Continuity at a Point

CONTINUITY 3 CONDITIONS OF CONTINUITY

 A function f(x) is said to be continuous at x +c
if all the following conditions are satisfied.
We have observed that there are functions
whose limits are not equal to the function value at c =
i. 𝑓 (𝑐) 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑠
c, meaning lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 𝑓(𝑐). This leads us to the
𝑛→𝑐 ii. lim 𝑓 (𝑥) 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑠
study of continuity of functions. In this section, we will 𝑥→𝑐
iii. 𝑓 (𝑐) = lim 𝑓(𝑥)
be focusing on the continuity of a function at a 𝑥→𝑐
specific point.
If at least one of these conditions is not met, f is
said to be discontinuous at x = c.
CONTINUOUS VS. DISCONTINUUS GRAPH
____________________________________________
Equivalently, if we are able to draw the entire
graph of a function without lifting our pen, or without Examples:
being interrupted by a hole in the middle of the graph, Determine If f(x) = x3 + x2 – 2 is continuous or
then we can conclude that the function is continuous. not at x =1.

Examples of CONTINUOUS Condition i. 𝒇(𝒄) 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒔

Condition ii. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒔

𝒙→𝒄

Examples of DISCONTINUOUS

Condition iii. 𝒇(𝒄) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)

𝒙→𝒄

THE THREE CONDITIONS ARE SATISFIED.

THEREFORE, FUNCTION IS CONTINUOUS AT X = 1.
 Determine if f(x) =
𝒙𝟐−𝒙−𝟐
is continuous or  The graph is being interrupted by a
𝒙−𝟐
hole.
not at x = 2.
Condition i. 𝒇(𝒄) 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒔

Condition ii. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒔

𝒙→𝒄

Condition iii. 𝒇(𝒄) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)

𝒙→𝒄

THE THREE CONDITIONS ARE NOT SATISFIED.

THEREFORE, FUNCTION IS DISCONTINUOUS AT x = 2.

SUMMARY
 If 𝒇(𝒄) is equal to 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) then the graph is
𝒙→𝒄
CONTINUOUS.
 𝒇(𝒄) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = CONTINUOUS
𝒙→𝒄
 The graph is not being interrupted by
a hole.
 If 𝒇(𝒄) isn’t equal to 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) then the graph
𝒙→𝒄
is DISCONTINUOUS.
 𝒇(𝒄) ≠ 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = DISCONTINUOUS
𝒙→𝒄