Exercise 719Calculus › Single-variable calculus › LimitsL1Added 1 Nov 2026
x times the Dirichlet function
#squeeze theorem#pathological functions#continuity
Statement
Let , where is the Dirichlet function ( if and otherwise). Show that , and that has no limit at any point .
Hint
At , use the bound .
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Solution
At . For every , . By the squeeze theorem, as . Since , the function is continuous at .
At . For every , the interval contains a rational number and an irrational number . We thus have , and
Since , these two limits are different, so has no limit at .
Remark. The function is continuous at exactly one point, . Continuity at a single point is possible, and it comes from the factor squeezing .