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CONTINUITY
CONTINUITY AT A POINT
Let f be a function defined in a neighbourhood of a point a. Then f is said to be continuous at the
point a if and only if Lt f ( x ) = f (a ) .
x →a

In other words, f is continuous at a iff the limit of f at a is equal to the value of f at a.

NOTE:

1.If f is not continuous at a it is said to be discontinuous at a, and a is called a point of

discontinuity of f.

2. Let f be a function defined in a nbd of a point a. Then f is said to be

(i) Left continuous at a iff Lt f ( x ) = f (a ) .
x →a −
(ii) Right continuous at a iff Lt f ( x ) = f (a ) .
x →a +

3. f is continuous at a iff f is both left continuous and right continuous at a

i.e, Lt f ( x) = f (a) ⇔ Lt f ( x) = f (a) = Lt f ( x)
x →a x →a − x →a +

CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION OVER AN INTERVAL

I) A function f defined on (a, b) is said to be continuous (a,b) if

it is continuous at everypoint of (a, b) i.e., if Lt f ( x ) = f (c ) ∀c ∈ (a , b)
x →c
II) A function f defined on [a, b] is said to be continuous on [a, b] if
(i) f is continuous on (a, b) i.e., Lt f ( x ) = f (c ) ∀c ∈ (a , b)
x →c

(ii) f is right continuous at a i.e., Lt f ( x ) = f (a )

x →a +

(iii) f is left continuous at b i.e., Lt f ( x ) = f (b) .

x →b−
NOTE :
1. Let the functions f and g be continuous at a and k€R. Then f + g, f – g, kf , kf + lg, f.g are
f
continuous at a and is continuous at a provided g(a)≠ 0.
g
2. All trigonometric functions, Inverse trigonometric functions, hyperbolic functions and inverse
hyperbolic functions are continuous in their domains of definition.
3. A constant function is continuous on R
4. The identity function is continuous on R.
5. Every polynomial function is continuous on R.
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EXERCISE

I.

⎧ x2 if x ≤1
1. Is the function f defined by f ( x ) = ⎨ Continuous on R ?
⎩x if x >1

Sol : Lt f ( x) = L t x 2 = 12 = 1
x →1− x →1−

Lt f ( x) = Lt x = 1
x →1+ x →1+

∴ Lt f ( x) = Lt f ( x ) = 1 and f (1) = 12 = 1
x →1− x →1+

Lt f ( x ) = f (1)
x →1

f is continuous x = 1

Hence f is continuous on R.

⎧ sin 2 x x ≠ 0 Continuous at 0 ?
2. Is f defined by f ( x ) ⎪ if
=⎨ x
⎩⎪ 1 if x=0

sin 2 x
Sol : Lt f ( x ) = Lt = 2 But f ( 0 ) = 1
x →0 x →0 x

∴ Lt f ( x ) ≠ f ( 0 )
x →0

Hence f is not continuous at 0

( )
13
3. Show that the function f ( x ) = ⎡⎣cos x10 + 1 ⎤⎦ , x ∈ R is a continuous functions.

Sol : We know that cos x continuous for every x ∈ R

∴ The given function f ( x ) is continuous for every x ∈ R

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II.

1. Check the continuity of the following function at 2 for the function

⎪ ( )
⎧ 1 x 2 − 4 if 0< x<2
f ( x) = ⎨2
⎪⎩ 2 − 8 x −3 if x>2

Sol : l.l = Lt
x→ 2 −
f ( x) = Lt
x→ 2 − 2
(
1 2
x − 4 ) = ( 4 − 4) = 0
1
2

−8
Lt ⎛⎜ 2 − 3 ⎞⎟ = 2
8
R.L = Lt f ( x) = = 2 −1 = 1
x→2+ x→2+ ⎝ x ⎠ 8

Lt f ( x) ≠ Lt f ( x)
x →2− x →2+

∴ Lt f ( x ) does not exist

x→2

Hence f ( x ) is not continuous at 2.

⎧ x2 − 9
⎪ 2 if 0 < x < 5 and x ≠ 3
2. Check the continuity of f given by f ( x ) = ⎨ x − 2 x − 3 At
⎪ x=3
⎩ 1.5 if
the point 3.

Sol : Given f(3) =1.5.

x2 − 9
Lt f ( x ) = Lt
x →3 x →3 x 2 − 2 x − 3

( x − 3)( x + 3) 3 + 3 6
= Lt = = = 1.5 = f ( 3)
x → 3 ( x − 3)( x + 1) 3+1 4

∴ f ( x ) is continuous at x = 3.

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x− x
3. Show that f, given by f ( x ) = ( x ≠ 0 ) is continuous on R − {0}.
x

Sol :

Left limit at x= 0 is Lt f ( x) = Lt 2 = 2
x → 0− x → 0−

Right limit at x=0 is Lt f ( x) = Lt 0 = 0

x → 0+ x → 0+

Lt f ( x) ≠ Lt f ( x) ∴ Lt f ( x ) does not exist.

x → 0− x → 0+ x →0

Hence the function is not continuous at x=0.

When x<0, f(x) = 2, a constant. And it is continuous for all x<0.

When x>0 , f(x) = 0, which is continuos for all x>0.

Hence the function is continuous on R-{0}.

⎧ x − 1 if x >1
⎪ x −1
⎪
4. If f is a function defined by f ( x ) = ⎨ 5 − 3x if −2 ≤ x ≤ 1 then discuss the
⎪ 6
⎪ if x < −2
⎩ x − 10
continuity of f

Sol: Case (i) continuity at x = 1

Lt f ( x ) = Lt
x −1
= Lt
( x − 1)( x + 1)
= Lt x −1 = 1−1 = 0
x →1+ x →1+ x − 1 x →1+ x −1 x →1+

Lt f ( x ) = Lt ( 5 − 3x ) = 5 − 3 = 2
x →1− x →1−

∴ Lt f ( x ) ≠ Lt f ( x ) . Hence f is not continuous at x=1

x →1− x →1+

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Case (ii) continuity at x = −2

6 6 − 6 −1
Lt f ( x) = Lt = = =
x →− 2 − x →− 2 − x − 10 −2 − 10 12 2

Lt f ( x) = Lt ( 5 − 3x ) = 5 − 3 ( −2 ) = 5 + 6 = 11
x →− 2 + x →− 2 +

∴ Lt f ( x) ≠ Lt f ( x)
x →− 2 − x →− 2 +

Hence f ( x ) is not continuous at x = −2.

⎧k 2 x − k if x ≥1
5. If f is given by f ( x ) = ⎨ is a continuous function on R, then find
⎩ 2 if x <1
the values of k.

Sol : Lt f ( x) = Lt 2 = 2
x →1− x →1−

Lt
x →1+
f ( x) = Lt
x →1+
( k x2 − k ) = k 2 − k Given f ( x ) is continuous at x = 0

Lt f ( x ) = Lt f ( x ) 2 = k2 − k
x →1− x →1+

GIVEN f is continuous on R, hence it is continuous at x=1.

Therefore L.L =R.L

 k2 − k − 2 = 0

=> ( k − 2 )( k + 1) = 0 => k = 2 or − 1

6. Prove that the functions 'sin x ' and 'cos x ' are continuous on R.

Sol : i) Let a ∈ R

Lt f ( x ) = Lt sin x = sin a = f ( a )
x→a x→a

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∴ f is continuous at a.

ii) Let a ∈ R

Lt f ( x ) Lt cos x − cos a = f ( a )
x→a x →a

∴ f is continuous at a.

III.

⎧ 4 − x2 if x≤0
⎪
⎪ x−5 if 0 < x ≤1
1 Check the continuity of ‘f’ given by f ( x ) = ⎨ at the points 0,
2
⎪4 x − 9 if 1 < x < 2
⎪ 3x + 4 x≥2
⎩ if
1 and 2.

Ans: f is continuous at x = 0 ,1,2

2. Find real constant a, b so that the function f given by

⎧ sin x if x≤0
⎪ 2
⎪x + a if 0 < x <1
f ( x) = ⎨ is continuous on R.
⎪b x + 3 if 1≤ x ≤3
⎪⎩ −3 if x>3

Sol : Given f(x) is continuous on R, hence it is continuous at 0,1,3.

At x=0.

Lt
x→0+
f ( x ) = Lt
x→0
( x2 + a ) = 0 + a = a

Lt f ( x ) = Lt sin x = 0
x →0 − x →0

Since f ( x ) is continuous at x=0,

. L.L = R.L→ a=0.

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At x=3

R.L= Lt f ( x ) = Lt − 3 = −3
x →3+ x →3

L.L= Lt f ( x ) = Lt ( b x + 3) = 3 b + 3
x →3− x→ 3

Since f ( x ) is continuous AT X=3,L.L=R.L

=> 3 b + 3 = −3 => 3 b = − 6 ⇒ b = −2

⎧ cos a x − cos b x if x≠0

⎪⎪ x2
3. Show that f ( x ) ⎨
⎪ 1 ( b2 − a 2 ) if x=0
⎪⎩ 2

Where a and b are real constant, is continuous at 0.

cos a x − cos b x
Sol : Lt f ( x ) = Lt
x →0 x →0 x2

(a + b) x (b − a ) x
2 sin sin
= Lt x 2
x→0 2
x

x x
sin ( a + b ) sin ( b − a )
= 2 Lt 2 Lt 2
x→0 x x→0 x

2 ( b + a ) ( b − a ) b2 − a 2
= =
2 2 2

b2 − a 2
Given f ( 0 ) = . ∴ Lt f ( x ) = f ( 0 )
2 x →0

∴ f ( x ) is continuous at x = 0

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PROBLEMS FOR PRACTICE

⎧ ax −b if x ≤ −1
⎪ 2
1. If f is given by f ( x ) = ⎨3x − 4 ax + 2 b if −1 < x < 1 a continuous function is on R,
⎪ 10 if x ≥1
⎩
then find the values of a, b.

2. Check the continuity of the function f given below at 1 and at 2.

⎧ x + 1 if x ≤1
⎪
f ( x) = ⎨ 2 x if 1 < x > 2
⎪ 2
⎩1 + x if x≥2

3. Show that f ( x ) = ( x ) ( x ∈ R is continuous at only those real numbers that are not
integers.

Sol : Case i) if a ∈ z , f ( a ) = ( a ) = a

Lt f ( x ) = Lt ( a − h ) = a +
x → a− h→0

Lt f ( x ) = Lt ( a − h ) = a
x → a+ h→0

∴ Lt f ( x) ≠ Lt f ( x)
x → a− x →a+

Lt f ( x ) does not exist

x→a

∴ f is not continuous at x = a ∈ z.

Case ii) : if a ∉ z , then ∃ n ∈ z such that n < a < n + 1 then f ( a ) = ( a ) = n.

Lt f ( x ) = Lt ( a − h ) = n,
x →a − h→0

Lt f ( x) = Lt ( a + h ) = n,
x→a + h→0

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∴ Lt f ( x) = n = f (a)
x→a

∴ f ( x ) is continuous at x = a ∉ z.

4. If f : R → R is such that f ( x + y ) = f ( x ) + f ( y ) for all x , y ∈ R then f is

continuous on R if it is continuous at a single point in R.

Sol : Let f be continuous at x 0 ∈ R

Lt f ( t ) = f ( x0 ) Lt f ( x0 + h ) = f ( x0 ) x ∈ R, f ( x0 )
t → x0 h →0

⇒ f ( x + h ) − f ( x ) = f ( h ) = f ( x0 + h ) − f ( x0 ) Lt { f ( x + h ) − f ( x )}
h→0

= Lt { f ( x0 + h ) − f ( x0 )} = 0
h→0

∴ f is continuous at x.

Since x ∈ R is arbitrary, f is continuous on R.

5. Show that f(x) = [x] (x ∈ R is continuous at only those real numbers that are not
integers.
Sol.
Case (i) :
If a ∈ z, f(a) = (a) = a

Lt f (x) = Lt (a − h) = a +
x →a − h →0

Lt f (x) = Lt (a + h) = a
x →a + h →0

∴ Lt f (x) ≠ Lt f (x)
x →a − x →a +

Lt f (x) does not exist.

x →a

∴ f is not continuous at x = a ∈ z.

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Case (ii) :
If a ∉ z, then ∃ n ∈ z such that n < a < n+1 then f(a) = (a) = n.

Lt f (x) = Lt (a − h) = n
x →a − h →0

Lt f (x) = Lt (a + h) = n
x →a + h →0

∴ Lt f (x) = n = f (a)
x →a

∴ f (x) is continuous at x = a ∉ z.

6. Show that the function f defined on R by f(x) = |1 + 2x + |x||, x ∈ R is a

continuous function.
Sol. We define g : R → R by
g(x) = 1 + 2x + |x|, x ∈ R,
and h : R → R by h(x) = |x|, x ∈ R. Then
(hog)(x) = h(g(x)) = h(1 + 2x + |x|)
= |1 + 2x + |x|| = f(x).

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