SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

8.3 CONTINUITY

1. f is continuous at point x  a if
a) lim f ( x) exist
xa
b) f (a) defined
c) lim f ( x)  f (a)
xa

EXAMPLE

PSPM 2009/2010
1. A function f is given as
 x 1 , x0

f ( x)   2 , x0
 e 2 x , x0


Find lim f ( x) , lim f ( x) and lim f ( x) .

x0 x0 x0
Hence, determine whether f is continuous at x  0 . Give a reason to your answer.
[6 marks]

Solution

 x 1 , x0

f ( x)   2 , x0
 e 2 x , x0


lim f ( x)  lim x  1
x0 x0 a  a
 0 1 a  a
1
lim f ( x)  lim e 2 x lim f ( x) exist if
x0 x0 xa

e 2(0) lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)

xa  xa
1
lim f ( x)  lim f ( x) f is continuous at x  a
x0 x0
lim f ( x)  1 i) lim f ( x) exist
x0 xa

f (0)  2 ii) f (a) defined

lim f ( x)  f (0) iii) lim f ( x)  f (a)
x0 xa

f is discontinuous at x  0 .

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 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

PSPM 2006/2007
2. Given


 5x  m
2
, x2
f ( x)   k , x2

 mx3
1 , x2

Find the value of m such that lim f ( x) exists. Hence, find the value of k such that f is
x2
continuous at x  2 . [6 marks]

Solution


 5x  m
2
, x2
f ( x)   k , x2

 mx  1
3
, x2

lim f ( x) exists lim f ( x) exist if

x2 xa

lim f ( x)  lim f ( x) lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)

x2 x2 xa  xa

lim 5x  m  lim mx  1
2 3
x2 x2 a  a
5(2)  m  m(2)  1
2 3
a  a
20  m  8m  1
 7m  21
m3
f is continuous at x  a
f is continuous at x  2
i) lim f ( x) exist
lim f ( x)  f (2) xa
x2
ii) f (a) defined
lim f ( x)  f (2)
x2 iii) lim f ( x)  f (a)
xa
lim 5x 2  m  k
x2

5(2) 2  3  k
k  23

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 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

EXERCISE 8.3

PSPM 2011/2012
1 a) Given
 x 3  64
 , x4
f ( x)   x  4
 40 , x4


i) Find lim f ( x) . [4 marks]

x4
ii) Is f continuous at x  4 ? Give your reason. [3 marks]
b) Determine the values of A and B such that the function

 Ax  B , x  1

h( x)   2 x 2  3 Ax  B , 1  x  1
 4 , x 1

is continuous for all values of x. [6 marks]

PSPM 2012/2013
2 a) Given that
 x2  x  2
 , x  0, 2
f ( x)   x 2  2 x
 , x2
 0

Find the lim f ( x) . Is f (x) continuous at x  2 ? [6 marks]

x2
b) A function f (x) is defined by
 ax  6 , x4

f ( x)   x 2  2 , 4 x6
 2  x , x6

Determine the values of the constants  and  if f (x) is continuous. [5 marks]

PSPM 2013/2014
3 a) State the definition of the continuity of a function at a point . Hence, find the value of d
such that
 e3 xd , x0
f ( x)  
 3x  5 , x0

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 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

is continuous at x  0 . [5 marks]
b) A function f is defined by
 x2 1 , x 1
f ( x)  
 k ( x  1) , x  1

Determine the value(s) of k if f is:

i) continuous for all x  R . [3 marks]
ii) differentiable for all x  R . [4 marks]

PSPM 2014/2015
4. Given that
 1 ex , x0

 x6
f ( x)   , 0 x4
 3 x
 C , x4

where C is a constant.
a) Determine whether f (x) is continuous at x  0 . [5 marks]
b) Given that f (x) is discontinuous at x  4 , determine the values of C . [3 marks]
c) Find the vertical asymptote of f (x) . [4 marks]

PSPM 2015/2016
2 x 2  3x
5 a) Evaluate lim . [4 marks]
x 5x  1
b) Given

 5  px ,  2  x  1

f ( x)   x  px  q ,  1  x  2
2

 x2  4
 , x2
 x2

i) Find the values of p and q if f (x) is continuous for all real values of x . [6 marks]
ii) Sketch the graph of f (x) using the values p and q obtained in part (i). [3 marks]

CHENG CHUN LIANG & CHIN HAK CHUN UNIT MATEMATIK KMK Page 4
 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

PSPM 2016/2017
2 x
6 a) Given f ( x)   5x . Compute lim f ( x) and lim f ( x) .
x x0 x0

Is f continuous at x  0 ? Give your reason. [5 marks]

b) The continuous function g is defined by

 5 x , xa
g ( x)  
 3x  1 , xa

Find the value of a . [8 marks]

PSPM 2017/2018
7. State the conditions for continuity of f (x) at x  a . [2 marks]
a) By using the conditions for continuity of f (x) at x  a , find the values of m and n
such that
 n  2 cos x , x0

f ( x)   2  mx , 0  x  2
2

 mx x2
 ,

is continuous on the interval ( , ) . [6 marks]

b) If m  2 and n  4 , determine whether f (x) is differentiable at x  2 or not.
[4 marks]

CHENG CHUN LIANG & CHIN HAK CHUN UNIT MATEMATIK KMK Page 5
 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

ANSWER

1 a i) 48 ii) f is discontinuous at x  4 ; lim f ( x)  f (4)

x4
3 1
b) A  , B
4 4
2 a) lim f ( x) does not exist; discontinuous
x2
b)   3 ,   6
3 a i) lim f ( x) exist ii) f (c) defined iii) lim f ( x)  f (c) ; d  ln 5
xc xc
b i) k  (   ,  ) ii) k  2
4 a) continuous
b) C  ( , 10)  (10 , )
c) V.A : x  3
2
5 a) 
5
b i) p  1 , q  2
6 a) lim f ( x)  2 , lim f ( x)  2 ; discontinuous, lim f ( x) does not exist
x0 x0 x0
b) a  1
7 i) lim f ( x) exist ii) f (a) defined iii) lim f ( x)  f (a)
xa xa
4
a) m   , n4
3
b) f is not differentiable at x  2

CHENG CHUN LIANG & CHIN HAK CHUN UNIT MATEMATIK KMK Page 6
 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

SOLUTION EXERCISE 8.3

1 a)  x 3  64
 , x4
f ( x)   x  4
 40 , x4

x 3  64
i) lim f ( x)  lim x a  x  a
x 4 x 4 x4
x 3  43
 lim
x 4 x4 a 3  b 3  (a  b)(a 2  ab  b 2 )
( x  4)( x 2  ( x)(4)  4 2 )
 lim
x 4 x4
 lim x  4 x  16
2
x4
f is continuous at x  a
 (4)  4(4)  16
2
i) lim f ( x) exist
 48 xa

ii) f (4)  40 ii) f (a) defined

lim f ( x)  f (4) iii) lim f ( x)  f (a)
x4 xa

f is discontinuous at x  4 .

b)  Ax  B , x  1

h( x)   2 x  3 Ax  B ,  1  x  1
2

 4 , x 1

f is continuous at x  a
f is continuous at x  1 i) lim f ( x) exist
xa
lim f ( x) exists
x1 ii) f (a) defined
lim f ( x)  lim  f ( x) iii) lim f ( x)  f (a)
x1 x1 xa

lim Ax  B  lim  2 x  3 Ax  B2
x1 x1

A(1)  B  2(1) 2  3 A(1)  B lim f ( x) exist if

xa
 A  B  2  3A  B lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)
xa  xa
2 A  2B  2
A B 1 (1)
f is continuous at x  1
lim f ( x) exists.
x1

lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)
x1 x1

lim 2x 2  3Ax  B  lim 4

x1 x1

2(1)  3 A(1)  B  4
2

2  3A  B  4

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 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

3A  B  2 (2)
(1) + (2) : 4 A  3
3
A
4
3
(1) :  B 1
4
1
B
4

2 a)
 x2  x  2
 , x  0, 2
f ( x)   x 2  2 x
 , x2
 0

x2  x  2
lim f ( x)  lim
x2 x2 x 2  2x
( x  1)( x  2)
 lim
x 2 x( x  2)  x  2 , x  2
x2 
( x  1)[( x  2)]   ( x  2) , x  2
 lim
x 2 x( x  2)
 ( x  1) a  a
 lim
x2 x a  a
 (2  1)

2
3

2
x2  x  2
lim f ( x)  lim
x2 x2 x 2  2x
( x  1)( x  2)
 lim
x 2 x( x  2)
( x  1)( x  2) lim f ( x) exist if
 lim
x( x  2)
xa
x 2
lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)
x 1 xa  xa
 lim
x2 x
2 1 f is continuous at x  a
 i) lim f ( x) exist
2 xa
3 ii) f (a) defined

2 iii) lim f ( x)  f (a)
xa
lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)
x2 x2

CHENG CHUN LIANG & CHIN HAK CHUN UNIT MATEMATIK KMK Page 8
 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

lim f ( x) does not exist

x2
f (x) is discontinuous at x  2

b)  x  6 , x4

f ( x)   x 2  2 , 4 x6
 2  x , x6

f is continuous at x  4 f is continuous at x  a
lim f ( x) exists i) lim f ( x) exist
x4 xa

lim f ( x)  lim f ( x) ii) f (a) defined

x4 x4
iii) lim f ( x)  f (a)
lim x  6  lim x 2  2 xa
x4 x4

 (4)  6  (4) 2  2
lim f ( x) exist if
4  6  18 xa

4  12 lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)
xa  xa
 3
f is continuous at x  6
lim f ( x) exists
x6

lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)
x6 x6

lim x  2  lim 2  x
2
x6 x6

(6) 2  2  2   (6)
38  2  6
6  36
  6

3 a) f is continuous at x  c if
i) lim f ( x) exist
xc
ii) f (c) defined
iii) lim f ( x)  f (c)
xc

 e3 xd , x0
f ( x)  
 3x  5 , x0

f is continuous at x  0
lim f ( x) exist lim f ( x) exist if
xa
x0

lim f ( x)  lim f ( x) lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)

xa  xa
x0 x0

CHENG CHUN LIANG & CHIN HAK CHUN UNIT MATEMATIK KMK Page 9
 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

lim e 3xd  lim 3x  5

x0 x0

e 3(0)d  3(0)  5
ed  5
d  ln 5

b)  x2  1 , x 1
f ( x)  
 k ( x  1) , x  1
i) f is continuous for all x  R f is continuous at x  a
f is continuous at x  1 i) lim f ( x) exist
xa
lim f ( x) exist
x1 ii) f (a) defined
lim f ( x)  lim f ( x) iii) lim f ( x)  f (a)
x1 x1 xa
lim x  1  lim k ( x  1)
2
x1 x1

(1)  1  k (1  1)
2
lim f ( x) exist if
xa
0  k (0) lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)
k  (  ,  ) xa  xa

ii) f is differentiable for all x  R Question 3b ii) is Chapter 9

f is differentiable at x  1
f (1 )  f (1 ) f ( x)  f (a)
f (a)  lim
f ( x)  f (1) f ( x)  f (1) xa xa
lim  lim
x1 x 1 x1 x 1
( x  1)  ((1)  1)
2 2
k ( x  1)  ((1) 2  1)
lim  lim
x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1
x 1
2
k ( x  1)
lim  lim
x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1
( x  1)( x  1)
lim  lim k a 2  b 2  (a  b)(a  b)
x1 x 1 x1

lim x  1  k
x1
(1) 1  k
k 2

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 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

4.  1 ex , x0

 x6
f ( x)   , 0 x4
 3 x
 C , x4

a) lim f ( x)  lim 1  e x
x0 x0

 1  e0
2
x6
lim f ( x)  lim
x0 x0 3 x
06

30
2
lim f ( x) exist if
lim f ( x)  lim f ( x) xa
x0 x0
lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)
lim f ( x)  2 xa  xa
x0

f (0)  1  e 0  2
lim f ( x)  f (0)
x0
f is continuous at x  0
b) f is discontinuous at x  4
f is continuous at x  a
i) lim f ( x) exist
xa
ii) f (a) defined
iii) lim f ( x)  f (a)
xa

lim f ( x)  f (4)
x4

lim f ( x)  f (4)
x4
46
lim C 
x4 3 4
C   10
C  ( , 10)  (10 , )
a
c) Let 3  x  0 f ( x) 
x b
x 3 a) Let x  b  0
x6 b) lim f ( x)   /  
lim f ( x)  lim  
x3 3  x
xb
x3
Then x  b is vertical asymptote
The line x  3 is vertical asymptote

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 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

2 x 2 3x f ( x) 
  2 lim 
2 x 2  3x x 2
x x  g ( x) 
5 a) lim  lim
x  5x  1 x  5x 1 Divide each term by highest power of x

x x in the denominator
3
 2
 lim x If lim involve , put negative
x  1 x
5 ( )
x
 20
 a
50 x2  x 0

2

5

b) 
 5  px ,  2  x  1
 2
f ( x)   x  px  q ,  1  x  2
 x2  4
 , x2
 x2

i) f (x) is continuous at x  1
f is continuous at x  a
lim f ( x) exist
x1 i) lim f ( x) exist
lim f ( x)  lim  f ( x) xa

x1 x1 ii) f (a) defined

lim  5  px  lim  x 2  px  q iii) lim f ( x)  f (a)
x1 x1 xa

5  p(1)  (1)  p(1)  q

2

5  p  1 p  q lim f ( x) exist if
2 p  q  4 (1) xa

lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)
f (x) is continuous at x  2 xa  xa

lim f ( x) exist
x2
f ( x) 0
lim f ( x)  lim f ( x) lim 
x a g ( x) 0
x2 x2

x2  4 a) factorization
lim x  px  q  lim
2
b) multiple with conjugate ( if have )
x 2  x 2 x2
( x  2)( x  2)
(2) 2  p(2)  q  lim
x2 x2 a 2  b 2  (a  b)(a  b)
4  2 p  q  lim x  2
x2
4  2 p  q  (2)  2
2p  q  0 (2)
(2) – (1) : 2q  4

CHENG CHUN LIANG & CHIN HAK CHUN UNIT MATEMATIK KMK Page 12
 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

q2
(2) : 2 p  2  0
2 p  2
p  1

ii)

 5 x ,  2  x  1
 2
f ( x)   x  x  2 ,  1  x  2
 x2  4
 , x2
 x2

when x  2 , f (2)  5  (2)  3

when x  1, f (1)  5  (1)  4
when x  0 , f (0)  (0) 2  (0)  2  2
when x  2 , f (2)  (2) 2  (2)  2  4
f (x)

4
3
2

x
2 1 0 2

2 x
6 a) f ( x)   5x  x , x0
x x 
2 x  x , x0
lim f ( x)  lim  5x
x0 x0 x
2( x)
 lim  5x
x0 x
 lim 2  5x
x0
 2  5(0)
2
2 x
lim f ( x)  lim  5x
x0 x0 x

CHENG CHUN LIANG & CHIN HAK CHUN UNIT MATEMATIK KMK Page 13
 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

2( x)
 lim  5x
x0 x
 lim  2  5x
x0
  2  5(0)
 2 lim f ( x) exist if
xa
lim f ( x)  lim f ( x) lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)
x0 x0
xa  xa
lim f ( x) does not exist
x0
f is discontinuous at x  0

b)
 5 x , xa
g ( x)  
 3x  1 , xa

g is continuous at x  a f is continuous at x  a
lim g ( x) exists i) lim f ( x) exist
xa xa

lim g ( x)  lim g ( x) ii) f (a) defined

xa  xa
iii) lim f ( x)  f (a)
lim 5  x  lim 3x  1 xa
x a  x a

5  a  3a  1
5  a  9a 2  6a  1
9a 2  5a  4  0
(9a  4)(a  1)  0
4
a   or a  1 Check values a satisfy
9
equation 5  a  3a  1
4
Since a  
9
a 1

7 i) lim f ( x) exist
xa
ii) f (a) defined
iii) lim f ( x)  f (a)
xa

a) f is continuous at x  a
 n  2 cos x , x0
 i) lim f ( x) exist
f ( x)   2  mx , 0  x  2
2 xa

 mx x2
ii) f (a) defined
 ,
iii) lim f ( x)  f (a)
xa
f is continuous at x  0
lim f ( x) exist
x0

CHENG CHUN LIANG & CHIN HAK CHUN UNIT MATEMATIK KMK Page 14
 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)
x0 x0 lim f ( x) exist if
lim n  2 cos x  lim 2  mx2 xa
x0 x0 lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)
xa  xa
n  2 cos(0)  2  m(0) 2

n2  20
n4
f is continuous at x  2
lim f ( x) exist
x2

lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)
x2 x2

lim 2  mx2  lim m  x

x2 x2

2  m(2)  m  2
2

2  4m  m  2
3m  4
4
m
3

b) m  2 , n  4

 4  2 cos x , x0
 Question 7 b) is Chapter 9
f ( x)   2  2x 2 , 0  x  2
 2 x x2
 ,

f ( x)  f (2)
f (2  )  lim f ( x)  f (a)
x2 x2 f (a)  lim
(2  2 x 2 )  (2  2)
xa xa
 lim
x 2 x2
2  2x  4
2
 lim
x 2 x2
6  2x 2
 lim
x 2 x2
6  2(2) 2

2  2
2
 
0

f ( x)  f (2)
f (2  )  lim
x2 x2
(2  x)  (2  2)
 lim
x2 x2

CHENG CHUN LIANG & CHIN HAK CHUN UNIT MATEMATIK KMK Page 15
 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

2x4
 lim
x2 x2
x2
 lim
x2 x2
 ( x  2)
 lim
x2 x2
 lim  1
x2
 1
f (2 )  f (2  )


f (x) is not differentiable at x  2

CHENG CHUN LIANG & CHIN HAK CHUN UNIT MATEMATIK KMK Page 16