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Sec. 1.8

This document summarizes key concepts about continuity of functions from a mathematics textbook. It defines continuity of a function at a point using limits, and discusses properties of continuous functions including that sums, differences, constants multiples, and compositions of continuous functions are also continuous. The intermediate value theorem is presented, stating that if a function is continuous on a closed interval and takes on different values at the endpoints, it must take on all intermediate values somewhere within the interval. Examples are provided to illustrate the concepts.

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34 views9 pages

Sec. 1.8

This document summarizes key concepts about continuity of functions from a mathematics textbook. It defines continuity of a function at a point using limits, and discusses properties of continuous functions including that sums, differences, constants multiples, and compositions of continuous functions are also continuous. The intermediate value theorem is presented, stating that if a function is continuous on a closed interval and takes on different values at the endpoints, it must take on all intermediate values somewhere within the interval. Examples are provided to illustrate the concepts.

Uploaded by

Insightful Tutors
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 1. Functions and Limits MATH101 | Section 1.

8 |

Section 1.8: Continuity

• Continuity of a Function
• Properties of Continuous Functions
• The intermediate Value Theorem
Chapter 1. Functions and Limits MATH101 | Section 1.8 |

Continuity of Function

Definition 1: A function 𝑓𝑓 is continuous at a number 𝑎𝑎 if


lim 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑓𝑓(𝑎𝑎)
𝑥𝑥→𝑎𝑎

Checklist.
Notice that the definition implicitly requires three things if 𝑓𝑓 is continuous at 𝑎𝑎:
1. 𝑓𝑓(𝑎𝑎) is defined ( 𝑎𝑎 is in the domain of 𝑓𝑓 ).
2. lim 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) exists
𝑥𝑥→𝑎𝑎

3. lim 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑓𝑓(𝑎𝑎)


𝑥𝑥→𝑎𝑎

As illustrated in the figure, If 𝑓𝑓 is continuous, then the points (𝑥𝑥, 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)) on the graph of 𝑓𝑓
approach the point (𝑎𝑎, 𝑓𝑓(𝑎𝑎)) on the graph. So there is no gap in the curve
Chapter 1. Functions and Limits MATH101 | Section 1.8 |

Example: Find the values of 𝑥𝑥 at which 𝑓𝑓 is discontinuous. Why?

Solution:

Example: Where are each of the following functions is discontinuous?


𝑥𝑥 2 −𝑥𝑥−2
a. f(x) =
𝑥𝑥−2
𝑥𝑥2 −𝑥𝑥−2
b. 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = � 𝑥𝑥−2 if 𝑥𝑥 ≠ 2
1 if 𝑥𝑥 = 2

Solution:
Chapter 1. Functions and Limits MATH101 | Section 1.8 |

The following graphs show the graphs of the functions in the previous example.
The kind of discontinuity in the following graphs is called Removable

The following graphs show other types of discontinuities: Infinite and Jump discontinuities.
Chapter 1. Functions and Limits MATH101 | Section 1.8 |

Definition 2: A function 𝑓𝑓 is continuous from the right at a number 𝑎𝑎 if


lim 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑓𝑓(𝑎𝑎)
𝑥𝑥→𝑎𝑎+

And 𝑓𝑓 is continuous from the left at a number 𝑎𝑎 if


lim 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑓𝑓(𝑎𝑎)
𝑥𝑥→𝑎𝑎−

Definition 3: A function 𝑓𝑓 is continuous on an interval if it is continuous at every number in


the interval. (If 𝑓𝑓 is defined only on one side of an endpoint of the interval, we understand
continuous at the endpoint to mean continuous from the right or continuous from the left.)

Properties of Continuous Functions


Theorem If f and g are continuous at 𝑎𝑎 and 𝑐𝑐 is a constant, then the following
functions are also continuous at 𝑎𝑎:
1. 𝑓𝑓 + 𝑔𝑔
2. 𝑓𝑓 − 𝑔𝑔
3. 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
4. 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓
𝑓𝑓
5. if 𝑔𝑔(𝑎𝑎) ≠ 0
𝑔𝑔

Theorem

• Any polynomial 𝑃𝑃(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑐𝑐𝑛𝑛−1 𝑥𝑥 𝑛𝑛 + 𝑐𝑐𝑛𝑛−1 𝑥𝑥 𝑛𝑛−1 + ⋯ + 𝑐𝑐1 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑐𝑐0 is continuous


everywhere; that is, it is continuous on (−∞, ∞)

𝑃𝑃(𝑥𝑥)
• Any rational function 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = is continuous for 𝑥𝑥, such that 𝑄𝑄(𝑥𝑥) ≠ 0.
𝑄𝑄(𝑥𝑥)

• sin𝑥𝑥, cos 𝑥𝑥, 𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥 are continuous everywhere.

• ln(𝑥𝑥) is continuous for 𝑥𝑥 > 0.

𝑛𝑛
• √𝑥𝑥 is continuous for all 𝑥𝑥 when 𝑛𝑛 is odd, and for 𝑥𝑥 > 0 when 𝑛𝑛 is even
Chapter 1. Functions and Limits MATH101 | Section 1.8 |

Theorem

If g is continuous at 𝑎𝑎 and 𝑓𝑓 is continuous at g(a). then 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 g given by (𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 g)(𝑥𝑥) = f(g(𝑥𝑥)) is
continuous at 𝑎𝑎.
Chapter 1. Functions and Limits MATH101 | Section 1.8 |

Example:
Show that the function 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 1 − √1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 is continuous on the interval [−1,1].
Solution
Chapter 1. Functions and Limits MATH101 | Section 1.8 |

Example.
48. Find the values a and b that make f continuous everywhere.
𝑥𝑥 2 − 4
if 𝑥𝑥 < 2
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = � 𝑥𝑥2 − 2
𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥 − 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 + 3 if 2 ≤ 𝑥𝑥 < 3
2𝑥𝑥 − 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏 if 𝑥𝑥 ≥ 3
Answer:
Chapter 1. Functions and Limits MATH101 | Section 1.8 |

The Intermediate Value Theorem

Theorem
Suppose that 𝑓𝑓 is continuous on the closed interval [𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏] and 𝑁𝑁 be any number between
𝑓𝑓(𝑎𝑎) and 𝑓𝑓(𝑏𝑏), where 𝑓𝑓(𝑎𝑎) ≠ 𝑓𝑓(𝑏𝑏). Then
there is a number 𝑐𝑐 in (a,b) such that 𝑓𝑓(𝑐𝑐) = 𝑁𝑁

Example: Show that there is a solution of the equation


4𝑥𝑥 3 − 6𝑥𝑥 2 + 3𝑥𝑥 − 2 = 0
between 1 and 2

Solution

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