• CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION AT A NUMBER

( )
2
x −9 (0)2−9 Given the following functions:
A function 𝑓(𝑥) is said to be continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎 if all three lim = =3 𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥 + 1
x →0 x−3 (0)−3
of the following conditions are satisfied: 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥2 + 3
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(0) 2
1. 𝑓(𝑎) exists; 𝑥→0 ℎ(𝑥) =
2. lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists; x−3
𝑥→𝑎 Find:
At 𝑥 = 2
3. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑎). 2 2 (𝑓 𝑜 𝑔)(𝑥) , (𝑔 𝑜 ℎ)(𝑥) , (𝑓 𝑜 𝑓)(𝑥) , (𝑔 𝑜 𝑓)(3)
𝑥→𝑎 x −9 (2) −9
𝑓(𝑥) = =5
Example 1 x−3 (2)−3
At 𝑥 = 2 (𝑓 𝑜 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥))

( (2)2−9
)
2
x −9 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) = 4(𝑔(𝑥) + 1
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 +1 is continuous because lim = =5
𝑓(2) = 22 + 1 = 5 x →2 x−3 (2)−3 = 4(2𝑥2 + 3) + 1
lim(𝑥2 + 1) = 5 lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(2) = 8𝑥2 + 12 + 1
𝑥→2 𝑥→2 (𝑓 𝑜 𝑔)(𝑥) = 8𝑥2 + 13
If any one, or more, of conditions (1), (2), (3) is not
satisfied, the function 𝑓(𝑥) is said to be discontinuous at 𝑥 At 𝑥 = 3 (𝑔 𝑜 ℎ)(𝑥) = 𝑔(ℎ(𝑥))
2
= 𝑎 or to have a discontinuity at 𝑥 = 𝑎
2
x −9 (3) −9 𝑔(ℎ(𝑥)) = 2(ℎ(𝑥))2 + 3
𝑓(𝑥) = =0 2 2
8
Example 2 x−3 (3)−3 2 4 +3
At 𝑥 = 1
= 2( ) +3 =( ) +3= 2

( )
2
x −9 ( x−3)(x +3) x−3 x−3 x−3
𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥2 + 𝑥 − 2 lim = = x+3=3+3=6 8
𝑓(1) = 4(1)2 +(1) -2 = 3 x →2 x−3 x −3 (𝑔 𝑜 ℎ)(𝑥) = 2
+3
lim(4𝑥2 + 𝑥 − 2) = 4(1)2 + (1) − 2 = 3 lim f (x )≠ f (3) x−3
𝑥→1 x →3 (𝑓 𝑜 𝑓)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑓(𝑥))
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(1) The function is discontinuous at x = 3 𝑓(𝑓(𝑥)) = 4(𝑓(𝑥)) + 1
𝑥→1 Example 5 = 4(4𝑥 + 1) + 1 = 16𝑥 + 4 + 1 = 16𝑥 + 5
Example 3 Investigate the continuity of the function (𝑓 𝑜 𝑓)(𝑥) = 16𝑥 + 5
At 𝑥 = 1 −2 x+ 4 if x ≥ 3
f (x){
𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥2 + 𝑥 − 2 x−1 if x< 3 (𝑔 𝑜 𝑓)(3) = 𝑔(𝑓(3))
𝑓(1) = 4(1)2 +(1) -2 = 3 At 𝑥 − 3 𝑔(𝑓(3)) = 2(𝑓(𝑥))2 + 3
lim(4𝑥2 + 𝑥 − 2) = 4(1)2 + (1) − 2 = 3 a. f ( 3 )=−2 ( 3 )=4=−2 = 2(4𝑥 + 1)2 + 3 = 2(4(3) + 1)2 + 3
𝑥→1 lim ¿ = 2(4(3) + 1)2 + 3 = 2(13)2 + 3
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(1) b. +¿
x→ 3 ( −2 x+4 ) =−2 ( 3 ) +4 =−2¿ = 2(169) + 3 = 338 + 3
𝑥→1
c. lim ¿ (𝑔 𝑜 𝑓)(3) = 341
Example 4 −¿
x→ 3 ( x−1 )=3−1=+2 ¿
Determine whether the function is continuous lim ¿ • CONTINUITY OF A COMPOSITE FUNCTION
+¿
2 x→ 3 f ( x ) ≠ lim ¿¿¿
x −9 −¿
If 𝑔 is continuous at 𝑎 and 𝑓 is continuous at 𝑔(𝑎), then the
𝑓(𝑥)
x→ 3 f ( x)

x−3 The function is discontinuous at 𝑥 = 3 composite function (𝑓 𝑜 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) is continuous at 𝑎.

At 𝑥 = 0, 𝑥 = 2 and 𝑥 = 3 • COMPOSITE FUNCTION - “ a continuous function of continuous function is a
At 𝑥 = 0 Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be functions. continuous function”
2 2 The composite function denoted by (𝑓 𝑜 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) f Example 1
x −9 (0) −9
𝑓(𝑥) = =3 compose with g The process of obtaining a composite 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 (𝑓 𝑜 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥))
x−3 (0)−3 function is called function composition. 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 1
Example: 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) = (𝑥 − 1)2
 = 𝑥1 in its domain. Here ∆𝑥 = 𝑥1 − 𝑥0 and we may write 𝑥1 = 𝑥0 Δ y f ( x 0 +∆ x ) −f ( x0 )
Continuous for all real numbers x +∆𝑥 lim =
∆ x→ 0 Δx ∆x
Example 2 If the variable 𝑥 is given an increment ∆𝑥 from 𝑥 = 𝑥0 (that is, if The derivative of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) with respect to x
𝑓 (𝑓 𝑜 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) 𝑥 changes from 𝑥 = 𝑥0 to 𝑥 = 𝑥0 + ∆𝑥) and a function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is dy dy ' dy
thereby given an increment ∆𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥0 + ∆𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥0) from 𝑦 = y D xy f ( x ) f (x )
𝑔 dx dx dx
𝑓(𝑥0),
Then the quotient
𝑓 dy dy
Δ y change∈ y Ex. 2 Find , given 𝑦 = x 3− x 2− 4, Find also the value when
= dx dx
𝑥>1 Δ x change∈ x
(a) 𝑥 = 4
Non removable discontinuous x=1 Continuous for 𝑥 > 1 The derivative of a function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) with respect to 𝑥 at the
(b)𝑥 = 0
point 𝑥 = 𝑥0 is defined as
(c) 𝑥 = −1
Example 3 Δ y f ( x 0 +∆ x ) −f ( x0 ) 𝑦=𝑥3−𝑥2−4
1 lim =
𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑓 𝑜 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) ∆ x→ 0 Δx ∆x 𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = (𝑥 + ∆𝑥) 3 − (𝑥 + ∆𝑥)− 4 𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 (∆𝑥) +
x−6 Provided the limit exists. The limit is also called instantaneous 3𝑥(∆𝑥) 2 + (∆𝑥) 3 − 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥∆𝑥 − (∆𝑥) 2 − 4 ∆𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 (∆𝑥) +
𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥2 + 5 rate of change (or simply, the rate of change) of 𝑦 with respect 3𝑥(∆𝑥) 2 + (∆𝑥) 3 − 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥∆𝑥 − (∆𝑥) 2 − 4 − 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 + 4 ∆𝑦 =
to 𝑥 at 𝑥 = 𝑥0. (3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥)∆𝑥 + (3𝑥 − 1)(∆𝑥) 2+(∆𝑥) 3 ∆𝑦 ∆𝑥 = 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + (3𝑥 −
𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) = 𝑓(𝑥2 + 5)
Ex. 1 Find the derivative of 1)∆𝑥 + (∆𝑥) 2 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥 = lim ∆𝑥→0 (3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + (3𝑥 − 1)∆𝑥 + (∆𝑥)
1 2 ) = 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 at 𝑥 = 4 3(4) 2 − 2(4) = 48 − 8 = 40 at 𝑥 = 0 3(0) 2 −
¿ 2 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)= 𝑥2 + 3𝑥 with respect to 𝑥 at 𝑥 = 𝑥0.
x +5−6 x 0=2 2(0) = 0 at 𝑥 = −1 3(−1) 2 − 2(−1) = 5
1
¿ 2 x 0=−4
x −1 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)= 𝑥 + 3𝑥
2
1
¿ 𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥 + ∆𝑥) = (𝑥 + ∆𝑥)2 + 3(𝑥 + ∆𝑥)
(x−1)( x +1) 𝑦 + ∆𝑦 = 𝑥2 + 2𝑥∆𝑥 + (∆𝑥)2 + 3𝑥 + 3∆𝑥
Non removable discontinuous x= ±1 Continuous
∆𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥 + ∆𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥)
everywhere = 𝑥2 + 2𝑥∆𝑥 + (∆𝑥)2 + 3𝑥 + 3∆𝑥 − 𝑥2 − 3𝑥
∆𝑦 = 2𝑥∆𝑥 + (∆𝑥)2 + 3∆𝑥
Example 4 Δ y f ( x 0 +∆ x )−f (x 0 )
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 (𝑓 𝑜 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) = =2 x +3+ ∆ x
Δx ∆x
𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥2
The derivative at 𝑥 = 𝑥0 is
Δy
𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) = 𝑓(𝑥2) lim = lim (2 x +3+ ∆ x )=2 x +3
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥2 ∆ x→ 0 Δ x ∆ x →0

Continuous for all real numbers x at 𝑥 = 2 the value of the derivative is

2(2) + 3 = 7
• THE DERIVATIVE AND THE TANGENT LINE at 𝑥 = −4 the value of the derivative is
2(−4) + 3 = −5
The increment ∆𝑥 of a variable 𝑥 is the change in 𝑥 as it It is customary to drop the subscript 0 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) with respect to
increases or decreases from one value 𝑥 = 𝑥0 to another value 𝑥 𝑥 as