# Definition:Piecewise Continuous Function

## Definition

Let $f$ be a real function defined on a closed interval $\left[{a \,.\,.\, b}\right]$.

$f$ is piecewise continuous if and only if:

there exists a finite subdivision $\left\{ {x_0, x_1, \ldots, x_n}\right\}$ of $\left[{a \,.\,.\, b}\right]$, where $x_0 = a$ and $x_n = b$, such that:
for all $i \in \left\{ {1, 2, \ldots, n}\right\}$, $f$ is continuous on $\left({x_{i − 1} \,.\,.\, x_i}\right)$.

Further conditions can be placed on this definition to add specialisation as necessary:

### With Improper Integrals

$f$ is piecewise continuous with improper integrals if and only if:

there exists a finite subdivision $\left\{{x_0, x_1, \ldots, x_n}\right\}$ of $\left[{a \,.\,.\, b}\right]$, where $x_0 = a$ and $x_n = b$, such that for all $i \in \left\{ {1, 2, \ldots, n}\right\}$:
$(1): \quad f$ is continuous on $\left({x_{i − 1} \,.\,.\, x_i}\right)$
$(2): \quad$ the improper integrals $\displaystyle \int_{ {x_{i - 1} }^+}^{ {x_i}^-} f \left({x}\right) \rd x$ all exist.

### Bounded

$f$ is a bounded piecewise continuous function if and only if:

there exists a finite subdivision $\left\{{x_0, x_1, \ldots, x_n}\right\}$ of $\left[{a \,.\,.\, b}\right]$, where $x_0 = a$ and $x_n = b$, such that:
$(1): \quad$ for all $i \in \left\{{1, 2, \ldots, n}\right\}$, $f$ is continuous on $\left({x_{i − 1} \,.\,.\, x_i}\right)$
$(2): \quad$ $f$ is bounded on $\left[{a \,.\,.\, b}\right]$.

### With One-Sided Limits

$f$ is piecewise continuous with one-sided limits if and only if:

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 $\displaystyle \lim_{x \mathop \to {x_i}^-} \map f x$ exist.

## Also known as

Some sources hyphenate: piecewise-continuous.

## Also defined as

There are other definitions of Piecewise Continuous Function. For example, the following variations exist:

• $f$ need not be defined at the points $x_i$.
• The subdivision above can be infinite when the domain of $f$ is unbounded.
• The codomain of $f$ is $\C$ instead of $\R$.