LESSON 3: Continuity of Functions

TIME FRAME: 3-4 hours

LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the end of the lesson, the learner shall be able to:

1. Illustrate continuity of a function at a point;

2. Determine whether a function is continuous at a point or not;
3. Illustrate continuity of a function on an interval; and
4. Determine whether a function is continuous on an interval or not.

LESSON OUTLINE:

1. Continuity at a point
2. Determining whether a function is continuous or not at a point
3. Continuity on an interval
4. Determining whether a function is continuous or not on an interval

52
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 TOPIC 3.1: Continuity at a Point

DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON

(A) INTRODUCTION

As we have observed in our discussion of limits in Topic (1.2), there are functions whose
limits are not equal to the function value at x = c, meaning, lim f (x) 6= 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 section, we will be focusing
on the continuity of a function at a specific point.

Teaching Tip
Ask the students to describe, in their own words, the term continuous. Ask them
how the graph of a continuous function should look. Lead them towards the con-
clusion that a graph describes a continuous function if they can draw the entire
graph without lifting their pen, or pencil, from their sheet of paper.

(B) LESSON PROPER

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 continuous at a point.

EXAMPLE 1: Consider the graph below.

4 f (x) = 3x − 1

0 1 2 3
−1

53
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 Is the function continuous at x = 1?

Solution. To check if the function is continuous at x = 1, use the given 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 g(x) below.

3x2 − 4x + 1
4 g(x) =
x−1
3

0 1 2 3
−1

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 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. .

1
EXAMPLE 3: Consider the graph of the function h(x) = .
x

1
2 h(x) =
x
1

−3 −2 −1 1 2 3
0
−1

−2

−3

Is the function continuous at x = 0?

54
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 Solution. If we trace the graph from the left of x = 0 going to right of x = 0, we have to
lift our pen since at the left of x = 0, the function values will go downward indefinitely,
while at the right of x = 0, the function values will go to upward indefinitely. In other
words,
1 1
lim = 1 and lim =1
x!0 x
− x!0 x
+

Thus, the function is discontinuous at x = 0. .

1
EXAMPLE 4: Consider again the graph of the function h(x) = . Is the function
x
continuous at x = 2?
1
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 if 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) = x3 + x2 2 is continuous or not at x = 1.

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

(a) If x = 1, then f (1) = 0.
(b) lim f (x) = lim (x3 + x2 2) = 13 + 12 2 = 0.
x!1 x!1
(c) f (1) = 0 = lim f (x).
x!1
Therefore, f is continuous at x = 1. .

55
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 x2 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.
x2 x 2 (x 2)(x + 1)
(b) lim f (x) = lim = lim = lim (x + 1) = 1.
x!0 x 2
x!0 x!0 x 2 x!0
(c) f (0) = 1 = lim f (x).
x!0
Therefore, f is continuous at x = 0. .

x2 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
8
<x + 1 if x < 4,
f (x) =
:(x 4)2 + 3 if x 4

is continuous or not at x = 4. (This example was given in Topic 1.1.)

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

Teaching Tip
p
The following seatwork is suggested at this point: Determine if f (x) = x 1 is
continuous or not at x = 4.

Solution. We check the three conditions:

p p
(a) f (4) = 4 1 = 3 > 0
p p p
(b) lim x 1 = 4 1 = 3
x!4
p p
(c) f (4) = 3 = lim x 1
x!4

Therefore, the function f is continuous at x = 4. .

56
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 (C) EXERCISES

I. Given the graph below, determine if the function H(x) is continuous at the following
values of x:
1. x = 2
2. x = 3
3. x = 0

−3 −2 −1 1 2 3
0
−1

Heaviside function H(x)

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

1. f (x) = 3x2 + 2x + 1 at x = 2 x+1

5. h(x) = 2
at x = 1
x
p 1
2. f (x) = 9x2 1 at x = 1 6. g(x) = x 3 at x = 4
1 x
3. f (x) = at x = 2 7. g(x) = p at x = 8
x 2 4 x
p
x 1 4 x
4. h(x) = 2 at x = 1 8. g(x) = at x = 0
x 1 x

57
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TOPIC 3.2: Continuity on an Interval

DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON

(A) INTRODUCTION

A function can be continuous on an interval. This simply means that it is continuous at

every point on the interval. Equivalently, if we are able to draw the entire graph of the
function on an interval without lifting our tracing pen, or without being interrupted by a
hole in the middle of the graph, then we can conclude that the the function is continuous
on that interval.

We begin our discussion with two concepts which are important in determining whether a
function is continuous at the endpoints of closed intervals.

One-Sided Continuity

(a) A function f is said to be continuous from the left at x = c if

f (c) = lim f (x).

x!c−

(b) A function f is said to be continuous from the right at x = c if

f (c) = lim f (x).

x!c+

Here are known facts on continuities of functions on intervals:

Continuity of Polynomial, Absolute Value, Rational and Square Root Functions

(a) Polynomial functions are continuous everywhere.

(b) The absolute value function f (x) = |x| is continuous everywhere.

(c) Rational functions are continuous on their respective domains.

p
(d) The square root function f (x) = x is continuous on [0, 1).

58
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 (B) LESSON PROPER
LIMITS AND CONTINUITY ON AN INTERVAL

We first look at graphs of functions to illustrate continuity on an interval.

EXAMPLE 1: Consider the graph of the function f given below.

−2 −1 1 2
0

−1

−2

Using the given graph, determine if the function f is continuous on the following intervals:

(a) ( 1, 1) (b) ( 1, 0) (c) (0, +1)

Solution. Remember that when we say “trace from the right side of x = c”, we are tracing
not from x = c on the x-axis, but from the point (c, f (c)) along the graph.

(a) We can trace the graph from the right side of x = 1 to the left side of x = 1 without
lifting the pen we are using. Hence, we can say that the function f is continuous on
the interval ( 1, 1).

(b) If we trace the graph from any negatively large number up to the left side of 0, we
will not lift our pen and so, f is continuous on ( 1, 0).

(c) For the interval (0, +1), we trace the graph from the right side of 0 to any large
number, and find that we will not lift our pen. Thus, the function f is continuous on
(0, +1).

59
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 Teaching Tip
Please point these out after solving the previous example:
(a) The function is actually continuous on [ 1, 1], [0, +1) and ( 1, 0] since the
function f is defined at the endpoints of the intervals: x = 1, x = 1, and
x = 0, and we are still able to trace the graph on these intervals without lifting
our tracing pen.

(b) The function f is therefore continuous on the interval ( 1, +1) since if we

trace the entire graph from left to right, we won’t be lifting our pen. This is
an example of a function which is continuous everywhere.

EXAMPLE 2: Consider the graph of the function h below.

−2 −1 1 2
0

−1

−2

Determine using the given graph if the function f is continuous on the following intervals:

a. ( 1, 1) b. [0.5, 2]

Solution. Because we are already given the graph of h, we characterize the continuity of h
by the possibility of tracing the graph without lifting the pen.
(a) If we trace the graph of the function h from the right side of x = 1 to the left side
of x = 1, we will be interrupted by a hole when we reach x = 0. We are forced to
lift our pen just before we reach x = 0 to indicate that h is not defined at x = 0 and
continue tracing again starting from the right of x = 0. Therefore, we are not able to
trace the graph of h on ( 1, 1) without lifting our pen. Thus, the function h is not
continuous on ( 1, 1).
(b) For the interval [0.5, 2], if we trace the graph from x = 0.5 to x = 2, we do not have
to lift the pen at all. Thus, the function h is continuous on [0.5, 2].

60
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 .

Now, if a function is given without its corresponding graph, we must find other means to
determine if the function is continuous or not on an interval. Here are definitions that will
help us:

A function f is said to be continuous...

(a) everywhere if f is continuous at every real number. In this case, we also say f
is continuous on R.

(b) on (a, b) if f is continuous at every point x in (a, b).

(c) on [a, b) if f is continuous on (a, b) and from the right at a.

(d) on (a, b] if f is continuous on (a, b) and from the left at b.

(e) on [a, b] if f is continuous on (a, b] and on [a, b).

(f) on (a, 1) if f is continuous at all x > a.

(g) on [a, 1) if f is continuous on (a, 1) and from the right at a.

(h) on ( 1, b) if f is continuous at all x < b.

(i) on ( 1, b] if f is continuous on ( 1, b) and from the left at b.

p
EXAMPLE 3: Determine the largest interval over which the function f (x) = x + 2 is
continuous.
p
Solution. Observe that the function f (x) = x + 2 has function values only if x + 2 0,
that is, if x 2 [ 2, +1). For all c 2 ( 2, +1),
p p
f (c) = c + 2 = lim x + 2.
x!c

Moreover, f is continuous from the right at 2 because

p
f ( 2) = 0 = lim x + 2.
x! 2+
p
Therefore, for all x 2 [ 2, +1), the function f (x) = x + 2 is continuous. .

61
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 x
EXAMPLE 4: Determine the largest interval over which h(x) = is continuous.
x2 1
x
Solution. Observe that the given rational function h(x) = is not defined at x = 1
x2 1
and x = 1. Hence, the domain of h is the set R \ { 1, 1}. As mentioned at the start
of this topic, a rational function is continuous on its domain. Hence, h is continuous over
R \ { 1, 1}. .

8
>
>
> x if x  0,
>
< 3 if 0 < x  1,
EXAMPLE 5: Consider the function g(x) =
>
>
> 3 x2 if 1 < x  4,
>
: x 3 if x > 4.
Is g continuous on (0, 1]? on (4, 1)?

Solution. Since g is a piecewise function, we just look at the ‘piece’ of the function corre-
sponding to the interval specified.

(a) On the interval (0, 1], g(x) takes the constant value 3. Also, for all c 2 (0, 1],

lim g(x) = 3 = g(c).

x!c

Thus, g is continuous on (0, 1].

(b) For all x > 4, the corresponding ‘piece’ of g is g(x) = x 3, a polynomial function.
Recall that a polynomial function is continuous everywhere in R. Hence, f (x) = x 3
is surely continuous for all x 2 (4, +1).

(C) EXERCISES
8
>
>
> x if x  0,
>
< 3 if 0 < x  1,
1. Is the function g(x) = continuous on [1, 4]? on ( 1, 0)?
> 3
>
> x2 if 1 < x  4,
>
: x 3 if x > 4,

?2. Do as indicated.
(
x+1 if x  m,
a. Find all values of m such that g(x) = is continuous everywhere.
x2 if x > m,

62
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electronic or mechanical including photocopying – without written permission from the DepEd Central Office. First Edition, 2017.
 b. Find all values of a and b that make
8
> x + 2a
>
< if x < 2,
h(x) = 3ax + b if 2  x  1,
>
: 3x 2b if x > 1,
>

continuous everywhere.

63
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electronic or mechanical including photocopying – without written permission from the DepEd Central Office. First Edition, 2017.