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Continuity at A Point

The document discusses continuity of functions at numbers and different types of discontinuities. It provides examples of functions and tests them for continuity at various points. The key types of discontinuities mentioned are removable, essential and infinite discontinuities. Removable discontinuities occur when the left and right hand limits exist but are not equal to the function value. Essential discontinuities occur when the limits do not exist. Infinite discontinuities occur at infinity.

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Katrina Mae Cruz
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162 views25 pages

Continuity at A Point

The document discusses continuity of functions at numbers and different types of discontinuities. It provides examples of functions and tests them for continuity at various points. The key types of discontinuities mentioned are removable, essential and infinite discontinuities. Removable discontinuities occur when the left and right hand limits exist but are not equal to the function value. Essential discontinuities occur when the limits do not exist. Infinite discontinuities occur at infinity.

Uploaded by

Katrina Mae Cruz
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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2.

6 Continuity of a Function at a Number

ILLUSTRATIONS : Consider the following functions; 1. f ( x ) = x 2 x + 6


2

Since f is a polynomial function then it is continuous at every real number.

ILLUSTRATIONS : Consider the following functions;

x+ 1 2. g ( x ) = x 1 Since g is a rational function then it is continuous at every real number except at x = 1 .

EXAMPLE 1 : Test the given function for continuity at 0;

x+ 3 , x 0 f ( x) = 4 , x< 0

Test for continuity at x = 0. i. f ( 0 ) = 3 ii. lim+ f ( x ) = lim+ ( x + 3 ) = 3


x 0 x 0 x 0

lim f ( x ) = lim 4 = 4 +
x 0

lim f ( x ) does not exist. x 0

iii. lim f ( x ) f ( 0 )
x 0

The function f has an essential discontinuity at x = 0.

Geometrically, a function is continuous at a number if its graph has NO BREAK at that number.

EXAMPLE 2: Test the given function for continuity at 0;

x + 1 , x 0 g( x ) = , x= 0 0
2

Test for continuity at x = 0. i. g ( 0 ) = 0 ii. lim g ( x ) = lim ( x + 1) = 1 x 0


2 x 0

x2 + 1 , x 0 g( x ) = , x= 0 0

iii. lim g ( x ) g ( 0 )
x 0

The function g has a removable discontinuity at x = 0.

ORIGINAL FUNCTION

x + 1 , x 0 g( x ) = , x= 0 0
2

REDEFINED FUNCTION

x + 1 , x 0 G( x ) = , x= 0 1
2

g is a rational function, g is continuous at each number in its domain. Dg = { a / a 3,3}


Since g(-3) and g(3) are undefined, g is discontinuous at -3 and 3.
a 81 g ( a) = 2 a 9
4

a 81 EXAMPLE 3: g ( a ) = a 2 9 .
4

WHAT TYPE OF DISCONTINUITY ?

( a 3) ( a + 3) ( a 2 + 9 ) ( a 3) ( a + 3)

= a 2 + 9, a 3,3

a 4 81 g ( a) = 2 a 9

at a = -3: g(-3) is undefined.

a 4 81 . lim g ( a ) = lim 2 a 3 a 3 a 9
= lim
a 3

a 3) ( a + 3) ( a 2 + 9 ) (

( a 3) ( a + 3)

= 18

(The limit exists.)

Hence, g has a removable discontinuity at a = -3.

a 4 81 g ( a) = 2 a 9

at a = 3: g(3) does not exist. .

a 4 81 lim g ( a ) = lim 2 a 3 a 3 a 9
= lim
a 3

a 3) ( a + 3) ( a 2 + 9 ) (

( a 3) ( a + 3)

= 18

(The limit exists.)

Hence, g has a removable discontinuity at a = 3.

Since lim g ( a ) and lim g ( a ) exist, a 3 a 3 the discontinuities at -3 and 3 are removable. Redefining g by letting g(-3) = 18 and g(3) = 18 makes the new function a 4 81 , if a 3 2 g ( a) = a 9 18, if a = 3 continuous at every number.

a 4 81 , if a 3 2 g ( a) = a 9 18, if a = 3

EXAMPLE 4:

x, x 1 h ( x) = x, x < 1

The only possible discontinuity of h is at x = 1.

h ( 1) = 1

x 1

lim h ( x ) = lim ( x ) = 1
x 1

lim h ( x ) = ?
x 1

lim h ( x ) does not exist


x 1

x 1

lim h ( x ) = lim x = 1 + +
x 1

Thus, h is essentially discontinuous at x = 1.

x, x 1 h ( x) = x, x < 1

Note that the break in the graph of f cannot be bridged by the addition or replacement of a single point.

( x + 4) 2 , x< 2 EXAMPLE 5: h ( x ) = 4 x2 , 2 x < 2 x 2 , x> 2

Possible points of discontinuity: x = -2 or x = 2 at x = -2:

x 2

lim h ( x ) = ?

h ( 2) = 0

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

x 2

lim + h ( x ) = lim + 4 x = 0
2

x 2

lim h ( x ) does not exist

x 2

Thus, h has an essential discontinuity at x = -2.

at x = 2:

( x + 4) 2 , x < 2 h ( x ) = 4 x2 , 2 x < 2 x 2 , x> 2

lim h ( x ) = ?
x 2

h ( 2) = ?

It does not exist.


x 2

lim h ( x ) = lim 4 x 2 = 0
x 2

x 2

lim h ( x ) = lim x 2 = lim+ ( x 2 ) = 0 + +


x 2 x 2

lim h ( x ) = 0 (The limit exists.) x 2


Thus, h has a removable discontinuity at x = 2.

( x + 4) 2 , x< 2 2 h ( x) = 4 x , 2 x < 2 x 2 , x> 2

h can be redefined such that it will be


continuous at x = 2.

( x + 4) 2 , x< 2 h ( x ) = 4 x2 , 2 x < 2 x 2 , x 2

Challenge Question Let

2 x 2 + 1, x 1 . Find the f ( x ) = ax + b, 1 < x < 1 x3 , x 1

values of a and b so that f is continuous everywhere. Solution: From the definition of f, it is clear that f is continuous at all real numbers except possibly at 1 and 1.

at x = -1:
lim f ( x ) = ?
f ( 1) = 3

x 1
x 1

lim f ( x ) = lim 2 x 2 + 1 = 3
x 1

2 x 2 + 1, x 1 f ( x ) = ax + b, 1 < x < 1 x3 , x 1

x 1

lim+ f ( x ) = lim+ ( ax + b ) = a + b
x 1

For the limit to exist and the function to be continuous at x = -1, a + b = 3 at x = 1: f ( 1) = 13 = 1


x 1 x 1
x 1

lim f ( x ) = lim ( ax + b ) = a + b
x 1

lim f ( x ) = ?

lim+ f ( x ) = lim x 3 = 1 +
x 1

For the limit to exist and the function to be a+ b= 1 continuous at x = 1,

Thus, for f to be continuous at all real numbers including 1 and 1, a and b should satisfy the following equations:

a+ b= 1

and a + b = 3 Solving the system .

a+ b= 3 a+ b= 1
we get a = 1 and b = 2 .

x 3

lim f ( x) lim+ f ( x) lim f ( x)


x 0

x 2

lim f ( x ) lim f ( x ) +

4 3 1 -3 -1 1 3

x 3

x 2

x 2

x 3

lim f ( x)

lim f ( x) lim f ( x)
x 1

x 3

lim f ( x) + lim f ( x)
x +

x = -2

x=2

lim f ( x)

Pts. of discontinuity: -3 removable

-2

essential

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