MAT 120: Calculus and

Analytic Geometry I

Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif

Lecturer in Mathematics
Department of General Education
Canadian University of Bangladesh

Lesson 03
 Lecture Outline

Left-Hand and Right-Hand Limits

Continuous and Discontinuous Functions

Continuity of a Function

Continuity Test of Functions

MAT 120 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 03

 Left-Hand and Right-Hand Limits
If 𝑓 is a real valued function, then 𝑥 can approach 𝑎 from two sides: the left side of 𝑎 and the right side of 𝑎.
This is illustrated with the help of the diagram below.

Left-Hand Limit: If 𝑥 approaches 𝑎 from the left side, i.e. from the values less than 𝑎, the function is said to
have a left hand limit. If 𝑙 is the left hand limit of 𝑓 as 𝑥 approaches 𝑎, we write it as
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑙
𝑥→𝑎−
Right-Hand Limit: If 𝑥 approaches 𝑎 from the right side, i.e. from the values greater than 𝑎, the function is
said to have a right hand limit. If 𝑟 is the right hand limit of 𝑓 as 𝑥 approaches 𝑎, we write it as
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑟
𝑥→𝑎+
For the existence of the limit of a real valued function at a certain point, it is essential that both its left hand
and right hand limits exist and have the same value.
In other words, if the left and right hand limits exist and lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 , then 𝑓 is said to have a
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
limit at 𝑥 = 𝑎.
MAT 120 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 03
 Continuous and Discontinuous Function
Continuous Function: If 𝑓 𝑎 is defined, lim 𝑓 𝑥 exists and
𝑥→𝑎
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑎 then 𝑓 𝑥 is called continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎.
𝑥→𝑎
Here lim 𝑓 𝑥 means the value of limit of 𝑓 𝑥 at 𝑥 = 𝑎 and
𝑥→𝑎
𝑓 𝑎 means the value of 𝑓 𝑥 at 𝑥 = 𝑎.

In other words,

A function 𝑓 𝑥 is said to be continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎 if,

(𝒊) 𝑓 𝑎 is defined

𝒊𝒊 lim 𝑓 𝑥 and lim 𝑓 𝑥 exists [or, lim 𝑓 𝑥 exists]

𝑥→𝑎− 𝑥→𝑎+ 𝑥→𝑎

𝒊𝒊𝒊 lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑎 [or, lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑎 ]

𝑥→𝑎− 𝑥→𝑎+ 𝑥→𝑎

MAT 120 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 03

 Continuity Test of Functions
Example 1. At 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = 1 discuss the continuity of the function 𝑓: ℝ → ℝ where

𝑥 2 + 1 , when 𝑥 < 0
𝑓 𝑥 = ൞ 𝑥 , when 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1
1/𝑥 , when 𝑥 > 1

Solution:
(Firstly) At 𝑥 = 0,

R.H.L: lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑥 = 𝟎

𝑥→0+ 𝑥→0+

L.H.L: lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑥 2 + 1 = 𝟏

𝑥→0− 𝑥→0−

Here, lim 𝑓 𝑥 ≠ lim 𝑓 𝑥 . Therefore, 𝑓 𝑥 is discontinuous at 𝑥 = 0.

𝑥→0+ 𝑥→0−

MAT 120 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 03

 Continuity Test of Functions
𝑥2 + 1 , when 𝑥 < 0
𝑓 𝑥 = ൞ 𝑥 , when 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1
1/𝑥 , when 𝑥 > 1

(Secondly) At 𝑥 = 1,

R.H.L: lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim (1/𝑥) = 1/1 = 𝟏

𝑥→1+ 𝑥→1+

L.H.L: lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑥 = 𝟏

𝑥→1− 𝑥→1−

and 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 ∴ 𝑓 1 = 𝟏

Since, lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓 1 . So the function 𝑓 𝑥 is continuous at 𝑥 = 1.

𝑥→1+ 𝑥→1−

MAT 120 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 03

 Continuity Test of Functions
Example 2. A function 𝑓 𝑥 is defined as follows:
3
3 + 2𝑥 for − ≤ 𝑥 < 0
2
3
𝑓 𝑥 = 3 − 2𝑥 for 0 ≤ 𝑥 <
2
3
−3 − 2𝑥 for 𝑥 ≥
2
Investigate the continuity of the function at 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = 3/2.
Solution: (Firstly) At 𝑥 = 0,
R.H.L: lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 3 − 2𝑥 = 3 − 2 × 0 = 𝟑
𝑥→0+ 𝑥→0+

L.H.L: lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 3 + 2𝑥 = 3 + 2 × 0 = 𝟑

𝑥→0− 𝑥→0−

and 𝑓 𝑥 = 3 − 2𝑥 ∴ 𝑓 0 = 3 − 0 = 𝟑
∵ lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓 0 = 3. ∴ The function is continuous at 𝑥 = 0.
𝑥→0+ 𝑥→0−

MAT 120 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 03

 Continuity Test of Functions
3
3 + 2𝑥 for − ≤ 𝑥 < 0
2
3
𝑓 𝑥 = 3 − 2𝑥 for 0 ≤ 𝑥 <
2
3
−3 − 2𝑥 for 𝑥 ≥
2

(Secondly) At 𝑥 = 3/2,

3
R.H.L: lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim (−3 − 2𝑥) = −3 − 2 ∙ = −𝟔
𝑥→
3
𝑥→
3 2
2+ 2+

3
L.H.L: lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 3 − 2𝑥 = 3 − 2 ∙ =𝟎
𝑥→
3
𝑥→
3 2
2− 2−

∵ lim
3
𝑓 𝑥 ≠ lim
3
𝑓 𝑥 . ∴ The function is discontinuous at 𝑥 = 3/2.
𝑥→2 𝑥→2
+ −

MAT 120 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 03

 Continuity Test of Functions
Example 3. Test the continuity of the function

1+𝑥 when −4 ≤ 𝑥 < −1

𝑓 𝑥 = ቐ 4 when −1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 0
4 + 𝑥2 when 0<𝑥≤4
at 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = −1.
Solution:
(1st Part) At 𝑥 = 0,
R.H.L: lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 4 + 𝑥 2 = 4 + 0 = 𝟒
𝑥→0+ 𝑥→0+

L.H.L: lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 4 = 𝟒

𝑥→0− 𝑥→0−

and 𝑓 𝑥 = 4 ∴ 𝑓 0 = 𝟒
∵ lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓 0 . ∴ The function is continuous at 𝑥 = 0.
𝑥→0+ 𝑥→0−
MAT 120 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 03
 Continuity Test of Functions

1+𝑥 when −4 ≤ 𝑥 < −1

𝑓 𝑥 = ቐ 4 when −1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 0
4 + 𝑥2 when 0<𝑥≤4

(2nd Part) At 𝑥 = −1,

R.H.L: lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 4=𝟒

𝑥→ −1 + 𝑥→ −1 +

L.H.L: lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 1 + 𝑥 = 1 + −1 = 𝟎

𝑥→ −1 − 𝑥→ −1 −

∵ lim 𝑓 𝑥 ≠ lim 𝑓 𝑥 . ∴ The function is discontinuous at 𝑥 = −1.

𝑥→ −1 + 𝑥→ −1 −

MAT 120 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 03

 Next Lecture

➢ Secant Line and Tangent Line

➢ Derivative (Differential Coefficient)

➢ Increasing and Decreasing Functions

➢ Maxima and Minima of a Function

MAT 120 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 03