subdivision $\set {x_0, x_1, \ldots, x_n}$ of $\closedint a b$, where $x_0 = a$ and $x_n = b$, such that, for all $i \in \set {1, 2, \ldots, n}$:


 * $(1): \quad f$ is continuous on $\openint {x_{i − 1} } {x_i}$


 * $(2): \quad$ the one-sided limits $\displaystyle \lim_{x \mathop \to {x_{i − 1} }^+} \map f x$ and $\ds \lim_{x \mathop \to {x_i}^-} \map f x$ exist.

Also known as
Some sources hyphenate: piecewise-continuous.

Some sources refer to condition $(2)$ as that $\map f x$ is finite at the endpoints, but demands more rigor in its use of the term finite.

The one-sided limits can also be seen denoted as:
 * $\map f {x_{i − 1} + 0}$ and $\map f {x_i - 0}$

Also see

 * Piecewise Continuous Function with One-Sided Limits is Bounded
 * Bounded Piecewise Continuous Function may not have One-Sided Limits


 * Piecewise Continuous Function with One-Sided Limits is Darboux Integrable


 * Piecewise Continuous Function with One-Sided Limits is Uniformly Continuous on Each Piece