CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
 Explain the three conditions for continuity at a point.
 Describe three kinds of discontinuities.
 Define continuity on an interval.
 State the theorem for limits of composite functions.
 Provide an example of the intermediate value theorem

What makes a function continuous?

A function f(x) is continuous if its graph can be dawn without lifting your pencil. Visually, this means f
is continuous if its graph has no jumps, gaps or holes. In other words, curve is continuous if it has no
“breaks”, “holes”, or “asymptotes”.

Mathematically, a function is continuous at a point “c” if it satisfies the following conditions:

i. f(c) is defined. (where f ( c )=R ,¿ )

at c bType equation here . The function f(x) is not continuous

because f(c) is undefined.

ii. lim f (x ) must exist

x →c

iii. lim f (x )=f (c )

x →c

If the function satisfies all the conditions then function is continuous at that point c.
Example 1: Determine if the function is continuous at c.

Conditions Remarks
i. f(c) is defined. Not define because there is no value of f(x) at point c
ii. lim f ( x ) must The limit exist because the limit coming from the left and
x →c coming from the right goes to one point. √
exist
iii. lim f (x )=f (c ) Since condition i and ii are not equal.
x →c
Conclusion: Since only one condition is satisfied hence the function is not
continuous at point c.

The function is not continuous hence this is known as REMOVABLE DISCONTINUITY.

REMOVABLE DISCONTINUITY – a discontinuity that you could fill in with a single point.

Example 2: Determine if the function is continuous at c.

Conditions Remarks
i. f(c) is defined. Defined because there is a value of f(x) at point c √
ii. lim f ( x ) must The limit does not exist (DNE) because the limit coming from
x →c the left and coming from the right have different values
exist
iii. lim f (x )=f (c ) Since condition i and ii are not equal.
x →c
Conclusion: Since only one condition is satisfied hence the function is not
continuous at point c.

The function is not continuous thus this is known as JUMP DISCONTINUITY.

JUMP DISCONTINUITY –happens when the limit does not exist at 𝑐 because the limit from the
left and the limit from the right have different values.
Example 3: Determine if the function is continuous at c.

Asymptote
.

Conditions Remarks
i. f(c) is defined. Defined because there is a value of f(x) at point c √
ii. lim f ( x ) must The limit does exist because the limit coming from the left and
x →c coming from the right are both positive infinity. √
exist
iii. lim f (x )=f (c ) Since lim f ( x )= positive∞ and f ( c ) =c thus
x →c x →c
lim f ( x )≠ f (c)
x →c
Conclusion: Since one of the conditions is not satisfied hence the function
is not continuous at point c.

The function is not continuous thus this is known as ESSENTIAL or INFINITE DISCONTINUITY.

ESSENTIAL or INFINITE DISCONTINUITY –is a discontinuity located at a vertical

asymptote. This type of discontinuity exists if a function has one or more infinite limits. Example
1.
The graph of f(x) is given below. Based on this graph determine where the function is
discontinuous. Also determine the type of discontinuity.

POINT OF TYPE OF DISCONTINUITY

DISCONTINUITY
c=-2 JUMP DISCONTINUITY
c=0 INFINITE DISCONTINUITY
c=2 REMOVABLE
 DISCONTINUITY
c=4 JUMP DISCONTINUITY

Example A.
Determine if the given function is continuous or discontinuous at the indicated points. Also
determine the type of discontinuity.

2
x −4
1. f ( x )=
x−2
a. x=2
b. x=-2
c. x=0

x2−4
2. f ( x )= 2
x + x−6
a. x=2
b. x=-2
c. x=0

Solutions:

x −4 ( x−2 )( x +2 )
2
1. f ( x )= = =( x +2)
x−2 ( x−2 )
a. x=2
if x = 2 the denominator is zero and the function is undefined hence it is
DISCONTINUOUS. But what type of discontinuity? Remember that if the denominator
and numerator has a common factor the graph has a hole. The function has a common
factor (x-2) therefore it a hole and a removable discontinuity.
b. x = -2 CONTINUOUS
c. x = 0 CONTINUOUS

2
x −4 (x−2)( x +2)
( )
2. f x = 2 =
x + x−6 (x−2)( x +3)
a. x=2
if x = 2 the denominator is zero and the function is undefined hence it is
DISCONTINUOUS. But what type of discontinuity? Remember that if the denominator
and numerator has a common factor the graph has a hole. The function has a common
factor (x-2) therefore it a hole and a removable discontinuity.

b. x = -3 DISCONTINUOUS Since we cannot eliminate x+3 thus it is asymptotic

Therefore the function is INFINITE DISCONTINUITY at x = -3
c. x = 6 CONTINUOUS

Example B
Determine where the given function is discontinuous. Also determine the type of discontinuity.
 6t
1. f ( x )= 2
t +5 t +6

x−1
2. f ( x )= 2
x +2 x−5

Solutions:
6t 6t
1. f ( x )= =
t +5 t +6 (t +2)(t+3)
2

Discontinuities
At t+2= 0,
t=-2
INFINITE DISCONTINUITY because t+2 cannot be cancelled out
At t+3=0
t=-3
INFINITE DISCONTINUITY since t+3 cannot be cancelled out

x−1
2. f ( x )= 2 , x 2+ 2 x−5 is not factorable
x + 2 x−5
Using quadratic equation, we have;
−b ± √ b −4 ac
2
x=
2a
−2 ± √ 2 −4(1)(−5)
2
x=
2(1)
x=−1 ± √ 6
x=−1+ √ 6 INFINITE DISCONTINUITY since x 2+ 2 x−5 cannot be cancelled out

x=−1−√6 INFINITE DISCONTINUITY since x 2+ 2 x−5 cannot be cancelled out

SUMMARY
THREE CONDITIONS OF CONTINUITY AT A POINT
A function f(x) is continuous at a point a if and only if the following three conditions are satisfied:

i. f(c) is defined. (where f ( c )=¿)

ii. lim f (x ) must exist
x →c

iii. lim f (x )=f (c )

x →c

If f(x) is discontinuous at c, then

 1. f has a removable discontinuity at c if lim
x →c
f (x ) exists. ( Note: When we state that
lim f (x ) exists, we mean that lim f (x ) = R (where R is areal number ¿ .
x →c x →c
lim ¿
2. f has a jump discontinuity at c if x→lim
c f ( x) ¿
¿ and lim ¿ both exist, but
−¿
x→ c f ( x ) ¿ x→ c
+¿
−¿
f ( x) ≠ lim
+¿
¿¿
x→c f (x )¿

.
3. f has an infinite discontinuity at c if x→ c lim
f ( x ) =± ∞ ¿
¿ or
+¿
lim
−¿
x→ c f ( x ) =±∞ ¿
¿

Continuity Over An Interval

Now that we have explored the concept of continuity at a point, we extend that idea to continuity over
an interval. As we develop this idea for different types of intervals, it may be useful to keep in mind the
intuitive idea that a function is continuous over an interval if we can use a pencil to trace the function
between any two points in the interval without lifting the pencil from the paper. In preparation for defining
continuity on an interval, we begin by looking at the definition of what it means for a function to be
continuous from the right at a point and continuous from the left at a point.

CONTINUITY FROM THE RIGHT AND FROM THE LEFT

 A function f(x) is said to be continuous from the right at c if x→ c lim +¿

f ( x ) =f ( c ) ¿
¿

 A function f(x) is said to be continuous from the left at c if x→ c lim −¿

f ( x ) =f ( c ) ¿
¿

A function is continuous over an open interval if it is continuous at every point in the interval. A
function f(x) is continuous over a closed interval of the form [a,b] if it is continuous at every point in (a,b)
and is continuous from the right at aa and is continuous from the left at bb. Analogously, a function f(x) is
continuous over an interval of the form (a,b] if it is continuous over (a,b) and is continuous from the left
at b. Continuity over other types of intervals are defined in a similar fashion.
Here are some facts about 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,∞).

Illustrative Examples:

{
2
Consider the function,
x if x <2 at the interval [0,4].
4 if x ≥ 2
Solution:
(𝑥) is left-continuous at 𝑥 = 0 , since 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥² and polynomial functions are continuous at ℜ.
(𝑥) is right-continuous at 𝑥 = 4 , since 𝑓(𝑥) = 4 and polynomial functions are continuous at ℜ.
Thus, 𝑓 (𝑥) is continuous in the interval [0,4].
 Example 2. Consider the graph of the function 𝑓 given below.

Using the given graph, determine if the function 𝑓 is continuous on the following intervals:
a. (−1,1)
b. (−∞,0)
c. (0,+∞)
Solution:
Remember that when we say “trace from the right side of 𝑥 = 𝑎” we are tracing not from
𝑥 = 𝑎 on the x-axis but from the point (𝑎,(𝑎)) along the graph.

a. We can trace the graph from the right side of 𝑥 = −1 to the left side of 𝑥 = 1 without
lifting the pen we are using. Hence, we can say that the function 𝑓 is continuous on the
interval (−1,1).

b. If we trace the graph from any negatively large number up to the left side of 0, we will
not lift our pen and so, 𝑓 is continuous on (−∞,0).

c. or the interval (0,+∞), we trace the graph from the right side of 0 to any large number,
and find that we will not lift our pen. Thus the function 𝑓 is continuous on (0,+∞).

Example 3
x −1
Determine the intervals over the function f ( x )= is continuous.
x 2+ 2 x
Solution:
 x −1
Since f ( x )=2 is a rational function, it is continuous at every point in its domain. The
x +2x
domain of f(x) is the set (−∞,−2) ∪(−2,0)∪(0 ,+ ∞). Thus, f(x) is continuous over each of the
intervals (−∞ ,−2 ) ∪ (−2,0 ) ∪ ( 0 ,+∞ ) .

SUMMARY

 A function f(x) is said to be continuous from the right at c if x→ c lim +¿

f ( x ) =f ( c ) ¿
¿

 A function f(x) is said to be continuous from the left at c if x→ c lim −¿

f ( x ) =f ( c ) ¿
¿

A function is continuous over an open interval if it is continuous at every point in the interval. A
function f(x) is continuous over a closed interval of the form [a,b] if it is continuous at every point in (a,b)
and is continuous from the right at aa and is continuous from the left at bb. Analogously, a function f(x) is
continuous over an interval of the form (a,b] if it is continuous over (a,b) and is continuous from the left
at b. Continuity over other types of intervals are defined in a similar fashion.