Chap1 4 SmiMin Slides

1.
4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
Continuity: Informal Idea
We say that a function is continuous on an interval if its

graphh on th
thatt iinterval
t l can b
be d
drawn without
ith t interruption,
i t ti
that is, without lifting the pencil from the paper.
© The McGraw‐Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Slide 1
1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
DEFINITION 4.1
REMARK 4.1
For f to be continuous at x = a, the definition says that
(i) f (a) must be defined,

(ii) the limit must exist
and
(iii) the limit and the value of f at the point must be the same.
Further, this says that a function is continuous at a point
Further
exactly when you can compute its limit at that point by simply
substituting in.
in
Examples of Points of Discontinuity
EXAMPLE 4.1 Finding Where a Rational Function Is

C ti
Continuous
EXAMPLE 4.1 Finding Where a Rational Function Is

C ti
Continuous
Solution
EXAMPLE 4.2 Removing a Hole in the Graph

Extend the function from
example 4.1 to make it
continuous everywhere by
redefining it at a single point.
EXAMPLE 4.2 Removing a Hole in the Graph
Solution
Let
for some real number a. If we let a = 4,

Then
and g(x) is continuous at x = 1.

Removable Discontinuities
When we can remove a discontinuity by redefining the
function at that point, we call the discontinuity removable.
Not all discontinuities are removable, however.
Removable
Not removable
EXAMPLE 4.3 Functions That Cannot Be Extended

C ti
Continuously
l
Show that (a) and (b) cannot
be extended to a function that is continuous everywhere

everywhere.

C ti
Continuously
l
Solution
Hence, no matter how we

might define f (0), f will not be
continuous at x = 0.

C ti
Continuously
l
Solution
Due to the endless

oscillation,
ll the
h llimit d
does
not exist, and there is no
way to redefine
d f the h
function at x = 0 to make it
continuous
i there.
h
THEOREM 4.1
All polynomials are continuous everywhere.
Additionally, sin x and cos x are continuous everywhere.
is continuous for all x, when n is odd and for x > 0,

when n is even.
THEOREM 4.2
Suppose that f and g are continuous at x = a. Then all of
the following are true:
Simply put, Theorem 4.2 says that a sum, difference or

product of continuous functions is continuous, while the
quotient of two continuous functions is continuous at
any point at which the denominator is nonzero.
THEOREM 4.3
Suppose that and f is continuous at L.
Then,
COROLLARY 4.1
EXAMPLE 4.5 Continuity for a Composite Function
EXAMPLE 4.5 Continuity for a Composite Function
Solution
DEFINITION 4.2
If f is
i continuous
ti att every
point on an open interval
( b),
(a, b) we say th thatt f isi
continuous on (a, b).
F ll i the
Following th figure,
fi we
say that f is continuous
on the
th closed
l d iinterval
t l
[a, b], if f is continuous
on the
th open interval
i t l
(a, b) and
DEFINITION 4.2
Fi ll if f is
Finally, i con nuous on allll off (−∞,∞),
( ) we simply
i l say
that f is continuous. (That is, when we don’t specify an
i t
interval,l we mean continuous
ti everywhere.)
h )
EXAMPLE 4.6 Continuity on a Closed Interval
Solution
Observe that f is defined only for
−2 ≤ x ≤ 2.
Note that f is the composition of

two continuous functions and
hence, is continuous for all x for
which 4 − x2 > 0.
Solution
Since 4 − x2 > 0 for −2 < x < 2, we

have that f is continuous for all x in
the interval (−2, 2), by Theorem 4.1
and Corollary 4.1.
Solution
Finally, we test the endpoints to see
th t
that
and
d
so that
th t f is
i continuous
ti on the
th closed
l d
interval [−2, 2].
THEOREM 4.4 (Intermediate Value Theorem)

Suppose that f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b]
and W is any number between f (a) and f (b).
Then, there is a number c [a, b] for which f (c) = W.
Intermediate Value Theorem 4.4

Theorem 4.4 says that if f is continuous on [a, b], then f must
take on every value between f (a) and f (b) at least once.
That is, a continuous
function cannot skip over
any numbers between its
values at the two endpoints.
To do so, the graph would
need to leap across the
h i t l line
horizontal li y = W,
W
something that continuous
functions cannot do
do.
COROLLARY 4.2
Suppose that f is continuous on [a, b] and f (a) and f (b)
have opposite signs [i.e., f (a) ∙ f (b) < 0].
Then, there is at least one number
c (a, b) for which f (c) = 0.
(Recall that c is then a zero of f .)
Notice that Corollary 4.2 is

simply
p y the special
p case of the
Intermediate Value Theorem
where W = 0.
EXAMPLE 4.8 Finding Zeros by the Method of

Bi ti
Bisections
(Since f is a polynomial of degree 5, we don’t have any

f
formulas
l ffor finding
fi di its
it zeros. The
Th only
l alternative
lt ti ththen,
is to approximate the zeros.)

Bi ti
Bisections
Solution
Corollary 4.2 suggests a simple yet
effective method, called the
method of bisections.
Taking the midpoint of the interval

[0, 1], since f (0.5) ≈ −0.469 < 0 and
f (0) = 3 > 0, there must be a zero
between 0 and 0.5.

Bi ti
Bisections
Solution
Next, the midpoint of [0, 0.5] is
0.25 and f (0.25) ≈ 1.001 > 0, so
that the zero is in the interval
(0.25, 0.5).
We continue in this way to narrow

down the interval in which there’s
a zero

Bi ti
Bisections
Solution

Bi ti
Bisections
Solution
Continuing this process through 20 more steps leads to
the approximate
pp zero x = 0.40892288,, which is accurate
to at least eight decimal places.
The other zeros can be found in a similar fashion.

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1.

4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

Continuity: Informal Idea

We say that a function is continuous on an interval if its

(i) f (a) must be defined,

Examples of Points of Discontinuity

EXAMPLE 4.1 Finding Where a Rational Function Is

EXAMPLE 4.1 Finding Where a Rational Function Is

EXAMPLE 4.2 Removing a Hole in the Graph

EXAMPLE 4.2 Removing a Hole in the Graph

for some real number a. If we let a = 4,

and g(x) is continuous at x = 1.

EXAMPLE 4.3 Functions That Cannot Be Extended

Show that (a) and (b) cannot

be extended to a function that is continuous everywhere

EXAMPLE 4.3 Functions That Cannot Be Extended

Hence, no matter how we

EXAMPLE 4.3 Functions That Cannot Be Extended

Due to the endless

Additionally, sin x and cos x are continuous everywhere.

is continuous for all x, when n is odd and for x > 0,

Simply put, Theorem 4.2 says that a sum, difference or

EXAMPLE 4.5 Continuity for a Composite Function

EXAMPLE 4.5 Continuity for a Composite Function

EXAMPLE 4.6 Continuity on a Closed Interval

EXAMPLE 4.6 Continuity on a Closed Interval

Note that f is the composition of

EXAMPLE 4.6 Continuity on a Closed Interval

Since 4 − x2 > 0 for −2 < x < 2, we

EXAMPLE 4.6 Continuity on a Closed Interval

THEOREM 4.4 (Intermediate Value Theorem)

Then, there is a number c [a, b] for which f (c) = W.

Intermediate Value Theorem 4.4

Notice that Corollary 4.2 is

EXAMPLE 4.8 Finding Zeros by the Method of

(Since f is a polynomial of degree 5, we don’t have any

EXAMPLE 4.8 Finding Zeros by the Method of

Taking the midpoint of the interval

EXAMPLE 4.8 Finding Zeros by the Method of

We continue in this way to narrow

EXAMPLE 4.8 Finding Zeros by the Method of

EXAMPLE 4.8 Finding Zeros by the Method of

The other zeros can be found in a similar fashion.

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