UNIT 2: DETERMINING WHETHER A FUNCTION IS CONTINUOUS
OR DISCONTINUOUS AT A NUMBER AND ON AN INTERVAL
Learning Outcomes
This module on determining the limit of function will enable you to:
1. determine whether a function is continuous or discontinuous at a number and on an interval
2. differentiate a function applying the limit definition of a derivative
Resource
You will be needing the following for this module:
1. graphing tools like Graphmatica or Graphing Calculator
Expectations
You are expected to
1. follow the guidelines in accomplishing the module
2. accomplish the module completely
CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION AT A NUMBER
A function 𝒇(𝒙) is said to be continuous at the number 𝒂 if and only if all of the
following three conditions are satisfied:
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a. 𝒇(𝒂) exists;
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b. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) exists;
𝒙→𝒂
c. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒂)
𝒙→𝒂
If one or more of these three conditions fails to hold 𝒂, the function 𝒇(𝒙) is said to be
discontinuous at 𝒂.
Example Example 1. Determine whether 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟓 is continuous at 𝒙 = 𝟐.
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Solution:
a. Find 𝒇(𝟐)
𝒇(𝟐) = 𝟑(𝟐𝟐 ) + 𝟒(𝟐) − 𝟓
= 𝟑(𝟒) + 𝟖 − 𝟓
= 𝟏𝟐 + 𝟖 − 𝟓
𝒇(𝟐) = 𝟏𝟓
b. Evaluate 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)
𝒙→𝟐
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟑(𝟐𝟐 ) + 𝟒(𝟐) − 𝟓
𝒙→𝟐
= 𝟑(𝟒) + 𝟖 − 𝟓
= 𝟏𝟐 + 𝟖 − 𝟓
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟏𝟓
𝒙→𝟐
c. Is 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝟐)?
𝒙→𝟐
Yes. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝟐)
𝒙→𝟐
The three conditions are satisfied. The function is continuous at 𝒙 = 𝟐.
𝒙𝟐 −𝟏𝟔
Example 2. Determine whether 𝒈(𝒙) = is continuous at 𝒙 = 𝟒.
𝒙−𝟒
Solution:
a. Find 𝒈(𝟒)
𝟒𝟐 −𝟏𝟔
𝒈(𝟒) = 𝟒−𝟒
𝟏𝟔 − 𝟏𝟔
=
𝟒−𝟒
𝟎
=
𝟎
𝒇(𝟐) = 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆
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b. Evaluate 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙)
𝒙→𝟒
𝒙𝟐 −𝟏𝟔
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝟒 𝒙→𝟒 𝒙−𝟒
(𝒙−𝟒)(𝒙+𝟒)
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝟒 𝒙−𝟒
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦(𝒙 + 𝟒)
𝒙→𝟒
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 + 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟒
𝒙→𝟒 𝒙→𝟒
=𝟒+𝟒
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) =𝟖
𝒙→𝟒
a. Is 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒈(𝟒)?
𝒙→𝟒
No. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) ≠ 𝒈(𝟒)
𝒙→𝟒
𝒈(𝒙) is discontinuous at 𝒙 = 𝟒.
CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION ON AN INTERVAL
A function 𝒇(𝒙) is said to continuous on the open interval (𝒂, 𝒃) if and only if
it is continuous at every number in the open interval (𝒂, 𝒃).
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A function 𝒇(𝒙) is said to be continuous from the right at the number 𝒂 if and only if
the following three conditions are satisfied:
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a. 𝒇(𝒂) exists;
b. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) exists;
𝒙→𝒂+
c. 𝐥𝐢𝐦+ 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒂)
𝒙→𝒂
DETERMINING WHETHER A FUNCTION IS CONTINUOUS OR NOT Page 3 of 9
A function 𝒇(𝒙) is said to be continuous from the left at the number 𝒂 if and only if the
following three conditions are satisfied:
a. 𝒇(𝒂) exists;
b. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) exists;
𝒙→𝒂−
c. 𝐥𝐢𝐦− 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒂)
𝒙→𝒂
A function whose domain includes the closed interval [𝑎, 𝑏] is said to be continuous on [𝒂 , 𝒃]
if and only if it is continuous on the open interval (𝑎, 𝑏), as well as continuous from the right at 𝒂 and
continuous from the left at 𝒃.
Example Example 1. Determine whether 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙 − 𝟐 is continuous on (−∞, +∞).
Solution:
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A polynomial function is continuous at every real number.
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Hence, 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙 − 𝟐 is continuous on (−∞, +∞).
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Example 2. Determine whether 𝒈(𝒙) = √𝟒 − 𝒙𝟐 is continuous on [−𝟐, 𝟐].
Solution:
a. Is it continuous from the right at 𝒙 = −𝟐?
i. 𝒈(−𝟐)
𝒈(−𝟐) = √𝟒 − (−𝟐)𝟐
= √𝟒 − 𝟒
= √𝟎
𝒈(−𝟐) =𝟎
ii. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙)
𝒙→−𝟐+
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦+ √𝟒 − 𝒙𝟐
𝒙→−𝟐+ 𝒙→−𝟐
= √𝟒 − (−𝟐)𝟐
= √𝟒 − 𝟒
= √𝟎
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) =𝟎
𝒙→−𝟐+
iii. 𝐥𝐢𝐦+ 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒈(−𝟐)
𝒙→−𝟐
It is continuous from the right at 𝒙 = −𝟐.
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b. Is it continuous from the left at 𝒙 = 𝟐?
i. 𝒈(𝟐)
𝒈(𝟐) = √𝟒 − (𝟐)𝟐
= √𝟒 − 𝟒
= √𝟎
𝒈(𝟐) =𝟎
ii. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙)
𝒙→𝟐−
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦− √𝟒 − 𝒙𝟐
𝒙→𝟐− 𝒙→𝟐
= √𝟒 − (𝟐)𝟐
= √𝟒 − 𝟒
= √𝟎
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) =𝟎
𝒙→𝟐−
iii. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒈(𝟐)
𝒙→𝟐−
It is continuous from the right at 𝒙 = 𝟐.
Hence, the function is continuous on the interval [−𝟐, 𝟐].
CONTINUITY OF POLYNOMIAL, RATIONAL, AND SQUARE ROOT FUNCTION
1. A polynomial function is continuous at every real number, that is, it is continuous
everywhere.
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2. A rational function is continuous at every number in its domain.
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3. A square root function is continuous at every number in its domain.
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THE DERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION
The derivative of the function 𝒇 is that function, denoted by 𝒇’, such that its value
𝒇(𝒙+∆𝒙)−𝒇(𝒙)
at a number 𝑥 in the domain of f is given by 𝒇′ (𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 if this limit
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
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exists.
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Consider the function 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐. Its derivative 𝒇′(𝒙) can be determined by applying
the definition as follows:
𝒇(𝒙+∆𝒙)−𝒇(𝒙)
𝒇′(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
[𝟑(𝒙+∆𝒙)𝟐 +𝟏𝟐]−(𝟑𝒙𝟐 +𝟏𝟐)
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
[𝟑(𝒙𝟐 +𝟐𝒙∆𝒙+(∆𝒙)𝟐 )+𝟏𝟐]−(𝟑𝒙𝟐 +𝟏𝟐)
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
𝟑𝒙𝟐 +𝟔𝒙∆𝒙+𝟑(∆𝒙)𝟐 +𝟏𝟐−𝟑𝒙𝟐 −𝟏𝟐
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
𝟔𝒙∆𝒙+𝟑(∆𝒙)𝟐
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
∆𝒙→𝟎 ∆𝒙
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦 (𝟔𝒙 + 𝟑∆𝒙)
∆𝒙→𝟎
𝒇′(𝒙) = 𝟔𝒙
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LEARNING SUMMARY AND REFLECTION
In this module, I learned that
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From this module, I realize that as an OLSHCOnian, I have a responsibility to
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In this module, I need to understand more the concept/s on
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Tutorial Videos:
Calculus – Continuous functions (2013). Downloaded June 11, 2020 from
[Link]
Calculus – Finding the derivative of a function using limits (2013). Downloaded June 11, 2020 from
[Link]
References:
Continuity (n.d.) Downloaded June 9, 2020 from
[Link]
Crowell, R. H. & Slesnick, W. E. (2008). Crowell and Slesnick’s calculus with analytic geometry.
Downloaded June 9, 2020 from [Link]
DETERMINING WHETHER A FUNCTION IS CONTINUOUS OR NOT Page 8 of 9
Dawkins, P. (2007). Calculus I. Downloaded June 9, 2020 from
[Link]
[Link] (2017). Graphmatica by Ksoft. [online] Available
at: <[Link] [Accessed December 15, 2017].
Leithold, L. (1990). The calculus with analytic geometry (6th ed.). New York: Harper & Row Publishers,
Inc.
Mercado, J. P., & Orines, F. B. (2016). Next cetury mathematics: Basic
calculus. Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.
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