2.

3 Continuity
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington Photo by Vickie Kelly, 2002
Most of the techniques of calculus require that functions
be continuous. A function is continuous if you can draw it
in one motion without picking up your pencil.

A function is continuous at a point if the limit is the same

as the value of the function.
This function has discontinuities
at x=1 and x=2.
It is continuous at x=0 and x=4,
because the one-sided limits
match the value of the function
1 2 3 4
1
2
jump
infinite
oscillating
Essential Discontinuities:
Removable Discontinuities:
(You can fill the hole.)

Removing a discontinuity:
( )
3
2
1
1
x
f x
x

=

has a discontinuity at . 1 x =
Write an extended function that is continuous
at . 1 x =
3
2
1
1
lim
1
x
x
x

( )( )
( )( )
2
1
1
1
lim
1 1
x
x
x x
x x

+ +
=
+
1 1 1
2
+ +
=
3
2
=
( )
3
2
1
, 1
1
3
, 1
2
x
x
x
f x
x

=

Note: There is another

discontinuity at that can
not be removed.
1 x =
Removing a discontinuity:
( )
3
2
1
, 1
1
3
, 1
2
x
x
x
f x
x

=

Note: There is another

discontinuity at that can
not be removed.
1 x =
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5

Continuous functions can be added, subtracted, multiplied,

divided and multiplied by a constant, and the new function
remains continuous.
Also: Composites of continuous functions are continuous.
examples:
( )
2
sin y x = cos y x =

Intermediate Value Theorem

If a function is continuous between a and b, then it takes
on every value between and .
( )
f a
( )
f b
a b
( )
f a
( )
f b
Because the function is
continuous, it must take on
every y value between
and .
( )
f a
( )
f b

Example 5:
Is any real number exactly one less than its cube?
(Note that this doesnt ask what the number is, only if it exists.)
3
1 x x =
3
0 1 x x =
( )
3
1 f x x x =
( )
1 1 f =
( )
2 5 f =
Since f is a continuous function, by the
intermediate value theorem it must
take on every value between -1 and 5.
Therefore there must be at least one
solution between 1 and 2.

Use your calculator to find an approximate solution.

( )
3
solve 1, x x x =
F2 1: solve
1.32472
This example was graphed
on the classic TI-89. You
can not change the
resolution on the Titanium
Edition.
Graphing calculators can sometimes make non-
continuous functions appear continuous.
Graph:
( )
floor y x =
CATALOG
F floor(
Note resolution.
The calculator connects the dots
which covers up the discontinuities.

Graphing calculators can make non-continuous

functions appear continuous.
Graph:
( )
floor y x =
CATALOG
F floor(
GRAPH
The open and closed circles do not
show, but we can see the
discontinuities.
t
If we change the plot style
to dot and the resolution
to 1, then we get a graph
that is closer to the
correct floor graph.