Continuity

Defining said f is continuous at a if f ( x ) approximates f ( a) when x approaches a.

Then , a continuous function f has the property that a small change in x produces only a
small change in f ( x ) . In fact, the change in f ( x ) can be preserved as small as we
want if we keep the change in x sufficiently small.
Then a function f is continuous if:
lim f (x)=f (a )
x a

A function f is continuous on an interval if it is continuous at every number in the

range . ( If f is defined only on one side of an end point of the interval, continuous mean
endpoint and continuing to the right or left-continuous).
If g is continuous is continuous a and f is continuous in g ( a) , then the composite
function f g given by ( f g) ( x ) = f ( g (x)) is continuous at .
The Intermediate Value Theorem
Suppose that f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b] and let N be any number
between f (a) and f (b), where . Then there are a number c in (a, b) such that f (c) = N.

Problems
Explain , using Theorems 4, 5 , 7 and 9, for which the function is continuous for every
number in its domain . express the domain .
19.-

R ( x ) =x2 + 2 x1

Being R a function sum of two continuous functions is continuous remarkable.

2x -1 0
Df = [ 1/2 , + >

3
3
20. - G ( x )= x (1+ x)

Being G a function product of two continuous functions is continuous remarkable.

Dg = | R

22. -

H ( x )=

Sen( x)
x+ 1

Because H ( x ) a function that results from the division of two continuous functions , it
is continuous on its domain .
x +1 0
x -1
Dh = | R- { -1 }
4
23. J ( t )=ln ( t 1)

A logarithmic function is continuous throughout its domain , therefore , J (t) is a

continuous function .
t 41>0
(t+1)(t1)(t 2+1)>0
Dj= ;1><1 ;+ >

c=2/3
35 . - For what value of the constant c the function f is continuous on (- , + ) ?

f ( x )= c x3 +2 x ,x<2
x cx ,x 2
c x 2 +2 x is continuing to be a polynomial function
x 3cx

is continuing to be a polynomial function

lim f (x)=f (2)

x 2

c(22) + 2(2) = 23 c(2)

c=2/3

Derivatives and rates of change

Assume that y is an amount that depends on another quantity x . Then y is a function of

x and write y = f ( x ) . If x changes from x1 to x2, then the change in x (also called x
increase ) is
x=x 2x 1
and the corresponding change in y is
y=f x f x
2

The ratio of the differences

y f x f x
=
x x 2x 1
2

called average rate of change of y with respect to x in the interval [ x1 , x2 ] . By

analogy with the speed , we consider the average rate of change in increasingly smaller
intervals to make x2 approaches x1 and making both Ax approaches 0 . The limit of
these average rate of change is called the rate of change ( flash) with respect to x at x =
x1, which is interpreted as the slope of the tangent to the curve y = f (x) P ( x1, f (x1) ) :
Average rate of change
lim f f x
y x x x
lim
=
x 2x 1
x 0 x
2

Recognize this limit as the derivative f ' (x1)

We know that an interpretation of the derivative f ' (a) is as the slope of the tangent to
the curve y = f ( x ) when x = a. We now have a second interpretation :
The derivative f ' (a) is the instantaneous rate of change of y = f ( x ) respect to x
when x = a.

Problems
13. - If a ball is thrown upward with a speed of 40 m / s , its height ( in meters) after t
seconds is given by y = 40t - 16t2 , Find the velocity when t = 2 .
lim

x 0

y dy
= =4032t
x dx

For t = 2 , V = -24m / s

15. - The offset (in meters) of a particle moving in a straight line is given by the
equation of motion s = 1/T2 , where t is measured in seconds . Find the particle velocity
at the time
t = a, t = 1, t = 2 and t = 3.
lim

x 0

y dy
= =2 t 3
x dx
3

For t=a, V= - 2 a

For t = 1, V = -2
For t = 2, V = -0.25
For t = 3, V = -2/27

A particle moves along a straight line with equation of motion s = f (t), where s is
measured in meters and t in seconds. Find the speed and rapidity when t = 5.

39. - F (t) = 100 + 50t - 4.9t2

V (t ) = f '(t ) = 50 - 9.8t
For t = 5, V = 1

40 . - f (t)= t-1-t
V (t ) = f '(t ) = -t - 2-1
For t = 5, V = -1.04

45 . - The cost (in dollars) of producing x units of a certain commodity is C ( x ) = 5000

+10 x + 0.05x2
( a) Find the average rate of change of C with respect to x when changing the level of
production
(i) x = 100 a x = 101
(ii) x = 100 x = 105

 y f x f x
=
x x 2x 1
2

(i)

y
=20.05
x

(ii)

y
=20.25
x

( b ) Find the instantaneous speed of change of C with respect to x when x = 100 .

lim f f x
y x x x
lim
=
x 2x 1
x 0 x
2

C(x)= 10 + 0.1x
For x = 100 C '(x) = 20