1.

4
Continuity
and
One-Sided Limits

This
will test
the
“Limits”
of your
brain!
Definition of Continuity
A function is called continuous at c if the
following three conditions are met:

1. f(c) is defined

2. lim f ( x) exists
x→ c

3. lim f ( x) = f (c)
x→ c

A function is continuous on an open

interval (a,b) if it is continuous at each
point in the interval.
 Two Types of Discontinuities
1. Removable
Point Discontinuity the open circle
2. Non-removable can be filled in
Jump and Infinite to make it
Removable example continuous

x2 −1
f( x) =
x −1
( x −1)( x + 1)
f( x) =
x −1
 Non-removable discontinuity.
x
Ex. lim
x→ 0 x
x
lim− = -1
x→ 0 x
x
lim+ = 1
x→ 0 x
Determine whether the following functions are
continuous on the given interval.

1 yes, it is
f ( x) = , (0,1) continuous
x
( )
1
 2
x −1
f( x) = , (0,2)
x −1

( )

discontinuous at x = 1
removable discontinuity since filling in (1,2)
would make it continuous.
f( x) = sin x, (0,2π )

2π

yes, it is continuous
One-sided Limits

lim+ f ( x) = L Limit from the right

x→ c

lim− f ( x) = L Limit from the left

x→ c

Find the following limits

lim+ x −1 0
x→ 1

lim− x −1 D.N.E.
x→ 1
1
lim x −1 D.N.E. Left ≠ Right
x→ 1
Step Functions “Jump”

Greatest Integer f ( x) = [x ]

lim−[x ]= -1
x→ 0

lim+ [x ]= 0
x→ 0

lim [x ]= D.N.E.
x→ 0
Left ≠ Right
 5 −x, −1 ≤ x ≤2
g(x)=
2
x −1, 2< x<3
Is g(x) continuous at x = 2?

lim− g ( x) = xlim
→2 −
(5 −x ) = 3
x→ 2

lim+ g ( x) =
x→ 2
lim x 2
x → 2+
(
−1 = 3 )

∴ g(x) is continuous at x = 2
Intermediate Value Theorem

If f is continuous on [a,b] and k is any number

between f(a) and f(b), then there is at least one
number c in [a,b] such that f(c) = k

f(a) In this case, how

many c’s are there
k
where f(c) = k?
f(b)
[ ] 3
a b
Show that f(x) = x3 + 2x –1
has a zero on [0,1].

f(0) = 03 + 2(0) – 1 = -1
f(1) = 13 + 2(1) – 1 = 2

Since f(0) < 0 and f(1) > 0, there must

be a zero (x-intercept) between [0,1].