Lesson 3

Continuity of Functions
Overview:

From the previous lesson, we observed that there were functions whose limits are not
equal or the same to the function value at x = c, meaning lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 𝑓(𝑐). In this lesson we will
𝑥→𝑐
illustrate and determine if a function can be continuous at a point and on an interval if not it is
discontinuous.

Learning Outcomes of the Lesson

At the end of the lesson, the learner shall be able to:

1. Illustrate continuity of a function at a point;
2. Determine whether a function is continuous at a point or not;
3. Illustrate continuity of a function on an interval;
4. Determine whether a function is continuous on an interval or not;
5. Solve problems involving continuity of a function.

Getting Ready:
Consider the graph of the function below. Determine each of the
function is continuous or not.

Presentation:

Continuity at a Point

- A function is said to be continuous if its domain is the set of real numbers.

- A function is also continuous if you can draw/graph any part of it without lifting
your pen.

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 - A function 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐 if the following conditions are met.
i. 𝑓(𝑐) exists/ it’s a real number;
ii. lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists; and
𝑥→𝑐
iii. 𝑓(𝑐) = lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐

If at least one of the conditions is not met 𝑓(𝑥) is said to be discontinuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐.

Examples:
1. Determine if 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 2 − 2 is continuous or not at 𝑥 = 1.
i. 𝑓(1) = 2(1)3 + 4(1)2 − 2
𝑓(1) = 2(1) + 4(1) − 2
𝑓(1) = 2 + 4 − 2
𝑓(1) = 4
ii. lim(2𝑥3 + 4𝑥2 − 2 ) = 2(1)3 + 4(1)2 − 2
𝑥→1
= 2(1) + 4(1) − 2
=2+4−2
=4
iii. 𝑓(1) = lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→1

Therefore, f(x) is continuous at x = 1.

x2 −x−2
2. Determine if 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−2
is continuous or not at 𝑥 = 1 and x = 2

x=1 x=2
(1)2 −1−2 (2)2 −2−2
i. 𝑓(1) = i. 𝑓(2) = 2−2
1−2
1−1−2 4−2−2
𝑓(1) = 𝑓(2) =
−1 0
𝑓(1) = 2 0
𝑓(2) = = 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑
0
x2 −x−2 (x−2)(x+1)
ii. lim = x2 −x−2 (x−2)(x+1)
𝑥→1 𝑥−2 𝑥−2 ii. lim =
𝑥→1 𝑥−2 𝑥−2
= (x + 1)
= (x + 1)
=1+1
=2+1
=2
=3
iii. 𝑓(1) = lim 𝑓(𝑥).
𝑥→1 iii. 𝑓(2) ≠ lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→2
Therefore, f(x) is continuous at x = 1. Therefore, f(x) is discontinuous at x = 2.

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 𝑥+1 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < 4,
3. Determine if 𝑔(𝑥) = { is continuous or not at x = 4.
(𝑥 − 4)2 + 3 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 4

i. g(x) = (𝑥 − 4)2 + 3
g(4) = (4 − 4)2 + 3
g(4) = 3

ii. lim 𝑔(𝑥) lim 𝑔(𝑥)

𝑥→4− 𝑥→4+
lim 𝑥 + 1 = 4 + 1 lim (𝑥 − 4)2 + 3 = (4 − 4)2 + 3
𝑥→4− 𝑥→4+
=5 =0+3
=3

lim𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐷𝑁𝐸
𝑥→4

Therefore g(x) is discontinuous at x = 4.

Continuity on an Interval

I. One-Sided Continuity
(a) A function f is said to be continuous from the left at x = c if
f(c) = lim− 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐
(b) A function f is said to be continuous from the right at x = c if
f(c) = lim+ 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐

Note:
Continuity of Polynomial, Absolute Value, Rational and Square Root Functions
1. Polynomial functions are continuous everywhere.
2. The absolute value function 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥| is continuous everywhere.
3. Rational functions are continuous on their respective domains.
4. The square root function 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 is continuous on [0, ∞).
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 II. A function f is said to be continuous...
(a) everywhere if f is continuous at every real number. In this case, we also say 𝑓
is continuous on ℝ.
(b) on (𝑎, 𝑏) if 𝑓 is continuous at every point x in (𝑎, 𝑏).
(c) on [𝑎, 𝑏) if 𝑓 is continuous on (𝑎, 𝑏) and from the right at 𝑎.
(d) on (𝑎, 𝑏] if 𝑓 is continuous on (𝑎, 𝑏) and from the left at 𝑏.
(e) on [𝑎, 𝑏] if 𝑓 is continuous on (𝑎, 𝑏] and on [𝑎, 𝑏).
(f) on (𝑎, ∞) if 𝑓 is continuous at all 𝑥 > 𝑎 .
(g) on [𝑎, ∞) if 𝑓 is continuous on (𝑎, 1) and from the right at 𝑎.
(h) on (−∞, 𝑏) if 𝑓 is continuous at all 𝑥 < 𝑏 .
(i) on (−∞, 𝑏 ] if 𝑓 is continuous on (1, 𝑏) and from the left at 𝑏.

Examples:

𝑥 𝑖𝑓 𝑥≤0
3 𝑖𝑓 0<𝑥≤1
1. Consider ℎ(𝑥) = {
3 − 𝑥2 𝑖𝑓 1<𝑥≤4
𝑥−3 𝑖𝑓 𝑥>4

Is ℎ continuous on (0, 1]? on (4, ∞)?

Since ℎ is a piecewise function, we just look at the ‘piece’ of the function

corresponding to the interval specified.
(a) On the interval (0, 1], ℎ(𝑥) takes the constant value 3. Also, for all 𝑐 ∈ (0, 1],

lim ℎ(𝑥) = 3 = ℎ(𝑐).

𝑥→𝑐
Thus, ℎ is continuous on (0, 1].

(b) For all x > 4, the corresponding ‘piece’ of ℎ is ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 3, a polynomial

function. Hence, ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 3 is surely continuous for all 𝑥 ∈ (4, +∞).

2. Determine if the given intervals are continuous or not for the function
1
𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥−4 .

Domain: 𝑥 ∈ (−∞, 4) ∪ (4, ∞)

a. [−4, 3] → ok d. [0, 4) → ok
b. (0, 4) → ok e. (2, 10) → not ok
c. (0, 4] → not ok f. (4, ∞)→ ok

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 Types of Discontinuity
1. Removable/Hole Discontinuity

A function 𝑓(𝑥) is said to have a removable discontinuity at 𝑥 = 𝑐 𝑖𝑓

(a) 𝑓(𝑐) is not defined

(b) lim 𝑓(𝑥) exist
𝑥→𝑐
(c) 𝑓(𝑐) ≠ lim 𝑓(𝑥).
𝑥→𝑐

Example: Refer to the example 2 from continuity at a point.

x2 −x−2
𝑓(𝑥) = , x=2
𝑥−2

2. Jump/Essential Discontinuity
A function 𝑓(𝑥) is said to have an essential discontinuity at x = c
(a) 𝑓(𝑐) exist or defined
(b) lim 𝑓(𝑥) = DNE
𝑥→𝑐

Example: Refer to the example 3 from continuity at a point.

𝑥+1 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < 4,
𝑔(𝑥) = {
(𝑥 − 4)2 + 3 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 4

3. Infinite/Asymptotic Discontinuity
A function f(x) is such thatlim 𝑓(𝑥) DNE because
𝑥→𝑐
(a) lim 𝑓(𝑥) = ±∞
𝑥→𝑐

1
Example: (𝑥) = , at x = - 3
𝑥+3
1
lim = −∞
𝑥→−3− 𝑥 + 3

1
lim + = +∞
𝑥→−3 𝑥+3

FLOWCHART. Here is a flowchart which can help evaluate whether a function is continuous or not at a point c.

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Exercise 1.3

Solve the following problems involving continuity of a function.

𝑥 𝑖𝑓 𝑥≤0
3 𝑖𝑓 0<𝑥≤1
1. Is the function ℎ(𝑥) = { continuous on (1, 4]? on (- ∞, 0)
3 − 𝑥2 𝑖𝑓 1<𝑥≤4
𝑥−3 𝑖𝑓 𝑥>4

2. Find all values of a and b that make

𝑥 + 2𝑎 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < −2
ℎ(𝑥) = {3𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 𝑖𝑓 − 2 < 𝑥 ≤ 1 Continuous everywhere.
3𝑥 − 2𝑏 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 > 1

3. Enumerate all discontinuities of f(x) and identify their types.

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