Differentiability and

Continuity

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Senior High School Department
 Differentiability and Continuity

The process of computing derivative is called 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛. If a function has a derivative at 𝑥1 , the
function 𝑓 is said to be 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 at 𝑥1 .

Example. Show that 𝑓 is not differentiable at 0 even though it is continuous there and graph.

𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥
Solution. Applying formula (7), we have if the limit exists. 𝑦

𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥1 𝑥 if 𝑥 ≥ 0
𝑓′(𝑥1 ) = lim 𝑥 =൜
𝑥→𝑥1 𝑥 − 𝑥1 −𝑥 if 𝑥 < 0
𝑥 −𝑥
𝑓 𝑥 −𝑓 0 LHL: lim− = lim− = lim−(−1) = −1 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥
𝑓′(0) = lim 𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→0
𝑥→0 𝑥−0 0 𝑥
𝑥 𝑥
𝑥 RHL: lim+ = lim+ = lim+ 1 = 1
𝑓′(0) = lim 𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→0
𝑥→0 𝑥
𝑥
Since LHL and RHL are not the same, lim does not exist.
𝑥→0 𝑥
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Senior High School Department ∴ 𝑥 is not differentiable at 0.
 Because of this, we may conclude that continuity of a function at a particular number does not imply differentiability of
the function at that number. However, differentiability 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 imply continuity.

Theorem 13. Because

lim 𝑥 − 𝑥1 = 0 and
If a function 𝑓 is differentiable at 𝑥1 , then 𝑓 is continuous at 𝑥1 . 𝑥→𝑥1

𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥1
lim = 𝑓′(𝑥1 )
Proof. To prove that 𝑓 is continuous at 𝑥1 , three conditions of 𝑥→𝑥1 𝑥 − 𝑥1
continuity must satisfy. Thus,
By hypothesis, 𝑓 is differentiable at 𝑥1 , therefore 𝑓′(𝑥1 ) must exists. 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥1
lim 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥1 = lim 𝑥 − 𝑥1 ∙
This implies that formula (7), also exists, i.e. 𝑥→𝑥1 𝑥→𝑥1 𝑥 − 𝑥1

𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥1 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥1
= lim 𝑥 − 𝑥1 ∙ lim
𝑓′(𝑥1 ) = lim Therefore, condition (i) holds. 𝑥→𝑥1 𝑥→𝑥1 𝑥 − 𝑥1
𝑥→𝑥1 𝑥 − 𝑥1
= 0 ∙ 𝑓′(𝑥1 )
Now consider
lim 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥1 =0
𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥1 𝑥→𝑥1
lim 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥1 = lim 𝑥 − 𝑥1 ∙
𝑥→𝑥1 𝑥→𝑥1 𝑥 − 𝑥1 lim 𝑓 𝑥 − lim 𝑓 𝑥1 = 0
𝑥→𝑥1 𝑥→𝑥1

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑓 𝑥1
𝑥→𝑥1 𝑥→𝑥1
Polytechnic University of the Philippines From this, it follows that conditions (ii) and (iii) are
Senior High School Department satisfied, lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑥1 ) ∎
𝑥→𝑥1
 Definition. One-Sided Derivative

i . If the function 𝑓 is defined at 𝑥1 , then the derivative from the left of 𝑓 at 𝑥1 ,

denoted by 𝑓 ′ − (𝑥1 )

′
𝑓 𝑥1 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑥1 ) 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑥1 )
𝑓 −
𝑥1 = lim − ⟺ lim
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 𝑥→𝑥1− 𝑥 − 𝑥1
if the limit exists.
ii . If the function 𝑓 is defined at 𝑥1 , then the derivative from the right of 𝑓 at 𝑥1 ,
denoted by 𝑓 ′ + (𝑥1 )

′
𝑓 𝑥1 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑥1 ) 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓(𝑥1 )
𝑓 +
𝑥1 = lim + ⟺ lim+
∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥 𝑥→𝑥1 𝑥 − 𝑥1
if the limit exists.

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Senior High School Department
Example. Let 𝑓 be defined by (b). i . 𝑓 1 = 1 − 1 2
=0
ii . lim− (1 − 𝑥 2 ) = 1 − 1 2 =0
𝑥→1
𝑥2 − 1 if 𝑥 < −1
𝑓 𝑥 = ቐ1 − 𝑥 2 if −1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1 lim+ (𝑥 2 − 1) = 1 2 −1 =0
𝑥→1
𝑥2 − 1 if 𝑥 > 1
∴ lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 0
𝑥→1
(a). Sketch the graph of 𝑓.
iii . 𝑓 1 = lim 𝑓 𝑥
𝑥→1
(b). Prove that 𝑓 is continuous at 𝑥 = 1.
Thus, 𝑓 is continuous at 𝑥 = 1.
(c). Determine if 𝑓 is differentiable at 𝑥 = 1.
𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓(1) 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑓(1)
(c). 𝑓 ′ − 1 = lim 𝑓 ′ + 1 = lim+
Solution. 𝑦
3
−
𝑥→1 𝑥−1 𝑥→1 𝑥−1
1 − 𝑥2 − 0 𝑥2 − 1 − 0
𝑥2 − 1 = lim− = lim+
2
𝑥→1 𝑥−1 𝑥→1 𝑥−1
(a).
(1 + 𝑥)(1 − 𝑥) (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1)
1 − 𝑥2
= lim− = lim+
1 𝑥→1 𝑥−1 𝑥→1 𝑥−1

𝑥 = lim− − (1 + 𝑥) = lim+ (𝑥 + 1)
𝑥→1 𝑥→1
−2 −1 1 2
= −2 =2
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Senior High School Department Because 𝑓 ′ − 1 ≠ 𝑓 ′ + 1 , 𝑓′(1) dne, so 𝑓 is not differentiable at 𝑥 = 1.
Example. Let 𝑔 be defined by (a). The function 𝑔 will be continuous at 𝑏 if
1 lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑔(𝑏)
if 0 < 𝑥 < 𝑏 𝑥→𝑏
𝑔 𝑥 =൞ 𝑥
1 1
1 − 14𝑥 if 𝑥 ≥ 𝑏 LHL: lim− 𝑔 𝑥 = lim− = RHL: lim+ 𝑔 𝑥 = lim− 1 − 14𝑥 = 1 − 14𝑏
𝑥→𝑏
𝑥→𝑏 𝑥→𝑏 𝑥 𝑏 𝑥→𝑏

(a). Determine the value of 𝑏 so that 𝑔 is In order for lim 𝑔 𝑥 to exist, LHL = RHL, that is, 1 1
𝑥→𝑏 = 1− 𝑏
continuous at 𝑏. 𝑏 4

Thus, 4 = 4𝑏 − 𝑏 2
(b). Sketch the graph of 𝑔 with the value of 𝑏. 1
if 0 < 𝑥 < 2 𝑏 2 − 4𝑏 + 4 = 0
(c). Determine if 𝑔 is differentiable at 𝑏. 𝑔 𝑥 =൞ 𝑥
2
1 − 14𝑥 if 𝑥 ≥ 2 𝑏−2 =0

Solution. 𝑦 𝑏=2
𝑔 𝑥 − 𝑔(2) 𝑔 𝑥 − 𝑔(2)
′
(c). 𝑔 − 2 = lim− 𝑔′ + 2 = lim−
1 𝑥→2 𝑥−2 𝑥→2 𝑥−2
(b). 3
𝑥 1 1 1 1
− 1− 𝑥 −
4 2
2 = lim− 𝑥 2 = lim−
∴ 𝑔 is differentiable at 2. 𝑥→2 𝑥 − 2 𝑥→2 𝑥−2
1 2−𝑥 1 1
= lim− − 𝑥
1/2 𝑥→2 2𝑥(𝑥 − 2) = lim− 2 4
𝑥 𝑥→2 𝑥 − 2

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 −1
= lim− 2−𝑥 −1
𝑥→2 2𝑥 = lim− = lim−
1 𝑥→2 4(𝑥 − 2) 𝑥→2 4
1− 𝑥
4 1
Polytechnic University of the Philippines =− 1
Senior High School Department 4 =−
4