Erhard Systems Technological Institute

Odiongan, Romblon

Basic Calculus
Quarter 3 – Module 6:
Continuity and Differentiability of a Function

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What I Know

A. Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Is (𝑥) = 2−𝑥 continuous at 𝑥 = 0?
A. True C. Maybe
B. False D. Neither

2. At what point is continuous?

A. -5 C. 2
B. 5 D. -2
3. The function is continuous at all points of its domain?
A. True C. Maybe
B. False D. Neither
4. Which of the following points is not the point of discontinuity of

A. 𝑥 = −3 C. 𝑥 = 2 + √3

B. 𝑥 = 2 − √3 D. 𝑥 = −2
5. continuous at 𝑥 = 3?
A. Yes C. No
B. Does Not Exist D. Cannot be determined

B. Identify the following functions if continuous or not. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥2 − 2 at 𝑥 = −1

Lesson
1 Continuity and Differentiability of a Function

What’s In
Read and answer each question. Write the letter that corresponds to your answer on a separate sheet of
paper.

1. Which of the following is a continuous function?

A. C.

B. D.

2. What is the derivative of 3𝑥?

A. 3𝑥 C. B. D.
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3. The function is discontinuous at what point?

A. 𝑥 = 2 C. 𝑥 = 0
B. 𝑥 = −2 D. 𝑥 = 1
4. What value of the denominator will make the function discontinuous?
A. 0 C. -1
B. 1 D. 2
5. On what values of x will make function (𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2 continuous?
A. 2 C. undefined
B. -2 D. all values of x
𝑥 + 3, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≤ 0
6. Given the function, { , for any point on the real number
𝑥, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 > 0 line, this function is _____________.
A. Does not exist C. undefined
B. Indeterminate D. defined
7. Find the limit: .

A. C.

B. D.
8. Which of the following is true for continuous functions?

A. Continuous functions are not differentiable.

B. Continuous functions do not have graphs.

C. You have to lift your pen once to draw the graph.
D. You can draw the graph of a continuous function with one single pen stroke without lifting your pen.

9. What is a derivative?
A. the answer C. a mathematical constant
B. A slope D. the inverse of a function
10. Is the function given below continuous/differentiable at 𝑥 = 2?
(𝑥) = { 2𝑥2 − 𝑥 , 𝑥 ≤ 2
8𝑥 − 22 , 𝑥 > 2
A. Continuous but not differentiable
B. Differentiable but not continuous
C. Both continuous and differentiable
D. Neither continuous nor differentiable
11. Is the function given below continuous and differentiable at 𝑥 = 3?
,𝑥<3

, ≥3
A. Continuous but not differentiable
B. Differentiable nut not continuous
C. Both continuous and differentiable

D. D. Neither continuous nor differentiable

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 12. Which of the following are continuous?

A. 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥| C.

3 , <4
B. (𝑥) = {1 D. .

13. Which of the following are not differentiable?

A. 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥| C. 𝑓(𝑥) = 1066
B. 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 + 3)4 D. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏

14. Is function (𝑥) = continuous at point 0?

A. Yes C. Maybe
B. No D. Neither
15. Find the derivative of the function (𝑥) = 1963.
A. +∞ C. −∞
B. 1963 D. 0

What’s New

Matt is a senior high school student. He believes that he can become successful if he will make up his mind
about what he wants and what he loves: deciding on the career path that can improve the financial status of
his family and at the same time doing things that he loves. Time management and deciding on where to
invest his time to be as productive as possible while giving himself some “me” time. He looked up to those
successful people and was inspired by how they planned their way to success.

However, there are some instances that even if he planned on how he will spend his time and resources,
failures get in the way. But he never gave up. He was reminded by the saying, “If you fail, change your
plans, not your goals” If plan A, does not work, he still has plan B or plan C. What is important is that step
by step, he is reaching his goals.

Successful people had their plans before that brought them to where they are right now. On the other hand,
those who did not succeed (yet) may or may not plan thus something might be done for them to eventually
reach their goals.

This can be related to different instances in Mathematics. Such as a given function means it is a relation,
but a relation does not mean it is a function. Can you still remember your first lessons in General
Mathematics? Good job! Hopefully, you can also recall our previous lessons on differentiability and
continuity of a function.

In this module, we will learn a similar relationship between these

important two concepts in Calculus. Are you ready? Let’s go!

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What is It
Recall that, a function is differentiable if and only if its derivative exists. On the other hand, a function is
continuous if it satisfies the different conditions on continuity as discussed in our previous modules.

How do these to relate with each other? Let us start our lesson with polynomial functions.

Example 1.
Identify whether the function (𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 1 is differentiable and continuous.
Solution:
(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 1 Given
Definition of Derivative

Substituted the function to the formula

Distributive Property of Multiplication

Combined like terms

Simplified form

𝒇′(𝒙) = 𝟑 Evaluated the limit (Limit of a Constant)

As you can see (𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 1 is differentiable since its derivative exists. Next, let us see if the function is
continuous. Below is the graph of (𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 1.

Based on the graph, we can say that the function is continuous since it has no gaps or holes.

In this example, we proved that the polynomial function (𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 1 is differentiable and continuous. Will this
be true for all polynomial functions?

Let us have another example.

Example 2.
Determine whether the function (𝑥) = 𝑥2 − 4𝑥 + 3 is differentiable and continuous at (1, 5).

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Solution:
First let us differentiate (𝑥) = 𝑥2 − 4𝑥 + 3.

(𝑥) = 𝑥2 − 4𝑥 + 3 Given

Definition of Derivative

Substituted the function to the

formula

Distributive Property of Multiplication

Combined like terms
Factored out common monomial

Simplified form
Evaluated the limit

𝑓′(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 4 Final answer

Differentiating the function at the point (1.5) means evaluating 𝑓′(1) thus
𝑓′(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 4 Given
𝑓′(1) = 2(1) − 4 Substituted the value

𝑓′(1) = 2 − 4 Simplified form

𝑓′(1) = −2 Final answer

Since the derivative of (𝑥) = 𝑥2 − 4𝑥 + 3 exist then it is differentiable.

Based on the previous module, we say that a function is continuous if it satisfies the following conditions

a. 𝑓(𝑎) exists
b. exists

c.

Now, let us check if the given function will satisfy the above-mentioned conditions at
(1).
a. 𝑓(𝑎) exist Solution:

(𝑥) = 𝑥2 − 4𝑥 + 3 Given function

(1) = 12 − 4(1) + 3 Substituted the value of x

(1) = 1 − 4 + 3 Simplified form

(1) = 0 Final answer
b. exist

Solution:
Given function

(1) = 1 − 4(1) + 3 Substituted the value of x

(1) = 1 − 4 + 3 Simplified form

(1) = 0 Final answer

c.

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 Solution:
(1) = 0 Solutions for conditions 1 and 2

Condition 3

0=0
Since the three conditions are satisfied then (𝑥) = 𝑥2 − 4𝑥 + 3 is continuous at (1, 5). Therefore, we can say
that the polynomial function (𝑥) = 𝑥2 − 4𝑥 + 3 is differentiable and continuous.

Based on our solutions, the first two examples are polynomial which are differentiable and continuous at every
real number x. Thus,

If a function is differentiable at 𝒙 = 𝒂, then function of

𝒇(𝒙) is continuous 𝒙 = 𝒂 (Mercado, 2016)

If that is the case, will it be true the other way around?

Let us examine the following examples:

P P
P

Figure 1
Figure 2 Figure 3

Can you recall the figures above?

Correct! Those are examples from our previous module. These are cases whenever a function does not have
tangent lines at point P and these are NOT differentiable.

Now, which of these functions are continuous?

Very good! Figures 1 and 2 are continuous. (Since you can draw them without lifting your pen because no
holes or gaps can be seen on the graphs). While Figure 3 is not continuous because there is a hole in the
graph.

Based on this, what can we conclude?

If a function 𝒇(𝒙) is not differentiable at 𝒙 = 𝒂 then it may or

may not be continuous at 𝒙 = 𝒂 (Mercado, 2016).

Let as have more examples to prove this.

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Example 3
Identify whether the function below is differentiable and continuous at x = 0.
𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥|
Solution:
Let us see if it is differentiable at point 𝑥 = 0

(𝑥) = |𝑥| Given function

Definition of Derivative

Substituted the function to the formula

Simplified form

|ℎ| = { ℎ ,𝑖𝑓 ℎ > 0

Answer
−ℎ ,𝑓 ℎ < 0
We will not include ℎ = 0 because h cannot be equal to 0 because it will make the function undefine. Using the
function above:

Since the left- and right-hand limit are not equal then 𝑓′(0) does not exist and this is not differentiable at 𝑥 = 0.

Now let us check its continuity. This is an absolute function which can also be written as:

Let us graph this using a table of values

x -2 -1 0 1 2

y 2 1 0 1 2

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We can see that the graph is continuous but let us still prove by checking if it will satisfy the three conditions
for continuity:

a. 𝑓(0) = |0| = 0
b. −𝑥 = 0

𝑥=0
𝑥→
c.(0) = lim𝑥→0 |𝑥|
0=0
Limit exists since
Since the three conditions are satisfied, we can say that (𝑥) = |𝑥| is continuous at the same point 𝑥 = 0.

In this example, the function is not differentiable but is continuous at the same point. Is everything clear
now? Hope this last example will make you understand the lesson deeper.

Example 4
Check the differentiability and continuity of the function below at 𝑥 = 3

Solution:
Let us differentiate .

Given function

Definition of Derivative

Substituted the function to the

formula

Performed the indicated operations

Distributive Property of Multiplication

Performed the operation

Evaluated the limit

Simplified form

Final answer

Evaluate: 𝑓′(3).
Derivative of

Substituted the given value

Simplified form

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 Final answer

Since 𝑓′(3) does not exist, then is not differentiable at 𝑥 = 3.

For continuity of the function, let us check the three conditions.

a. 𝑓(𝑎) is defined Condition 1

Given Function
Substituted the value of x

Simplified form

(3) = undefined Final answer

b. exists thus

Given Function

Substituted the value of x

Simplified form

= −∞ Rules Involving Infinite limits

Given Function

Substituted the value of x

Simplified form

=∞ Rules Involving Infinite limits

The second condition is not satisfied therefore the third condition will also be not satisfied.

Therefore is not differentiable nor continuous at 𝑥 = 3.

What’s More

Determine if the given function is continuous and differentiable at the indicated values of x. Write the letter of
your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. (𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 10
A. 𝑥 = 5 2. B. 𝑥 = 0
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 6
2

A. 𝑥 = 1 B. 𝑥 = −3
3.

A. 𝑥 = −1 B. 𝑥 = 0 C. 𝑥 = 3

4. x<6
𝑥≥6

A. 𝑥 = 4 B. 𝑥 = 6
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What I Have Learned

Read the following statements. Identify whether these are SOMETIMES TRUE, ALWAYS TRUE or NEVER
TRUE. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. If a function is differentiable at a point, then it is continuous at the same point.

2. If a function is continuous at a point, then it is differentiable at the same point.
3. If a function is differentiable at a point, then it is not continuous at the same point.

4. If a function is not differentiable at a point, then it is continuous at the same point.

5. If a function is not differentiable at a point, then it is not continuous at the same point.

What I Can Do

Determine whether the x-values are differentiable at the given graph below. Write your answer on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. 𝑥 = −4
2. 𝑥 = −3
3. 𝑥 = 0
4. 𝑥 = −2
5. 𝑥 = 2

Assessment

A. Read and answer the following questions. Write the letter of your answer on a separate sheet of
paper.
1. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
A. Continuous functions are not differentiable.
B. Continuous functions do not have graphs.
C. Continuous functions are differentiable
D. Continuous functions have gaps on their graphs
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 2. Which of the following functions are continuous but not differentiable?

y
y
A.
C.
x
x

y
B. y
D.

x
x

3. All functions below are continuous and differentiable EXCEPT ONE. Which is it?
A. linear function C. quadratic function
B. absolute value function D. rational function
4. On what value/s of x will make the function f(x) = x – 4 continuous?
A. 4 C. – 4
B. 0 D. all values of x
5. The function is continuous and differentiable at all values of x
EXCEPT?
A. 2 C. – 2
B. 5 D. 1

B. Determine whether each of the following functions is:

A. continuous
B. differentiable

Graph Given Point Continuous Differentiable

6.
y

All values of x
x

7.

x=3

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8.
y

x x=-2

9.

x=3

10.

x=0

Additional Activities

Find all values of a such that the function ,if x<a

,if 𝑥 ≥ 𝑎
is continuous everywhere.

Credits to:

Department of Education

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