Real Analysis – Continuity of a Composition Function

continuityfunction-and-relation-compositionreal-analysis

Suppose $f$ and $g$ are functions such that $g$ is continuous at $a$, and $f$ is continuous at $g(a)$. Show the composition $f(g(x))$ is continuous at $a$.

My idea: Can I go straight from definition and take $\delta=\min\{\delta_1,\delta_2\}$, where $\delta_1$ is used for the continuity of $g$ at $a$ and $\delta_2$ is used for f being continuous at $g(a)$. In my proof I just treat $g(a)$ as a point when referring to the composition. So it goes like this:

Proof: Given $\epsilon>0$, take $\delta=\min\{\delta_1,\delta_2\}$. Then $0<|x-g(a)|<\delta$ which implies $|f(g(x))-f(g(a))|<\epsilon$.

Best Answer

Since $f$ is continuous at $g(a)$, our definition of continuity tells us that for all $\varepsilon > 0$ there is some $\delta_1$ such that $$|g(x) - g(a)| < \delta_1\implies|f(g(x))-f(g(a))|<\varepsilon.$$ Also, since $g$ is continuous at $a$, there is some $\delta$ such that $$|x-a|<\delta \implies |g(x)-g(a)|<\delta_1.$$ I've taken $\varepsilon =\delta_1$ here. Now this tells us that for all $\varepsilon > 0$ there is some $\delta > 0$ (and a $\delta_1 > 0$) such that $$|x-a| < \delta\implies|g(x)-g(a)|<\delta_1\implies|f(g(x)) - f(g(a))|<\varepsilon,$$ which is what we wanted to show.