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Is there a function $f(x)$ which is not defined at integer values?

Please do NOT answer $f(x) = \begin{cases} a, & \text{if } x \in \mathbb{Z}, \\ \text{undefined}, & \text{otherwise} \end{cases}$

I thought about $f(x)=x!$ but it turns out $f(x)=\Gamma(x+1)$

So any ideas? Thanks a lot!


P.S. - I guess $\sqrt{-\{x\}}$ is a solution!

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  • $\begingroup$ $x!$ is a function on natural numbers and is not the same as $\Gamma (x+1)$, as they have different domains $\endgroup$
    – GFauxPas
    Commented Jul 9, 2015 at 15:20
  • $\begingroup$ Note that $x!$ is not defined for integers, only for natural numbers, and $\Gamma(x+1)$ is also not defined on negative integers. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 9, 2015 at 15:21
  • $\begingroup$ @GFauxPas I know but i don't seem to be able to tell this to a graphing software! Whenever i tell them to graph x!, they show me the graph of $\Gamma(x+1)$ $\endgroup$
    – NeilRoy
    Commented Jul 9, 2015 at 15:22
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    $\begingroup$ Which software? Is your question about mathematics or about the program you're using? $\endgroup$
    – GFauxPas
    Commented Jul 9, 2015 at 15:23
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    $\begingroup$ Any function on the integers can be made continuous and differentiable on the reals. So it really is a difficult or meaningless question. There are number-theoretic functions that are likely difficult to naturally be made continuous in a natural way, like the prime-factor counting function. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 9, 2015 at 15:23

2 Answers 2

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$$ f(x)=\frac{1}{x-\lfloor{x}\rfloor} $$

The function is defined for all x, except for integers!

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For example

$$f(x) = \frac{1}{\lfloor\frac{1}{2}(\cos(2 \pi x) + 1) \rfloor}$$

if $x \in \mathbb{Z}$

$$f(x) = \frac{1}{\lfloor\frac{1}{2}(1 + 1) \rfloor} = \frac{1}{\lfloor 1 \rfloor} = 1$$

if $x \not \in \mathbb{Z}$

$$-1 \leq \cos(2 \pi x) < 1$$ $$0 \leq \frac{1}{2}(\cos(2 \pi x) + 1) < 1$$

So $$\lfloor\frac{1}{2}(\cos(2 \pi x) + 1) \rfloor = 0$$

And we get $$f(x) = \frac{1}{0} $$

which is undefined.

Another function is

$$f(x) = \sqrt{\cos(2 \pi x) - 1}$$

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