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In mathematics, the term continuity has much the same meaning as it has in everyday usage. Informally, to say
that a function f is continuous at x = a means that there is no interruption in the graph of f at a. That is, its graph is
unbroken at a and there are no holes, jumps, or gaps.
| x
a
If any of these three conditions fails to hold at x = a, the function is said to be discontinuous at a.
Functions Discontinuous at x = a
y y
_ _
| x | x
a a
y y
y
x x
x
|
x=a x=a x=a
y y
_ _
a
a
| x | x
1
y y
_ _
| x | x
a a
y y
_ _
| x | x
a a
2. Right-Hand Continuity of f at a
f is said to be continuous from the left (left-hand continuous) at a if and only if xlim f ( x) f (a ) L .
a
y y
_ _
| x | x
a a
1. Missing-Point Discontinuity
A function f is said
y to have a missing-point discontinuity at x = a if
f (a ) does not exist but lim f ( x) exists,
xa
lim f ( x ) both exist but f (a ) lim f ( x) .
or f (a ) and x a x a
y
_ _
| x | x
a a
2
2. Infinite Discontinuity
A function f is said to have an infinite discontinuity at x = a if f (x) increases numerically without bound as x
approaches a, that is, lim | f ( x) | .
x a
y y
y
x x
x
|
x=a x=a x=a
lim f ( x) lim f ( x )
, xa
x a
_ _
_ _
| x | x
a a
Continuity on an Interval
Let f be a function defined on a closed interval [a, b]. Then f is said to be
i. continuous on an open interval (a, b) if and only if it is continuous at every number c (a, b), that is,
lim f ( x) f (c) L IR .
x c
ii. continuous on a closed interval [ a, b ] if and only if it is continuous on (a, b), as well as right-hand
continuous at a and left-hand continuous at b.
Theorems: Let f and g be functions and b IR .
1. Limit of a Composite Function
If lim f ( x) b and if f is continuous at b, lim ( f g )( x) f (b) lim f ( g ( x)) f lim f ( g ( x) .
xa x c x c x a
2. Continuity of a Composite Function
If g is continuous at a and f is continuous at g(a), then f g is continuous at a.
The following functions are continuous at every number in its domains:
1. polynomial function 5. exponential function
2. rational function 6. logarithmic function
3
3. trigonometric functions sines and cosines
4. root function f ( x) n x if n is a positive odd integer but if n is a positive even integer it is
continuous at every positive number only.
EXAMPLES ON CONTINUITY/DISCONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS
A. Sketch the graph of each of the following functions & determine the number at which the function is
discontinuous and show which of the 3 conditions are not satisfied. State the type of discontinuity.
x2 x 6
, x 3
x2 x 6 g ( x) x 3
1. f ( x) 2.
1 , x 3
x3
5
, x 4
5 f ( x) x 4
3. h( x ) 4.
1 , x 4
x4
1 , x 0
5. 6.
f ( x) 0 , x 0
x , x 0
x 2
4 , x 2
g ( x) 4 , x 2
4 x 2
, x 2
1 x
2 x
, x 2
2 x
7. 8. f ( x ) x0
H ( x) , x 2
2 x 1
, x 2 ,
x
B. The following functions are discontinuous at c but can be made continuous at c by redefining f. Does the
discontinuity appear to be removable? If so, how should f be redefined to remove it? Confirm analytically.
x2 4
1. f ( x) , c2
x2
x 9
2. f ( x) , c9
x 3
3
x 2
3. f ( x) , c8
x 8
x3
4. f ( x) , c 3
3 x
x3
5. f ( x) , c3
3 x
x2
f ( x ) x 2 x 3 5. G ( x )
2
1.
x 2x 8
2
4
x
f ( x) 3 x 1 , x 2
2. 6. f ( x)
4 x
2
x 2
,x 2
x 3
,
1
x 1 x 1 , x 1
3. f ( x) 7.
f ( x)
1
', x 1
2x 5 3 x
, x 1
x3 7
4. F ( x)
x2 4
3 x 7 , x 4
D. Find k that make f continuous everywhere given: f ( x)
kx 1 , x 4
E. Given the figures below, find the pt/s of discontinuity and state whether removable or essential.