Metric Space Continuity by Epsilon-Delta

Theorem
Let $M_1 = \struct {A_1, d_1}$ and $M_2 = \struct {A_2, d_2}$ be metric spaces.

Let $f: A_1 \to A_2$ be a mapping from $A_1$ to $A_2$.

Let $a \in A_1$ be a point in $A_1$.

Then the following definitions of continuity of $f$ at $a$ with respect to $d_1$ and $d_2$ are equivalent:

Definition by Limits implies $\epsilon$-$\delta$ Definition
Suppose that $f$ is $\tuple {d_1, d_2}$-continuous at $a$ in the sense that:
 * $(1): \quad$ The limit of $\map f x$ as $x \to a$ exists
 * $(2): \quad \ds \lim_{x \mathop \to a} \map f x = \map f a$

Let $\ds \lim_{x \mathop \to a} \map f x$.

Then by the $\epsilon$-$\delta$ definition of limit:
 * $\forall \epsilon \in \R_{>0}: \exists \delta \in \R_{>0}: 0 < \map {d_1} {x, a} < \delta \implies \map {d_2} {\map f x, L} < \epsilon$

By $(2)$:
 * $\ds \lim_{x \mathop \to a} \map f x = \map f a$

that is:
 * $\map f a = L$

Then:
 * $0 = \map {d_1} {a, a}$

and so:
 * $\map {d_2} {\map f a, L} = 0 < \epsilon$

Thus the definition by limits implies the $\epsilon$-$\delta$ definition.

$\epsilon$-$\delta$ Definition implies Definition by Limits
Suppose that $f$ is $\tuple {d_1, d_2}$-continuous at $a$ in the sense that:
 * $\forall \epsilon \in \R_{>0}: \exists \delta \in \R_{>0}: \forall x \in A_1: \map {d_1} {x, a} < \delta \implies \map {d_2} {\map f x, \map f a} < \epsilon$

where $\R_{>0}$ denotes the set of all strictly positive real numbers.

There are two possibilities for $\map {d_1} {x, a}$:

$(\text a): \quad 0 < \map {d_1} {x, a} < \delta$

Then by the $\epsilon$-$\delta$ definition of limit:
 * $\ds \lim_{x \mathop \to a} \map f x = \map f a$

$(\text b): \quad \map {d_1} {x, a} = 0$

That is, $x = a$.

Hence:
 * $\map f x = \map f a$

and so again:
 * $\ds \lim_{x \mathop \to a} \map f x = \map f a$

Thus the $\epsilon$-$\delta$ definition implies the definition by limits.

Also see

 * Metric Space Continuity by Open Ball