Basics of Calculus
Continuity
𝟐𝒏𝒅 Session
2021-2022
Mr. Mohammed Mounir
Continuity & Discontinuity
Definition of Continuity
Jump Discontinuities Infinite Discontinuities Endpoint Discontinuities Removable Discontinuities Continuous Function
Essential discontinuity
Definition of Continuity at a Point
A function, f(x), is continuous at x=a as long as
1- f(a) is defined
2-lim f(x) exists.
𝑥→𝑎
3- the two values are equal.
Continuity Over an Open Interval
Consider the function shown in the graph below.
Since the function is continuous at every point in between a and b we say that f(x) is
continuous over the open interval (a,b).
Some continuous functions:
• Polynomial function is continuous on or on its domain.
• Rational function is continuous on except denominator zeros set
• Sine and cosine function is continuous on .
𝜋
*tangent function f(x) = tan x is continuous on { x : x = + n𝜋 , n ∈ Z }
2
Continuous Functions
If f and g are continuous at x = a, then
f g , fg , and f
g ( g (a ) 0 ) are continuous
at x = a
One-sided Continuity
We can define one-sided continuity using one-sided limits:
Left-Hand Continuity: f(x) is left-hand continuous at x=a if
lim− f(x) = f(a)
𝑥→𝑎
Right-Hand Continuity: f(x) is right-hand continuous at x=a if
lim+ f(x) = f(a)
𝑥→𝑎
One-sided continuity is important when we want to discuss
continuity on a closed interval.
Removable Discontinuities can be Fixed
Removable discontinuities can be fixed by redefining the function, as shown in
the following example.
Solution
The graph of the function is shown below for reference.
In order to fix the discontinuity, we need to know the
y-value of the hole in the graph. To determine this,
we find the value of lim x→2 f(x).
We can use the intermediate limits to solve the
problem
The limit value is also the y-value of the hole in the
graph. Now we can redefine the original function in a
piecewise form:
Intermediate Value Theorem
If f is a continuous function on a closed interval [a, b] and L is any
number between f (a) and f (b),
then there is at least one number c in [a, b] such that f(c) = L.
y = f ( x)
f (b)
f (c) = L
f (a)
a c b
Example
Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 5,
Show that 𝑓(𝑥) = 0 has a solution on 1,2 .
Solution
𝑓(1) = −4 < 0
𝑓(2) = 3 > 0
f (x) is continuous (polynomial) and since f (1) < 0 and f (2) > 0, by the Intermediate Value
Theorem there exists a c on [1, 2] such that f (c) = 0.
Thanks for listening
WHOA!
Prepare yourself for the upcoming quiz !