Lesson 2

Continuity
OBJECTIVE:

• to determine whether the function is continuous or discontinuous

DEFINITION: CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION

If one or more of the above conditions fails to hold at c

the function is said to be discontinuous.
 TYPE OF DISCONTINUITIES

The figure above illustrates the
function not defined at x=c,
which violates the first condition.
The figure above illustrates that the limit
coming from the right and left both exist
but are not equal, thus the two-sided limit
does not exist which violates the second
condition. This kind of discontinuity is called
jump discontinuity.
The figure above illustrates that the limit
coming from the right and left of c are both
, thus the two-sided limit does not exist
  the second condition. This
which violates
kind of discontinuity is called infinite
discontinuity.
The figure above illustrates the function
defined at c and that the limit coming from
the right and left of c both exist thus the two
sided limit exist. But
which violates the thirdf (condition.
c )  lim f ( x )
xc
This kind of discontinuity is called
removable discontinuity.
EXAMPLE:
 

Solution:
 
EXAMPLE
:
 
Test for continuity :
1. f 3  is defined and is equal to 2
x2  x  6
2. lim f ( x )  lim
x 3 x 3 x3
 lim
x  3 x  2 
x 3 x3
 lim x  2 
x 3

32  5
3. lim f ( x )  5 and f ( 3 )  2
x 3

The lim it exists but lim f ( x )  f ( 3 )

x 3

therefore f is discontinu ous at x  3

EXAMPLE:

 
Use infinite limits to determine
the location of the curve:
EXAMPLE 7: