Continuity PDF

Continuity of Functions
Mathematics 53
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 1 / 51

For today
1 Continuity of Functions
2 Continuity on an Interval

Recall: lim f ( x ) is NOT NECESSARILY the same as f ( a)
x→a

Continuity at a point
Definition
A function f ( x ) is said to be continuous at x = a if the following conditions are all
satisfied:
1 f is defined at x = a
2 lim f ( x ) exists
x→a
3 f ( a) = lim f ( x )
x→a
Otherwise, f is said to be discontinuous at x = a.

Graphical Example
4 f ( x ) = 3x − 1
0 1 2
−1
f ( x ) = 3x − 1 is continuous at x = 1.

Graphical Example
3x2 − 4x + 1
4 g( x ) =
x−1
3
0 1 2 3
−1
3x2 − 4x + 1
g( x ) = is discontinuous at x = 1 since g(1) is undefined.
x−1

Graphical Example
3
1
h( x ) = 2
x
1
−3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3
−1
−2
−3
1
h( x ) = is discontinuous at x = 0 since h(0) is undefined. Moreover, lim h( x )
x x →0
does not exist.

Graphical Example
−3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3
−1
The Heaviside Function H ( x ) is discontinuous at x = 0 since lim H ( x ) dne.

x →0

Example
Let f ( x ) = x3 + x2 − 2.
f (1) = 0
Also, lim f ( x ) = f (1) = 0.
x →1
Therefore, f is continuous at x = 1.
In fact, for any a ∈ R, xlim
→a
f ( x ) = f ( a), so f is continuous at every real
number.

Example
x2 − x − 2
Let f ( x ) = .
x−2
1 f is discontinuous at x = 2. (why?)
2 Let a ∈ R \ {2}
f ( a) is defined since a ∈ dom f .
From a previous theorem,
lim f ( x ) = f ( a)
x→a
Therefore, f is continuous at any a ∈ R \ {2}.

Remark
If f is a polynomial or a rational function and f ( a) is defined, then f is continuous
at x = a.

Example
 2
 x − x − 2,

x 6= 2
Let g( x ) = x−2

 0, x=2
g (2) = 0
x2 − x − 2
lim g( x ) = lim = lim ( x + 1) = 3
x →2 x →2 x−2 x →2
lim g( x ) = 3 6= 0 = g(2)
x →2
Therefore, g is discontinuous at x = 2.

Example
 2
 x − x − 2,

x 6= 2
Let h( x ) = x−2

 3, x=2
h (2) = 3
x2 − x − 2
lim h( x ) = lim = lim ( x + 1) = 3
x →2 x →2 x−2 x →2
lim h( x ) = 3 = h(2)
x →2
Therefore, h is continuous at x = 2.

Removable and Essential Discontinuity
Definition
1 If lim f ( x ) exists but either f ( a) is undefined or f ( a) 6= lim f ( x ), then we say
x→a x→a
that f has a removable discontinuity at x = a.
2 If lim f ( x ) does not exist, then we say that f has an essential discontinuity
x→a
at x = a. Moreover,
1 if lim f ( x ) and lim f ( x ) both exist but are not equal, then f is said to have a
x → a− x → a+
jump essential discontinuity at x = a.
2 if lim f ( x ) = +∞ or −∞ or lim f ( x ) = +∞ or −∞, then f is said to have an
x → a− x → a+
infinite essential discontinuity at x = a.

Example
4 f ( x ) = 3x − 1
0 1 2
−1
f ( x ) = 3x − 1 is continuous at x = 1.

Example
3x2 − 4x + 1
4 g( x ) =
x−1
3
0 1 2 3
−1
g( x ) has a removable discontinuity at x = 1 since g(1) is

undefined but lim g( x ) exists.
x →1

Example
3
1
f (x) = 2
x
1
−3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3
−1
−2
−3
1
h( x ) = has an infinite essential discontinuity at x = 0.
x

Example
−3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3
−1
H ( x ) has a jump essential discontinuity at x = 0.

Example
Remark
Removable discontinuity: discontinuity can be removed by redefining the value of
f at a so that f ( a) = lim f ( x )
x→a
3x2 − 4x + 1
Recall: g( x ) = has a removable discontinuity at x = 1.
x−1
3x2 − 4x + 1
4 g( x ) =
x−1
3
0 1 2 3
−1

Example
Remark
Removable discontinuity: discontinuity can be removed by redefining the value of
f at a so that f ( a) = lim f ( x )
x→a
Redefining g at 1 such that g(1) = 2, the function is now continuous!
4  2
 3x − 4x + 1 ,

x 6= 1
3 G(x) = x−1

2, x=1

2
0 1 2 3
−1

Example
Discuss the continuity of the following function at x = 1 and x = 2:



 4x − 3, x<1
f (x) = x−2
, x≥1


2x2 − 5x + 2
At x = 1
1−2
1 f (1) = =1
2(1)2 − 5(1) + 2
2 lim f ( x ) = lim (4x − 3) = 4(1) − 3 = 1
x → 1− x → 1−
x−2
3 lim f ( x ) = lim =1
x → 1+ x → 1+ 2x2 − 5x + 2
Thus, lim f ( x ) = 1 = f (1) and therefore, f is continuous at x = 1.

x →1

Example
Discuss the continuity of the following function at x = 1 and x = 2:



 4x − 3, x<1
f (x) = x−2
, x≥1


2x2 − 5x + 2
At x = 2
1 f (2): undefined
x−2 1 1
2 lim f ( x ) = lim = lim =
x →2 x →2 ( x − 2)(2x − 1) x→2 2x − 1 3
Thus, lim f ( x ) exists but f (2) is undefined, therefore, f has a removable

x →2
discontinuity at x = 2.

Example
−1 1 2 3
−1
−2
−3
−4

Example
Redefine f at point with removable discontinuity:



 4x − 3, x<1
f (x) = x−2
, x≥1


2x2 − 5x + 2
Since f has a removable discontinuity at x = 2, we redefine f as follows:



 4x − 3, x<1


x−2


F(x) = 2 − 5x + 2
, x ≥ 1, x 6= 2

 2x
1


, x=2


3

Example
Redefine f at point with removable discontinuity:



 4x − 3, x<1
f (x) = x−2
, x≥1


2x2 − 5x + 2
or simply:

 f ( x ),
 x 6= 2
F(x) =
 1,

x=2
3

Theorem
Let f and g be continuous at x = a and let c ∈ R. Then the following are also
continuous at x = a:
1 f ±g
2 fg
f
3 , provided g( a) 6= 0
g
4 cf

Definition
A function f is said to be continuous from the left [right] at x = a if
f ( a) = lim f ( x ) [ f ( a) = lim f ( x )]
x → a− x → a+

Examples
√
Let f ( x ) = 2 − x.
√
f (2) = 2 − 2 = 0
√ √
lim 2 − x = 0 ( 0+ )
x →2−
√ √
lim 2 − x dne ( 0− )
x →2+
Thus, f is continuous from the left at x = 2 but not from the right at x = 2.
3
2
1
−4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4
−1
−2

Examples
Let g( x ) = [[ x ]] and let n ∈ Z. Then g is continuous from the right at x = n but

not from the left at x = n.
−4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4
−1
−2

Continuity on an Interval
Definition
A function f is said to be continuous
1 everywhere if f is continuous at every real number
2 on ( a, b) if f is continuous at every point in ( a, b)
3 on [ a, b) if f is continuous on ( a, b) and from the right of a
4 on ( a, ∞) if f is continuous at every x > a
5 on [ a, ∞) if f is continuous on ( a, ∞) and from the right of a
Similar definitions for:
( a, b], [ a, b], (−∞, b), (−∞, b]

Examples
1 Polynomial functions are continuous everywhere.

2 Rational functions are continuous on their respective domains.
3 f ( x ) = | x | is continuous everywhere.
√
4 f ( x ) = x is continuous on [0, ∞).
5 f ( x ) = [[ x ]] is continuous on [n, n + 1), where n is any integer.

Theorem
If lim g( x ) = b and f is continuous at b, then lim f ( g( x )) = f (b).
x→a x→a
That is, if f is continuous at lim g( x ), then
x→a

lim f ( g( x )) = f lim g( x )
x→a x→a

Example

x−2
Evaluate: lim 2

x →2 x − 4
Solution:
x−2 1 1
lim = lim =
x →2 x 2 − 4 x →2 x + 2 4
The absolute value function is continuous everywhere.
By the previous theorem,

x−2 x − 2 1 1
lim 2
= lim 2
= =
x →2 x − 4 x →2 x − 2 4 4

Example
Evaluate: lim [[3x2 ]]

x → 13
Solution:
1
lim 3x2 = , which is not an integer.
x → 31 3
1
The greatest integer function is continuous at .
3
By the previous theorem,
"" ##
2 2 1
lim [[3x ]] = lim 3x = = 0.
x → 13 x → 13 3

Theorem
If g is continuous at a and f is continuous at g( a), then ( f ◦ g)( x ) = f ( g( x )) is
continuous at x = a.

Example
√
Determine the largest interval for which h( x ) = x2 − 1 is continuous.
The square root function is continuous at every x > 0.

The function p( x ) = x2 − 1 is continuous everywhere.
p( x ) is continuous at all x such that p( x ) > 0 or x2 − 1 > 0 or
p
h( x ) =
x ∈ (−∞, −1) ∪ (1, ∞) (why?)
Verify: h is cont. from the left at x = −1 and cont. from the right at x = 1
Therefore, h is continuous on (−∞, −1] ∪ [1, ∞).

Remark
In general:
1 A function is discontinuous at numbers where it is undefined.
2 A piecewise-defined function may be discontinuous at endpoints of intervals.

Example
Discuss the continuity of
x−2


 , x≤1
 2x + 6
f (x) =
 2x2 + x − 6

 , x>1
|2x − 3|
Note:
3
(
2x − 3, 2x − 3 ≥ 0 ⇔x≥ 2
|2x − 3| =
3
−(2x − 3), 2x − 3 < 0 ⇔x< 2

Example
x−2


 , x≤1
 2x + 6
f (x) =
 2x2 + x − 6

 , x>1
|2x − 3|
3
f is undefined: x = −3 and x = 2
Endpoints of intervals: x = 1 (and x = 32 )
Everywhere else, f is a rational function and therefore continuous.

Example
x−2


 , x≤1
 2x + 6
f (x) =
 2x2 + x − 6

 , x>1
|2x − 3|
At x = −3
1 f (−3) is undefined
x − 2 ( 0−−5 )
2 lim f ( x ) = lim = +∞
x →−3− x →−3− 2x + 6
x − 2 ( 0−+5 )
3 lim f ( x ) = lim = −∞
x →−3+ x →−3+ 2x + 6
Thus, f has an infinite essential discontinuity at x = −3.

Example
x−2


 , x≤1
 2x + 6
f (x) =
 2x2 + x − 6

 , x>1
|2x − 3|
At x = 32

3
1 f 2 is undefined
2x2 + x − 6 (2x − 3)( x + 2) 7

2 lim f ( x ) = lim = lim− =−
x → 23
−
x → 32
− |2x − 3| 3
x→ 2 −( 2x − 3 ) 2
2x2 + x − 6 (2x − 3)( x + 2) 7

3 lim f ( x ) = lim = lim+ =
x → 23
+
x → 32
+ |2x − 3| x → 32 2x − 3 2
Thus, f has a jump essential discontinuity at x = 23 .

Example
x−2


 , x≤1
 2x + 6
f (x) =
 2x2 + x − 6

 , x>1
|2x − 3|
At x = 1
1−2 1
1 f (1) = =−
2(1) + 6 8
x−2 1
2 lim f ( x ) = lim =−
x → 1− x → 1− 2x + 6 8
2x2 + x − 6 2x2 + x − 6
3 lim f ( x ) = lim = = −3
x → 1+ x → 1+ |2x − 3| −(2x − 3)
Thus, f has a jump essential discontinuity at x = 1.
(But g is continuous from the left at x = 1.)
Example
−7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
−1
−2
−3
−4
−5
−6

Example
1 1


2
+ , x<0
x − x


 x
g( x ) = [[ x − 1 ]] , 0≤x≤2

 √



x − 2, x>2
Note: 


 −1, 0 ≤ x < 1

[[ x − 1]] = 0, 1≤x<2



1, x=2

So g is possibly discontinuous at x = 0, 1 and 2

Example
1 1


 2−x
+ , x<0


 x x
g( x ) = [[ x − 1]], 0≤x≤2

 √



x − 2, x>2
At x = 0
1 g (0) = [[0 − 1]] = −1
1+x−1

1 1 1
2 lim g( x ) = lim + = lim− = lim− = −1
x → 0− x → 0− x 2 − x x x →0 x ( x − 1) x →0 x − 1
3 lim g( x ) = lim [[ x − 1]] = lim (−1) = −1

x → 0+ x → 0+ x → 0+
Therefore, g is continuous at x = 0.

Example
1 1


2
+ , x<0
x − x


 x
g( x ) = [[ x − 1 ]] , 0≤x≤2

 √



x − 2, x>2
At x = 2
1 g (2) = [[2 − 1]] = 1
2 lim g( x ) = lim [[ x − 1]] = lim 0 = 0
x → 2− x → 2− x → 2−
√ √
3 lim g( x ) = lim x−2 = 0 ( 0+ )
x → 2+ x → 2+
Therefore, g has a removable discontinuity at x = 2.

Example
1 1


 2−x
+ , x<0


 x x
g( x ) = [[ x − 1]], 0≤x≤2

 √



x − 2, x>2
At x = 1
1 g (1) = [[1 − 1]] = 0
2 lim g( x ) = lim [[ x − 1]] = lim −1 = −1
x → 1− x → 1− x → 1−
3 lim g( x ) = lim [[ x − 1]] = lim 0 = 0
x → 1+ x → 1+ x → 1+
Thus, g has a jump essential discontinuity at x = 1.
(But g is continuous from the right at x = 1.)

Example
−4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6
−1
−2
−3

Exercises
Given: 


 2+x if x < −1


f ( x ) = [[ x − 1]] if − 1 ≤ x < 1
x2 − 4x


if x ≥ 1



4−x
1 Find all the possible points of discontinuity of f .
2 Discuss the continuity of f at the points obtained in item 1.
3 Is f continuous on the interval [0, 2]? Justify your answer.

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Continuity of Functions

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 1 / 51

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Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 8 / 51

The Heaviside Function H ( x ) is discontinuous at x = 0 since lim H ( x ) dne.

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 9 / 51

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 10 / 51

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Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 16 / 51

g( x ) has a removable discontinuity at x = 1 since g(1) is

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 17 / 51

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 18 / 51

H ( x ) has a jump essential discontinuity at x = 0.

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 19 / 51

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 20 / 51

Redefining g at 1 such that g(1) = 2, the function is now continuous!

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 21 / 51

Discuss the continuity of the following function at x = 1 and x = 2:

Thus, lim f ( x ) = 1 = f (1) and therefore, f is continuous at x = 1.

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 22 / 51

Discuss the continuity of the following function at x = 1 and x = 2:

Thus, lim f ( x ) exists but f (2) is undefined, therefore, f has a removable

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 23 / 51

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 24 / 51

Redefine f at point with removable discontinuity:

Since f has a removable discontinuity at x = 2, we redefine f as follows:

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 25 / 51

Redefine f at point with removable discontinuity:

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 26 / 51

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 28 / 51

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 29 / 51

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 30 / 51

Let g( x ) = [[ x ]] and let n ∈ Z. Then g is continuous from the right at x = n but

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 31 / 51

Similar definitions for:

( a, b], [ a, b], (−∞, b), (−∞, b]

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 32 / 51

1 Polynomial functions are continuous everywhere.

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 33 / 51

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 34 / 51

By the previous theorem,

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 35 / 51

Evaluate: lim [[3x2 ]]

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 36 / 51

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 37 / 51

The square root function is continuous at every x > 0.

x ∈ (−∞, −1) ∪ (1, ∞) (why?)

Therefore, h is continuous on (−∞, −1] ∪ [1, ∞).

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 38 / 51

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 39 / 51

Discuss the continuity of

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 40 / 51

Discuss the continuity of

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Continuity of Functions Mathematics 53 41 / 51