CLASS – XII (CORE MATHS) SRAJAN ACADEMY

CONTINUITY AND DIFFERENTIABILITY

Definition of Continuity:
A function f(x) is said to be continuous at x = c,
if Limit f(x) = f(c).
x →c
if Limit f(c - h) = Limit f(c + h) = f(c).
x →c x →c
i.e. LHL at x = c = RHL at x = c equals Value of ‘f’ at x = c.

It implies that if the left hand limit (L.H.L), right hand limit (R.H.L) and the value of the function
at x = c exists and these parameters are equal to each other, then the function f is said to be
continuous at x = c.
If the function is undefined or does not exist, then we say that the function is discontinuous.

In simple words, we can say that a function is continuous at a point if we are able to graph it
without lifting the pen.

Reasons 0f Discontinuity:
• Limit f(x) does not exist i.e. Limit f(x)  Limit f(x)
x →c x →c x →c
• f(x) is not defined at x = c
• Limit f(x)  f(c)
x →c

• Geometrically, the graph of the function will exhibit a break at x = c.

Continuity in Open Interval (a, b):

f(x) will be continuous in the open interval (a, b) if at any point in the given interval the
function is continuous.

Continuity in Closed Interval [a, b]:

A function f(x) is said to be continuous in the closed interval [a, b] if it satisfies the following
three conditions.
1) f(x) is be continuous in the open interval (a, b)
2) f(x) is continuous at the point a from right i.e. lim f ( x ) = f(a)
x→ a

3) f(x) is continuous at the point b from left i.e. lim f ( x ) = f(b)

x→ b

Differentiability of A Function At A Given Point:

Let f (x) be a real valued function defined on an open interval (a, b) where c  ( a,b ) .
f(x) − f(c)
Then f (x) is said to be differentiable or derivable at x = c, iff lim exists finitely.
x →c (x − c)

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This limit is called the derivative or differential coefficient of the function f(x) at x = c, and is
d
denoted by f’(c) or D f (c) or (f (x))x = c
dx
 Thus, f (x) is differentiable at x = c
f(x) − f(c)
 lim exists finitely
x →c (x − c)
f(x) − f(c) f(x) − f(c)
 lim− = lim+
x →c (x − c) x →c (x − c)
f(c − h) − f(c) f(c + h) − f(c)
 lim = lim
h →0 ( −h) h→0 (h)
f(x) − f(c) f(c − h) − f(c)
Here lim− = lim is called the left hand derivative of f(x) at x = c and
x →c (x − c) h → 0 ( −h)
is denoted by f’ (c − ) or LF’(c).
f(x) − f(c) f(c + h) − f(c)
While, lim+ = lim is called the right hand derivative of f(x) at x = c
x →c (x − c) h →0 (h)
and is denoted by f’ (c + ) or Rf’ (c).
Thus f (x) is differentiable at x = c  Lf’(c) = Rf’ (c)
If Lf’ (c)  Rf’(c) we say that f (x) is not differentiable at x = c.

Differentiability in An Interval:
In Open Interval:
A function f(x) defined on an open interval (a, b) is said to be differentiable or derivable in
open interval (a, b) if it is differentiable at each point of (a, b).

In Close Interval:
A function f(x) defined on [a, b] is said to be differentiable or derivable at the end points a
and b if it is differentiable from the right at a and from the left at b. In other words
f(x) − f(a) f(x) − f(b)
lim+ and lim+ both exist.
x →a x−a x →b x −b
“If f is derivable in the open interval (a, b) and also at the end points a and b, then f is said to
be derivable in the closed interval [a, b]”.

Remark:
If f(x) is derivable for every point of its domain of definition, then it is continuous in that
domain.The converse of the above result is not true.
“IF f IS CONTINUOUS AT x, THEN f IS DERIVABLE AT x” IS NOT TRUE.”
In short, for a function f;
Differentiable  Continuous ;
Not differentiable  Not Continuous
But Not Continuous  Not Differentiable

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QUESTION BANK
1. The set of points where the function f(x) =|x + 2|is differentiable is_________.
2. The function f(x) = [x] is not continuous for _________.
3. The function f(x) = |cos x | is continuous for _________.
1
4. The set of points where the function f(x) = log | x | is continuous is_________.
4 − 𝑥2
5. The function f(x) = is discontinuous at_________.
4x − 𝑥3
1
6. The set of points where the function f(x) =x – [x ] is not continuous is_________.
7. The set of points where the function f(x) =|x - 3|cosx is differentiable is_________.
 2 , 0  x 1
8. If f (x ) =  is continuous at x = 1, then find the value of c.
c − 2 x , 1  x  2
2 x + 3 sin x
9. If f(x) = , x  0 is continuous at x = 0, then find f(0).
3 x + 2 sin x
𝑘𝑥
when x < 0
10. If the function f(x) = {| x | is given to be continuous at x = 0, then find
k when x ≥ 0
the value of k.
𝑥2 − 1
11. If the function f(x) = { x − 1 when x ≠ 1 is given to be continuous at x = 1, then
k when x = 1
find the value of k.
1 − sin x 
, x  / 2
12. If f(x) =   - 2 x is continuous at x= , then find the value of k.
 k , x = / 2 2
ax + 1 when x ≤ 3
13. If the function f(x) = { is given to be continuous at x = 3, then
bx + 3 when x > 3
find the relationship between a and b.
 x2 − x - 6
 , if x  3
14. A function f(x) is defined as, f(x) =  x - 3
 5 , if x = 3
Show that f(x) is continuous at x = 3.
ax + 1 when x ≥ 1
15. If the function f(x) = { is given to be continuous at x = 1, then
x + 2 when x < 1
find the value of a.

1 − cos x
 , when x  0
16. Let f(x) =  x 2
 1 , when x = 0
Show that f(x) is discontinuous at x = 0.

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 sin 3 x
 tan 2 x , if x  0
 3
17. Show that f(x) =  , if x = 0 is continuous at x = 0.
 2
 log(1 + 3 x ) , if x  0
 e 2 x - 1
18. Find the value of k if f(x) is continuous at x = /2,where
 k cos x
, x  / 2
f(x) =   - 2 x'
 3 , x = / 2
(𝑥+3)2 − 36
19. If the function f(x) = { when x ≠ 3 is given to be continuous at x = 3,
x−3
k when x = 3
then find the value of k.
 1 + px − 1 − px
 , -1  x  0
20. If f(x)=  x is continuous in [-1, 1], then find p.
 2 x +1
, 0  x 1
 x-2
xf (2 ) - 2 f ( x )
21. Let f (2)= 4 and f’ (2) = 4, then evaluate lim .
x→ 2 x-2
22. Find the values of a and b so that the function f(x) =
π
x + a√2 sin x, 0≤x<4
π π
2x cot x + b, 4
≤x≤2 is continuous for 0 ≤ x ≤ π.
π
{acos 2x − b sin x, 2
<x<π
1− cos 4x
x<0
x2
23. Find the values of a so that the function f(x) = a, x=0 is continuous
√x
x>0
{√16 + √x −4
at x = 0.
1− sin3 x π
3 cos2 x
x<2
π
24. Find the values of p and q so that the function f(x) = p, x=2 is
q(1 − sin x) π
π 2 x>2
{ (2 −2x)
π
continuous at x = 2 .

25. The function f(x) is defined as follows :

 x 2 + ax + b , 0 x2

f(x)=  3 x + 2 , 2 x  4
 2ax + 5b , 4 x8


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If f is continuous on [0, 8], find the values of a and b.

26. Determine the value of a, b, c for which the function
 sin(a + 1)x + sin x
 , for x  0
 x
f(x) =  c , for x = 0 is continuous at x = 0.
 x + bx 2 − x
 , for x  0
 bx 3/2
27. Show that the function defined by f(x) = [x] is continuous everywhere except at all
integral points. Here [x] denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to x.
28. Show that the function f(x) = |x - 1|+ |x + 1|, for all x  R is not differentiable at the
points x = -1 and x = 1.
2
29. For what choice of a and b, is the function f(x) = { 𝑥 when x ≤ c differentiable at
ax + b when x > 𝑐
x = c.
ax 2 - b , if x  1

30. If f(x) =  1 is differentiable at x = 1, find a and b.
 x , if x  1


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