MATHEMATICS FOR

COMPUTING II
(Calculus)

© Dr. Rawad, CSC 2706 Mathematics for

1
Computing II
 CHAPTER
Limits and Continuity
1
1.1 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
1.2 COMPUTATION OF LIMITS
1.3 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
1.4 LIMITS AND LOSS OF SIGNIFICANCE ERRORS

Slide 2
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

Continuity: Informal Idea

We say that a function is continuous on an interval if its

graph on that interval can be drawn without interruption,
that is, without lifting the pencil from the paper.

Slide 3
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

DEFINITION 4.1

Slide 4
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

REMARK 4.1
For f to be continuous at x = a, the definition says that

1. f (a) must be defined,

2. the limit must exist
3. the limit and the value of f at the point must be the same.

Further, this says that a function is continuous at a point

exactly when you can compute its limit at that point by simply
substituting in.

Slide 5
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

Examples of Points of Discontinuity

Slide 6
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

EXAMPLE 4.1 Finding Where a Rational Function Is

Continuous

Slide 7
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

EXAMPLE 4.1 Finding Where a Rational Function Is

Continuous
Solution

Slide 8
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

EXAMPLE 4.3 Functions That Cannot Be Extended

Continuously

Show the graph of

Slide 9
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

EXAMPLE 4.3 Functions That Cannot Be Extended

Continuously

Slide 10
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

EXAMPLE 4.2 Removing a Hole in the Graph

Extend the function from
example 4.1 to make it
continuous everywhere by
redefining it at a single point.

Slide 11
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

EXAMPLE 4.2 Removing a Hole in the Graph

Solution
Let

for some real number a. If we let a = 4,

Then

and g(x) is continuous at x = 1.

Slide 10
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

Removable Discontinuities
When we can remove a discontinuity by redefining the
function at that point, we call the discontinuity removable.
Not all discontinuities are removable, however.

Removable
Not removable

Slide 13
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

EXAMPLE 4.3 Functions That Cannot Be Extended

Continuously

Show that (a) and (b) cannot

be extended to a function that is continuous everywhere.

Slide 14
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

EXAMPLE 4.3 Functions That Cannot Be Extended

Continuously

Show the graph of

Slide 15
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

EXAMPLE 4.3 Functions That Cannot Be Extended

Continuously
Solution

Hence, no matter how we

might define f (0), f will not be
continuous at x = 0.

Slide 16
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

EXAMPLE 4.3 Functions That Cannot Be Extended

Continuously
Solution

Due to the endless

oscillation, the limit does
not exist, and there is no
way to redefine the
function at x = 0 to make it
continuous there.

Slide 17
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

THEOREM 4.1
All polynomials are continuous everywhere.

Additionally, sin x and cos x are continuous everywhere.

is continuous for all x, when n is odd and for x > 0,

when n is even.

Slide 18
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

THEOREM 4.2
Suppose that f and g are continuous at x = a. Then all of
the following are true:

Simply put, Theorem 4.2 says that a sum, difference or

product of continuous functions is continuous, while the
quotient of two continuous functions is continuous at
any point at which the denominator is nonzero.

Slide 19
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

THEOREM 4.3
Suppose that and f is continuous at L.
Then,

Slide 20
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

COROLLARY 4.1

Slide 21
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

EXAMPLE 4.5 Continuity for a Composite Function

𝑓 𝑥 =?
g 𝑥 =?

If ℎ 𝑥 = 𝑓(g(x)).
Does ℎ 𝑥 a continuous?

Slide 22
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

EXAMPLE 4.5 Continuity for a Composite Function

Solution

Slide 23
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

DEFINITION 4.2
If f is continuous at every
point on an open interval
(a, b), we say that f is
continuous on (a, b).
Following the figure, we
say that f is continuous
on the closed interval
[a, b], if f is continuous
on the open interval
(a, b) and

Slide 24
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

DEFINITION 4.2
Finally, if f is continuous on all of (−∞,∞), we simply say
that f is continuous. (That is, when we don’t specify an
interval, we mean continuous everywhere.)

Slide 25
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

EXAMPLE 4.6 Continuity on a Closed Interval

Slide 26
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

EXAMPLE 4.6 Continuity on a Closed Interval

Solution
Observe that f is defined only for
−2 ≤ x ≤ 2.

Note that f is the composition of

two continuous functions and
hence, is continuous for all x for
which 4 − x2 > 0.

Slide 27
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

EXAMPLE 4.6 Continuity on a Closed Interval

Solution

Since 4 − x2 > 0 for −2 < x < 2, we

have that f is continuous for all x in
the interval (−2, 2), by Theorem 4.1
and Corollary 4.1.

Slide 28
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

EXAMPLE 4.6 Continuity on a Closed Interval

Solution
Finally, we test the endpoints to see
that

and

so that f is continuous on the closed

interval [−2, 2].

Slide 29
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

THEOREM 4.4 (Intermediate Value Theorem)

Suppose that f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b]
and W is any number between f (a) and f (b).

Then, there is a number c ∈ [a, b] for which f (c) = W.

Slide 30
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

THEOREM 4.4 (Intermediate Value Theorem)

Example:
𝐹 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 12, [3,5]

Slide 31
 1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

THEOREM 4.4 (Intermediate Value Theorem)

Example:
𝐹 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 5, 1,4 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑓 𝑐 = 19

Slide 32
 Exercises

Find the discontinuity points for

𝑥 2 −4
1. 𝐹 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 −2𝑥

𝑥 2 −9
2. 𝐹 𝑥 =
𝑥−3

3. 𝐹 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 tan 𝑥

4. 𝐹 𝑥 = 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑡 𝑥

Slide 33
 Exercises

1. 𝑥 = 0 infinity (not removable), 𝑥 = 2 (removable)

2. 𝑥 = −3 (removable)

𝑥 2 sin 𝑥 𝜋
3. = , 𝑥 = + n𝜋 𝑛 = ±{0,1,2,3, …
cos 𝑥 2

𝑥 cos 𝑥
4. = , 𝑥 = 0 + n𝜋
sin 𝑥

Slide 34
 CHAPTER
Limits and Continuity
1
1.1 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
1.2 COMPUTATION OF LIMITS
1.3 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
1.4 LIMITS AND LOSS OF SIGNIFICANCE ERRORS

Slide 35
 LIMITS AND LOSS OF SIGNIFICANCE
1.7
ERRORS
Rationale
When we use a computer (or calculator), we must always
keep in mind that these devices perform most
computations only approximately.

Most of the time, this will cause us no difficulty

whatsoever. Occasionally, however, the results of round-off
errors in a string of calculations are disastrous.

In this section, we briefly investigate these errors and learn

how to recognize and avoid some of them.

Slide 36
 LIMITS AND LOSS OF SIGNIFICANCE
1.7
ERRORS
Loss of Significance Errors
Examples 7.3 and 7.4 illustrate gross errors caused by the
subtraction of two numbers whose significant digits are
very close to one another.

This type of error is called a loss-of-significant-digits error

or simply a loss-of-significance error.

These are subtle, often disastrous computational errors.

Slide 37
 LIMITS AND LOSS OF SIGNIFICANCE
1.7
ERRORS
EXAMPLE 7.5 A Loss-of-Significance Error
Using

follow the calculation of f (5 × 104) one step at a time, as

a 14-digit computer would do it.

Slide 38
 LIMITS AND LOSS OF SIGNIFICANCE
1.7
ERRORS
EXAMPLE 7.5 A Loss-of-Significance Error

Solution

Slide 39
 LIMITS AND LOSS OF SIGNIFICANCE
1.7
ERRORS
Loss of Significance Errors
In the case of the function, we can avoid the subtraction
and hence, the loss-of-significance error by rewriting the
function as follows:

where we have eliminated the subtraction.

Slide 40
 LIMITS AND LOSS OF SIGNIFICANCE
1.7
ERRORS
Loss of Significance Errors
From the rewritten expression,

no “unusual” behavior

Slide 41
 LIMITS AND LOSS OF SIGNIFICANCE
1.7
ERRORS

Slide 42
 LIMITS AND LOSS OF SIGNIFICANCE
1.7
ERRORS

Slide 43
 LIMITS AND LOSS OF SIGNIFICANCE
1.7
ERRORS

Slide 44
 LIMITS AND LOSS OF SIGNIFICANCE
1.7
ERRORS

Slide 45