Lecture: 04 & 05

Limit, Continuity and Differentiability

Limit

Limit of a function: When x approaches a constant quantity a from either side, if there exists a
definite finite number l , towards which f x  approaches such that the numerical difference of
f x  and l can be made as small as we please by taking x sufficiently close to a , then l is
defined as the limit of f x  as x tends to a . This is symbolically written as lim f  x   l .
xa

 2 x 3 , 0 x  2
P.1: A function f x  is defined as follows: f x    2 , Does
x  3 , 2 x4
lim f  x  exist?
x2

Solution:
L.H.L = lim f  x  R.H.L = lim f x 
x 2 x2

 lim 2 x  3  lim x 2  3
x 2 x2

 2.2  3  22  3
4 3 4  3
1 1

Since L.H.L.=R.H.L, then lim f  x  exist

x2

Continuity

Continuity of a function: Geometrically, If the graph of a function y  f x  is a continuous

curve we naturally call the function a continuous one. It means there should not be any sudden
change in the value of the function i.e. a small change in the value of x should produce a small
change in the value of y and so the graph of the function should be a continuous curve without
any break in it.

Page 1 of 15
 Lecture: 04 & 05
Limit, Continuity and Differentiability

2 x  3 , x  4

Problem-1: Determine whether the function f ( x)   16 is continuous at x  4 .
7 , x4

 x
Solution:
L.H.L = lim f x  R.H.L = lim f x 
x4 x4

 lim 2 x  3  16 
x 4  lim  7  
x4  x
 11
 11
and f 4  2.4  3  11
Since L.H .L  R.H .L  f 4 , f x  is continuous at x  4 .
 1x
 e , when x  0

Problem-2: Test the continuity of f x  at x  0 , where f x    1x .
e  1
0 , when x  0
Solution:
L.H.L = lim f x  R.H.L = lim f x 
x 0 x 0
1 1
x
e ex
 lim 1
 lim 1
x0 x0
e x
1 e x
1
1 1
 lim 1
 lim 1
x0  x0 
1 e x
1 e x

1 1
 1
 1
 
1 e 0
1 e 0
1
1 
 1  e
1  e 1
1 
 1 0
1 0 1
1

and f 0  0
Since L.H.L. = R.H.L.  f 0 , the given function is discontinuous at x  0 .

 2 1
 x sin , when x  0
Problem-3: Test the continuity of f x  at x  0 where f  x    x .
0 , when x  0

Page 2 of 15
 Lecture: 04 & 05
Limit, Continuity and Differentiability
Solution:
L.H.L = lim f x  R.H.L = lim f x 
x 0 x 0

1 1
 lim x 2 sin  lim x 2 sin
x 0 x x 0 x
 0  a finite number between  1 and 1  0
0

and f 0  0
Since L.H.L. = R.H.L. = f 0 , the given function is continuous at x  0 .
 1x
 e  1 , when x  0

Problem-4: Test the continuity of f x  at x  0 , where f x    1x .
 e  1
0 , when x  0
Solution:
L.H.L = lim f x  R.H.L = lim f x 
x 0 x 0
1 1

e x
1 e x
1
 lim 1
 lim 1
x0 x0
e x
1 e x
1
1 1
 
1 e x
1 e x
 lim 1
 lim 1
x 0  x 0 
1 e x
1 e x

10 1 0
 
1 0 1 0
1 1

and f 0  0
Since L.H.L. =R.H.L.  f 0 , the given function is discontinuous at x  0 .
Problem-5: Find the value for the constant k , that will make the function
7 x  2 , x  1
f ( x)   continuous at x  1.
 kx , x  1
2

Solution:
L.H.L = lim f x  R.H.L = lim f x 
x 1 x 1

 lim 7 x  2  lim kx 2
x 1 x 1

5 k

and f 1  7.1  2  5

Since f x  is continuous at x  1 , for L.H .L  R.H .L  f 1

Page 3 of 15
 Lecture: 04 & 05
Limit, Continuity and Differentiability
So, k  5  5 .
Therefore, k  5 .

Problem-6: Find the value for the constant k , that will make the function
 kx 2 , x  2
f ( x)   continuous at x  2 .
2 x  k , x  2
Solution:
L.H.L = lim f x  R.H.L = lim f x 
x2 x2

 lim kx 2
 lim 2 x  k 
x2 x 2

 4k  4k

and f 2   k .( 2) 2  4k
Since f x  is continuous at x  2 ,
So, L.H .L  R.H .L  f 2
 4k  4  k  4k
i.e., 4k  4  k
3k  4
4
k 
3
4
Therefore, k  .
3

 tan kx
 ,x0
Problem-7: Find a nonzero value for the constant k that makes f ( x)   x
3x  k 2 , x  0
continuous at x  0.
Solution:
L.H.L = lim f x  R.H.L = lim f x 
x 0 x 0

tan kx  lim 3 x  k 2
 lim x0
x 0 x
tan kx  3 0   k 2

 lim k
x 0 kx k 2
tan kx
 lim  .k
kx  0 kx
1 . k
k
and f 0  3.0  k 2
k 2
Since the given function is continuous at x  0 ; L.H.L. = R.H.L. = f 0

Page 4 of 15
 Lecture: 04 & 05
Limit, Continuity and Differentiability

which gives k 2  k
k k 1  0
k  0 ,1
Therefore the nonzero value of the constant k is 1.

Problem-8: Determine the value of a, b, c for which the following function


 sin (a  1) x   sin x
 , x0
 x
f ( x)   c , x  0 is continuous at x  0 .

 
1 1

 x  bx 2 2  x 2
 3
 bx 2
Solution:
L.H.L = lim f x 
x 0

sin  (a  1) x   sin x
 lim
x 0 x
sin  (a  1) x  sin x
 lim  lim
x 0 x x 0 x
sin  (a  1) x 
 lim  a  1  1
( a 1) x  0   a  1 x
 (a  1).1  1

R.H.L = lim f x 
x 0

x  bx 
1 1
2 2
x 2
 lim 3
x 0
2
bx
1
x(1  bx)2  x 2
1

 lim 3
x 0
bx 2
1 1
x 2 1  bx 2  x 2
1

 lim 3
x 0
2
bx
 1 1  1  bx 1  1  1  bx 
1 2 3 1
x 1  bx    1
2
   1  2     x 2
 2 2  2  2! 2  2  2  3! 
 lim 3
x 0
bx 2

Page 5 of 15
 Lecture: 04 & 05
Limit, Continuity and Differentiability

1 2 1  1  bx 2 1  1  1  bx 2
3 2 1 3 1
bx    1 x    1  2  x  
2 2  2  2! 2  2  2  3!
 lim 3
x 0
2
bx
1
 R.H .L. 
2

and f 0  c
Since f x  is continuous at x  0 ,
So, L.H .L  R.H .L  f 0
1
a  2   c
2
1 1 3
i.e. , c  and a  2   a  
2 2 2
If b  0 the function is undefined.
So, b  0 .

Page 6 of 15
 Lecture: 04 & 05
Limit, Continuity and Differentiability

Differentiability

f a  h   f a 
Lf  a   lim
h0 h
f a  h   f a 
Rf  a   lim
h0 h
When Lf  a  = Rf  a  and finite, then the given function is differentiable at x  a

 x 2  1, x  1
Problem-1: Show that f ( x)   is continuous and differentiable at x  1.
2 x , x  1
Solution:
Continuity Test:
L.H.L. = lim f x  L.H.L. = lim f x 
x 1 x 1


 lim x  1
x 1
2
  lim 2 x
x 1

 (1)  1
2  2.1
2 2
and f 1  (1) 2  1  2
Since L.H .L  R.H .L  f 1 , f x  is continuous at x  1 .

Differentiability Test:
f 1  h   f 1
Lf  1  lim
h 0 h  f ( x)  x 2  1

 lim
(1  h) 2
  
 1  (1) 2  1  f (1  h)  (1  h) 2  1
h 0 h  f (1)  (1) 2  1
h 2  2h  1  1  2
 lim
h 0 h
h  2h
2
 lim
h 0 h
 h( 2  h)
 lim
h 0 h
 lim 2  h 
h 0

Page 7 of 15
 Lecture: 04 & 05
Limit, Continuity and Differentiability
 2

f 1 h   f 1  f ( x)  2 x
Rf  1  lim
h 0 h  f (1  h)  2 (1  h)
2 (1  h)  2  f (1)  2.1  2
 lim
h 0 h
2h
 lim
h 0 h
 2
Since Lf  1  Rf  1 the given function f (x) is differentiable at x 1 .

 x2  2, x  1
Problem-2: Show that f ( x)   is continuous but not differentiable at x  1.
x  2 , x  1
Solution:
Continuity Test:
L.H.L. = lim f x  R.H.L. = lim f x 
x 1 x 1


 lim x  2
x 1
2
  lim x  2
x 1

 (1)  2
2  1 2
3 3
and f 1  (1) 2  2  3
Since L.H .L  R.H .L  f 1 , f x  is continuous at x  1 .

Differentiability Test:
f 1  h   f 1
Lf  1  lim
h 0 h  f ( x)  x 2  2

 lim
(1  h) 2
  
 2  (1) 2  2  f (1  h)  (1  h) 2  2
h 0 h  f (1)  (1) 2  2
h 2  2h  1  2  3
 lim
h 0 h
h  2h
2
 lim
h 0 h
 h( 2  h)
 lim
h 0 h
 lim 2  h 
h 0

 2

Page 8 of 15
 Lecture: 04 & 05
Limit, Continuity and Differentiability
f 1 h   f 1
Rf  1  lim  f ( x)  x  2
h 0 h
h 33  f (1  h)  1  h  2  h  3
 lim
h 0 h  f (1)  1  2  3
h
 lim
h 0 h

1
Since Lf  1  Rf  1 the given function f (x) is not differentiable at x 1 .

 x 2  x  1, x  1
Problem-3: Show that f ( x)   is continuous at x  1. Determine whether
 3 x , x  1
f (x) is differentiable at x  1, if so find the value of the derivative there.
Solution:
Continuity Test:
L.H.L. = lim f x  R.H.L. = lim f x 
x 1 x 1


 lim x  x  1
x 1
2
  lim 3x
x 1

 (1) 2  1  1  3.1
3 3
and f 1  (1) 2  1  1  3
Since L.H .L  R.H .L  f 1 , f x  is continuous at x  1 .

Differentiability Test:
f 1  h   f 1
Lf  1  lim
h 0 h  f ( x)  x 2  x  1

 lim
h
 3h  3  3
2
  f (1  h)  (1  h) 2  (1  h)  1
h 0 h  1  2h  h 2  1  h  1
h  3h
2
 h 2  3h  3
 lim
h 0 h  f (1)  (1) 2  1  1  3
 h(3  h)
 lim
h 0 h

 lim 3  h 
h 0

 3

f 1 h   f 1
Rf  1  lim  f ( x)  3 x
h 0 h
3  3h  3  f (1  h)  31  h   3  3h
 lim
h 0 h  f (1)  3.1  3

Page 9 of 15
 Lecture: 04 & 05
Limit, Continuity and Differentiability
3h
 lim
h 0 h
 3
Since Lf  1  Rf  1 the given function f (x) is differentiable at x 1 and the derivative of
f (x) is 3 i.e., f ( x)  3 .

Problem-4: Show that f ( x)  3 x is continuous at x  0 but not differentiable at x  0 .

Solution:
Continuity Test:
1
lim f x   lim 3
x  lim x 3  0
x 0 x 0 x 0

and f 0  0
Since lim f  x   f (0) , f x  is continuous at x  0 .
x0

Differentiability Test:
f 0  h   f 0
Lf  0  lim 1
h 0 h
 f ( x)  x  x
3 3

 h
1
0
 f 0  h   0  h 3   h 3
3 1 1
 lim
h 0 h 1

 h 
1
3  f (0)  (0)  0
3
 lim
h 0  h 
1
 lim which does not exist.
 h3
h 0 1

f 0  h   f 0
Rf  0  lim 1
h 0 h
1
 f ( x)  3 x  x 3
h3  0 1

 f 0  h   0  h   h
1
 lim 3 3
h 0 h
1 1

h 3  f (0)  (0)  0
3

 lim
h 0 h
1
 lim 2
h 0
h3

Therefore, the given function f (x) is not differentiable at x  0 .

Page 10 of 15
 Lecture: 04 & 05
Limit, Continuity and Differentiability

 1
 x tan 1   , x  0
Problem-5: Test the differentiability of the function f ( x)    x at x  0 .

 0 , x0
Solution:
Continuity Test:
L.H.L. = lim f x  R.H.L. = lim f x 
x 0 x 0

1 1
 lim x tan 1    lim x tan 1  
x 0  x x 0  x
 
 0. tan 1    0.  0. tan 1    0.
2 2
0 0
and f 0  0
Since L.H .L  R.H .L  f 0 , f x  is continuous at x  0 .

Differentiability Test:
f 0  h   f 0 1
Lf  0  lim  f ( x)  x tan 1  
h 0 h  x
 1   1 
 h tan 1    f (0  h)  (0  h) tan 1  
 h 0h
 lim
h 0 h  1 
 1  h tan 1  
 lim tan 1    h
h 0
 h 1 
 tan   
1  f (0)  (0) tan 1    0. tan 1    0.  0
0 2


2

f 0  h   f 0
Lf  0  lim
h 0 h 1
 f ( x)  x tan 1  
1  x
h tan 1  
h  1 
 lim  f (0  h)  (0  h) tan 1  
h 0 h 0h
1 1
 lim tan 1    h tan 1  
h 0
h h
 tan  
1
1 
 f (0)  (0) tan 1    0. tan 1    0.  0
 0 2

2
Since Lf 0  Rf  0 the given function f (x) is not differentiable at x  0 .


Page 11 of 15
 Lecture: 04 & 05
Limit, Continuity and Differentiability
Problem-6: Discuss the continuity and differentiability of the following function
 x , x  0
f ( x)   at x  0 .
 x , x  0
Solution:
Continuity Test:
L.H.L. = lim f x  R.H.L. = lim f x 
x 0 x 0

 lim 
x 0
 x   lim
x 0
 x
0 0
and f 0   0 0
Since L.H .L  R.H .L  f 0 , f x  is continuous at x  0 .

Differentiability Test:
f 0  h   f 0
Lf  0  lim
h 0 h
 f ( x)   x
 h 0
 lim
h 0 h  f (0  h)   0  h   h
 h  f (0)   0  0
 lim
h 0 h
1
 lim 1
h 0
h2


f 0  h   f 0
Lf  0  lim
h 0 h  f ( x)  x
h 0  f (0  h)  0h   h
 lim
h 0 h
 f (0)  0 0
h
 lim
h 0 h
1
 lim 1
h 0
h2

Since Lf  0  Rf  0 the given function f (x) is differentiable at x  0 .

Page 12 of 15
 Lecture: 04 & 05
Limit, Continuity and Differentiability



1, when x  0
 
Problem-7: Test the continuity and differentiability of f  x   1  sin x , when 0  x 
 2
   2

2   x   , when x 
  2 2

at x  or x  0 .
2

Solution: For x  :
2
    
2
Continuity Test: Here f    2      2
2 2 2
L.H.L. = lim  f x  R.H.L = lim  f x 
 
x x
2 2



 lim  1  sin  x   
 lim  2   x  
2

x
2
x
  2
2

 1  sin    
2

 2  2  
2  2 2
2
  
Since L.H.L.= R. H. L. = f    2 , the given function is continuous at x  .
2 2
Differentiability Test:
       
f  h f   f   h  f  
   
Lf     lim   2 Rf     lim   2
2 2
 2  h0 h  2  h0 h

 lim
1
 cos h  1
 
2
h 0  h
2  h  2
1  cosh 2 2
 lim  lim
h 0 h h 0 h
h h 2
2 sin 2  lim
 lim 2 h 0 h
h 0 h  lim h
h h 0
sin 0
 lim 2 lim sin h
h
0 h h
0 2
2 2
2
1 0
 0

Page 13 of 15
 Lecture: 04 & 05
Limit, Continuity and Differentiability

Since Lf  a  = Rf  a  = 0, the given function is differentiable at x  .
2
For x  0 :
Continuity Test:
Here f 0  1  sin (0)  1  0  1
L.H.L. = lim f x  R.H.L .= lim f x 
x 0 x 0

 lim 1
x 0 x 0

 lim 1 sin  x 
1  1 sin (0)
1
Since L.H.L.= R. H. L.  f 0 , the given function is continuous at x  0 .
Differentiability Test:
f 0  h   f 0 f 0  h   f 0
Lf  0  lim Rf  0  lim
h 0 h h 0 h
11 1  sin h  1
 lim  lim
h 0  h h 0 h
0 sin h
 lim  lim
h 0  h h 0 h
 lim 0  1
h 0

 0
Since Lf  a   Rf  a  , the given function is differentiable at x  0 .


 x 2 1, when x  0

Problem-8: Test the continuity and differentiability of f x   x , when 0  x 1 at
1
 , when x  1
 x
x  0 or x 1 .

Page 14 of 15
 Lecture: 04 & 05
Limit, Continuity and Differentiability

 ln x ; when 0  x 1

Problem-9: Test the continuity and differentiability of g x   0 ; when 1  x  2 at x  2

1 x ; when x  2
2

Solution: For x  2 :
Continuity Test:
Here f 2  0 .
L.H.L. = lim g x  R.H.L = lim g x 
x2 x2

 lim 0  lim 1  x 2
x2 x2

0  1 2 2
5
Since L.H .S  R.H .S  f 2 , the given function is not continuous at x  2 .
Hence, the given function is not differentiable at x  2 .

Page 15 of 15