Internal Use

CONTINUITY OF
FUNCTIONS
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Objectives
To investigate the continuity of a
function.
To evaluate the limit of a function
using the Squeeze Principle.
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Definition: CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION

If one or more of the above conditions fails to hold at c

the function is said to be discontinuous at x = c.
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Internal Use

TYPES OF DISCONTINUITIES

The figure above illustrates that the limit

The figure above illustrates the coming from the right and the left both
function is not defined at x = c, exist but are not equal, so the two-sided
which violates the first condition. limit does not exist which violates the
This kind of discontinuity is second condition. This kind of
called removable discontinuity. discontinuity is called jump discontinuity.
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The figure above illustrates that the limit The figure above illustrates the function
coming from the right and the left of c are both defined at c and that the limit coming from
infinite, thus the two-sided limit does not exist the right and the left of c both exist, thus
which violates the second condition. This kind the two-sided limit exists but violates the
of discontinuity is called infinite discontinuity. third condition. This kind of discontinuity is
called removable discontinuity.
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EXAMPLE:
𝑥 2 −𝑥−6
1. Given that the function 𝑓 𝑥 is defined as 𝑓 𝑥 = ,
𝑥−3
sketch the graph of the function 𝑓 𝑥 , then by observing
where there are breaks in the graph, determine the values of
the independent variable𝑥 at which the function 𝑓 𝑥 is
discontinuous and why it is discontinuous.

Solution:
2
𝑥 −𝑥−6 𝑥+2 𝑥−3
𝑓 𝑥 = = =𝑥+2
𝑥−3 𝑥−3

∴ 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 2, 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑥 ≠ 3
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Internal Use

EXAMPLE:
𝑥 2 −𝑥−6
𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≠ 3
2. Given the function𝑓 𝑥 defined as 𝑓 𝑥 = ቐ 𝑥−3 ,
2 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 3
draw a sketch of the graph of the function 𝑓 𝑥 , then by
observing where there are breaks in the graph, determine the
values of the independent variable 𝑥 at which the function
𝑓 𝑥 is discontinuous and why it is discontinuous.
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Test for continuity :

1. f (3 ) is defined and is equal to 2
x − x −6
2
2. lim f ( x ) = lim
x →3 x →3 x−3
= lim
( x − 3 )( x + 2 )
x →3 x−3
= lim( x + 2 )
x →3

=3+2 = 5
3. lim f ( x ) = 5 and f ( 3 ) = 2
x →3

The lim it exists but lim f ( x )  f ( 3 )

x →3

therefore f is discontinuous at x = 3
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Internal Use

EXAMPLE:
1
𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≠ 0
3. Given the function𝑓 𝑥 defined as 𝑓 𝑥 = ቐ 𝑥 2
,
2 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 0
draw a sketch of the graph of the function 𝑓 𝑥 , then by
observing where there are breaks in the graph, determine
the values of the independent variable 𝑥 at which the
function 𝑓 𝑥 is discontinuous and why it is discontinuous.
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Graph : HA

1 1 1 1
f ( x ) = 2 if x  0 lim+ 2 = = + lim 2 = 0
x x →0 x 0+ x →+ x

x = 0 is a VA
1 1 1
Test for continuity : lim− 2 = = + lim 2 = 0
x →0 x 0+ x →− x
1. f (0) = 2; defined
2. lim f ( x) = +  does not exist
x →0
 x = 0 is a VA  y = 0 is a HA
Since the second condition
is not satisfied then f is
discontinuous at x = 0
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Internal Use

EXAMPLE 4: Determine whether the function is continuous at x = 2 ;

x −42
given f ( x) =
x−2

f(x)=
( x + 2 )( x − 2 )
(x − 2 )
f(x)= x+2

f ( 2 ) = 2 + 2 = 4 ; but x  2
thus f ( x ) is undefined at x = 2
and hence discontinuous at x = 2
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EXAMPLE 5: Determine whether the function is continuous at x = 2 ;

 x2 − 4
 , x2
given g ( x) =  x − 2
3, x=2


g( x ) =
( x + 2 )( x − 2 )
(x − 2 )
g( x ) = x + 2
lim+ g( x ) = lim− g( x ) = 4
x →2 x→2

thus lim g( x ) = 4
x→2

g( 2 ) = 3
sin ce the lim g( x )  g( 2 )
x→2

hence discontinuous at x = 2
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EXAMPLE 6: Determine whether the function is continuous at x = 2 ;

x −42
 , x2
given h( x) =  x − 2
4, x=2


h( x ) =
( x + 2 )( x − 2 )
(x − 2 )
h( x ) = x + 2
lim+ h( x ) = lim− h( x ) = 4
x→2 x→2

thus lim h( x ) = 4
x→2

h( 2 ) = 4
sin ce the lim h( x ) = h( 2 )
x→2

hence continuous at x = 2
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EXAMPLE 7:
𝑘𝑥 − 3, 𝑥 < 1
Find 𝑘 so that 𝑓 𝑥 ቊ 2 is continuous everywhere.
𝑥 − 3, 𝑥 ≥ 1
Solution: For function 𝑓 𝑥 to be continuous, lim− 𝑓 𝑥 should
𝑥→1
be equal to the lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 .
𝑥→1

lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = lim−(𝑘𝑥 − 3) = 𝑘 1 − 3 = 𝑘 − 3
𝑥→1 𝑥→1
2 2
lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = lim+(𝑥 − 3) = 1 − 3 = −2
𝑥→1 𝑥→1

lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = lim+ 𝑓 𝑥
𝑥→1 𝑥→1
𝑘 − 3 = −2
𝑘 = −2 + 3 → ∴𝑘=1
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Squeeze Theorem

The Squeeze Principle is used on limit problems where the usual algebraic

methods (factoring, conjugation, algebraic manipulation, etc.) are ineffective.

However, it requires to ``squeeze‘’ the problem in between two other ``simpler''

functions whose limits are easily computable and equal. However, using the

Squeeze Principle requires accurate analysis, algebra skills, and careful use of

inequalities. The method of squeezing is used to prove that f(x)→L as x→c by

“trapping or squeezing” f between two functions, g, and h, whose limits as x→c are

known with certainty to be L. Likewise, the theorems on limits are applied.

limit of a sum
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SQUEEZE PRINCIPLE:

Assume that functions f , g , and h satisfy g(x)  f(x)  h(x)

and lim g(x) = L = lim h(x)

x →a x →a

then lim f(x) = L

x →a
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Internal Use

EXAMPLES:
Evaluate the following limits.
tan x sin 2 x
1. lim 2. lim
x →0 x x →0 x
sin 3 x 2 - cos3x - cos4x
3. lim 4. lim
x →0 sin 5 x x →0 x
SOLUTIONS:

tan x  sin x 1  sin 2 x  sin 2 x 2 

1. lim = lim  •  2. lim = lim  • 
x →0 x x →0
 x cos x  x →0 x x →0
 x 2
 sin x  1  sin 2 x
=  lim  lim  = 2 lim
 x→0 x  x→0 cos x  x →0 2x
= (1)(1) = 1 = (2 )(1) = 2
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 sin 3 x  2 - cos3x - cos4x

sin 3 x   4. lim
x →0
3. lim = lim  x  x
x →0 sin 5 x x →0  sin 5 x 
  = lim
(1 + 1) − cos 3 x − cos 4 x
 x  x →0 x
sin 3 x  1 - cos3x   1 - cos4x 
3• =  lim  +  lim 
= lim 3x  x→0 x   x→0 x 
x →0 sin 5 x
5•  1 - cos3x   1 - cos4x 
5x =  3 lim  +  4 lim 
3•1 3  x→0 3x   x→0 4x 
= = = (3 • 0 ) + (4 • 0 ) = 0
5 •1 5