The set of points of discontinuity of the greatest integer function [x], is
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
Let f(x) = [x] be the greatest integer function. Let k be any integer.
Then,
$f(x)=[x]=\left\{\begin{array}{cl}
k-1, & \text { if } k-1 \leq x<k \\
k, & \text { if } k \leq x<k+1
\end{array}\right.$ [By def.]
Now,
(LHL at x = k) = $\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow k^{-}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0} f(k-h)=\lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0}[k-h]$
⇒ (LHL at x = k) = $\lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0}(k-1)=(k-1)$
and, (RHL at x = k) = $\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow k^{+}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0} f(k+h)=\lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0}[k+h]$
⇒ (RHL at x = k) = $\lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0} k \quad[∵ k \leq k+h<k+1 ∴ [k+h]=k]$
⇒ (RHL at x = k) = k
∴ $\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow k^{-}} f(x) \neq \lim\limits_{x \rightarrow k^{+}} f(x)$
So, f(x) is not continuous at x = k
Since k is an arbitrary integer. Therefore, f(x) is not continuous at integer points.
Let a be any real number other than an integer. Then, there exists an integer k such that k - 1 < a < k
Now,
(LHL at x = a) = $\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow a^{-}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0} f(a-h)=\lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0}[a-h]$
⇒ (LHL at x = a) = $\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0} k-1 \quad\left[\begin{array}{l}∵ k-1<a-h<k \\ ∴ [a-h]=k-1\end{array}\right]$
⇒ (LHL at x = a) = k - 1
⇒ (RHL at x = a) = $\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow a^{+}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0} f(a+h)=\lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0}[a+h]$
⇒ (RHL at x = a) = $\lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0} k-1 \quad\left[\begin{array}{l}∵ k-1<a+h<k \\ ∴ [a+h]=k-1\end{array}\right]$
⇒ (RHL at x = a) = (k - 1)
and, f(a) = k - 1 [∵ k - 1 < k < a ∴ [a] = k - 1]
Thus, $\lim\limits_{x-a^{-}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow a^{+}} f(x)=f(a)$
So, f(x) is continuous at x = a. Since a is an arbitrary real number, other than an integer, therefore f(x) is continuous at all real points except integer points.