Continuity of a Function

In this section, graphically, we consider a function to be continuous if we can

“connect points with a smooth curve"- a phrase giving an image of a graph
that is a nice continuous curve, or in other words, a curve with no breaks,
gap or holes in it. Indeed, a continuous function is often described as one
whose graph can be drawn without lifting pencil from paper.
Definition. A function f is said to be continuous at the number a if the
following three conditions are satisfied;
1. f (a) is defined;
2. lim f (x ) exists;
x →a
3. lim f (x ) = f (a).
x →a
When one of the continuity conditions fails to hold, we say that f is not
continuous at x = a or f is discontinuous at x = a. Graphically, there is a
gap or break in the graph of the function f when it is not continuous.
Example 1. Given the graph of the function f below, determine if f is
continuous at x = −2, x = 0, and x = 3.
y
(−2, 2)
• 2

(0, 1) •1
(3, 0)
◦ x
-2 -1 0 1 2 3

◦ -1 • (3, −1)
(−2, −1)
Solution: First, at x = −2,

f (−2) = 2 and lim f (x ) does not exist.

x →−2

The function value and the limit aren’t the same and so the function is not
continuous at this point. This kind of discontinuity in a graph is called a jump
discontinuity. Jump discontinuities occur where the graph has a break in it as
this graph does and the values of the function to either side of the break are
finite (i.e. the function doesn’t go to infinity).
Now, at x = 0,
f (0) = 1 and lim f (x ) = 1.
x →0
Hence, the function is continuous at this point since the function value at x = 0
and its limit as x → 0 are equal. Finally, at x = 3,

f (3) = −1 and lim f (x ) = 0.

x →3

Thus, the function is not continuous at this point since f (3) 6= lim f (x ). This
x →3
kind of discontinuity is called a removable discontinuity. Removable
discontinuities are those where there is a hole in the graph as there is in this
case. In essence, if lim f (x ) exists, then a removable discontinuity can be
x →a
removed by redefining the function to make it continuous. One way to do this is
to let f (a) = lim f (x ).
x →a
Remark. Discontinuity at a point x = a can be classsified as follows:
a. removable discontinuity - occurs when lim f (x ) exists but is not equal to
x →a
f (a). This type of discontinuity can be "corrected" by redefining the
function to make it continuous,hence the name "removable".
b. essential discontinuity - this type of discontinuity cannot be "corrected"
to make the function continuous.
b.1 jump discontinuity - occurs when the two one-sided limits exist and are finite
but they are not equal.
b.2 infinite discontinuity- occurs when the two-sided limit does not exist because it
is unbounded. It could be that lim f (x ) DNE as an infinite limit or
x →a
lim f (x ) = +∞ or lim f (x ) = −∞.
x →a x →a
b.3 endpoint discontinuity - occurs when only one of the one-sided limits exists.
b.4 mixed discontinuity- occurs when at least one of the one-sided limits does not
exist.
 4x + 4
Example 2. Determine if H (x ) = is continuous at x = −1. If it has
x2 − 1
a removable discontinuity at x = −1, redefine the function to make it
continuous.

Solution: Clearly, H is discontinuous at x = −1 since H (−1) is not defined.

Now, we determine if lim H (x ) exists so we can possibly redefine the function
x →−1
into a continuous one. Note that
4(x + 1) 4
lim H (x ) = lim = lim = −2.
x →−1 x →−1 (x + 1)(x − 1) x →−1 x − 1
Since lim H (x ) exists, x = −1 is a removable discontinuity. Thus, we redefine
x →−1
−2, if x = −1
(
H (x ) as follows: h(x ) = 4x + 4 .
2
, if x 6= −1
x −1
 y y
1 1

x x
-3 -2 -1 1 -3 -2 -1 1

-1 -1

4x + 4
H(x) =
x2 − 1
◦ -2 • -2

-3 -3

-4 -4 
−2, x = −1
h(x) =
H(x), x 6= −1
-5 -5
 
1 + x, if x ≤ 2
Example 3. Determine if F (x ) = is continuous at
2 − x, if x > 2
x = 2.

Solution:
i. Note that F (2) = 1 + 2 = 3. Thus, F (2) is defined.
 
1 + x, if x ≤ 2
Example 3. Determine if F (x ) = is continuous at
2 − x, if x > 2
x = 2.

Solution:
i. Note that F (2) = 1 + 2 = 3. Thus, F (2) is defined.
ii. Since the domain is cut at x = 2, we use one-sided limit:
 
1 + x, if x ≤ 2
Example 3. Determine if F (x ) = is continuous at
2 − x, if x > 2
x = 2.

Solution:
i. Note that F (2) = 1 + 2 = 3. Thus, F (2) is defined.
ii. Since the domain is cut at x = 2, we use one-sided limit:

lim F (x ) = lim (1 + x ) = 1 + 2 = 3;
x → 2− x →2−
lim F (x ) = lim+ (2 − x ) = 2 − 2 = 0.
x →2+ x →2
Since lim F (x ) 6= lim+ F (x ), it follows that lim F (x ) does not exist. Thus,
x →2− x →2 x →2
F (x ) has a jump discontinuity at x = 2.

3 • (2, 3)
2

F (x ) = 1 + x 1

(2, 0)
◦ x
-2 -1 1 2 3

-1 F (x ) = 2 − x
-2
 1−x
Example 4. Determine if F (x ) = is continuous at x = 1. If it has a
|x − 1|
removable discontinuity at x = 1, redefine the function to make it continuous.

Solution: Since F (x ) is not defined at x = 1, F (x ) is discontinuous at x = 1.

Next, we find lim F (x ) . Now,
x →1

1−x 1−x
lim+ F (x ) = lim+ = −1, and lim F (x ) = lim+ = 1.
x →1 x →1 x −1 x → 1− x →1 1−x
Since the lim F (x ) does not exist, we cannot redefine the function to make it
x →1
continuous. Hence, x = −1 is not a removable discontinuity. It is a jump
discontinuity.
 y
2 1−x
F (x ) =
1 ◦ |x − 1|

x
-3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5

-1 ◦
-2
 √
x +1−1
Example 5. Determine whether G (x ) = is continuous or not
x
at x = 0. If it is discontinuous, identify the type of discontinuity.

Solution: The function G (x ) is not continuous at x = 0 since G (0) is not

defined at this point. Moreover,
√ √ √
x +1−1 x +1−1 x +1+1
lim = lim ·√
x →0 x x →0 x x +1+1
x 1 1
= lim √ = lim √ = .
x →0 x ( x + 1 + 1) x →0 x +1+1 2
Hence, x = 0 is a removable discontinuity and we can redefine a continuous
function g as follows:
( √x +1−1
x , x 6= 0
g (x ) =
1
2, x = 0.

y
y
2
2
√
(
G (x ), x 6= 0
x +1−1 g (x ) =
1 G (x ) = 1
, x =0
x 2
◦ 1

x •
-2 -1 1 2 3
x
-2 -1 1 2 3
 1
Example 6. Determine whether F (x ) = is continuous or not at
x −3
x = 3. If it is discontinuous, identify the type of discontinuity.

Solution: Clearly, F is discontinuous at x = 3 since F (3) is undefined. Now,

1 1
lim+ = +∞ and lim− = −∞.
x →3 x −3 x →3 x − 3

Hence, x = 3 is an essential (infinite) discontinuity.

 y
x =3

1
lim = +∞
x →3+ x −3

x
1 2 3 4 5 6

1
lim = −∞
x →3− x −3
 Example 7. Determine whether f (x ) = 2x + 5 is continuous or not at
x = −3.

Solution:
i. Note that f (−3) = −1. Thus, f (−3) is defined.
ii. lim f (x ) = −1. Thus, condition (2) holds.
x →−3
iii. lim f (x ) = −1 = f (−3). Thus, condition (3) holds.
x →−3
Since the three conditions of continuity are satisfied, we say that f (x ) = 2x + 5
is continuous at x = −3.
 y
f (x ) = 2x + 5
5

x
-3 -2 -1 1 2 3

(−3, −1) • -1

-2

-3
Remark. If f and g are two functions which are continuous at x = a, then
the following functions are also continuous at x = a.
1. Scalar Multiple rf for any constant r ,
2. Sum and difference f + g and f − g ,
3. Product fg ,
4. Quotient gf ,provided g (a) 6= 0,
5. Composition f ◦ g provided g is continuous at a and f is continuous at
g (a).
Exercise. Determine if the given function is continuous at x = a. If it has
removable discontinuity at x = a, redefine the function to make it
continuous. 
3x + 5, if x ≤ −2
1. f (x ) = at x = −2
2x 2 − 9, if x > −2

1 − 2x , if x ≤ −2
2. g (x ) = at x = −2
3 − x , if x > −2

x − 2, x ≤3
3. f (x ) = at x = 3
−x 2 + 8x − 14, x > 3
x2 − x − 2
4. h(x ) = , at x = 2
x −2
1
5. g (x ) = , at x = −1
x +1
 ASSESSMENT TEST

NAME: SIGNATURE:
SECTION: DATE:
SCORE:
1. Find thevalues of the constants a and b for the function
 ax + 3, if x ≤ 5
f (x ) = 8, if x = 5 to be continuous for all x.
 2
x + bx + 1 if x > 5
2. Test the continuity of each of the following functions at x = a. If the
given the function is not continuous at x = a, explain.
x 2 +2x −3

x −1
, if x 6= 1
2.1 At x = 1, f (x ) =
4, if x = 1
π
2.2 g (x ) = 2 sin x − tan x at x = 2