BASIC CALCULUS

Reviewer

LESSON 1: CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION

There are different ways on how we can represent a function. One of those is its graph. If the graph
of a function has no gap or holes, then we can say that the function is continuous. Otherwise, it’s
discontinuous.

In addition, a function is said to be continuous at a point x = a if all of the following conditions are
satisfied (Comandante, 2008):

1. If 𝑓(𝑥) is defined, that is, exists at x=a.

A number exists if it is defined. Division by zero yields to undefined values. The same
with square root of negative numbers. Thus, these cases must be checked.
2. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists.
𝑥→𝑎

Based on our previous lesson on limits, the limit of a function f(x) exists if the left-hand
limit is equal to the right-hand limit. That is,
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎− 𝑥→𝑎+

3. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑐)

𝑥→𝑎

Upon checking whether a function satisfies the first two conditions, check whether the
obtained values from these conditions are equal to each other.

If any of the above-mentioned conditions failed or violated, then the function is discontinuous. The
following are the different types of discontinuity.

a. Removable Discontinuity

A function is said to have a removable discontinuity at x = a, if

a. lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists b. lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 𝑓(𝑎)

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

Either because 𝑓(𝑎) is undefined or the value of 𝑓(𝑎) differs from the value of the limit
(Comandante, 2008).

Example:

𝑥 2 −4
𝑓( 𝑥 ) = 𝑥 +2
 b. Jump Discontinuity

A function is said to have a jump discontinuity at 𝑥 = 𝑎 if 𝑥lim→𝑎− 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 𝑥lim→𝑎+ 𝑓(𝑥) for a any

positive integer. (Comandante, 2008). This type of discontinuity can usually be found on

piecewise functions.

Example:

3 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≤ 0
{
𝑥 − 1 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 > 0

c. Infinite Discontinuity

This type of discontinuity exists if a function has one or more infinite limits. Many rational
functions exhibit this type of behavior (Milefoot.com Mathematics, n.d.).

1
𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑥

LESSON 2: Slope of a Tangent Line to the Curve

A line is tangent to a circle if it intersects the circle at exactly one point (Deauna and Lamayo, 1999).
See the illustration below.

What if the given curve is not a circle? How will we draw the lines tangent to it? Let us explore these
together.
On the curve below, tangent lines are drawn at different points. Visualize drawing the line tangent to
the curve at the remaining point (point A).

Example 1:
What have you observed with the tangent line drawn on the minimum point (point B) of the curve?
How do you think will the tangent line be drawn at the maximum point (point A) look like?
 A

Take a look at the next one.

Example 2:
How about the example below?

How are you going to draw a tangent line to another line?

Example 3:
Do you think vertical tangent line may also exist? Take a look at the illustration below.

From the examples above, we can come up with the following properties of tangent lines:
1. Tangent lines drawn at the maximum or minimum points are horizontal. (Example1)
2. Tangent lines drawn to a line, is the line itself. (Example 2)
3. Vertical tangents may exist even for continuous functions. (Example 3)

However, there are cases wherein curves do not have tangent lines at specific points. The following
are these instances.

1. When the function is not continuous at P. (Example 4) Example 4:

2. The function has a sharp corner or cusp at P. (Example 5) Example 5:

P P
corner at P cusp at P

Remember that tangent line is a “line” per se. By definition, a line is determined by two points. How
are we going to do that if a tangent touches a graph at exactly one point? This is where the concept
of secant line is important. We can say that the accurate definition of a tangent line depends on the
concept of a secant line.
To find the tangent line at Point P, there is a need for a second point Q on the curve.

If a Point Q will slide down to point P, it will get closer to point P and the slope of secant PQ will then
approach the value of the slope of line l tangent to the curve at point P.

This is where the slope of a tangent line is derived. As the difference in the distance in x gets
smaller, the slope of the secant line gets closer and closer to the slope of the tangent line.
LESSON 3: DERIVATIVE OF AN ALGEBRAIC FUNCTION (LOOK AT THE PPT)

LESSON 4: DERIVATIVE OF TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTION (LOOK AT THE PPT)

LESSON 5: DERIVATIVE OF EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION

LESSON 6: HIGHER ORDER DERIVATIVES