Let [x] be the greatest integer less than or equal to x. Then, $f(x)=x \cos (\pi(x+[x]))$ is continuous at
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
We have,
$f(x)=x \cos (\pi(x+[x])=x \cos (\pi[x]+\pi x)$
$\Rightarrow f(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{c}x \cos \pi x, & \text { for }-2 \leq x<-1 \\ -x \cos \pi x, & \text { for }-1 \leq x<0 \\ x \cos \pi x, & \text { for } ~~0 \leq x<1 \\ -x \cos \pi x, & \text { for } ~~1 \leq x<2 \\ x \cos \pi x, & \text { for } ~~2 \leq x<3\end{array}\right.$
Clearly,
$\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0^{-}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0^{-}}-x \cos \pi x=0$
$\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0^{+}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0^{+}} x \cos \pi x=0$, and f(0) = 0
∴ $\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0^{-}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0^{+}} f(x)=f(0)$
So, f(x) is continuous at x = 0
$\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 1^{-}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 1} x \cos \pi x=\cos \pi=-1$
$\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 1^{+}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 1}-x \cos \pi x=-\cos \pi=1$
∴ $\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 1^{-}} f(x) \neq \lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 1^{+}} f(x)$
So, f(x) is continuous at x = 1
$\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 2^{-}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 2}-x \cos \pi x=-2 \cos 2 \pi=-2$
$\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 2^{+}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 2} x \cos \pi x=2 \cos 2 \pi=2$
∴ $\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 2^{-}} f(x) \neq \lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 2^{+}} f(x)$
So, f(x) is not continuous at x = 2
$\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow-1^{+}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow-1}-x \cos \pi x=\cos (-\pi)=-1$
$\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow-1^{-}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow-1} x \cos \pi x=-\cos (-\pi)=1$
So, f(x) is discontinuous at x = -1.