MAT039

Lesson 5: Continuity of a Function and

Limits Involving Sine and Cosine

5A: Continuity of a Function

MA. CRISTINA DUYAGUIT
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, CSM
Continuity of a Function
Definition 5.1:

The function 𝑓 is said to be continuous at the number 𝑎 if the following

three conditions are satisfied

𝑖 𝑓(𝑎) exists;

𝑖𝑖 lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists;

𝑥→𝑎

𝑖𝑖𝑖 lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑎 .
𝑥→𝑎

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Continuity of a Function
Definition 5.2:
(𝑖) If one or two of the conditions stated in Definition 4.7 fail to hold, then we say
that the function 𝑓 is discontinuous 𝑥 = 𝑎. Geometrically, a function 𝑓 is
discontinuous at a number 𝑎 if there is a break or cut in the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) at
the point where 𝑥 = 𝑎.

(𝑖𝑖) If 𝑓 is discontinuous at a number 𝑎 but lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists, then either lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
𝑓(𝑎) or 𝑓(𝑎) does not exist. If this happens, then we say that the discontinuity is
removable. In this type of discontinuity, the function 𝑓 can actually be redefined so
that lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑎) and hence, the resulting function 𝑓 is continuous at 𝑎. If the
𝑥→𝑎
discontinuity at 𝑎 is not removable, then it is called an essential discontinuity.

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Continuity of a Function

Example 5.1: Determine if the given function is continuous at the

indicated number 𝑎. If it is discontinuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎, determine if the
discontinuity is removable or essential.

𝑥−1 𝑥 2 −𝑥−12
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≠ 1 , 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≠ 4
𝑎 𝑓 𝑥 =൝ 𝑥−1 ; 𝑥=1 𝑏 𝑔 𝑥 = ൝ 𝑥−4 ; 𝑥=4
0, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 1 7, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 4

3
𝑥+1−1
𝑐 𝐹 𝑥 = ; 𝑥=0
𝑥

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Continuity of a Function
Solution of Example 5.1.
𝑥−1
(𝑎) Example 4.11 shows that lim does not exist (recall that we have
𝑥→1 𝑥−1

considered the one – sided limits to show that the given limit does not
exist). Hence, condition (𝑖𝑖) of Definition 5.1 is not satisfied. Therefore, 𝑓
is discontinuous at 𝑥 = 1. Moreover, the discontinuity is essential.

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Continuity of a Function
Solution of Example 5.1.
𝑏 We check if the three conditions in Definition 5.1 are satisfied.
(i) 𝑔 4 = 7.
(ii) By Theorem 4.14, we have
𝑥 2 −𝑥−12 𝑥−4 𝑥+3
lim = lim = lim 𝑥 + 3 = 7.
𝑥→4 𝑥−4 𝑥→4 𝑥−4 𝑥→4

(iii) lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑔(4).

𝑥→4

Therefore, by Definition 5.1, 𝑓 is continuous at 𝑥 = 4.

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Continuity of a Function

Remark:
Note that if we know that the limit of the function at 𝑥 = 𝑎 does
not exist then we can already conclude that the function is discontinuous
at 𝑥 = 𝑎. In fact, it is an essential discontinuity.
Hence, it is better if we check first the second condition of
Definition 5.1 and if the limit exists then we also check on the first and the
third conditions.

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Continuity of a Function
Solution of Example 5.1 (𝑐): We first check condition (ii) of Definition 5.1

3
𝑥+1−1
lim (note that as 𝑥 approaches zero the limit of the numerator is zero and limit of the denominator is also
𝑥→0 𝑥
zero, hence we use Theorem 4.14, i.e., we simplify the function)

3 2 3
3 𝑥+1
+ 𝑥+1+1
𝑥+1−1
= lim ∙ 3 2 3 (rationalizing the numerator)
𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥+1 + 𝑥+1+1
𝑥
= lim 2
𝑥→0 𝑥 3 𝑥+1 3
+ 𝑥+1+1

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Continuity of a Function
3
𝑥+1−1 1 1
Hence, lim = lim 2 = (part (ii) of Definition 5.1 is satisfied)
𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→0 3 𝑥+1 3
+ 𝑥+1+1 3

Now, from the definition of 𝐹 , 𝐹(0) is not defined. Therefore, 𝐹 is

discontinuous at 𝑥 = 0. Since lim 𝐹(𝑥) exists, it follows that the
𝑥→0
discontinuity at 𝑥 = 0 is removable. Consequently, 𝐹 can be redefined so
that the resulting function is continuous at 𝑥 = 0. Specifically, we define 𝐹
as follows:
3
𝑥+1−1
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≠ 0
𝐹 𝑥 = ൞1 𝑥
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 0.
3

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Continuity of a Function

Theorem 5.1:

If 𝑓 and 𝑔 are two functions which are continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎, then 𝑓 + 𝑔,

𝑓
𝑓 − 𝑔 and 𝑓𝑔 are continuous at 𝑎, If 𝑔 𝑎 ≠ 0, then is also continuous at
𝑔
𝑎.

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Continuity of a Function
Exercises 5.1 Determine if the given function is continuous at the
indicated number 𝑎 . If it is discontinuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎 , determine if the
discontinuity is removable or essential. If it is a removable discontinuity,
redefine the function to make it a continuous function at 𝑥 = 𝑎.
1+𝑥 , 𝑥 ≤ −2
1. 𝐻 𝑥 = ቐ 2 − 𝑥 , −2 < 𝑥 ≤ 2 , at 𝑥 = −2.
2𝑥 − 1 ,𝑥 > 2

1+𝑥 , 𝑥 ≤ −2
2. 𝐻 𝑥 = ቐ 2 − 𝑥 , −2 < 𝑥 ≤ 2 , at 𝑥 = 2.
2𝑥 − 1 ,𝑥 > 2

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Continuity of a Function
𝑦 ,𝑦 < 1
3. J 𝑦 = ቐ2 , 𝑦 = 1 ; at 𝑦 = 1
2𝑦 − 1 , 𝑦 > 1

2𝑦 + 1 , −1 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 1
4. 𝐺 𝑦 = ቐ1 ; at 𝑦 = 1
𝑦2 − 3 ,1 < 𝑦 < 4
2

𝑥 3 +8
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≠ −2
5. 𝑓 𝑥 = ቐ 𝑥+2 ; at 𝑥 = −2
−12 , 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = −2

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References:

· Canoy, Sergio, Jr., et al. A First Course in Analytic Geometry and Calculus. Revised Edition.
Department of Mathematics, MSU-IIT. 2010.

· Leithold, I. (1996). The Calculus 7. HarpenCollins College Publishing.

· Leithold, Louis. The Calculus with Analytic Geometry, 7th edition, 1995.

· Mendelson, Elliott. 3,000 Solved Problems in Calculus. Mc-Graw Hill, 1988.

· Protter, M &Protter, P. (1988). Calculus with Analytical Geometry. Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publisher.

· Protter, Murray H. and Morrey, Charles B. Calculus with Analytic Geometry. Addison-Wesley
Educational Publishers Inc., 1971.

· Purcell, E. & Patterson, R. (1978). Calculus with Analytic Geometry. Prentice-Hall.