Name: ____________________ Calculus 12 Date: _______________
Unit 2 – Limits and Derivatives
2.5 – Continuity
In this lesson we will use limits to define the three conditions that must be met for a function to be
continuous throughout its domain. Also, we will learn the various types of discontinuities and the algebraic
method of finding the location of a discontinuity.
A function is continuous if there are no jumps, breaks, or holes in the graph.
1) A continuous process is one that takes place gradually, smoothly, without interruptions or abrupt changes
2) A function is continuous if you can take your pencil and can trace over the graph with one uninterrupted
motion
Let’s investigate to determine how we should define “CONTINUITY” in Calculus:
Find: lim− f ( x ) = lim f ( x ) =
x →0 x →0 +
Therefore lim f ( x ) = f ( 0) =
x →0
lim f ( x ) = lim f ( x ) =
x →2 − x →2 +
Therefore lim f ( x ) = f ( 2) =
x →2
Question: What conditions do you think are needed in order to make the above graph continuous at both
x = 0 and at x = 2 ?
In calculus, the definition of continuous is as follows:
A function is said to be continuous at a point c if the following conditions exist:
1. f(c) is ___________. 2. lim f ( x) ____________. 3. _____________________
x→c
Examples 1: Determine the points at where the following functions are discontinuous (if any)
1. f ( x) = x 3 − 2x 2 + x − 7 Note: Polynomials are always _____________________.
1 x2 − x − 2
if x 0
2. f ( x) = x 2 3. f ( x) =
1 if x = 0 x−2
Continuous everywhere except at x= _____. Continuous everywhere except at x= _____.
x2 − x − 2
if x 2
Example 3 f ( x) = x − 2 Which value of “x” should you be concerned about?
3 if x = 2
x2 −1
Example 4: Find the points at which the following function is discontinuous. f ( x) = x + 1 if x −1
− 2 if x = −1
Example 5: For each function, find the points of discontinuity and label the type of discontinuity.
Definitions:
REMOVABLE → we can remove the discontinuity if we redefine f at point of discontinuity.
JUMP → function “jumps” from one value to another
INFINITE →graph goes to infinity
The graph of y=f(x) is shown. Determine whether the function is continuous at the indicated points. State the
type of discontinuity (removable, jump, infinite, or none of these).
a) x = A b) x = B
c) x = C d) x = D
e) x = E
Just like there are left hand and right hand limits, a function can be continuous from the right at a number “a”
or from the left at a number “a”.
A function is continuous from the RIGHT at “a” if __________________________.
A function is continuous from the LEFT at “a” if ___________________________.
Example 6: Find a value for the constant “k” that will make the function continuous.
7 x − 2 if x 1
f ( x) =
k ( x + 1) if x 1
2
Example 7: For what value of the constant c is the function f continuous on ( −, ) where
cy + 7 if y ( −,5]
f ( y) = 2
cy − 7 if y (5, )
INTERMEDIATE VALUE THEOREM (IVT)
If f (x) is CONTINUOUS on a closed interval [a , b] and C is any number between f (a) and f (b) ,
inclusive, then there is at least ONE number “x” in the interval [a , b] such that f ( x) = C .
A picture showing the IVT:
How Is This Useful?
Whenever we can show that:
▪ there is a point above some line
▪ and a point below that line, and
▪ that the curve is continuous,
Example 8: is there a solution to x5 - 2x3 - 2 = 0 between x=0 and x=2?
There is also a useful result that is a consequence of the Intermediate Value Theorem.
If f (x) is CONTINUOUS on a closed interval [a , b] and if f (a) and f (b) have opposite signs,
then there is at least ONE solution of the equation f ( x) = 0 in the interval (a, b).
Example 9: Use the Intermediate value theorem and the idea of continuity to Prove that the function
f ( x) = x8 + 4x − 2 has at least one root in the interval [0, 2].
Example 10: Given the function f(x) = x³ − x² + 1. Can it be said that there is at least one point, c, inside the
interval [1,2] which verifies that f(c) = 0?.
