CHAPTER 5

Continuity and Differentiability

Continuity ¾ lim
x→ 0
sin x
x
=1
• Definition of Continuity: tan x
Let f is a real valued function and is a subset of ¾ lim =1
x →0 x
real numbers and a point c lies in the domain of f,
sin −1 x
then f is continuous at c if ¾ lim =1
x →0 x
lim f ( x ) = f ( c)
x→ c tan −1 x
When the function f is discontinuous at c, it is called ¾ lim =1
x →0 x
the point of discontinuity of f. ax − 1
Also, if f is defined on [a, b] then continuity of a ¾ lim = log e a, a > 0
x →0 x
function f at a means
ex − 1
lim f ( x) = f ( a) ¾ lim
x→ 0 x
=1
x → a+

And continuity of the function f at b means ex − 1

¾ lim =1
lim− f ( x ) = f ( b) x→ 0 x
x→ b
log e (1 + x)
• Every polynomial function is continuous. ¾ lim =1
x →0 x
• Consider two real functions f and g which are
continuous at c, then sum, difference, product and x n − an
¾ lim = nan −1
quotient of the two functions will also be continuous x→ a x−a
at x = c.
i.e. (f + g)(x) = f (x) + g (x) is continuous at x = c
Differentiability
(f – g)(x) = f (x) – g (x) is continuous at x = c • Differentiability:
(f . g)(x) = f (x) . g (x)is continuous at x = c Consider a real function f and a point c lies in its
Here if f is a constant function say f(x) = α for domain then the derivative of that function at c is
some real number α, then the function (α . g) defined by
defined by (α . g)(x) = α . g (x) is also continuous. f ( c + h) − f ( c )
If α = –1 then continuity of f implies continuity lim
h→ 0 h
of –f. Provided the limit exists. It is denoted by f ′(c) or
f ( x)
⎛f⎞
⎜⎝ g ⎟⎠ ( x) = g x is continuous at x = c when g(x) ≠ 0
d
( f ( x) ) .
( ) dx
Here, if f is a constant function say f(x) = α for some • Some rules for algebra of derivatives:
α ¾ (u + v)′ = u′ + v′
real number α, then the function defined by ¾ (u – v)′ = u′ – v′
g
¾ Product rule: (uv)′ = u′v + uv′
α α is also continuous wherever g(x) ≠ 0.
( x) = ⎛ u⎞
′
u′ v − uv′
g g ( x) ¾ Quotient rule: ⎜ ⎟ = , v≠ 0
⎝ v⎠ v2
• Here are some formulae for limits:
• A function which is differentiable at a point c is
¾ lim cos x = 1
x →0 also continuous at that point but the converse is
not true.
• Chain Rule: on [a, b] and differentiable on (a, b), then there exists
Consider a real value function f which is a composite f ( b) − f ( a )
of u and v. a point c in (a, b) such that f ′ ( c ) = .
b−a
dt dv df dv dt •
Let t = u(x) and , exists, then = . Derivatives of some standard functions are
dx dt dx dt dx listed below:
• Some important features of exponential
function and logarithm function are given ¾
d n
dx
( )
x = nx n −1
below
d
¾ Domain of both the functions is set of all real ¾ ( k) = 0 , k is any constant
numbers. dx
¾ Range of exponential function is set of all positive
real numbers and the range of log function is ¾
d x
dx
( )
a = ax log e a, a > 0
set of all real numbers.
¾ The point (0, 1) is always on the graph of ¾
d x
dx
( )
e = ex
exponential function and the point (1, 0) is always
d 1 1
on the graph of log function. ¾ dx
( log a x ) = x log a = x log a e
¾ Both the functions are ever increasing. e

• A relation expressed between two variable x and y d 1

in the form x = f(t), y = g(t) is said to be parametric ¾
dx
( log e x ) =
x
form with t as a parameter. d
By using Chain Rule we find the derivative of ¾ ( sin x) = cos x
dx
function in such form.
d
dy dy dx ¾ ( cos x) = − sin x
= ⋅ dx
dt dx dt
d
dy ¾ ( tan x) = sec2 x
dx
dy dt ⎛ dx ⎞
or = ⎜⎝ whenever ≠ 0⎟ d
dx dx dt ⎠ ¾ ( sec x) = sec x tan x
dt dx
dy g ( t )
d
Thus
'

= ' ¾ ( cot x) = − cos ec2 x

dx
dx f ( t )
d
• Second Order Derivative: ¾ ( cosec x) = −cosec x cot x
dx
If y = f(x)
dy
= f ' ( x)
¾
d
( )
sin −1 x =
1
, x ∈ ( −1, 1)
dx 1 − x2
dx

If f’(x) is differentiable then

dy
= f ′ ( x ) will be
d
( −1
¾ dx cos x = − ) 1
, x ∈ ( −1, 1)
dx 1 − x2
differentiated again. The left side will become
d ⎛ dy ⎞ ¾
d
dx
(
tan −1 x = ) 1
1 + x2
, x ∈
⎜ ⎟ and is called second order derivative of y
dx ⎝ dx ⎠
w.r.t. x. ¾
d
dx
( )
cot −1 x = −
1
1 + x2
, x ∈
• Rolle’s Theorem:
Consider a real valued function f defined on the
d
( −1
¾ dx sec x = ) 1
, where
interval [a, b] such that the function is continuous x x2 − 1
on [a, b], differentiable on (a, b) and f(a) = f(b), then x ∈ ( −∞, − 1) ∪ (1, ∞ )
there exist a point c in (a, b) such that f ′(c) = 0.
• Lagrange’s Mean Value Theorem:
d
( −1
¾ dx cosec x = −
1
) , where
Consider a real valued function f defined on the x x2 − 1
interval [a, b] such that the function is continuous x ∈ ( −∞, − 1) ∪ (1, ∞ )
 Exercise
1. For what value of k, the following function is 1
continuous at x = 1? 6. In order that the function f(x) = ( x + 1) x is
⎧ x2 − 1 continuous at x = 0, f(0) must be defined as
⎪ , x≠1
f ( x) = ⎨ x − 1 (a) f(0) = 0 (b) f(0) = e
⎪ x=1
⎩ 4k, 1
(c) f ( 0) = (d) f(0) = 1
1 e
(a) (b) 1
2 7. Let [x] denotes the greatest integer less than or
equal to x. If f(x) = [x sin πx], then f(x) is
1
(c) (d) None (a) Continuous at x = 0
4
(b) Continuous in (–1, 0)
2. Find the value of k for which the function
(c) Differentiable in (–1, 1)
⎧ x − 2x − 3
2 (d) All the above
⎪ , x ≠ −1
f ( x) = ⎨ x + 1 8. Which of the following is not true
is continuous at
⎪ x = −1
⎩ k, (a) A polynomial function is always continuous
x = –1. (b) A continuous function is always differentiable
(a) 4 (b) –4 (c) A differentiable function is always continuous
(c) 2 (d) –3 (d) ex is continuous for all x
3. Find the value of k for which 9. Suppose f(x) is differentiable at x = 1 and
1
⎧ 3x + 4 tan x lim f (1 + h ) = 5, then f ′ (1) equals
⎪ , x≠0
f ( x) = ⎨
h→ 0 h
x is continuous at x =
⎪⎩ k, x=0 (a) 5 (b) 6
0. (c) 3 (d) 4
(a) 3 (b) 4 10. If f(x) = x2 – 2x + 4 and f ( 5) − f (1) = f ′ ( c ) , then
(c) 7 (d) None 5 −1
value of c will be
⎧ 1 (a) 0 (b) 1
xsin , when x ≠ 0
4. Let f ( x ) = ⎪⎨ x , then (c) 2 (d) 3
⎪⎩ 0, When x = 0
11. Let f(x + y) = f(x) + f(y) and f(x) = x2 g(x) for all x, y
(a) f(x) is not defined at x = 0 ∈ R, where g(x) is continuous function. Then f′(x)
is equal to
(b) xlim
→0
f(x) does not exist (a) g′(x)
(c) f(x) is continuous at x = 0 (b) g(0)
(d) f(x) is discontinuous at x = 0 (c) g(0) + g′(x)
(d) 0
⎧ sin 5x
, if x ≠ 0
5. The value of k for which f ( x ) = ⎪⎨ 3x
12. The function which is continuous for all real
values of x and differentiable at x = 0 is
⎪⎩ k, if x = 0
(a) |x|
is continuous at x = 0, is (b) log x
1 (c) sin x
(a) (b) 0
3 1
(d) x 2
3 5
(c) (d)
5 3
13. Which one of the following is not true always 17. The point of discontinuity of the function
(a) If f(x) is not continuous at x = a, then it is not 1 + cos 5x
f(x)= is
differentiable at x = a 1 − cos 4x
(b) If f(x) is continuous at x = a, then it is (a) x = 0
differentiable at x = a
(b) x = π
(c) If f(x) and g(x) are differentiable at x = a, then
(c) x = π/2
f(x) + g(x) is also differentiable at x = a
(d) All of these
(d) If a function f(x) is continuous at x = a, then
lim f(x) exists. ⎧ sin πx
x →a ⎪ , x≠0
18. Let f(x) = ⎨ 5x . If f(x) is continuous at
⎪⎩ k , x = 0
⎛ 2x ⎞
14. Function y = sin −1 ⎜ is not differentiable
⎝ 1 + x 2 ⎟⎠ x = 0, then k =

for π
(a)
5
(a) |x| < 1
5
(b) x= 1, –1 (b)
π
(c) |x| > 1
(c) 1
(d) None of these
(d) 0
⎧ log (1 + 2ax ) − log (1 − bx ) ⎧ x sin (1/x ) , x ≠ 0
⎪ , x≠0 19. If f(x) = ⎨ then at x = 0, the
15. If y(x) = ⎨ x is
0 , x=0
⎪⎩ ⎩
k , x=0
function is
continuous at x = 0, then k equals
(a) Discontinuous
(a) 2a + b (b) 2a – b
(b) Continuous but not differentiable
(c) b – 2a (d) b + a
(c) Both continuous and differentiable
⎧ x, x < 0 (d) None of these
⎪
16. If f(x) = ⎨ 1, x = 0 , then true statement is 20. Let f(xy) = f(x)f(y) for all x, y ∈ R. If f ′(1) = 2 and
⎪x2 , x > 0 f(4) = 4, then f ′(4) = equal to
⎩
f (x) = 1 (a) 4
(a) lim
x →0
(b) 1
(b) lim f (x) = 0
x →0 1
(c)
(c) f(x) is continuous at x = 0 2
(d) lim f (x) does not exist (d) 2
x →0

Answer Keys
1. (a) 2. (b) 3. (c) 4. (c) 5. (d) 6. (b) 7. (d) 8. (b) 9. (a) 10. (d)

11. (d) 12. (c) 13. (b) 14. (b) 15. (a) 16. (b) 17. (d) 18. (a) 19. (b) 20. (d)
 Solutions
x2 − 1 5 cos5x 5
1. lim f ( x ) = lim lim =
x →1 x →1 x − 1 x →0 3 3

= lim
( x − 1)( x + 1) 5
x →1 x −1 ∴ We must have f(0) =
3
= lim ( x + 1) = 1 + 1 = 2
x →1 ⎛ 5⎞
Hence, k = ⎜⎝ ⎟⎠
3
2 1
∴k= =
4 2
6. xlim f ( x ) = f (0)
→0
2
x − 2x − 3
2. lim f ( x ) = lim
x →−1 x →−1 x +1 1
⇒ lim (1 + x) x = e
x→0
( x − 3 )( x + 1 )
= lim ∴ f(0) = e
x →−1 x +1

= lim ( x − 3) 7. Here, when –1 ≤ x ≤ 1, 0 ≤ x sin πx < 1

x →−1
⇒ f(x) = [x sin πx] = 0 for –1 ≤ x ≤ 1,
= –1 – 3 = – 4
i.e., f(x) is constant function (equal to zero) in
∴ For continuity at x = –1, we have [–1, 1].
lim f ( x ) = f ( −1) ∴ f(x) is differentiable in (–1, 1).
x →1 −1
8. A continuous function may or may not be differ-
∴ f(–1) = –4 entiable Therefore, option (b) is not true.
Hence, K = –4 f (1 + h ) − f (1)
9. f ′ (1) = lim
3. For continuity at x = 0, we must have h→ 0 h
lim f ( x ) = f ( 0 )  Function is differentiable.
x →0
∴ It is continuous as it is given that
3x + 4 tan x ⎡ 0⎤
Now, lim f ( x ) = lim ⎢ form 0 ⎥ f (1 + h )
x→0 x→0 x ⎣ ⎦ lim = 5 and hence f(1) = 0
h→ 0 h
Applying L-hopital
f (1 + h )
x →0
(
= lim 3 + 4sec 2 x ) ∴ f ′ (1) = lim
h →0 h
=5

= 3 + 4 sec2(0) = 3 + 4 = 7 10. f(x) = x2 – 2x + 4,

∴ f(0) = 7 and Hence, k = 7. ⇒ f′(x) = 2x – 2
4. f(0) = 0 At x = c, f′(c) = 2c – 2
1 f(5) = 52 – 2(5) + 4 = 19
lim f ( x ) = lim xsin
x →0 x →0 x f(1) = 12 – 2(1) + 4 = 3
= 0 × (a finite quantity) = 0 f ( 5) − f (1) 19 − 3
∴ = f (c) ⇒ = 2c − 2
∴ f(x) is continuous at x = 0 5 −1 5 −1
5. For continuity at x = 0, we must have 16
⇒ = 2c − 2
lim f ( x ) = f ( 0 ) 4
x →0
⇒ 4 = 2c – 2 ⇒ 2c = 6
sin 5x ⎡ 0⎤
Now, lim f ( x ) = lim
6
⎢ from 0 ⎥ ∴c= =3
x →0 x →0 3x ⎣ ⎦ 2
 1 + cos 5x
f ( x + h) − f ( x)
11. We have f ′ ( x ) = lim
17. f(x) =
1 − cos 4x
h →0 h
1 – cos 4x ≠ 0
f ( x ) + f ( h ) − f ( x) 4x ≠ 2nπ
= lim
h→ 0 h nπ
x≠ , n∈I
2
[ f(x + y) = f(x) + f(y)]
π
x ≠ 0, ,π
f ( h) h2g ( h ) 2
= lim = lim = 0.g ( 0 ) = 0
h →0 h h→ 0 h sin πx
18. k = lim
x →0 5x
[ g is continuous therefore lim g ( h ) = g ( 0 )] π sin πx π
h →0 = lim =
x →0 5 5x 5
dy 1
12. Since = cos x which is defined at x = 0 and no 19. lim x sin = 0 = f(0)
dx x →0 x
other differential coefficient is defined at x = 0 therefore function is continuous but not
13. Every differentiable function is continuous but differentiable
every continuous funcion is not differentiable. For 20. f(xy) = f(x)f(y)
example, y = |x| is continuous at x = 0, but not
differentiable at x = 0 f (x + h) − f (x)
f′(x) = lim
h →0 h
14. y ' = 1
.
( )
2 1 + x 2 − 4x2
⎛ ⎛ b ⎞⎞
(1 + x 2 )
2
⎛ 2x ⎞
2 f ⎜ x ⎜1 + ⎟ ⎟ – f (x)
⎝ x ⎠⎠
1−⎜ ⎟ = lim ⎝
⎝ 1 + x2 ⎠ h→0 h

=
(
2 1 − x2 ) ⎛ h⎞
f (x) ⋅ f ⎜ 1 + ⎟ − f (x)
⎝ x⎠
(1 − x ) . (1 + x )
2 2 2 = lim
h →0 h

⎧ 2 ⎛ h⎞
for x < 1 f ⎜ 1 + ⎟ − f (1)
⎪ x⎠
⎪1 + x2 = f (x) lim ⎝
⇒ y' = ⎨ h→0 h
⎪ −2 for x > 1
⎪⎩ 1 + x 2
⎛ h⎞
f ⎜ 1 + ⎟ − f (1)
f (x) x⎠
Hence, for |x| = 1, the derivative does not exist. = lim ⎝
x h → 0 h/x
15. f(0) = lim f (0)
x →0
f (x)
log (1 + 2ax ) − log (1 − bx ) = f ′(1)
k = lim x
x →0 x
f ′(x) 2
log (1 + 2ax ) log (1 − bx ) f (x)
=
= lim − x
x →0 x x ln f(x) = 2 ln x + ln k
2a log (1 + 2ax ) b log (1 − bx ) f(x) = kx2
= lim +
x →0 2ax − bx f(4) = 4
= 2a + b
1
16. xlim
→0 −
f (x) = 0 k=
4
lim f (x) = 0 x2
x →0 + f(x) =
4
∴ lim
x →0
=0 f′(4) = 2