D3

Basic Calculus

ALWAYS FILL-OUT THIS PORTION ↓

Name: ______________________________ Grade level and Section: _______________
Lesson: Differentiability and Continuity Date: _______________________________

Learning Objectives:
1. Determine the relationship between differentiability and continuity of a function.

General Directions: Copy on a 1 whole sheet of yellow paper. Study examples given.

Concept Notes
The operation of finding the derivative of a function is called differentiation. If a function has a derivative
for a particular value of x , the function is said to be differentiable at that value of x.

a. If a function 𝑓(𝑥) is differentiable at 𝑥 = 𝑎, then the function 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎. In other

words, differentiability implies continuity.

The definition of derivative can also be used to find the derivative of a function. The following are
equivalent ways of writing the derivative of 𝑦 = 𝑓 (𝑥 ).
𝑑𝑦
a. b. 𝑓′(𝑥) c.𝑦′ d. 𝐷𝑥 𝑦
𝑑𝑥

EXAMPLE 1. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏

SOLUTION:

Find out if 𝑓 (𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1 is differentiable

𝑓(𝑥 ) = 2𝑥 + 1

𝒇′ (𝒙) = 𝟐

The function has a derivative and is therefore differentiable. The graph of 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 2𝑥 + 1 is shown below.

The derivative is 2 and the slope of the line is 2. There is

no hole or break in the line. Therefore, 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 2𝑥 + 1 is
a continuous function. It is continuous for all values of x.

EXAMPLE 2. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒙 + 𝟑

SOLUTION:

Find out if 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 3 is differentiable

𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 3

𝒇′ (𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏

Prepared by: Ms. Rinalyn D. Saballe

 D3
Basic Calculus

The graph is shown below.

(2,9)
a. at point (-2,5) b. at point (2,9)
𝒚 = 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟏
Slope = 2x+1 Slope = 2x+1
(-2,5)
= 2(-2)+1 = 2(2)+1
𝒚 = −𝟑𝒙 − 𝟏
= -3 =5

The function is differentiable. There is no break or hole in the graph. Therefore, the function 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 3
is a continuous function. Remember, a polynomial function is continuous at every real number.

EXAMPLE 3. 𝒇(𝒙) = √𝒙 − 𝟓

SOLUTION:

Determine if it is differentiable.

𝑓(𝑥 ) = √𝑥 − 5
1
𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 5)2
1 1
𝑓 ′ (𝑥 ) = (𝑥 − 5)2−1
2
1 1
𝑓 ′ (𝑥 ) = (𝑥 − 5)−2
2
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) is not differentiable at x=5. If x is replaced by 5,
1 1 1
𝑓 ′ (𝑥 ) = ∙ 1 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = which is undefined. However,
2 ( 0
𝑥 − 5)2
𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 − 5 is continuous at all numbers in
𝟏 [5, +∞) or {𝑥⎹𝑥 ≥ 5}.
𝒇′ (𝒙) =
𝟐√𝒙 − 𝟓

The graph is shown below.

The graph does not have a hole or break from 5 to

positive infinity.

Prepared by: Ms. Rinalyn D. Saballe

 D3
Basic Calculus

EXAMPLE 4. Consider 𝒇(𝒙) = |𝒙|

SOLUTION.

𝑓(𝑥 ) = |𝑥|
𝑥 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 0
𝑓 (𝑥 ) = {
−𝑥 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < 0

Find out if it is continuous at 𝑥 = 0.

a. 𝑓 (0) = |0| = 0
b. lim |𝑥| = lim− −𝑥 = 0
𝑥→0− 𝑥→0

lim |𝑥| = lim+ 𝑥 = 0

𝑥→0+ 𝑥→0
The three conditions are satisfied. Hence, 𝑓(𝑥 ) = |𝑥| is
c. lim |𝑥| = lim+|𝑥|
𝑥→0− 𝑥→0 continuous at x=0
lim 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑓(0)
𝑥→0

𝑓(𝑥)−𝑓(𝑥0 )
Find out if it is differentiable at x=0. We use the 𝑚 = 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 ) = lim
𝑥→𝑥0 𝑥−𝑥0

Given : 𝑓(𝑥 ) = |𝑥| , 𝑥0 = 0 and 𝑦0 = 0

|𝒙|−𝟎 |𝒙|
𝒎 = 𝒇′ (𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 =𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝟎 𝒙−𝟎 𝒙→𝟎 𝒙

+𝑥 −𝑥
𝑓 ′ (𝑥 ) = lim 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 ) = lim− The limit of the left hand and right hand are not
𝑥→+ 𝑥 𝑥→0 𝑥
|𝒙|
= lim+ 1 = lim− 1
𝑥→0
the same. Hence, 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 does not exist. Therefore,
𝑥→0 𝒙→𝟎
= +1 = −1 𝑓′(0) does not exist and is not differentiable at x=0.

The graph is shown below.

Prepared by: Ms. Rinalyn D. Saballe

 D3
Basic Calculus

Prepared by: Ms. Rinalyn D. Saballe

 D3
Basic Calculus

Prepared by: Ms. Rinalyn D. Saballe

 D3
Basic Calculus

Prepared by: Ms. Rinalyn D. Saballe