SELF-LEARNING MODULE

BASIC CALCULUS
Quarter 3 | Week 06 | S.Y. 2020 – 2021
TEACHER: MARK JASER R. AQUINO, CoE

I. OBJECTIVE
 Illustrate continuity of a function at a number
 STEM_BC11LCIIIc-1

II. SUBJECT MATTER

 Continuity of a Function

III. LEARNING RESOURCES

 Textbook: Basic Calculus Teaching Guide for Senior High School by Jose
Maria P. Balmaceda, Ph. D. et. al.

IV. LESSON DISCUSSION

As we have observed in our discussion of limits, there are functions whose limits are not
equal to the function value at x=c , meaning, lim f (x )≠ f (c) .
x →c

lim f ( x )is NOT NECESSARILY the same as f ( c ) .

x →c

This leads us to the study of continuity of functions. In this module, we will be focusing on
the continuity of a function at a specific point.

LIMITS AND CONTINUITY AT A POINT

What does “continuity at a point” mean? Intuitively, this means that in drawing the graph of a
function, the point in question will be traversed. We start by graphically illustrating what it
means to be continuity at a point.

EXAMPLE 1: Consider the graph below.

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 Is the function continuous at x=1 ?

Solution. To check if the function is continuous at x=1, use the graph. Note that one is
able to trace the graph from the left side of the number x=1 going to the right side of x=1,
without lifting one’s pen. This is the case here. Hence, we can say that the function is
continuous at x=1.

EXAMPLE 2: Consider the graph of the function f ( x) below.

Is the function continuous at x=1 ?

Solution. We follow the process in the previous example. Tracing the graph from the
left of x=1 going to the right of x=1, one finds that s/he must lift her/his pen briefly upon
reaching x=1, creating a hole in the graph. Thus, the function is discontinuous at x=1.

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EXAMPLE 3: Consider the graph of the function h ( x )=
x

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 Is the function continuous at x=0 ?

Solution. If we trace the graph from left of x=0 going to the right of x=0 , we have to lift
our pen since at the left of x=0 , the function valuer will go downward indefinitely, while at
the right of x=0 , the function values will go to upward indefinitely. In other words,

lim ¿
−¿ 1
x→ 0 =−∞∧ lim ¿ ¿¿
x +¿
x→0
1
=+∞
x

Thus, the function is discontinuous at x=0.

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EXAMPLE 4: Consider again the graph of the function h ( x )= . Is the function
x
continuous at x=2 ?

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Solution. If we trace the graph of the function h ( x )=from the left of x=2 to the right
x
of x=2, you will not lift your pen. Therefore, the function h is continuous at x=2.

Suppose we are not given the graph of a function but just the function itself. How do we
determine if the function is continuous at a given number? In this case, we have to check
three conditions.

Three Conditions of Continuity

A function f ( x) is said to be continuous at x=c it the following three conditions are

satisfied:

(i) f ( c ) exists;

(ii) lim f (x ) exists; and

x →c

(iii) f ( c ) =lim f ( x) .
x→ c

If at least one of these conditions is not met, f is said to be discontinuous at x=c

EXAMPLE 5: Determine if f ( x )=x 3 + x 2−2 is continuous or not at x=1.

Solution. We have to check the three conditions for continuity of a function.

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 (a) If x=1 , then f ( 1 ) =0.
(b) lim f ( x )=lim ( x + x −2 ) =1 + 1 −2=0
3 2 3 2

x →1 x →1

(c) f ( 1 ) =0=lim
x →1
f (x)

Therefore, f is continuous at x=1.

x 2−x−2
EXAMPLE 6: Determine if f ( x )= is continuous or not at x=0.
x −2

Solution. We have to check the three conditions for continuity of a function.

(a) If x=0 , then f ( 0 )=1

x −x−2
2
( x−2 )( x+ 1 )
(b) lim f ( x )=lim =lim =lim ( x +1 )=1
x →0 x→ 0 x −2 x →0 x−2 x →0

(c) f ( 0 ) =1=lim f (x)

x →0

Therefore, f is continuous at x=0

x 2−x−2
EXAMPLE 7: Determine if f ( x )= is continuous or not at x=2.
x −2

Solution. Note that f is not defined at x=2 since 2 is not in the domain of f . Hence, the
first condition in the definition of a continuous function is not satisfied. Therefore, f is
discontinuous at x=2.

EXAMPLE 8: Determine if

f ( x )=
{ x +1 if x< 4
( x−4 )2 +3 if x ≥ 4 }
is continuous or not at x=4.

Solution. Note that f is defined at x=4 since f ( 4 ) =3. However, lim ¿ while
−¿
x→ 4 f ( x ) =5 ¿
lim ¿ . Therefore, lim f ( x ) DNE and f is discontinuous at x=4.
+¿
x→ 4 f ( x ) =3 ¿ x→ 4

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 

BASIC CALCULUS | WEEK 6

TEACHER: MARK JASER R. AQUINO, CoE

NAME: ______________________________ GRADE & STRAND:

____________

I. Given the graph below, determine if the function H ( x ) is continuous at the

following values of x .

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 (a) x=2
(b) x=−3
(c) x=0

II. Determine if the following functions are continuous at the given value of x .

1. f ( x )=3 x 2 +2 x +1 ; at x=−2

2. f ( x )=9 x 2−1 ; at x =1

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3. f ( x )= ; at x=2
x−2

x−1
4. h ( x )= 2
; at x=1
x −1

5. h ( x )=
√ 4−x ; at x=0
x

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Read in advance on Derivatives.

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