MODULE CALCULUS 1 WITH ANALYTIC GEOMETRY

CHAPTER 7
CONTINUITY

7.1. DEFINITION

Objectives:

• Define Continuity.
• Classify different types of discontinuous.

Continuous Function
At the basic level, teachers tend to describe continuous functions as those whose
graphs can be traced without lifting your pencil. While it is generally true that continuous
functions have such graphs, this is not a very precise or practical way to define continuity. Many
graphs and functions are continuous, or connected, in some places, and discontinuous, or
broken, in other places. There are even functions containing too many variables to be graphed
by hand. Therefore, it's necessary to have a more precise definition of continuity, one that
doesn't rely on our ability to graph and trace a function.

Limits – A Quick Definition

The definition of continuity in calculus relies heavily on the concept of limits. In case you
are a little fuzzy on limits: The limit of a function refers to the value of f(x) that the function
approaches near a certain value of x. The limit of a function as x approaches a real number a
from the left is written like this
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)
𝒙→𝒂−

The limit of a function as x approaches a real number a from the right is written like this:
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)
𝒙→𝒂+

If the left limit and the right limit exist (are not infinity) and are equal, then we say the
limit of the function as x approaches a exists and is equal to the one-sided limits. We write it like
this:
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)
𝒙→𝒂

Remember, the limit describes what the function does very close to a certain value of x.
The function value at the point x=a is written f(a).

What is Continuity?

In calculus, a function is continuous at x=a if and only if all three of the following
conditions are met:

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1. The function is defined at x=a; that is, f(a) equals a real number
2. The limit of the function as x approaches a exists
3. The limit of the function as x approaches a is equal to the function value at x=a

There are three basic types of discontinuities:

1. Removable (point) discontinuity – the graph has a hole at a single x-value.
Imagine you're walking down the road, and someone has removed a manhole cover
(Careful! Don't fall in!). This function will satisfy condition #2 (limit exists) but fail
condition #3 (limit does not equal function value).
2. Infinite discontinuity – the function goes toward positive or negative infinity.
Imagine a road getting closer and closer to a river with no bridge to the other side
3. Jump discontinuity – the graph jumps from one place to another. Imagine a
superhero going for a walk: he reaches a dead end and, because he can, flies to
another road.
Both infinite and jump discontinuities fail condition #2 (limit does not exist), but how
they fail is different. Recall for a limit to exist, the left and right limits must exist (be finite)
and be equal. Infinite discontinuities have infinite left and right limits. Jump
discontinuities have finite left and right limits that are not equal.

Example Using Continuous

Let's go through some examples using this graph to represent the function of f(x):

Examples 1: Is f(x) continuous at x=0

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To check for continuity at x=0, we check the three conditions:

1. Is the function defined at x=0? Yes, f(0)=2
2. Does the limit of the function as x approaches 0 exist? Yes
3. Does the limit of the function as x approaches 0 equal the function value at x=0?
Yes

For further understanding visit these links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLyxHJa9Gr4
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/in-in-grade-12-ncert/in-in-continuity-
differentiability/copy-of-continuity-at-a-point-ab/v/limits-to-define-
continuity

7.2. REMOVABLE AND ESSENTIAL DISCONTINUITIES

Objectives:

• Differentiate the different types of discontinuities.

• Solve and graph the discontinuities.

Removable Discontinuity

A removable discontinuity is a point on the graph that is undefined or does not fit the rest
of the graph. There is a gap at that location when you are looking at the graph. When graphed,
are movable discontinuity is marked by an open circle on the graph at the point where the graph
is undefined or is a different value like this.

Do you see it? There is a small open circle at the point where x=2.5 approximately.

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There are two ways a removable discontinuity can be created. Let's talk about the first
one now.

Created Discontinuity

A removable discontinuity can be created by defining a blip in the graph like this.

The above function tells us that the graph generally follows the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 1
except for at the point x=4. When we graph it, we will need to draw a little open circle at the
point on the graph and mark that it equals 2 at that point. This is a created discontinuity. If you
were the one defining the function, you can easily remove the discontinuity by redefining the
function. Looking at the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 1, we can calculate that at x=4, f(x)=15. So, if we
redefine our point at x=4 to equal 15, we will have removed our discontinuity

If we were to graph the above, we would get a continuous graph without any
discontinuities. When you see functions written out like that, be sure to check whether the
function really has a discontinuity or not. Sometimes the function is continuous but just written
like it isn't just to be tricky.

What Are Holes?

Another way we can get a removable discontinuity is when the function has a hole. A
hole is created when the function has the same factor in both the numerator and denominator.
When you get a function like that you will get into a situation at some point where the function is
undefined. Look at this function, for example.

This function has the factor x-4 in both the numerator and denominator. What happens at the
point x=4? Let's see.

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4(4 − 4) 4(0)
𝑓 (4) = = =0
4−4 0

Examples
1) Does the function graphed below have a removable discontinuity? If so, where
does it occur?

2) Does the function below have a removable discontinuity? If yes, how could you
redefine the function so it does not have this discontinuity?

Yes, the function has a removable discontinuity since f(2)=5, but if we substitute x=2 into
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 + 1 we have 𝑓(2) = 23 − 3(2) + 1 = 8 − 6 + 1 = 3. We could redefine the
function to remove this discontinuity as:

3) Fully factor the rational function to find if it has any

𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥
𝑓 (𝑥) =
𝑥3 − 𝑥

To factor the function, first factor out the greatest common factor for both the numerator and
denominator. Then factor the quadratics.
𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥
𝑓 (𝑥) =
𝑥3 − 𝑥

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𝑥 (𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥)
𝑓 (𝑥) =
𝑥 (𝑥 2 − 1)
𝑥 (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 1)
𝑓 (𝑥) =
𝑥 (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)
There are common factors of x and x+1 in both the numerator and the denominator and if we
cancel the common factors out, we are no longer dividing by zero at x=0 and x=-1. So, we have
holes at x=0 and x=-1.

Essential or Infinite Discontinuity

An infinite discontinuity is a type of essential discontinuity where one or both of the one-
sided limits go toward infinity. Essential discontinuity limits can also not exist.

Example
1
We will look at 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥2

Now, look at the axes! Notice that, to the left of

the y-axis, as the value of x approaches 0, the
function grows infinitely smaller! Likewise, on the right
of the y-axis, as the value of x approaches 0, the
function increases infinitely! This is what we call an
infinite discontinuity. We can notice one when
there is a part of a function such that on one side of that
part, the function tends towards infinity.

For further understanding visit these links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWYmFpWzGTs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvdVK3QFI7s

7.3. THEOREMS ON CONTINUITY

Objectives:

• Explain the three conditions for continuity at a point.

• Describe three kinds of discontinuities.
• Define continuity on an interval.

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If f and g are two functions that are continuous at the number a, then

(i) 𝑓 + 𝑔 is continuous at a;
7.3.1 THEOREM (ii) 𝑓 − 𝑔 is continuous at a;
(iii) 𝑓𝑔 is continuous at a;
𝑓
(iv) is continuous at a, provided that 𝑔(𝑎) ≠ 0.
𝑔

7.3.2 THEOREM A polynomial function is continuous at every number.

Illustration 1 If 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 1, then f is a polynomial function and therefore,

y Theorem 7.3.2, is continuous at every number. In particular, because f is continuous at 3,
lim 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑓(3). Thus
𝑥→3

lim (𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 1) = 33 − 2(3)2 + 5(3) + 1 = 25

𝑥→3

A rational function is continuous at every number in its domain.

7.3.3 THEOREM

Example 1
Determine the numbers at which the following function is continuous
𝑥3 + 1
𝑓 (𝑥) =
𝑥2 − 9

Solution:
The domain of f is the set of real numbers except those for which 𝑥 2 − 9 = 0 whenx =
±3, it follows that the domain of f is the set of all real numbers except 3 and –3. Because f is a
rational function, it follows from Theorem 7.3.1 that f is continuous at all real numbers except 3
and –3.

If n is a positive integer and 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑛√𝑥 then

7.3.4 THEOREM
(i) If n is odd, f is continuous at every number;
(ii) If n is even, f is continuous at every positive number

Illustration 2

(a) If 𝑓 (𝑥) = 3√𝑥 , it follows from Theorem 7.3.4 (i)

that f is continuous at every real number.
(b) If 𝑔(𝑥) = √𝑥, then from Theorem 7.3.4 (ii), g is
continuous at every positive number.

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The function f is continuous at the number a if f is defined on

7.3.5 THEOREM some open interval containing a and if for any ϵ > 0 there exists a
δ > 0 such that if |x − a| < δ then |𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑎)| < ϵ

For further understanding visit these links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArhTldjH0Gs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSFmDs2h-h4

REFERENCES

Louis Leithold. The Calculus With Analytic Geometry. Sixth Edition.

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