Continuity

Definition
Any function f(x) is said to be continuous if we can draw the graph of
that function without lifting pen
Mathematical Definition

Continuity at a point

A function f(x) is said to be continuous at x =a, if

Continuity at a point

5 5
4 4 4

3 3 3
Note :
1. Every polynomial function is continuous
2. Every rational function is continuous at every point where its
denominator is not equal to zero.
3. Logarithmic functions, exponential functions, trigonometric
functions, inverse circular functions, and modulus functions are
continuous in their domain.
If the function f(x) =

(JEE Main 2021)

is continuous at x =0, then is equal to :

A. -5

B. 5

C. -4

D. 4
Jee main2024
Let a, b ∈ R, b ≠0, Define a function

(JEE Main 2021)

If f is continuous at x =0, then 10 - ab is equal to.

Jee main2024
Let a function f :R ⟶ R be defined as

(JEE Main 2021)

Where [x] is the greatest integer less

than or equal to x. If f is continuous on
R, then (a +b) is equal to :

A. 4

B. 3

C. 2

D. 5
Jee main2024
Let f :R ⟶ R be defined as

(JEE Main 2021)

If f is continious at x=0 then α is equal to :

A. 1

B. 3

C. 0

D. 2
Jee main2024
Let f :R ⟶ R be defined as

(JEE Main 2021)

where [x] is the greatest integer less than or equal to x. If f is

continuous at x =2, then λ +μ is equal to

A. e (-e +1)

B. e (e - 2)

C. e

D. 2e - 1
Jee main2024
 (JEE Main 2021)

If f is continuous at x =0, then the value of 6a +b2 is equal to :

A. 1- e

B. e-1

C. 1 +e

D. e
Let f :R → R be defined as f(x) =

If f(x) is continuous on R, then a+b equals : (JEE Main 2021)

A. 3

B. -1

C. -3

D. 1
Jee main2023
 (JEE Main 2019)

A. 2 / π +5

B. -2 / π +5

C. 2/ π -5

D. 2/ 5 - π
If the function f defined on (-1/3, 1/3) by

(JEE Main 2020)

is continious, then k is equal to _.

If the function f(x) = is continuous at each point in its

domain and f(0) =1/k, then k is _

(JEE Main 2021)
 (JEE Main 2019)

A.

B.

C.

D.
3 Important Points
to Remember
1. Continuity is always talked in the domain of
function

⇒ f(x)= are all continuous functions in its domain

⇒ is discontinuous at x =1, is discontinuous at x =0.

2. Point function are continuous.

E.g.
3. Inverse of a discontinuous function
cannot be continuous.
Reasons for Discontinuity
Reasons of Discontinuity:
1.
does not exist

Examples

1. f(x) =[x]

2. f(x) =
Reasons of Discontinuity:
2.

exist but is not equal to f(a)

Reasons of Discontinuity:
3.
f(a) is not defined

f(x) =
 Types of
Discontinuity
Reasons of Discontinuity:
Reasons of Discontinuity:
Identify the type of discontinuity ?

at x =1
Identify the type of discontinuity ?
Identify the type of discontinuity ?
Identify the type of discontinuity ?

f(x) = [x] + [-x]

Identify the type of discontinuity ?
Identify the type of discontinuity ?
Identify the type of discontinuity ?
Identify the type of discontinuity ?

i. at x =1
Identify the type of discontinuity ?

ii. f(x) =2tanx at x =

Identify the type of discontinuity ?

iii. at x =0
Identify the type of discontinuity ?

at x =0
Aieee 2007
Continuity in an
Interval
 Continuity in open interval :
A function f is said to be continuous in (a, b) if f is continuous at
each & every point in (a, b)
Continuity in close interval :
A function f is said to be continuous in a closed interval [a, b] if

1. f is continuous at each and every point in (a, b)

2. f is right continuous at ‘a’ i.e. f(x) =f(a) =finite quantity

3. f is left continuous at ‘b’ i.e. f(x) =f(b) =finite quantity

How to calculate continuity in an interval ?
Look for possible points of discontinuity (PPOD)
Points to remember
All Polynomials, Trigonometric functions, Exponential and
Logarithmic functions are continuous in their domains.
Points to remember

Continuity of {f(x)} and [f(x)] should be checked at all points

where f(x) becomes integer.
Question

Discuss the continuity of following functions ([.] represents the greatest

integer function. (i) f(x) = [logex]

(ii) f(x) = [sin–1x]

Draw the graph and find the points of discontinuity for f(x) = [2cosx], x ∈
*0, 2π+, (*.+ represents the greatest integer function).
Draw the graph and discuss the continuity of f(x) = [sinx + cosx], x ∈ *0, 2π+,
where [.] represents the greatest integer function.
Points to remember

Continuity of sgn (f(x)) should be checked at the points where f(x) = 0

Discuss the continuity of

f(x) =sgn(x3 - x)
f(x) =sgn(2cos x - 1)
f(x) =sgn(x2 - 2x +3)
If f(x) = sgn ( 2cosx + a ) is continuous for all x, then find the
possible value of a.
Points to remember
Continuity of a function should be checked at the points where
definition of a function changes
Points to remember

Continuity of a function should be checked at end Points

Let [t] denote the greatest integer ≤t. The number of points where
the function
is not continuous is.
(JEE Main 2021)
Find all possible points of discontinuity of f(x) in [0,2]
Discuss Continuity of f(x) in 0 < x < 2
If f :R ⟶ R be a function defined by

where [.] denotes the greatest integer function, then f is :

(JEE Main 2021)
A. discontinuous only at x =1

B. discontinuous at all integral values of x except at x =1

C. continuous only at x =1

D. continuous for every real x

Let , for - 10 <x <10, where [t] denotes the greatest
integer function. Then the number of points of discontinuity of f is

equal to _.
(JEE Main 2020)
Jee main 2021
Let [t] denote the greatest integer ≤t and

Then the function, f(x) =[x2] sin(πx) is discontinuous, when x is equal to :

(JEE Main 2020)

 (JEE Main 2019)

Where [t] denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to t. Then, f is
discontinuous at :

A. only one point

B. only two points

C. only three points

D. four or more points

Theorems
on
Continuity
Theorem 1:Super Table🔥

f(x) g(x) f(x) ± g(x) f(x).g(x) or f(x)/g(x)

Continuous Continuous Continuous Continuous

Continuous Discontinuous Discontinuous May be Continuous

Discontinuous Discontinuous May be Continuous May be Continuous

Discuss the continuity for the function f(x), where
f(x) = |x + 1|.(|x| + |x - 1|).
Discuss the continuity of the function
f(x) = [[x]] - [x - 1], where [,] denotes the greatest integer function.
Continuity of function involving
Important terms

Continuity of functions involving limit

Remember,
Discuss the continuity of the following function
Find the value of x where f(x) = is discontinuous
Discuss the continuity of f(x) in [0, 2], where f(x) =
Shortcut
Continuity of functions in which f(x) is defined differently for
rational and irrational value of x.

Discuss the continuity of the following function

Find the value of x where f(x) = is discontinuous
Find the points where f(x) is continuous

i. f(x) =
ii. f(x) =
iii. f(x) =
 Continuity of
Composite Functions
Continuity of composite functions

if f (x) = and g(x) =

then discuss the continuity of f(x), g(x) and fog(x)

Continuity of composite functions

if f (x) = and g(x) =

then discuss the continuity of f(x), g(x) and fog(x)

Continuity of composite functions

if f (x) = and g(x) =

then discuss the continuity of f(x), g(x) and fog(x)

Let the functions f :R ⟶ R and g :R ⟶ R be defined as :

(JEE Main 2021)

Then, the number of points in R where (f o g) (x) is not

CONTINUOUS is equal to :

A. 3

B. 1

C. 0

D. 2
Jee main2021
Theorem 1: Intermediate Value Theorem (IVT)

If f is continuous on [a, b] and f(a) ≠f(b)

then for any value c ∈ (f(a), f(b)), there is at least one number x0 in (a, b)
for which f(x0) =c
Application of Intermediate Theorem

If f(x) is continuous in [a, b] and f(a).f(b) <0

then there exist at least one root of f(x) in (a, b)
Show that there exist at least one root f(x) in (0,π) f(x) =cos(x) - x2
Identify the intervals in which 2x3 - 6x +1 =0 has at least one root

A. (0, 1)

B (1, 2)

C. (-1, 0)

D. (-2, -1)
Show that there exist at least one root f(x) in (0,π) f(x) =cos(x) - x2
Given that a > b > c > d then comment on the nature of the
roots of the equation 3(x - a) (x - c) + 5(x - b) (x - d) = 0.
Theorem 2 : Extreme Value Theorem

If f is continuous on [a, b]
then f takes on, a least value of m and a greatest value M
on this interval
Suppose that f(x) is continuous in [0, 1] and f(0) = 0, f(1) = 0. Prove
that f(c) = 1 - 2c2 for some c ∈ (0, 1)
Let f be continuous on the interval [0, 1] to R such that f(0) = f(1). Prove
that there exists a point c in [0,1/2]such that F(C ) = F(C+1/2)
Key Points

1 If a function f is continuous on a closed interval [a, b] then it is

bounded.
Key Points

2
A continuous function whose domain is some closed interval
must have its range also in closed interval
Key Points

3
If f is continuous and onto and one-one on [a, b] then f-1(from
the range of f) is also continuous.