Continuity

Derivita HW 5

Learning Objectives

 Identify types of discontinuity: Removable, Infinite, and Jump

 Understand the definition of continuity
 Use continuity to evaluate limits by direct substitution
 Determine where in the domain a function is continuous and discontinuous given its equation or graph

Intuitive definitions

A function is continuous if you do not need to pick up your pencil to graph it. If you do have to pick up your pencil,
then the function is discontinuous at that point in the domain.

There are 3 Types of Discontinuity: Removable, Infinite, and Jump

The following examples illustrate functions that are discontinuous at the point 𝒙 = 𝟐.

Removable  𝑥 = 2 may or may not be in the

Discontinuity domain of 𝑓(𝑥).
“Holes”
 lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists and is finite
→

 lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 𝑓(2)

→

Recall: We have a hole at 𝑥 = 2 when the

numerator and the denominator are both
zero when 𝑥 = 2.

Infinite  𝑥 = 2 may or may not be in the

Discontinuity domain of 𝑓(𝑥).
“Vertical
Asymptotes”
 lim 𝑓(𝑥) may or may not exists
→

 lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 𝑓(2)

→

Recall: We have a vertical asymptote at

𝑥 = 2 when the numerator is not zero but
the denominator is zero when 𝑥 = 2.

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Jump  𝑥 = 2 may or may not be in the
Discontinuity domain of 𝑓(𝑥).
“Breaks”
 lim 𝑓(𝑥) does not exist because
→
the left and right limits are not
equal. Say,

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 1
→
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 4
→

 lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 𝑓(2)

→

Recall: Some piecewise functions have

jump discontinuities.

Definition Continuity Checklist

A function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous at the point 𝑥 = 2 if
𝑓 is continuous at 𝑥 = 2 if the following are true:

 𝑓(2) is defined

That means 2 is in the domain of 𝑓. We can see that 2 is

in the domain, by making sure the point 2, 𝑓(2) is
graphed.

 lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists

→

That means the limit as 𝑥 approaches 2 from the left and

right are equal.

 lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(2)

→

That means the limit as 𝑥 → 2 is the function value, 𝑓(2)

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Example 1: Use the graph to determine the 𝑥-values where 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
is discontinuous. Justify your claims.

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 If a function is continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎, then we can evaluate the limit using direct substitution lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑎)
→
That is, we can just plug in 𝑥 = 𝑎 to evaluate the limit

Example 2: Use continuity to evaluate the limit.

lim cos( 𝑥)
→

Functions are continuous on their domains. So, if you are asked to state where a function is continuous, all you have
to do is state the domain of the function. There are only three domain restrictions.

1. We can’t divide by zero.

Give the domain of the function in interval notation. You just answered where 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous.

(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)
𝑓(𝑥) =
(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 5)

2. Can’t take an even root of a negative number.

Give the domain of the function in interval notation. You just answered where g(𝑥) is continuous.

𝑔(𝑥) = √3𝑥

3. Can’t take a logarithm of a negative number or zero.

Give the domain of the function in interval notation. You just answered where h(𝑥) is continuous.

ℎ(𝑥) = ln 𝑥

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Example 3: Where is 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 9 continuous? Answer in interval notation.

Composition of functions

If the limit as 𝑥 → 𝑎 of the inside function is 𝐿 and the outside function is continuous at 𝐿, then we can push the limit
inside the composition.

If lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐿 and 𝑓 is continuous at 𝑥 = 𝐿 then lim 𝑓 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑓 lim 𝑔(𝑥)

→ → →

Example 4: Use continuity to evaluate the limit.

lim ln(𝑥 )
→

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Piecewise Functions and Continuity

Think-Pair-Share

a. Sketch a graph of 𝑓(𝑥).

b. Where is 𝑓(𝑥) continuous?

−𝑥 + 1 𝑥<1
𝑓(𝑥) = ln (𝑥) 1≤𝑥<𝑒
𝑥 𝑥≥𝑒

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Example 5: For what constant 𝑏, is the function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑒 ?

−𝑥 + 1 𝑥<1
𝑓(𝑥) = ln(𝑥) 1≤𝑥<𝑒
𝑥+𝑏 𝑥≥𝑒

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Example 6: Suppose that 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are continuous at 𝑥 = 2. If 𝑔(2) = 6 and lim [3𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥)] = 81 ,
→
Use limit laws and continuity to find 𝑓(2).

STEPS JUSTIFICATION

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Practice Test Questions (Answers on back)
All the functions you know are continuous on their domains.

If 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous at every point inside an interval (𝑎, 𝑏), then we say 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous on the interval (𝑎, 𝑏)

If 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous for all real numbers, then we say 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous on (−∞, ∞) or for short hand ℝ.

Function Example Continuous on its DOMAIN

Polynomial

Rational*

Root Function*

Exponential

Logarithmic*

Trigonometric*

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1. Write an equation that indicates a function is continuous at 𝑥 = 4.

2. Given the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥). Find the 𝑥-values where 𝑔(𝑥) is discontinuous. Explain why.

3. Where is 𝑔(𝑥) = continuous?

4. What type of discontinuity do the following functions have?

a. 𝑓(𝑥) = ( )

b. 𝑔(𝑥) = −

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 𝑥 𝑥<1
5. Graph 𝑓(𝑥) = ln(𝑥) + 1 1≤𝑥<𝑒
𝑥 𝑥≥𝑒

a. For what domain values is 𝑓(𝑥) continuous?

𝑥 𝑥<1
b. Now consider 𝑓(𝑥) = ln(𝑥) + 1 1≤𝑥<𝑒
𝑥+𝑏 𝑥≥𝑒

For what value 𝑏 is the function continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑒?

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 1 + 𝑥, 𝑥 < −1
6. Graph 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 , − 1 ≤ 𝑥 < 1
2 − 𝑥, 𝑥>1
3 𝑥=1

a. Find the value(s) of 𝒂 for which lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists.

→

b. Find the value(s) of 𝒂 for which lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑎)

→

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7. Find the values of 𝑐 and 𝑑 that make the function 𝑓(𝑥) continuous for all real numbers.
Hint: Set the limits as 𝑥 approaches 1 from the left and right equal to each other. Set the limit as 𝑥 approaches 2
from the left and right equal to each other. Then solve the system.

2𝑥 𝑥<1
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑 1≤𝑥≤2
4𝑥 𝑥>2

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Answers

1. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(4)

→

2. 𝑥 = −5, −3, −2, 1, 3, or 5

3. 𝑔(𝑥) is continuous everywhere except 𝑥 = −1 or 𝑥 = 1. We write this in interval notation like this:
(−∞, −1) ∪ (−1,1) ∪ (1, ∞)

4. 𝑓(𝑥) has a vertical asymptote at 𝑥 = 1. 𝑔(𝑥) has a hole at 𝑥 = −1.

5.

a. 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous everywhere except 𝑥 = 𝑒 ≈ 2.7

We can write this in interval notation (−∞, 𝑒) ∪ (𝑒, ∞)

b. If we shifted the line down 𝑒 − 2 ≈ 0.7 then the graph would be continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑒.
So 𝑏 = −(𝑒 − 2) = −𝑒 + 2 = 2 − 𝑒 ≈ −0.7

6.

a. lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists for all real numbers except 𝑎 = −1. We write this in interval notation like this:
→
(−∞, −1) ∪ (−1, ∞)

b. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑎) for all real numbers except 𝑎 = −1 or 𝑎 = −1. We write this in interval notation like this:
→
(−∞, −1) ∪ (−1,1) ∪ (1, ∞)

7. 𝑐 = 2, 𝑑 = 0

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