Calculus &

Analytical
Geometry
(MATH- 101)
 Continuity

 Book: Thomas Calculus (14th Edition) by George B. Thomas, Maurice D. Weir, Joel R. Hass, Frank R. Giordano
 Chapter: 2 (2.5)
 Continuous Extension to a Point
A function (such as a rational function) may have a limit even at a point
where its denominator is zero. If is not defined, but
exists, we can dene a new function by the rule:

The function is continuous at . It is called the continuous

extension of to . For a rational function , continuous extensions are
usually found by canceling common factors.
 Example

Solution:
 Continuity by Function Type
The list below summarizes the functions we have studied so far that are continuous at
every point in their domains.

With this summary, we can conclude that a wide variety of elementary functions are
continuous at every point in their domains.
 Continuity by Function Type
 Polynomials are continuous everywhere.
 Rational functions and other trigonometric functions are continuous except at the
values of , where their denominators equal zero.
o “Removable” discontinuity if factoring and canceling “removes” the
zero in the denominator.
o “Non-removable” otherwise.

 For piecewise functions, find the values of at the value of separating the regions
of the function.
 If the values of are equal, the function is continuous.
 Otherwise, there is a (non-removable) discontinuity at this point.
 Example
1. The function is continuous at every value of .
• If we have a polynomial.
• If we have another polynomial.
• Finally, at the origin,

2. The function is a continuous function on its entire domain because it is

continuous at every point of its domain. It has a point of discontinuity at
but does not belong to domain of
Properties of Continuous Functions
 Applying Properties of Continuous Functions
By using properties of continuous functions, it follows that each of the
functions below is continuous at every point in its domain.
Properties of Continuous Functions
 Continuity of a composition function
Let and . Discuss the continuity of the composite functions and
Solution:
The Intermediate Value Theorem
 The Intermediate Value Theorem
Following theorem is an important theorem concerning the behavior of
functions that are continuous on a closed interval.
 The Intermediate Value Theorem
• The Intermediate Value Theorem tells us that at least one number exists, but it
does not provide a method for finding . Such theorems are called existence
theorems.

• A proof of this theorem is based on a property of real numbers called

completeness.

• The Intermediate Value Theorem states that for a continuous function , if takes
on all values between and , must take on all values between and .
 The Intermediate Value Theorem
• As an example of the application of the Intermediate Value Theorem, consider a
person’s height. A girl is 4 feet 3 inches tall on her tenth birthday and 5 feet 5
inches tall on her fourteenth birthday.

• Then, for any height between 4 feet 3 inches and 5 feet 5 inches, there must
have been a time when her height was exactly .

• This seems reasonable because human growth is continuous and a person’s

height does not abruptly change from one value to another.
 Example
• Let’s consider for -values between 1 and 5.
• Note that, is a smooth curve that has no rips, tears, or holes in it, so we call it
continuous.
• If we put into , it will produce and if we use , then we get .
• Thus, the Intermediate Value Theorem will guarantee that the given function
will produce all of the real numbers between 2 and 26.
• Furthermore, the Intermediate Value Theorem guarantees that these -values will
be produced by numbers chosen for between 1 and 5.
 The Intermediate Value Theorem
The Intermediate Value Theorem guarantees the existence of at least one number
in the closed interval .

There may, of course, be more than

one number such that ,
as shown in figure.
 Bolzano Theorem: A special case of IVT
The Intermediate Value Theorem (IVT) can often be used to locate the zeros of a
function that is continuous on a closed interval.
Specifically, if is continuous on and and
differ in sign, the Intermediate Value
Theorem guarantees the existence of at
least one zero of in the closed interval
 Example
Use the Intermediate Value Theorem to show that the polynomial function has
a zero in the interval

Solution:

Note that is continuous on the closed interval . Since

it follows that and .

 Example
We can therefore apply the Intermediate
Value Theorem to conclude that there must
be some in such that

i.e.,

has a zero in the closed interval

 Example
Without graphing, show that has at least one zero between and .
Solution:
This function is continuous on the interval Moreover,

Since and differ in sign, therefore, somewhere between and , passes through .
 Example
For the function

a) use the Intermediate Value Theorem to show that the function has a zero on
the interval

b) find the value of "" guaranteed by the theorem such that

 Example
Solution:
The function is continuous on the interval Moreover,

Since and differ in sign, therefore, somewhere between and , passes through .
Now

We choose not why???

 Example
Given f (x)  3x2  2x  5, Show that f (x)  0 has a solution on .
Solution:
Since
f (1)  4  0
f (2)  3  0
 is continuous (polynomial)

 By the Intermediate Value Theorem there exists a such that
 Example
1. Show that the polynomial function f x x  2 x  2x 4 has at least
3 2

one zero in the interval

2. find the value of " " guaranteed by the theorem such that:
 Example
Solution
• First, we must comment on the continuity of the function. Polynomial
functions are continuous on entire real line.

• Next, we must find and .

• f a  f -3 = (-3) 3  2(-3) 2  2(-3) 4 = -7 < 0.

• f b  f  3  = (3) 3  2(3) 2  2(3) 4 = 35 > 0

• Thus, Bolzano Theorem applies and somewhere between and ,

passes through .
 Example
f c c  2 c  2c 4=0
3 2
 Example
Why does the IVT fail to hold for on

-2 2

-1

Not Continuous in interval!

Point of discontinuity at
 Practice Questions
Q#1: Discuss the continuity of the following functions:
1. .
2.
3. .

Q#2: Let and

Determine whether and are continuous at. If not continuous then what type of discontinuity
exists at this point?
 Practice Questions
Q#3: Show that the function
.
Q#4: Find the c, provided the function
is continuous for all
Q#5: Determine the c and , such that the function:

is continuous for all

 Practice Questions
Book: Thomas Calculus (14th Edition) by George B. Thomas,
Maurice D. Weir, Joel R. Hass, Frank R. Giordano

• Chapter: 2

• Exercise: 2.6
Q # 1 – 46
 Introduction to Derivatives

 Book: Thomas Calculus (14th Edition) by George B. Thomas, Maurice D. Weir, Joel R. Hass, Frank R. Giordano
 Chapter: 3 (3.1, 3.2)
Definition: Tangent
From geometry
a line in the plane of a circle
intersects in exactly one point

We wish to enlarge the idea to include

tangency to any function,
Tangency for curves
To define tangency for general curves, we need a dynamic approach that takes into
account the behavior of the secants through and nearby points as moves toward
along the curve. It goes like this:
• We start with what we can calculate, namely the slope of the secant .
• Investigate the limit of the secant slope as approaches along the curve.
• If the limit exists, take it to be the slope of the curve at and define the tangent to
the curve at to be the line through with this slope.
Slope of line tangent to a curve
Recall the concept of a limit and
Use the limit in this context
••

𝑓 (𝑥 0 +Δ 𝑥 )− 𝑓 (𝑥0 ) Δ𝑥
𝑚= lim
Δ 𝑥→ 0 Δ𝑥