Lecture

Terminologie conventions

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Description

This lecture covers the terminology and conventions related to the limit of a function, including the domain of definition, practical conventions for expressing functions, and examples of polynomial and rational functions. It also introduces algebraic functions constructed from polynomials and a finite number of operations, as well as transcendental functions.

In MOOCs (2)

Analysis I (part 4) : Limit of a function, continuous functions

We introduce real functions of one real variable. We begin by defining some of their properties, including monotonicity, parity and periodicity, as well as operations between functions. We define special functions such as hyperbolic functions. We continue our study of functions, defining step-defined functions, in particular Signum and Heaviside functions. Important practical manipulations on functions are affine transformations. We finally get to the heart of the matter by defining the pointed limit of a f

Analysis I

This course covers : Part 1: Prelude, basic concepts, real numbers. Part 2: Introduction to complex numbers. Part 3: Real number sequences I and II. Part 4: Limit of a function, continuous functions. Part 5: Continuous functions and derivable functions, the derivative function. Part 6: Studies of functions, limited developments. Part 7: Indefinite and definite integrals, integration (selected chapters).

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Related concepts (32)

Transcendental function

In mathematics, a transcendental function is an analytic function that does not satisfy a polynomial equation, in contrast to an algebraic function. In other words, a transcendental function "transcends" algebra in that it cannot be expressed algebraically. Examples of transcendental functions include the exponential function, the logarithm, and the trigonometric functions. Formally, an analytic function f (z) of one real or complex variable z is transcendental if it is algebraically independent of that variable.

Rational function

In mathematics, a rational function is any function that can be defined by a rational fraction, which is an algebraic fraction such that both the numerator and the denominator are polynomials. The coefficients of the polynomials need not be rational numbers; they may be taken in any field K. In this case, one speaks of a rational function and a rational fraction over K. The values of the variables may be taken in any field L containing K. Then the domain of the function is the set of the values of the variables for which the denominator is not zero, and the codomain is L.

Limit of a function

Although the function \tfrac{\sin x}{x} is not defined at zero, as x becomes closer and closer to zero, \tfrac{\sin x}{x} becomes arbitrarily close to 1. In other words, the limit of \tfrac{\sin x}{x}, as x approaches zero, equals 1. In mathematics, the limit of a function is a fundamental concept in calculus and analysis concerning the behavior of that function near a particular input. Formal definitions, first devised in the early 19th century, are given below. Informally, a function f assigns an output f(x) to every input x.

Elementary function

In mathematics, an elementary function is a function of a single variable (typically real or complex) that is defined as taking sums, products, roots and compositions of finitely many polynomial, rational, trigonometric, hyperbolic, and exponential functions, including possibly their inverse functions (e.g., arcsin, log, or x1/n). All elementary functions are continuous on their domains. Elementary functions were introduced by Joseph Liouville in a series of papers from 1833 to 1841.

Algebraic function

In mathematics, an algebraic function is a function that can be defined as the root of a polynomial equation. Quite often algebraic functions are algebraic expressions using a finite number of terms, involving only the algebraic operations addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and raising to a fractional power. Examples of such functions are: Some algebraic functions, however, cannot be expressed by such finite expressions (this is the Abel–Ruffini theorem).

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