Calculus 1

MTH 101
Lecture # 11
CONTINUITY

Zertaisha Nasir
Mathematics Department,
COMSATS university Islamabad, Wah Campus.
 Recorded video link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pfSPZek-HmexQKBejn9F1OmH34apU8_k/view?
usp=sharing
REVIEW OF LAST LECTURE:

• Infinite limits
• Vertical asymptotes
• Limit at infinity
• Finite Limits as x
• Horizontal asymptotes
• Infinite limits at infinity
TOPICS TO BE COVERED:

• Definition of continuity
• Continuity of a function at a point
• Continuity on an interval
• Types of discontinuities
• Properties of continuous functions
• Intermediate Value theorem
OBJECTIVES:
• To understand the concept of continuity.
• To be able to find the continuity of the function at a
point and on the interval.
• To be able to find the interval at which the function is
continuous.
• To be able to find the points of discontinuities of the
function.
DEFINITION OF CONTINUITY
Intuitively, the graph of a function can be described as a “continuous
curve” if it has no breaks or holes.

The function f is The limit of f(x) does not exist as The value of the function
undefined at c x approaches c and the value of the limit
at c are different
CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION AT A POINT:

A function f is said to be continuous at x = c provided the

following conditions are satisfied:
 This function has discontinuities at
2
and .

1 2 3 4
It is continuous at and , because
the one-sided limits match the
value of the function
Example Determine whether the following functions are
continuous at .
𝑓 ( 2 ) 𝑖𝑠 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑
x 4
2
f ( x)  ,
x2

 x2  4
 , x2
g ( x)   x  2 lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥) ≠ 𝑓 ( 2 )
3,
𝑥→2

 x  2,

 x2  4
 , x2
h( x )   x  2
Continuous function
4, x  2.

CONTINUITY ON AN INTERVAL
A function f is said to be continuous on a closed
interval [a, b] if the following conditions are satisfied:

1. f is continuous on (a, b).

2. f is continuous from the right at a.

=
3. f is continuous from the left at b.
Example What can you say about the continuity of the function
?
TYPES OF DISCONTINUITIES:

Continuous function Removable discontinuity Jump discontinuity

Infinite discontinuity

Oscillating discontinuity
 PROPERTIES OF CONTINOUS FUNCTIONS:

If f and g are continuousat c, then

(a ) f  g is continuousat c.
(b) f  g is continuousat c.
(c) fg is continuousat c.
(d ) f / g is continuousat c if g (c)  0 and has a discontinuity at c if g (c)  0.
• Composites of continuous functions are continuous.
• A polynomial is continuous every where.
• A rational function is continuous at every point where the denominator
is non zero, and has discontinuities at the points where the denominator
is zero.
• The absolute value of a continuous function is continuous.
Example For what values of x is there a discontinuity in the graph of
Example Show that |x| is continuous everywhere.

Solution.

𝑦 = 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =¿

𝑓 ( 0 ) =0

¿ 𝑓 (0 )

Hence, |x| is continuous at x = 0.

THE INTERMEDIATE-VALUE THEOREM

Theorem (Intermediate-Value Theorem)

If f is continuous on a closed interval [a, b] and k is any number between

and , inclusive, then there is at least one number x in the interval [a, b]
such that .
Example: Find the value of x at which f is not continuous, where
a) .

Solution.(a) 2
2 𝑥 + 𝑥= 0
𝑥 ( 2 𝑥+1 ) =0
𝑥=0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2 𝑥 +1=0
1
𝑥=0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥= −
2
is discontinuous at .

Solution.(b)
Solve by yourself.
Example: Find the value of the constants k and m, if possible, that will
make the function continuous everywhere,

Solution: 𝐿 . 𝐻 . 𝐿= lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=¿ lim 𝑚 ( 𝑥+1 ) + 𝑘=3 𝑚+𝑘 ¿

− −
𝑥→2 𝑥→ 2

𝑅 . 𝐻 . 𝐿= lim ¿
+¿
𝑥 →2 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =¿ lim ¿¿ ¿
𝑥 →2
+ ¿
𝑥
2
+5 = ¿ 9 ¿ ¿
Continuity at
Suppose is continuous at ,
𝐿 . 𝐻 . 𝐿= 𝑅 . 𝐻 . 𝐿
lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=¿ lim ¿¿
− +¿
𝑥→2 𝑥 →2 𝑓 (𝑥)¿

3 𝑚+ 𝑘=9 (1)
Continue….
𝐿 . 𝐻 . 𝐿= lim −
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=¿ lim ( 2 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 +7 ) = 4 ¿
−
𝑥 →− 1 𝑥 →− 1

𝑅 . 𝐻 . 𝐿= lim ¿
+¿
𝑥 →− 1 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =¿ lim ¿ ¿¿
𝑥 → − 1+ ¿
𝑚 ( 𝑥 +1 )+ 𝑘 =¿ 𝑘 ¿ ¿

Suppose is continuous at , Continuity at

𝐿 . 𝐻 . 𝐿= 𝑅 . 𝐻 . 𝐿
lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=¿ lim ¿¿
− +¿
𝑥 → −1 𝑥 →− 1 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) ¿

𝑘=4
Putting in equation (1),

3 𝑚+ 𝑘=9
3 𝑚+ 4=9
5
3 𝑚=5 ⇒ 𝑚= 3
Example: Find the interval for which is continuous.

Solution: Function is continuous in its own domain, so we’ll find its

domain

𝑥 −2> 0 ⇒ 𝑥> 2

So, f is continuous in the interval

SUMMERY:
• The graph of a function can be described as a “continuous curve” if it has no
breaks or holes.

• A function f is said to be continuous at x = c provided

• A function f is said to be continuous on a closed interval [a, b] if f is

continuous on (a, b), f is continuous from the right at a and f is continuous
from the left at b.

• There are four types of discontinuities i.e removable discontinuity, jump

discontinuity, infinite discontinuity and oscillating discontinuity.

• If f and g are continuous at c then are also continuous at c.

Continue…
• If f and g are continuous at c then is also continuous at c, provided that .

• Composites of continuous functions are continuous.

• A polynomial is continuous every where.
• A rational function is continuous at every point where the denominator is non
zero, and has discontinuities at the points where the denominator is zero.
• The absolute value of a continuous function is continuous.
• If f is continuous on a closed interval [a, b] and k is any number between and ,
inclusive, then there is at least one number x in the interval [a, b] such that .
(Intermediate-Value Theorem)
Practice Exercise:

Continuity:

 Calculus by Anton, Exercise: 1.5, question no. 1-6, 11-32.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UPEaJJf3DEMtiDWOYlWGGeGl_TIK5kIX/view?usp=sharing