Real Analysis – Difference Between Uniform Continuity and Continuity

real-analysis

$f:X\rightarrow Y $ is continuous iff every open ball in $Y$ has open pre-image. It is between topological spaces.

$f:X\rightarrow Y$ is uniformly continuous if $\forall \epsilon >0,\forall x \in X, |x-y|<\delta \implies |f(x)-f(y)|<\epsilon$.

My question is what is the difference between uniform continuity and continuity of a map.

Best Answer

Uniform continuity is a stronger property. To see why, let's write down the $\epsilon-\delta$ definition of continuity:

$$ \forall \epsilon > 0, \forall x \in X, \exists \delta > 0 : |x - y| < \delta \implies |f(x) - f(y)| < \epsilon $$

Compare this with the definition if uniform continuity (and pay extra attention to the order of quantifiers):

$$ \forall \epsilon > 0, \exists \delta > 0, \forall x \in X : |x - y| < \delta \implies |f(x) - f(y)| < \epsilon $$

In the definition of continuity, we find $\delta$ for a particular $\epsilon$ and $x$. $\delta$ depends on both $\epsilon$ and $x$. Each $x$ has its own $\delta$ for a fixed $\epsilon$.

In uniform continuity, $\delta$ depends only on $\epsilon$ and one value of $\delta$ must work for all $x \in X$.