[Math] Is the product of continuous functions in a metric space continuous

general-topologymetric-spacesreal-analysis

I have the following problem: Let $(X,d)$ be a metric space, and let $f, g: X \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ be continuous functions. Prove that $f + g$ (sum) and $fg$ (product) are continuous.

I wrote the following proof for showing that the addition of $f$ and $g$ would be continuous: Let $x_0 \in X$, we will now show that $f + g$ is continuous on $x_0$. Let $f(x_0) = r$, $g(x_0) = s$. Let $ \epsilon > 0$ be given. Then there exists $\delta_1 > 0$ such that if $d(x,x_0) < \delta_1$, $|f(x) – r| < \frac{\epsilon}{2}$. Similarly, there exists $\delta_2 > 0$ such that $d(x,x_0) < \delta_2$ implies that $|g(x) – s| < \frac{\epsilon}{2}$. Take $\delta = \min(\delta_1,\delta_2)$. Then if $d(x,x_0) < \delta$, $|(f(x) + g(x)) – (r +s)| \leq |f(x) – r| + |g(x) – s| < \frac{\epsilon}{2} + \frac{\epsilon}{2} = \epsilon$. Because we have shown that $f+g$ is continuous for every $x_0 \in X$, the function $f+g$ is continuous.

However, I'm not quite sure if I can use a similar method to show that the product of two continuous functions is continuous. When I try, I get into the position of trying to show that $d(x,x_0) < \delta$ implies $|fg – rs| < \epsilon$, and unlike in the case of addition the triangle inequality doesn't nicely take care of things. Am I on the right track, or should I be trying a totally different approach than from what I did for addition?

Best Answer

Hint.

$$\vert f(x)g(x)-f(x_0)g(x_0) \vert \le \vert f(x)\vert \vert g(x)-g(x_0) \vert +\vert g(x_0)\vert \vert f(x)-f(x_0)\vert$$

Related Question