MATH 104 Small Class #2 Week of September 20, 2021

1 Continuity
1. A love story, part 2.
Following our previous story. The limit limx→a f (x) exists exactly when R and L can meet
each other. They are now at the point where they feel like wanting to start a family. Their
baby is f (a).
f (a)

LR

lim f (x)
x→a

Definition(Continuity). The family is together exactly when f (x) is continuous at

x = a. In other words, a function f is continuous at x = a when

lim f (x) = f (a).

x→a

In particular, this means that limx→a f (x) must exist!

(a) Let us make a checklist of conditions necessary got for L, R and their baby to be together.
Pick the 3 of the following conditions that are NECESSARY to make f continuous at x = a.

• f is differentiable at x = a.
• lim f (x) exists.
x→a

• f (a) exists.
• f (x) = f (a).
• x = a is an asymptote.
• limx→a f (x) = f (a).

(d) Determine the points at which the following function f has discontinuities. At each point
 of discontinuity, state the conditions in the continuity checklist that are violated.

−1 1 2 3 4 5

2. Determine the value of the constant a for which the function

( 2
x +3x+2
x+1
if x 6= −1,
f (x) =
a if x = −1.

is continuous at −1.

Definition. A function f (x) is continuous if it is continuous at every point in its

domain.

x5 + 6x + 17
3. Determine the interval(s) on which the function f (x) = is continuous.
x2 − 9

Definition (One-sided continuity). A function f is:

• left-continuous at x = a if lim− f (x) = f (a).

x→a

• right-continuous at x = a if lim+ f (x) = f (a).

x→a

The function f is continuous at x = a if and only if f is both left-continuous and

right-continuous at x = a.

Definition (Continuity on a closed interval). If the domain of f (x) is a closed

interval [a, b], we only require right-continuity at x = a and left-continuity at x = b.

4. Discuss the intervals of continuity of


x x<1
f (x) = 3 1 ≤ x ≤ 3 .
x x>3

 Continuity Laws. If f (x) and g(x) are both continuous at x = a then so are f (x)+g(x),
f (x) − g(x), f (x)g(x), cf (x), f (x)c (c is a constant). If g(a) 6= 0, then the function fg(x)
(x)

is also continuous at x = a.
Composition rule. If g(x) is continuous at x = a and f (x) is continuous at g(a) then
f (g(x)) is continuous at x = a.


−x x < 0
5. Show that the function |x| = is continuous. Use this to show the following:
x x≥0
If f (x) and g(x) are two continuous function, then the function h(x) = max(f (x), g(x)) is
continuous.
a+b+|a−b|
Hint. max(a, b) = 2
.
 2 Intermediate Value Theorem
6. Draw a continuous function on the interval [0, 5] such that f (0) = 1 and f (5) = 3. Can you
draw this function so that there is no value of x such that f (x) = 2?

Intermediate Value Theorem(IVT). If f (x) is continuous on [a, b], then for every
number ` between f (a) and f (b) there is at least one a < c < b such that f (c) = `.

In general, whenever you are asked to show that a solution of an equation exists, but not asked
to write what the solution is, you will have to use the IVT.

7. Use the IVT to show that f (x) = x3 + x takes on the value 9 for some x in [1, 2].

8. Show that cos(x) = x has a solution in the interval [0, 1]. Hint. Show that f (x) = x − cos(x)
has a zero in [0, 1].

9. Find an interval of length 1 containing a number x such that 2x + 3x = 4x . Hint. Consider

the function f (x) = 2x + 3x − 4x and use the IVT to find an interval containing a solution of
f (x) = 0.

10. (You may use a calculator for this question) You are shopping for a $150,000, 30-year loan to
buy a house. The monthly payment is

150000(r/12)
m(r) = ,
1 − (1 + r/12)−360

where r is the annual interest rate. Suppose banks are currently offering interest rates between
6% and 8%.

a. Use the intermediate value theorem to show that there is a value of r in the interval
(0.06, 0.08) – i.e., an interest rate between 6% and 8% – that allows you to make monthly
payments of $1000 per month. You can use an online calculator for numerical computa-
tions.
b. Use a graph to illustrate your explanation to part a. Then determine the interest rate
you need for monthly payments of $1000.

11. (*) This is a bonus question, only attempt it if you have finished the rest.
The goal of this question is to prove the following: On the equator, there are always two points
diametrically opposed (i.e. symmetric with respect to the center of the earth) with the same
temperature. Define a function as follows

f (θ) = temperature at Pθ − temperature at Qθ ,

where θ is an angle between 0◦ and 360◦ , and Pθ and Qθ are in the following picture.
 Qθ

θ
Pθ

Use the IVT to show that there is an angle x between 0◦ and 180◦ such that f (x) = 0. What
does this show?
Remark. This is nothing special about the equator, on any longitude or lattitude there are
always two points diametrically opposed with the same temperature.
 3 Optional extra limit problems.
g(x)
12. If lim g(x) = 6 and lim = 3, find lim f (x).
x→1 x→1 f (x) − 1 x→1

13. Consider three functions f (x), g(x), h(x) such that

lim f (x) = 2, lim g(x) = −2, lim h(x) = 2,

x→1 x→1 x→1

lim f (x) = 6, lim g(x) = 3, lim h(x) = 2,

x→2 x→2 x→2

lim f (x) = −1, lim g(x) = −1, lim h(x) = 1.

x→3 x→3 x→3
p
f (h(f (x))) + g(x)
Compute lim .
x→1 2g(x) + f (x)h(x) + x