Limits And Continuity Of Functions
Continuity of functions
CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS
DEFINITION OF CONTINUITY
Intuitively, the graph of a function can be described as a “continuous curve” if it has no breaks or holes.
The graph of a function has a break or hole if any of the following conditions occur:
(iv) The value of the function and
(i) The function is (ii) The limit of does not (iii) The limit of does not
the value of the limit at are
undefined at . exist as approaches exist as approaches
different
CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS
This suggests the following definition.
DEFINITION
A function is said to be continuous at provided the following conditions are satisfied:
1. is defined
2. exists
That is, a function is continuous at if and only if
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 ( 𝒙 )= 𝒍𝒊𝒎
𝒙→𝒄
−
𝒙 → 𝒄+ ¿ 𝒇 ( 𝒙 )=𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 ( 𝒙 )= 𝒇 ( 𝒄) ¿
𝒙→ 𝒄
If one or more of the conditions of this definition fails to hold, then we say that has
a discontinuity at .
CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS
Types of discontinuity
Removable discontinuity. Jump discontinuity Infinite discontinuity
lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥) ≠ 𝑓 (𝑐) lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥) ≠ lim ¿ and/or
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
−
𝑥 →𝑐 + ¿ 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )¿
CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS
CONTINUITY ON AN INTERVAL
If a function is continuous at each number in an open interval , then we say that is continuous on .
We say a function is continuous from the left at if
and continuous from the right at c if
CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS
CONTINUITY ON AN INTERVAL
DEFINITION
A function is said to be continuous on a closed interval if the following conditions are satisfied:
1. is continuous on .
2. is continuous from the right at .
3. is continuous from the left at .
CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS
PROPERTIES OF CONTINUOUS FUNCTIONS
If the functions and are continuous at , then
a) is continuous at .
b) is continuous at .
c) is continuous at .
d) is continuous at if .
• The following functions are continuous in : exponential functions, sine and cosine
functions, polynomial functions.
• Rational, logarithmic, tangent and cotangent functions are all continuous in their
respective domains.
CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS
WORKED EXAMPLE 1
Investigate the continuity of the following functions and classify the points of discontinuity.
x2 4
2 x 2, if x 0 , if x 0
a) f ( x) 2 b) f ( x) x 2
x 2, if x 0 3, if x 0
SOLUTION
x2 4 0 x 2 x 2 4
a) lim f x lim 2 x 2 2 b) lim lim
x2 x 2 x2
x 0 x 0 0 x2
lim f x lim x 2 2 2 f 2 3
x 0 x 0
f 0 2
Thus, has a removable discontinuity at because .
Thus, is continuous since
CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS
WORKED EXAMPLE 2
Find the value of the constant so that is continuous in , given
k , if x 3
f ( x) x 2 9
, if x 3
x3
SOLUTION
A function is continuous at a point if .
The given function has a discontinuity at .
lim f x f 3 lim
x2 9
k lim
x 3 x 3 k 6 k
x 3 x 3
x 3 x 3 x3
This means k=-6 makes the function continuous at x=-3. Consequently, f becomes continuous in
CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS
CLASSWORK ( NATIONAL EXAM PAST PAPER QUESTIONS)
CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS
CLASSWORK ( NATIONAL EXAM PAST PAPER QUESTIONS)
CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS
CLASSWORK ( NATIONAL EXAM PAST PAPER QUESTIONS)
CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS
CLASSWORK ( NATIONAL EXAM PAST PAPER QUESTIONS)
CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS
CLASSWORK ( NATIONAL EXAM PAST PAPER QUESTIONS)
CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS
CLASSWORK ( NATIONAL EXAM PAST PAPER QUESTIONS)
CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS
CLASSWORK ( NATIONAL EXAM PAST PAPER QUESTIONS)
