Functions, Limits, Continuity and

Differentiability 97

60
Introduction .
The word ‘Continuous’ means without any break or gap. If the graph of a function has no
break, or gap or jump, then it is said to be continuous.

E3
A function which is not continuous is called a discontinuous function.
While studying graphs of functions, we see that graphs of functions sin x , x, cos x , ex etc. are
continuous but greatest integer function [x] has break at every integral point, so it is not

continuous. Similarly tan x , cot x , sec x ,

Y Continuous
function
1
x ID
etc. are also discontinuous function.

Discontinuous
function Y
U
Y
Y
3
(0, 1)
2
 1
YG

– 2
f (x) = x
– /2
–2 O /2 X
X X’ X
X X 0 O 1
X – – –1 2 3
(0,– f(x)= 1/x 3 2 –1
1) –
y = sin x y = [x]
–
2
Y 3
Y’
D

2.3.1 Continuity of a Function at a Point.

U

A function f (x ) is said to be continuous at a point x  a of its domain iff lim f (x )  f (a) . i.e. a
x a

function f (x ) is continuous at x  a if and only if it satisfies the following three conditions :

ST

(1) f (a) exists. (‘a’ lies in the domain of f)

(2) lim f (x ) exist i.e. lim f (x )  lim f (x ) or R.H.L. = L.H.L.

x a x a x a

(3) lim f (x )  f (a) (limit equals the value of function).

x a

Cauchy’s definition of continuity : A function f is said to be continuous at a point a of its

domain D if for every   0 there exists   0 (dependent on  ) such that | x  a |   | f (x )  f (a)|   .

Comparing this definition with the definition of limit we find that f (x ) is continuous at x  a
if lim f (x ) exists and is equal to f (a) i.e., if lim f (x )  f (a)  lim f (x ) .
x a x a x a 
 98 Functions, Limits, Continuity and
Differentiability
Heine’s definition of continuity : A function f is said to be continuous at a point a of its
domain D, converging to a, the sequence  a n  of the points in D converging to a, the sequence
< f (a n )  converges to f (a) i.e . lim a n  a  lim f (a n )  f (a). This definition is mainly used to prove the
discontinuity to a function.
Note :  Continuity of a function at a point, we find its limit and value at that point, if these

60
two exist and are equal, then function is continuous at that point.
Formal definition of continuity : The function f (x ) is said to be continuous at x  a, in its
domain if for any arbitrary chosen positive number   0 , we can find a corresponding number
 depending on  such that| f (x )  f (a)|   x for which 0 | x  a |   .

E3
2.3.2 Continuity from Left and Right.
Function f (x ) is said to be
(1) Left continuous at x = a if lim f (x )  f (a)
x a  0

(2) Right continuous at x  a if Lim f (x )  f (a) .

x a  0
ID
Thus a function f (x ) is continuous at a point x  a if it is left continuous as well as right
continuous at x  a.
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 x  , x  3

Example: 1 If f(x) =  4 , x  3 is continuous at x = 3, then  =
3 x  5 , x  3

YG

(a) 4 (b) 3 (c) 2 (d) 1

Solution: (d) L.H.L. at x = 3, lim f (x )  lim (x   ) = lim (3  h   ) = 3   …..(i)
x 3 x 3 h 0

R.H.L. at x = 3, lim  f (x )  lim  (3 x  5) = lim {3(3  h)  5} = 4 …..(ii)

x 3 x 3 h 0

Value of function f (3)  4 …..(iii)

For continuity at x = 3
D

Limit of function = value of function 3 +  = 4   = 1.

 1
 x sin , x  0
Example: 2 If f (x )   is continuous at x = 0, then the value of k is [MP PET 1999; AMU 1999; Rajasthan PET 20
U

x
 k , x 0
(a) 1 (b) –1 (c) 0 (d) 2
Solution: (c) If function is continuous at x = 0, then by the definition of continuity f (0)  lim f (x )
ST

x 0

 1
since f (0 )  k . Hence, f (0 )  k  lim (x )  sin 
x 0  x
 k = 0 (a finite quantity lies between –1 to 1)  k = 0.
 2 x  1 when x  1

Example: 3 If f (x )   k when x  1 is continuous at x =1, then the value of k is [Rajasthan PET 2001]
5 x  2 when x  1

(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4
Solution: (c) Since f (x ) is continuous at x = 1,
 lim f (x )  lim f (x )  f (1) …..(i)
x 1  x 1 
Now lim f (x )  lim f (1  h) = lim 2(1  h)  1  3 i.e., lim f ( x )  3
x 1  h 0 h 0 
x 1
 Functions, Limits, Continuity and
Differentiability 99
Similarly, lim f (x )  lim f (1  h) = lim 5(1  h)  2 i.e., lim f (x )  3
 h 0 h 0 
x 1 x 1
So according to equation (i), we have k = 3.
 1
sin  , x  0
Example: 4 The value of k which makes f (x )    x  continuous at x = 0 is [Rajasthan PET 1993; UPSEAT 1995]
 k , x 0

(a) 8 (b) 1 (c) –1 (d) None of these

60
1
Solution: (d) We have lim f (x )  lim sin = An oscillating number which oscillates between –1 and 1.
x 0 x 0 x
Hence, lim f ( x ) does not exist. Consequently f (x ) cannot be continuous at x  0 for any value of k.
x 0


mx 2 , x  1

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Example: 5 The value of m for which the function f (x )   is continuous at x  1 , is

 2 x, x  1

(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) Does not exist

Solution: (c) LHL = lim f (x )  lim m(1  h)2  m

x 1  h 0

RHL = lim f (x )  lim 2(1  h)  2 and f (1)  m

x 1 h 0

Function is continuous at x  1 ,  LHL = RHL = f (1)

ID
Therefore m  2 .
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
(cos x )1 / x , x  0
Example: 6 If the function f (x )   is continuous at x  0 , then the value of k is

k ,x  0
YG

(a) 1 (b) –1 (c) 0 (d) e

1 1 1
Solution: (a) lim (cos x )1 / x  k  lim log(cos x )  log k  lim lim log cos x  log k  lim  0  log e k  k  1 .
x 0 x 0 x x 0 x x 0 x 0 x

2.3.3 Continuity of a Function in Open and Closed Interval.

D

Open interval : A function f (x ) is said to be continuous in an open interval (a, b) iff it is

continuous at every point in that interval.
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Note :  This definition implies the non-breakable behavior of the function f (x ) in the
interval (a, b).
ST

Closed interval : A function f (x ) is said to be continuous in a closed interval [a, b] iff,

(1) f is continuous in (a, b)

(2) f is continuous from the right at ‘a’ i.e. lim f (x )  f (a)
x a

(3) f is continuous from the left at ‘b’ i.e. lim f (x )  f (b) .

x b
 100 Functions, Limits, Continuity and
Differentiability
 
 x  a 2 sin x 0x
2
,
 4
Example: 7 If the function f (x )   x cot x  b   , is continuous in the interval [0, ] then the values
, x
 4 2
 b sin 2 x  a cos 2 x , 
 x 

 2
of (a, b) are
[Roorkee 1998]

60
(a) (–1, –1) (b) (0, 0) (c) (–1, 1) (d) (1, –1)
        
Solution: (b) Since f is continuous at x  ;  f    f   h   f   h   (1)  b    0   a 2 2 sin  0 
4   h 0 
4 4  h 0  4  4  4   4 
   1

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 b   a 2 2 sin  b  a2 2 .  b  a2
4 4 4 2

Also as f is continuous at x  ;  f     lim
 
f (x )  lim f   h 
2 2  h 0  2 
x 0
2

 
  
 b sin 2  a cos 2  lim (  h) cot(  h)  b   b . 0  a(1)  0  b  a  b .
2 2 h 0  2
Hence (0, 0) satisfy the above relations.
 x
2

1  sin 2 for    x  1


ID
If the function f (x )   ax  b for 1  x  3 is continuous in the interval (, 6) then the values of a
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Example: 8
 x
6 tan for 3  x  6
 12
and b are respectively [MP PET 1998]
YG

(a) 0, 2 (b) 1, 1 (c) 2, 0 (d) 2, 1

Solution: (c)  The turning points for f (x ) are x  1, 3.

     
So, lim f (x )  lim f (1  h) = lim 1  sin (1  h) = 1  sin  0  = 2
x 1  h 0 h 0  2    2 
Similarly, lim f (x )  lim f (1  h) = lim a(1  h)  b = a + b
x 1 h 0 h 0
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 f (x ) is continuous at x  1, so lim f (x )  lim f (x )  f (1)

 
x 1 x 1
 2ab ..…..(i)
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
Again, lim  f (x )  lim f (3  h) = lim a(3  h)  b = 3a  b and lim f (x )  lim f (3  h) = lim 6 tan (3  h) = 6
x 3 h 0 h 0 
x 3 h 0 h 0 12
f (x ) is continuous in (, 6) , so it is continuous at x  3 also, so lim f (x )  lim f (x )  f (3)
 
x 3 x 3
ST

 3a  b  6 ..….(ii)
Solving (i) and (ii) a = 2, b = 0.
Trick : In above type of questions first find out the turning points. For example in above question
they are x = 1,3. Now find out the values of the function at these points and if they are same then
the function is continuous i.e., in above problem.
 
1  sin 2 x ;    x  1, f (1)  2

f (x )   ax  b ; 1 x 3 f (1)  a  b, f (3)  3 a  b
 x
6 tan ; 3x 6 f (3)  6
 12
Which gives 2  a  b and 6  3a  b after solving above linear equations we get a  2, b  0 .
 Functions, Limits, Continuity and
Differentiability 101
 
 x sin x , when 0  x 
Example: 9 If f (x )   2 then [IIT 1991]

 sin(  x ), when

 x 
 2 2
 
(a) f (x ) is discontinuous at x  (b) f (x ) is continuous at x 
2 2
(c) f (x ) is continuous at x  0 (d) None of these

60
    
Solution: (a) lim  f (x )  , lim f (x )   and f    . `
x 
 2 x
 2 2 2
2 2


Since lim  lim f (x ) ,  Function is discontinuous at x 
 
  2
x x

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2 2


 1  cos 4 x , when x  0
 x2

If f (x )  
Example: 10 a , when x  0 is continuous at x = 0, then the value of ‘a’ will be [IIT 1990; AMU 2
 x
 , when x  0
 (16  x )  4

Solution: (a)
(a) 8


lim f (x ) lim 
 2 sin 2 2 x 
(b) –8
ID (c) 4

4  8 and lim f (x )  lim [( 16  x )  4 ]  8

(d) None of these


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2
x 0  x  0   (2 x )  x 0  x 0 

Hence a  8 .
YG

2.3.4 Continuous Function.

(1) A list of continuous functions :

Function f(x) Interval in which f(x) is continuous

D

(i) Constant K (–, )

(ii) xn, (n is a positive integer) (–, )
(iii) x–n (n is a positive integer) (–, ) – {0}
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(iv) |x – a| (–, )

(v) p(x )  a0 x n  a1 x n 1  a2 x n  2  ........  an (–, )

ST

(vi)
p( x )
, where p(x) and q(x) are polynomial in (–, ) – {x : q(x) = 0}
q( x )
x
(vii) sin x (–, )
(viii) cos x (–, )
(ix) tan x (–, ) – {(2n + 1)/2 : n  I}
(x) cot x (–, ) – {n  : n  I}

(xi) sec x (–, ) – {(2n  1) /2 : n  I}

 102 Functions, Limits, Continuity and
Differentiability
(xii) cosec x (–, ) – {n  : n  I}

(xiii) e x (–, )

(xiv) log e x (0, )

(2) Properties of continuous functions : Let f (x ) and g(x ) be two continuous functions at

60
x  a. Then
(i) cf (x ) is continuous at x = a, where c is any constant

(ii) f (x )  g(x ) is continuous at x  a.

E3
(iii) f (x ) . g(x ) is continuous at x  a.

(iv) f (x ) / g(x ) is continuous at x  a , provided g(a)  0 .

Important Tips


ID
A function f (x ) is said to be continuous if it is continuous at each point of its domain.
A function f (x ) is said to be everywhere continuous if it is continuous on the entire real line R i.e. (, ) . eg.
polynomial function e x , sin x, cos x, constant, x n , | x  a | etc.
U
 Integral function of a continuous function is a continuous function.
 If g(x) is continuous at x = a and f(x) is continuous at x = g(a) then (fog) (x) is continuous at x  a .
 If f(x) is continuous in a closed interval [a, b] then it is bounded on this interval.
YG

 If f(x) is a continuous function defined on [a, b] such that f(a) and f(b) are of opposite signs, then there is atleast
one value of x for which f(x) vanishes. i.e. if f(a)>0, f(b) < 0  c  (a, b) such that f(c) = 0.
 If f(x) is continuous on [a, b] and maps [a, b] into [a, b] then for some x  [a, b] we have f(x) = x.

(3) Continuity of composite function : If the function u  f (x ) is continuous at the point

x  a, and the function y  g(u) is continuous at the point u  f (a) , then the composite function
D

y  (gof )(x )  g( f (x )) is continuous at the point x = a.

2.3.5 Discontinuous Function.
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(1) Discontinuous function : A function ‘f’ which is not continuous at a point x  a in its
domain is said to be discontinuous there at. The point ‘a’ is called a point of discontinuity of the
ST

function.
The discontinuity may arise due to any of the following situations.
(i) lim f (x ) or lim f (x ) or both may not exist
x a x a

(ii) lim f (x ) as well as lim f (x ) may exist, but are unequal.

x a x a

(iii) lim f (x ) as well as lim f (x ) both may exist, but either of the two or both may not be equal
x a x a

to f (a) .

Important Tips
 A function f is said to have removable discontinuity at x = a if lim f (x )  lim f (x ) but their common value is not equal
x a x a

to f(a).
 Functions, Limits, Continuity and
Differentiability 103
Such a discontinuity can be removed by assigning a suitable value to the function f at x = a.
 If lim f (x ) does not exist, then we can not remove this discontinuity. So this become a non-removable discontinuity
x a
or essential discontinuity.
 If f is continuous at x = c and g is discontinuous at x = c, then
(a) f +g and f – g are discontinuous (b) f.g may be continuous
 If f and g are discontinuous at x = c, then f + g, f – g and fg may still be continuous.

60
 Point functions (domain and range consists one value only) is not a continuous function.

1 1
Example: 11 The points of discontinuity of y  where u  is
u u  2
2 x 1
1 1 1
(a) , 1, 2 (b) , 1,  2 (c) ,  1, 2 (d) None of these

E3
2 2 2
1
Solution: (a) The function u  f (x )  is discontinuous at the point x  1. The function
x 1
1 1
y  g(x )  2  is discontinuous at u  2 and u  1
u  u  2 (u  2) (u  1)

when u   2 
1
x 1
1
 2  x  , when u  1 
2
1
ID
x 1
 1  x  2.

Hence, the composite y  g( f ( x )) is discontinuous at three points 

1
2
, 1, 2 .
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log(1  ax )  log(1  bx )
Example: 12 The function f (x )  is not defined at x  0 . The value which should be assigned to
x
f at x = 0 so that it is continuous at x = 0, is
YG

(a) a  b (b) a  b (c) log a  log b (d) log a  log b

Solution: (b) Since limit of a function is a  b as x  0 , therefore to be continuous at x  0 , its value must be a  b
at x  0  f (0)  a  b .

x2  4x  3

Example: 13 If f (x )   x 2  1 , for x  1 , then [IIT 1972]
D

2 , for x  1

(a) lim f ( x )  2 (b) lim f ( x )  3
x 1  x 1 
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(c) f (x ) is discontinuous at x  1 (d) None of these

x2  4x  3 (x  3)
Solution: (c) f (1)  2, f (1)  lim  lim  1
ST

x 1 x2 1 x 1 (x  1)

x2  4x  3
f (1)  lim  1  f (1)  f (1) . Hence the function is discontinuous at x  1 .
x 1 x2 1

 x  1, x  0
 1
Example: 14 If f (x )   , x  0 , then [Roorkee 1988]
 42
 x , x  0

(a) lim f (x )  1 (b) lim f (x )  1

x 0  x 0 

(c) f (x ) is discontinuous at x  0 (d) None of these

Solution: (c) Clearly from curve drawn of the given function f (x ) , it is discontinuous at x  0 .
 104 Functions, Limits, Continuity and
Differentiability
y

(0,1/4) y = x2, x > 0

x' x
O
(0,–1)

60
y = x-1, x < 0

y'

 a

E3
(1 | sin x |) | sin x| , 
 x 0
 6

Example: 15 Let f (x )   b , x 0 , then the values of a and b if f is continuous at x  0 , are
 tan 2 x
 
 e tan 3 x , 0x
 6
respectively

(a)
2 3
,
3 2
(b)
2 2/3
3
,e
ID (c)
3 3/2
2
,e (d) None of these

 a
 
U
(1 | sin x |) | sin x| ;    x  0
 6
Solution: (b) f (x )   b ; x 0
 tan 2 x  
; 0 x  
YG

 e tan 3 x
 6

For f (x ) to be continuous at x  0

a  a 
lim | sin x| 


 lim f (x )  f (0 )  lim f (x )  lim (1 | sin x |) | sin x|  e x  0 
 ea
| sin x|
x 0 x 0 x 0
D

 tan 2 x   tan 3 x 
 .2 x   .3 x 
Now, lim e tan 2 x / tan 3 x  lim e  2x   3x 
 lim e 2 / 3  e 2 / 3 .
x 0  x 0  x 0 
U

2
 ea  b  e2 / 3  a  and b  e 2 / 3 .
3

x
Let f (x ) be defined for all x  0 and be continuous. Let f (x ) satisfy f    f (x )  f (y) for all x, y and
ST

Example: 16
y
f (e )  1, then

[IIT 1995]

1
(a) f (x )  In x (b) f (x ) is bounded (c) f    0 as x  0 (d) xf (x )  1 as x  0
x

Solution: (a) Let f (x )  In (x ), x  0 f (x )  In (x ) is a continuous function of x for every positive value of x .

x x
f    In    In (x )  In (y )  f (x )  f (y ).
y y
 Functions, Limits, Continuity and
Differentiability 105
  
Example: 17 Let f (x )  [x ] sin   , where [.] denotes the greatest integer function. The domain of f is ….. and
 [x  1] 
the points of discontinuity of f in the domain are

(a) {x  R | x  [1, 0)}, I  {0} (b) {x  R | x  [1, 0)}, I  {0}

(c) {x  R | x  [1, 0)}, I  {0} (d) None of these

60
Solution: (c) Note that [ x  1]  0 if 0  x  1  1

i.e. [ x  1]  0 if 1  x  0.

Thus domain of f is R  [1, 0)  {x  [1, 0)}

E3
  
We have sin  is continuous at all points of R  [1, 0) and [x ] is continuous on R  I, where I
 [ x  1] 
denotes the set of integers.
Thus the points where f can possibly be discontinuous are……, 3,  2,  1, 0 1, 2, .......... . But for
  
0  x  1, [x ]  0 and sin  is defined.
 [ x  1] 
Therefore f ( x )  0 for 0  x  1.
Also f (x ) is not defined on 1  x  0.
ID
U
Therefore, continuity of f at 0 means continuity of f from right at 0. Since f is continuous from
right at 0, f is continuous at 0. Hence set of points of discontinuities of f is I  {0}.
YG

2 x  sin 1 x
Example: 18 If the function f (x )  , (x  0) is continuous at each point of its domain, then the value of
2 x  tan 1 x
f (0 ) is
[Rajasthan PET 2000]
(a) 2 (b) 1/3 (c) 2/3 (d) – 1/3
 2 x  sin 1 x  0 
D

Solution: (b) f (x )  lim    f (0) ,  form 

x 0  2 x  tan 1 x   0 
 

 
2  1 
U

 2 
 1x  2 1 1
Applying L-Hospital’s rule, f (0 )  lim  
x 0  1  2 1 3
 2  
ST

 1 x2 

sin 1 x
1 2
2 x  sin x x 2 1 1
Trick : f (0) = lim  lim   .
x 0 2 x  tan 1 x x 0 tan 1 x 2 1 3
2
x
 
  2 sin x , x
2
  
Example: 19 The values of A and B such that the function f ( x )   A sin x  B,   x  , is continuous everywhere
 2 2
 cos x , 
x
 2
are
[Pb. CET 2000]
 106 Functions, Limits, Continuity and
Differentiability
(a) A  0, B  1 (b) A  1, B  1 (c) A  1, B  1 (d) A  1, B  0

 
Solution: (c) For continuity at all x  R , we must have f     lim (2 sin x )  lim ( A sin x  B)
 2  x ( / 2) x ( / 2)

 2  A  B …..(i)
 
and f    lim  ( A sin x  B)  lim (cos x )
 2  x ( / 2) x ( / 2)

60
 0  AB ….(ii)
From (i) and (ii), A  1 and B  1 .

x 2  10 x  25
Example: 20 If f (x )  for x  5 and f is continuous at x  5, then f (5 )  [EAMCET 2001]
x 2  7 x  10

E3
(a) 0 (b) 5 (c) 10 (d) 25

x 2  10 x  25 (x  5 )2 5 5
Solution: (a) f (5 )  lim f ( x )  lim  lim  0.
x 5 x 5 x  7 x  10
2 x  5 ( x  2)(x  5 ) 52

Example: 21 In order that the function f (x )  (x  1)cot x is continuous at x  0 , f (0 ) must be defined as

(a) f (0 ) 
1
e
(b) f (0)  0
ID (c) f (0 )  e
[UPSEAT 2000; Haryana CEE 2001]

(d) None of these

Solution: (c) For continuity at 0, we must have f (0 )  lim f ( x )

U
x 0

 x 
x cot x lim  
 1  1  x  0  tan x 
   
 lim ( x  1) cot x  lim (1  x ) x   lim (1  x ) x   e1  e .
YG

x 0 x 0   x 0  
   
Example: 22 The function f (x )  sin | x | is [DCE 2002]

(a) Continuous for all x (b) Continuous only at certain points

(c) Differentiable at all points (d) None of these
D

Solution: (a) It is obvious.

 1  sin x 
, x
   2 x 2 be continuous at x   , then value of  is
Example: 23 If f (x )   [Rajasthan PET 2002]

U

 , x  2
 2
(a) –1 (b) 1 (c) 0 (d) 2
ST

 1  sin x 0 
Solution: (c) f (x ) is continuous at x  , then lim f (x )  f (0) or   lim ,  form 
2 x  / 2 x  / 2   2x  0 

 cos x cos x
Applying L-Hospital’s rule,   lim    lim  0.
x  / 2 2 x  / 2 2

2 x4
Example: 24 If f (x )  ; (x  0 ), is continuous function at x  0 , then f (0 ) equals [MP PET 2002]
sin 2 x
1 1 1 1
(a) (b)  (c) (d) 
4 4 8 8

2 x4 0 
Solution: (d) If f (x ) is continuous at x  0, then, f (0 )  lim f (x )  lim ,  form 
x 0 x 0 sin 2 x  0 
 Functions, Limits, Continuity and
Differentiability 107
 1 
 
 2 x4 
  1
Using L–Hospital’s rule, f (0)  lim  .
x 0 2 cos 2 x 8

 x if x is rational
Example: 25 If function f (x )   , then f (x ) is continuous at ...... number of points
1  x if x is irrational

[UPSEAT 2002]

60
(a)  (b) 1 (c) 0 (d) None of these
Solution: (c) At no point, function is continuous.
 1 
1
 2 2 x 
The function defined by f (x )   x  e  , x  2 , is continuous from right at the point x = 2, then

E3
Example: 26
 
 k , x 2
k is equal to
[Orissa JEE 2002]
(a) 0 (b) 1/4 (c) –1/4 (d) None of these

Solution: (b)



1
f (x )   x 2  e 2  x




1

and f (2)  k
ID
U
If f (x ) is continuous from right at x  2 then lim f (x )  f (2)  k
x 2

1 1
 1   1 
 2 (2  h) 
YG

 lim  x 2  e 2  x   k  k  lim f (2  h)  k  lim (2  h)  e

2
x 2    h 0 h 0  
   


 k  lim 4  h 2  4 h  e 1 / h
h 0
 1
 k  [4  0  0  e  ] 1  k 
1
4
.

1  sin x  cos x
Example: 27 The function f (x )  is not defined at x   . The value of f ( ), so that f (x ) is continuous
1  sin x  cos x
D

at x   , is
[Orissa JEE 2003]
U

1 1
(a)  (b) (c) – 1 (d) 1
2 2
ST

x x x x x
2 cos 2 2 sin cos cos  sin
Solution: (c) lim f (x )  lim 2 2 2  lim 2 2  lim tan    x 
x  x  x
2 cos 2  2 sin
x
cos
x x  x
cos  sin
x x  4 2
2 2 2 2 2

 At x   , f ( )   tan  1 .
4

 1  kx  1  kx
 , for  1  x  0
Example: 28 If f (x )   x is continuous at x  0, then k  [EAMCET 2003]
 2x 2  3x  2 , for 0  x  1


(a) – 4 (b) – 3 (c) – 2 (d) – 1

1  kx  1  kx
Solution: (c) L.H.L.  lim  k
x 0 x
 108 Functions, Limits, Continuity and
Differentiability
R.H.L.  lim  (2 x 2  3 x  2)  2
x 0

Since it is continuous, hence L.H.L = R.H.L  k  2 .

| x|
Example: 29 The function f (x ) | x |  is [Karnataka CET 2003]
x

(a) Continuous at the origin

60
(b) Discontinuous at the origin because |x| is discontinuous there
| x|
(c) Discontinuous at the origin because is discontinuous there
x

| x|

E3
(d) Discontinuous at the origin because both |x| and are discontinuous there
x

| x|
Solution: (c) | x | is continuous at x  0 and is discontinuous at x  0
x

| x|
 f (x ) | x |  is discontinuous at x  0 .
x
ID
U
YG
D
U
ST