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From Wikipedia

let $A$ be a subset of $\mathbb{R}^n$. A function $f : A → \mathbb{R}^m$ is uniformly continuous if and only if for every pair of sequences $x_n$ and $y_n$ such that $$ \lim_{n\to\infty} |x_n-y_n|=0\, $$ we have $$ \lim_{n\to\infty} |f(x_n)-f(y_n)|=0.\, $$

I was wondering if this can be generalized to $f : X → Y$ when $X$ is a metric space and $Y$ is $\mathbb{R}^m$ or even another metric space? If "if and only if" doesn't hold, does "if" or "only if" hold?

Are there generalizations when $X$ is a uniform space and $Y$ is $\mathbb{R}^m$ or even another uniform space? For example, by replacing sequence with net or filter, and distance with entourage?

Thanks and regards!

2 Answers 2

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The same result holds for maps between arbitrary metric spaces and the proof is word-for-word the same!

Theorem:

Let $(X,d)$ and $(Y, \rho)$ be metric spaces. The map $f: X \to Y$ is uniformly continuous if and only if for sequences $\{x_n\}$ and $\{y_n\}$ in $X$ such that $d(x_n,y_n) \to 0$, $\rho(f(x_n),f(y_n)) \to 0$

Proof:(Sketch)

One implication follows from the definition while for the other, suppose that the function is not uniformly continuous, construct sequence $\{x_n\}$ and $\{y_n\}$ such that $d(x_n,y_n) \to 0$ but $\rho(f(x_n),f(y_n))$ does not converge. (The construction becomes clear if you write the contrapositive!)

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    Thanks! Can you define "arbitrary spaces"?2012-02-06
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    That should have been arbitrary metric spaces! The very notion of convergence might not make sense on general topological spaces, as you will already know! In case you want me to write the proof, I am willing to do so. BTW, you ask questions on subject I am learning quite seriously! Good questions!2012-02-06
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    Thanks! Do you know about when dommain and/or codomain are uniform spaces?2012-02-06
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    @Tim I don't know about these uniform spaces. I am sorry. I have just started learning general topology!2012-02-06
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    In a uniform space the definition of a uniformly continuous function $f: (X,\mathcal{U}) \rightarrow (Y, \mathcal{V})$ is: for every $V \in \mathcal{V}$ there exists $U \in \mathcal{U}$ such that $|x - y| < U$ implies $|f(x) - f(y)| < V$. What would your proposed filter reformulation be?2012-02-06
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    @HennoBrandsma: Thanks, but I don't know. Were you suggesting it is not possible to have an (not necessarily) equivalent concept in terms of filter or net? By the way, I think the two distances should be replaced with pairs of points.2012-02-06
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Yes, indeed this can be generalized to metric spaces. Just replace the modulus by the corresponding metric in each case. The if and only if is still valid.