Let $f$ be a contiuous function defined on an open interval $(a, b)$.
My textbook says that if we suppose $\alpha:=\displaystyle\liminf_{x\to b-0}|f(x)|<\infty$, then there is a monotonically increasing sequence $\{x_n\}$ s.t. $\displaystyle\lim_{n\to \infty} x_n=b$ and $\displaystyle\lim_{n\to \infty} |f(x_n)|=\alpha.$
I don't know why. First, I know the definition of $\liminf$ for sequences but I don't know that for functions. (I found the concept of $\displaystyle\liminf_{x\to \infty}f(x)$ but I couldn't find that of $\displaystyle\liminf_{x\to b}f(x)$.)
And why can we make $\{x_n\}$ be increasing ?
I'd like you to explain these things.