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INTERACTIVE APPLET · ANALYSIS

The ε–δ Machine

The definition of a limit, made into a game. You pick a tolerance ε — a horizontal band of width 2ε around the target height L. The machine tries to respond with a δ — a window of width 2δ on x around the point c — narrow enough that every input inside it lands inside your band. Shrink ε and watch δ chase it down. When the machine can always answer, the function is continuous at c. When it can't, you've caught a discontinuity red-handed.

ε δ

You challenge, the machine responds

Continuity at a point, defined by an adversarial handshake
p5.js · live

DRIVE IT

CONTROLS

Choose a function (∿ = continuous, ✕ = jumps at c)

WALKTHROUGH

    AHA
    Continuity isn't a property you stare at — it's a promise the function keeps. Say any tolerance ε, no matter how cruelly small, and a continuous function can always find a δ that honours it. A jump breaks the promise: below the size of the gap, no δ on x can herd every nearby output back into your band, so δ hits a wall and dies. The limit exists exactly when the machine never runs out of answers.
    Drag ε toward zero on a smooth curve — δ shrinks but never vanishes (steeper spots just need a tighter window). Switch to the step and park c on the jump: below ε ≈ half the gap, the verdict flips to NO δ WORKS and the response window collapses.