Class – 12

Continuity and Differentiability

Continuity

A function is continuous when its graph is a single unbroken curve ...

... that you could draw without lifting your pen from the paper.
That is not a formal definition, but it helps you understand the idea.

Here is a continuous function:

Examples
So what is not
continuous (also
called discontinuou
s)?
Look out for holes,
jumps or vertical
asymptotes (where Not Continuous Not Continuous Not Continuous
the function heads
(vertical
up/down towards (hole) (jump)
asymptote)
infinity).
Example: 1/(x-1)

At x=1 we have: 1/(1-1) = 1/0 = undefined

So there is a "discontinuity" at x=1

So f(x) = 1/(x-1) over all Real Numbers

is NOT continuous

Let's change the domain to x>1

So g(x) is continuous

In other words g(x) does not include

the value x=1, so it is continuous.
When a function is continuous within its
Domain, it is a continuous function.

A function f is continuous when, for every value c is in its Domain:

f(c) is defined and lim f ( x )=f (c ) i.e. "the limit of f(x) as x approaches c equals
x →c
f(c)"
The limit says:
"as x gets closer and closer to c
then f(x) gets closer and closer to f(c)"
And we have to check from both directions:

LHL RHL
as x approaches c (from as x approaches c (from
left) then f(x) approaches right)
f(c) then f(x) approaches f(c)
lim ¿ lim ¿
−¿
x→ c f (x)¿ +¿
x→ c f (x)¿

Example: Discuss the

continuity of the
function f given by
f(x) = | x | at x = 0.
Sol.

lim ¿
LHL: −¿
x→ 0 f ( x ) = lim
−¿
x→0 (−x )=0¿
¿¿

lim ¿
RHL: +¿
x→ 0 f ( x ) = lim
+¿
¿¿
x→0 (x )=0 ¿

Clearly, f ( 0 )=0 . Thus, LHL = RHL = f ( 0 )

Hence, f is continuous at x=0 .

Algebra of continuous functions:

Suppose f and g be two real functions
continuous at a real number c. Then
1. f +g is continuous at x=c .
2. f −g is continuous at x=c .
3. f . g is continuous at x=c .
f
4. is continuous at x=c .
g
5. kf is continuous at x=c .
 If f and g be real functions such that fog is
defined. If g is continuous at x=c and f is
continuous at g(c), then fog is continuous
at x=c .
 Working rule for checking continuity of a function:
In calculus, a function is continuous at x = a if - and only if - all three of the
following conditions are met:
1. The function is defined at x=a ; that is, f (a) equals a real number.
lim ¿
2. The limit of the function as x approaches a exists i.e. −¿
x→ a f ( x )= lim+¿
¿¿
x→a f ( x )¿

3. The limit of the function as x approaches a is equal to the function value at x=a
lim ¿
i.e. lim f ( x )=f (a) OR
x →a
−¿
x→ a f ( x )= lim
+¿
¿¿ ¿
x→a f ( x )=f (a)

IMPORTANT POINTS:
1. A real valued function f (x) is continuous at a point x=c , in its domain iff

lim f ( x )=f (c ) OR lim ¿

−¿
x →c x→ c f ( x ) = lim
+¿
¿ ¿¿
x →c f ( x )=f ( c)

2. Composition of two continuous functions is a continuous function.

3. A function is said to be continuous in an open interval if it is continuous at every
point of the given open interval say (a, b).
4. A function is said to be continuous in a closed interval [a, b] if it is continuous at
every point of the open interval (a, b), also it is continuous at a from right and at b
from left.
5. A function is said to be continuous if it is continuous at each point of its domain.
6. A functions is said to be continuous everywhere if it is continuous at every real
number.
7. Functions which are continuous everywhere: (i) A constant function (ii) An identity
function (iii) A polynomial function (iv) A modulus function (v) An exponential
function (vi) sine and cosine function
8. Functions which are continuous in their domains: (i) A logarithmic function
(ii) a rational function (iii) A tangent, cotangent, secant and cosecant function
(iv) An inverse trigonometric function.

Differentiability:
Differentiability of a function means that the derivative of the given function exists at
every point of the function’s domain.
Definition: If f (x) is a real function defined on (a ,b) and c ∈ ( a , b ) , then, f (x) is said to be
f ( x )−f (c )
differentiable at x=c , iff lim exists finitely.
¿ x →c x −c
In other words, a function is said to be differentiable at x=c in its domain if
lim ¿
−¿
¿ x →c
f ( x )− f (c)
x−c
= lim ¿¿ and exists.
+¿ f ( x )−f ( c)
¿ x→c ¿
x−c

If LHD ≠ RHD , then, the function is not differentiable at the given point in its domain.

Geometrical meaning of differentiability at a point:

A function f ( x ) is said to be continuous at a point Y y=f (x )
x=a if there is no hole or jump or discontinuity in
the graph of the function f (x) in the neighbourhood ¿) R
of point x=a .
Then what does the differentiability of a function
f (x) at a point x=c mean? Let us understand this
through geometrical point of view.
Consider a function f (x) defined in (a ,b) . P
Let P(c , f ( c ) ) be a point on the curve y=f (x ) (c , f ( c ) )

Also Q(c−h , f ( c−h )) and R(c+ h , f ( c+ h ) ) Q

be two neighbouring points on left and right ¿)
hand sides respectively of point P.
X’ X
O
Y’
f ( c−h )−f (c ) f ( c+h )−f (c )
Slope of PQ= and slope PR=
( c−h ) −c ( c +h )−c
Tangent to a curve at a point P is the limiting position of chord PQ when Q tends to P.
Thus, as h → 0 both points Q and R tends to point P from left and right hand side
respectively.
Consequently, chords PQ and PR becomes tangent to the curve at point P.
Thus, f (x) is differentiable at x=c
⟺ slope of tangent at P(limiting position of chord drawn from left hand side)
= slope of tangent at P(limiting position of chord drawn from left
hand side)
f ( c−h ) −f (c) f ( c+ h )−f (c )
i.e. lim =lim
h→ 0 ( c−h )−c h→ 0 ( c +h )−c
Therefore, f (x) is differentiable at point P, iff
Those
there functions
exists are not
a unique tangent at point P.
differentiable at a point, at
which its graph
1. has vertical tangent
2. is not continuous
3. has sharp turn
For e.g. In the graph on right the functions is not
differentiable at
(i) x = - 3  discontinuous (vertical asymptote)
(ii) x = 1  discontinuous (jump)
(iii) x = 3  sharp turn

Checking differentiability of f ( x )=| x| algebraically:

f ( x )= {¿−xx , x, ≥0x <0 It is a continuous at x = 0
lim ¿
LHD: x→ 0
−¿ f ( x ) −f (0)
=lim
−x−0
=−1 ¿
x−0 x→0 x

lim ¿
RHD: x→ 0
+¿ f ( x ) −f (0 )
=lim
x−0
=1 ¿
x−0 x→ 0 x

Thus, LHD ≠ RHD ⟹ f (x ) is not differentiable at x = 0.

So, A functions which is continuous is not always differentiable.

But a function which is differentiable is always continuous. Here
is the proof:
f ( x ) −f ( c)
Let f (x) be differentiable at x=c . Then, lim =f ' (c )
x →c x−c
f ( x )−f ( c )
But for x ≠ c , we have f ( x )−f ( c )= .(x−c )
x−c
f ( x )−f ( c )
Therefore, lim [f ( x )−f ( c ) ]=lim .( x−c)
x →c x →c x−c
f ( x )−f ( c )
Or lim f (x )−lim f ( c )=lim . lim (x −c)
x →c x →c x→c x−c x→c

Or lim f (x )−f (c )=f ' (c ). lim (x−c )

x →c x→ c

'
Or lim f (x )−f ( c )=f ( c ) . ( 0 )=0 Or lim f (x )=f ( c )
x →c x →c
Hence, f ( x ) is continuous at x=c .
Note: A function which is not differentiable at one point can be
differentiable in some other interval excluding that point of non-
differentiability.
For e.g. f ( x )=| x| is not differentiable at x=0 , but it is differentiable in the
interval ( 0 , ∞ ) .
 LOGARITHMIC RULES

Second Order Derivative:

Let y=f (x ) be a differentiable function, then

( )
2
dy ' ( x )∧d y d dy
=f = =f ' ' (x)→ second order derivative
dx d x2 dx dx
dy
dy dt g ' (t)
Let x=f ( t )∧ y=g ( t ) , then = =
dx dx f ' (t) (Parametric)
dt

( )
2
d y d dy dt
And 2
= ×
d x dt dx dx

Geometrical interpretation of Rolle’s

Theorem:
In the following graphs, it is clearly visible that
(i) Each graph is continuous in [a, b].
(ii) It is possible to draw a unique tangent at each point of the
 Algebraic interpretation of Rolle’s
Theorem:
Algebraically, this theorem tells us that if f (x) is
representing a polynomial function in x and the two roots of
the equation f(x) = 0 are x =a and x = b, then there exists
Note: On Rolle’s Theorem generally two types of problems are
formulated.
1. To check the applicability of Rolle’s Theorem to a given function on
given interval,
2. To verify Rolle’s Theorem on a given interval.
In both the cases, we first check whether f (x) satisfies conditions of Rolle’s
Theorem or not. Following results are helpful for this purpose:
 A polynomial function is everywhere continuous and differentiable.
 The exponential function, sine and cosine functions are everywhere
continuous and differentiable.
 Logarithmic function is continuous and differentiable in its domain.
( 2n+ 1 ) π
 tanx is not continuous at , where n ∈ Z .
2
 |x|is continuous but not differentiable at x=0 .
 If f ( x ) →± ∞ when x → a , then f (x) is not differentiable at x=a .
 The sum, difference, product and quotient of
continuous/differentiable functions is continuous/differentiable.
Differentiability of a function is taken
in open intervals (a, b) even if the
Geometrical interpretation of
LMVT
Let y=f ( x ) be a function defined on [a, b] as
PQ f ( b )−f (a)
shown in the graph. Then, tanθ= =
QR b−a
f ( b )−f (a)
By LMVT, f ' ( c )=
b−a
'
∴ tanθ=f ( c )
⟹ slope of chord PR=slope of tangent at(c , f ( c ) )

Let y=f (x ) be a function defined on [a, b], such that it is

continuous curve between the points R ( a , f ( a ) )∧P (b , f ( b ))
and at every point except the end points, it is possible to