Marikina High School

SHS STEM-Math Department

Teacher: Dan Russell M. Ventura

Email: russellventura@depedmarikina.ph

BASIC CALCULUS
Continuity of Functions
___

QUARTER 3 - MODULE 3

A wholesaler sells a product by the pound (or fraction of a pound); if not more than ten pounds are
ordered, the wholesaler charges $2 per pound. However, to invite large orders, the wholesaler charges
only $1.80 per pound if more than ten pounds are ordered. (a) Find a mathematical model expressing
the total cost of the order as a function of the amount of the product ordered. (b) Sketch the graph of
the function in part (a). (c) Determine the total cost of an order of 9.5 pounds and an order of 10.5
pounds.

Solution:
(a) Let f(x) dollars be the total cost of an order of x pounds of the product. Then,
2𝑥 𝑖𝑓 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 10
𝑓(𝑥) = {1.8𝑥 𝑖𝑓 10 < 𝑥

(b) The graph of function f is presented below.

(c) f(x) is obtained from the equation f(x) = 2x when 0 ≤ x ≤ 10 and from f(x) = 1.8x when 10 < x.
Therefore,
𝑓(9. 5) = 2(9. 5) = 19 𝑓(10. 5) = 1. 8(10. 5) = 18. 90
Conclusion: The total cost of 9.5 lb. is $19, while the total cost of 10.5 lb. is $18.90.

Observe that the graph of the function f(x) has a break at the point where x = 10. This is because the
function is discontinuous at the number 10. This discontinuity is caused by the fact that the limit of f(x)
as x approaches 10 does not exist.

Meanwhile, the graph of 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3 on the right

consists of all points on the line 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 1.
Meaning, it has no break, hence the function is said to
be continuous at all values of x.

Definition of a Function Continuous at a Number

The function f is said to be continuous at the number
a if and only if the following three conditions are
satisfied:
(i) f(a) exists;
(ii) lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists;
𝑥→ 𝑎

(iiI) lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑎)

𝑥→ 𝑎

If one or more of these conditions are not satisfied at

a, then the function is said to be discontinuous at a.

1
Example 1: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−2

If we are to graph this function, as you can see, the graph is asymptotic at x = 2. Applying the first
condition, the function has a break at x = 2, since f(2) will not be defined. Because the first condition is
not satisfied, the function is discontinuous at 2.
 3+𝑥 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≤ 1
Example 2: 𝑓(𝑥) = {3 − 𝑥 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 > 1

From the graph of this function on the left, we can easily

recognize the break at a point where x = 1. We learned that this
first example that was given above was discontinuous at x = 10.
Although it satisfies the first condition since f(10) exists and is
equal to 18, the second condition fails to hold as the
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐷𝑁𝐸. We can therefore conclude that the
𝑥 → 10

function is
discontinuous at 10.

2𝑥 + 3 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≠ 1
Example 3: 𝑓(𝑥) = {2 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 1

The graph of this function on the right has a break at a point

where x = 1. Although the first and second conditions are
satisfied, the last condition is not since the limit of f(x) is 5.
Types of Discontinuity

These three graphs represent discontinuity at a

specific point. And each represents the type of
discontinuity—infinite, jump, and removable
discontinuities.

Infinite Discontinuity - (or Asymptotic

discontinuity) is when the two-sided limit doesn't
exist because it's unbounded.

Jump Discontinuity - when the two-sided limit

doesn't exist because the one-sided limits aren't
equal.

Removable Discontinuity - is when the two-sided

limit exists, but isn't equal to the function's value.

Continuity on an Interval

A function is said to be continuous on an interval when the function is defined at every point on that
interval and undergoes no interruptions, jumps, or breaks. If some function f(x) satisfies these criteria
from x=a to x=b, for example, we say that f(x) is continuous on the interval [a, b]. The brackets mean
that the interval is closed—that it includes the endpoints a and b. In other words, that the interval is
defined as a ≤ x ≤ b. An open interval (a, b), on the other hand, would not include endpoints a and b
and would be defined as a < x < b.

Consider the graph below:

As you can see, the function travels from x = 0 to x = 3 without interruption, and since the two
endpoints are closed (designated by the filled-in black circles), f(x) is continuous on the closed interval
[0, 3].

Look at this example:

The function shown in the graph is not continuous on the closed interval [0, 3], since it has
discontinuities at both x = 1 and x = 2. A discontinuity is any x-value at which a function has an
interruption, break or jump -- something that would require you to pick up your pen if you were
tracing the function. The filled-in black circles, again, indicate that the interval includes that point,
while the open circles indicate that the interval excludes that point. The dashed line at x = 1 shows
that f(1) = 3, not 2.

Practice Exercises:

Determine the largest interval over which the following function is continuous:

1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 5

This function will only have function values if 𝑥 + 5 ≥ 0, that is x + 5 should not be negative
because, otherwise, it will not be a Real number but an imaginary number. Therefore, the
function is continuous on the interval [− 5, ∞). Note: When infinity is an endpoint, we always
use parentheses there is not an endpoint on that side.

1
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥

This function is continuous for all Real numbers except 0, which will make it undefined. We
can write it in several ways:

a. (−∞,0)∪(0,∞)
b. {𝑥 ∈ 𝐑 ∣ 𝑥 ≠ 0}
 c. 𝐑 \ {0}

Note: Rational functions (according to a theorem) are continuous at any point where it is defined (or
where the denominator is not equal to zero).

𝑥
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2
𝑥 −4

This function is undefined at x = 2 and x = -2, hence the function is continuous over 𝐑 \ {2,-2}.

2
4. 𝑓(𝑥) = 4 −𝑥

This radical function is continuous on the interval [-2,2].

Intermediate Value Theorem

The intermediate value theorem describes a key property of continuous functions: for any function f
that's continuous over the interval [a,b], the function will take any value between f(a) and f(b) over the
interval.

More formally, it means that for any value k between f(a) and f(b), there's a value c in [a,b] for
which f(c) = k.

To illustrate this,

…we know that the graphs of continuous functions are drawn without lifting the pencil. Therefore, if
the graph passes through (a,f(a)) and (b,f(b)), then it must pass through any y-value between f(a) and
f(b).
To further show it, let us try and analyze the given problem below:

1. Show that f(x) = 2x - 5 has a value c ∈ [a,b] such that f(c) = m intermediate to or in between
the interval [1,5].

Solution: Since the given function is a linear function (which is continuous everywhere), we
can just choose any value of our choice over the closed interval. Using the given interval,
evaluate f(1) and f(5):

𝑓(1) = 2(1) − 5 = 2 − 5 = −3

𝑓(5) = 2(5) − 5 = 10 − 5 = 5

Hence, we can choose any value m ∈ [-3,5] to show that there exists a value c ∈ [1,5] such
that f(c) = m. If we are to choose m = 3 by IVT,

3 = 𝑓(𝑐) = 2(𝑐) − 5

2𝑐 − 5 = 3

2𝑐 = 8

𝑐=4

Indeed, we can say that there is c = 4 which is in the closed interval of [1,5]. And if we are to
examine the graph,
 2. If f(x) and g(x) are continuous functions with the values below, does h(x) have a zero on the
interval [2,4], given h(x) = f(g(x))? Why or why not?

x f(x) g(x)

1 7 3

2 6 3

3 -2 1

4 3 1

Solution: To find out if h(x) has a zero on the interval, let us evaluate h(2) and h(4).

ℎ(2) = 𝑓(𝑔(2)) = 𝑓(3) =− 2

ℎ(4) = 𝑓(𝑔(4)) = 𝑓(1) = 7

Since f(x) and g(x) are continuous, by Theorem on Continuity of a Composite Function, we can
say that h(x) is continuous. Then by IVT, there exists zero on the interval [2,4] since -2 < 0 < 7.
Meaning to say, if h(x) is continuous, with a closed interval [-2,7], then we can imagine that, without
lifting our pen, our graph will cross the x-axis, where h(x) or y is zero.
 3. The cost C (in millions of Pesos) of removing x percent of the pollutants emitted from the
2𝑥
smokestack of a factory can be modeled by 𝐶 = 100−𝑥
.
a. What is the implied domain of C? Why?
b. At what value of x is C discontinuous?
c. At what interval is C continuous?

Solution:

a. D: 𝐑 \ {100} since the function will be undefined at x = 100

b. At x = 100, the function will have its break since it is undefined at that point.
c. In interval notation, C is continuous at (−∞,100)∪(100,∞)

3 2
4. Does the IVT guarantee a “c” such that f(c) = 0 for 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 2 on [-1,5]? If so,
explain how you know, and find that “c” value. If not, explain why.

Solution:

Yes. Because f(-1) = -6 and f(5) = 108 and -6 < 0 < 108, therefore by IVT, there is such c value
that would make f(c) = 0. To find that c, we can simplify,

3 2
𝑓(𝑐) = 0 = 𝑐 − 𝑐 + 2𝑐 − 2

3 2
By synthetic division, we can find c = 1 as a root of 0 = 𝑐 − 𝑐 + 2𝑐 − 2. And indeed, 1 is in
the closed interval [-1,5].

REFERENCES

Types of Discontinuity

Continuity on an Interval

Intermediate Value Theorem