Basic Calculus

Learning Activity Sheet No. 6

Continuity and Differentiability of a Function
Name of Student: _________________________________________
Grade Level & Section: ____________________________________

I. INTRODUCTION:
Can you still remember your first lessons in General Mathematics? We distinguished the
difference between a relation and a function. That is, all functions are relations but not all
relations are functions. In this lesson, we will learn a similar relationship between these two
important concepts in calculus - continuity and differentiability.

II. Learning Competency

• determine the relationship between differentiability and continuity of a function.
STEM_BC11D IIIf-1

A. Knowing Phase

Recall from our previous lessons the following definitions:

Definition 1 (Continuity at a Number).
A function f(x) is continuous at number c if all the following conditions are satisfied.
1. f(c) is defined;
2. lim 𝑓(𝑥) is defined; and
𝑥→𝑐

3. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑐).

𝑥→𝑐

If at least one of these conditions is not satisfied, the function is said to be discontinuous at c.

Definition 2 (Continuity on ℝ)
A function f(x) is said to be continuous everywhere if f(x) is continuous at every real
number.

Definition 3
A function f is differentiable at the number c if

exists.

Example 1:

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Identify whether the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 1 is differentiable and continuous.
Solution:
𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 1 Given

𝑓′(𝑥) = lim 𝑓 (𝑥+ℎ)−𝑓(𝑥) Definition of

Derivative ℎ→0 ℎ

𝑓′(𝑥) = lim Substituted the function to the Formula

ℎ→0 𝑓′(𝑥) = lim Distributive
Property of Multiplication
ℎ→0

𝑓′(𝑥) = lim 3ℎ Combined Like Terms

ℎ→0 ℎ

𝑓′(𝑥) = lim 3 Simplified Form

ℎ→0

𝒇′(𝒙) = 𝟑 Evaluated the limit (Limit of a Constant)

As you can see 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 - 1 is differentiable since its derivative exists. Next, let us see if the function
is continuous. Below is the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 - 1

Based on the graph, we can say that the function is continuous since it has no gaps or holes.
In this example, we proved that the polynomial function 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 1 is differentiable and
continuous. Will this be true for all polynomial functions?

Example 2:
Determine whether the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 – 4𝑥 + 3 is differentiable and continuous at (1,5).
Solution:

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First let us differentiate 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 – 4𝑥 + 3.

Differentiating the function at the point (1.5) means evaluating 𝑓′(1) thus,

Since the derivative of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 – 4𝑥 + 3 exists, then it is differentiable.

This time, let’s determine if the function is continuous using Definition 1 (Continuity at a
Number). Let us check if the given function will satisfy the mentioned conditions at point (1,5).

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Since the three conditions are satisfied then 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 – 4𝑥 + 3 is continuous at (1, 5).
Therefore, we can say that the polynomial function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 – 4𝑥 + 3 is differentiable and
continuous.

Based on our solutions, the first two examples are polynomial which are differentiable and
continuous at every real number x. Thus,

If that is the case, will it be true the other way around? If the function is not differentiable at
point a, will it be discontinuous at that point?
Let us examine the following examples:

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Can you recall the figure above?
Correct! Those are examples from our previous module. These are cases whenever a function
does not have tangent lines at point P and these are NOT differentiable. Now, which of these
functions are continuous?

Very good! Figures 1 and 2 are continuous. (Since you can draw them without lifting your pen
because no holes or gaps can be seen on the graphs). While Figure 3 is not continuous because
there is a hole in the graph.

Based on this, what can we conclude?

B. Understanding Phase
Example 3:
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Check the differentiability and continuity of the function 𝑦 = at 𝑥 = 3 𝑥−3

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Solution:
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Let us differentiate 𝑓 (𝑥) = at x =3.
𝑥 −3

Evaluate: 𝑓′(3)

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Since 𝑓 ′ (3) does not exist, then 𝑓(𝑥) = is not differentiable at x = 3.
𝑥 −3
For continuity of the function, let us check the three conditions.

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Since that the first condition is already not satisfied, we can conclude that the function is not
continuous at x = 3.

The second condition is not satisfied therefore the third condition will also be not satisfied.
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Therefore, 𝑦 = is not differentiable nor continuous at x = 3.
𝑥−3 Example 4:

Determine if the function defined by

is continuous and differentiable at x = 1.

Solution:
Let’s check if the function is continuous at x = 1. a)
check if 𝑓(𝑥) is defined
𝑓(1) = 2(1) + 3
𝑓(1) = 5

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b) check if lim 𝑓(𝑥) is defined
𝑥→𝑎

Solve the limit as x approaches 1 from the left and from the right.
From the left: From the right:
lim− 𝑓(𝑥) lim+ 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→1 𝑥→1

= lim− 5𝑥 = lim+ 2𝑥 + 3
𝑥→1 𝑥→1

= 5(1) = 2(1) + 3
=5 =5
Since the limit as x approaches 1 from the left and from the right is equal,
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 5
𝑥→1

c) 𝑓(𝑥) = lim 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥→𝑎

5=5

Since the three conditions are satisfied, we can conclude that the function is continuous at 𝑥 =
1. Also, by illustrating the graph of the piecewise function, it is evident that the function is
continuous because it has no holes or gaps.

On the other hand, computing for the derivative:

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑥 < 1, 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥: 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ≥ 1, 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3
𝑓(𝑥+ℎ)−𝑓(𝑥)

ℎlim→0− ℎ

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 5(𝑥+ℎ)−5𝑥
= lim− ℎ
ℎ→0
5𝑥+5ℎ−5𝑥

= ℎlim→0− ℎ

5ℎ
= lim− ℎ
ℎ→0

= ℎlim→0−5 = ℎlim→0+2

=5 =2
Since the one-sided limits do not coincide, limit at x = 1 does not exist. Thus, the function is
not differentiable at x = 1.
We therefore conclude that the function is not differentiable but is continuous at x = 1.

Doing Phase
A) Read the following statements. Identify whether these are SOMETIMES TRUE, ALWAYS
TRUE or NEVER TRUE. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
1. If a function is differentiable at a point, then it is continuous at the same point.
2. If a function is continuous at a point, then it is differentiable at the same point.
3. If a function is differentiable at a point, then it is not continuous at the same point.
4. If a function is not differentiable at a point, then it is continuous at the same point.
5. If a function is not differentiable at a point, then it is not continuous at the same point.

B) Determine whether the x-values are differentiable at the given graph below. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper. Justify your answers.

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6. x = -4
7. x = -3
8. x = -1
9. x = 0
10. x = 2

C) Show your complete solution

11. Is the function defined by

continuous at x = 2? Is it differentiable at x = 2? 12. Determine if the function

𝑓(𝑥)=4 𝑥+5 is continuous and differentiable at x = 3 9−3𝑥

References:
Department of Education Region III. (2020). Basic Calculus Quarter 3 - Module 6: Continuity
and Differentiability of a Function. (1st Edition). Department of Education DepEd. 2013. Basic
Calculus. Teachers Guide.
Mercado, J. and Orines, F. (2016). Next Century Mathematics 11 Basic Calculus. Phoenix
Publishing House, Inc.
Geogebra Calculator. (2001). Retrieved 2021, from https://www.geogebra.org /calculator

Calculus I - Continuity (Practice Problems). (n.d.).

https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/problems/calci/continuity.aspx.

http://www.math.ubc.ca/~sujatha/2013/106/week4/solutions%20to%20Assignment4.pdf

https://sites.math.washington.edu/~aloveles/Math124Fall2017/m124ContinuityPractice.pdf

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Content - Continuity of piecewise-defined functions. (n.d.).
http://amsi.org.au/ESA_Senior_Years/SeniorTopic3/3a/3a_2content_7.html.

Khan Academy. (n.d.). Differentiability at a point: graphical (practice). Khan Academy.

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-calculus-ab/ab-differentiation-1-new/ab-
24/e/differentiability-at-a-point-graphical.

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