Continuity

Condition 1 : If 𝑓(𝑥) is to be continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎 then 𝑥 2 −9

(5) The function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−3 is undefined at 𝑥 = 3.
𝑓(𝑎) must be defined.
What must be assigned to 𝑓(3) , if 𝑓(𝑥) is to be
continuous at 𝑥 = 3.
Condition 2 : If 𝑓(𝑥) is to be continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎 then
a) 0 b) 3 c) 6 d) 8
lim 𝑓(𝑥) must exist.
𝑥→𝑎
(6). Test continuity of the following functions at the
Condition 3 : If 𝑓(𝑥) is to be continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎 then points indicated against them
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑎) 𝑥 3 −27
𝑥→𝑎 (iv) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 −9
for 0 ≤𝑥<3
9
Properties of Continuous Functions: = for 3 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 6. at 𝑥 = 3.
2
If the functions f and g are continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎, then, a) discontinuous b) Not Defined
1. their sum (𝑓 + 𝑔) is continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎. c) continuous d) None
2. their difference (𝑓 − 𝑔) is continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎.
1
3. constant multiplies that is k. 𝑓 for any 𝑘 ∈ 𝑅 is 3𝑥+2 𝑥
continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎. Ex. 7) If 𝑓(𝑥) = ( ) for 𝑥 ≠ 0, is continuous at
2−5𝑥
4. their product that is (𝑓. 𝑔) is continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎. 𝑥 = 0 then find 𝑓(0).
5. their quotient that is
𝑓
where 𝑔(𝑎) ≠ 0 is a) 𝑒 4 b) 𝑒 2 c) 𝑒 0 d) None
𝑔
continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎. Ex. 8) If 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous at 𝑥 = 0 Find f(0)
6. their composite function 𝑓[𝑔(𝑥)], that is 𝑓𝑜𝑔(𝑥) is 20𝑥 −4𝑥 −5𝑥 +1
𝑓(𝑥) = ,𝑥≠0
continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎. 𝑥2
a) log 5. log 2 b) log 2. 𝑙𝑜𝑔. 3
Continuity in the Domain of the Function : c) log 1 . log 3 d) log 4 . log 5
A real valued function 𝑓 ∶ 𝐷 → 𝑅 is said to be
continuous if it is continuous at every point in the Ex. 9) Test whether the function 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous at
domain D of ‘𝑓 ′ . 𝑥 = −4, where
𝑥 2 +16𝑥+48
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+4
for 𝑥 ≠ −4
Solved Examples =8 for 𝑥 = −4.
(I) a) continuous b) Discontinuous
1. Examine the continuity of c) Undefined d) None
(i) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 2 𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = −2
a) Discontinues Ex. 10) Determine whether the function 𝑓 is
b) Not defined discontinuous for any real numbers in its domain.
c) Continuous 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 1, for 𝑥 < 2
d) All of these = 7, for 2 ≤ 𝑥 < 4
= 𝑥2 − 8 for 𝑥 ≥ 4
𝑥 2 −9
(2) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−3 on R.
a) Continuous on R except x = 2 Ex. 11) Determine whether the function 𝑓 is
b) Continuous on R except x = 1 discontinuous for any real numbers in its domain.
c) Continuous on R except x = 3 1 1
d) None of these 2 − x 0 x
2

3 1
(3) Find the points of discontinuity of the function. f ( x) =  − x  x 1
𝑥 2 +2𝑥+5 2 2
𝑓(𝑥) = 1 1
𝑥 2 −3𝑥+2
a) 1 b) -1& 3 2 x=
 2
c) 2 d) 1 & 2
Ex. 12) Determine whether the function 𝑓 is
(4) 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥| at 𝑥 = 0 is
discontinuous for any real numbers in its domain.
a) continuous b) Discontinuous
c) Undefined d) None
  x, 0  x 1 1
a) 𝑎 = 2 & 𝑏 = 2
2 1
b) 𝑎 = 3 & 𝑏 = 2
3
g ( x) = 
 2 − x, x  1
0 0
c) 𝑎 = 2 & 𝑏 = 2 d) None

(II) Find K if following functions are continuous at the (4) For what values of a & b is function
points indicated against them. 𝑥2 − 4
𝑓(𝑥) = for 𝑥 < 2
𝑥−2
2
3 = 𝑎𝑥 − 𝑏𝑥 + 3 for 2 ≤ 𝑥 < 3
5𝑥−8 2𝑥−4
(1) 𝑓(𝑥) = (8−3𝑥) for 𝑥 ≠ 2 = 2𝑥 − 𝑎 + 𝑏 for 𝑥 ≥ 3
= K, for 𝑥 = 2 at 𝑥 = 2. continuous is the domain.
3 3
a) 𝑒 5
b) 𝑒 6 a) a = 1 & b = 1 b) 𝑎 = 2 & 𝑏 = 2
c) 𝑒 3 d) None of these c) a = −1, b = 1⁄2
1 1
d) 𝑎 = 2 & 𝑏 = 2
45𝑥 −9𝑥 −5𝑥 +1
(2) 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑘 𝑥 for 𝑥 ≠0 (5) For what values of a and b is the function
−1) (3𝑥 −1)
2
= 3, for 𝑥 = 0, at 𝑥 = 0. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 + 2𝑏 + 18 for 𝑥 ≤ 0
= 𝑥 2 + 3𝑎 − 𝑏 for 0 < 𝑥 ≤ 2
a) 100 b) 105 c) 125 d) 150
= 8𝑥 − 2 for 𝑥 > 2, continuous for every 𝑥.
24𝑥 −8𝑥 −3𝑥 +1
a) a = 2, b = -1 b) a = 2, b = -4
(3) 𝑓(𝑥) = 12𝑥−4𝑥 −3𝑥 +1 for 𝑥 ≠ 0 c) a = 0, b = -0 d) None of these
= 𝑘, for 𝑥 = 0, at 𝑥 = 0.
3 2 1
a) b) 1 c) d)
2 2 1

1
(4) 𝑓(𝑥) = (1 + 𝑘𝑥)𝑥 , for 𝑥 ≠ 0
3
= 𝑒 2, for 𝑥 = 0, at 𝑥 = 0.
1 5 3
a) 2 b) 1
c) 2 d) 0

5𝑥 +5−𝑥 −2
(5) If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2
𝑥≠0
=k, for x = 0, at x = 0
2
a) (log 5) b) (log 3)1
c) (log 2)0 d) None of these

(III) Find a and b if following functions are continuous

at the point indicated against them

(1) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 𝑎, for 𝑥 ≥ 0,

= 2 √𝑥 2 + 1 + 𝑏, for 𝑥 < 0
and 𝑓(1) = 2 is continuous at 𝑥 = 0.
a) a = 0 & b = -1 b) a = 2 & b = 0
c) a = +1 & b = +0 d) a = 1 & b = - 1

𝑥 2 −9
(2) 𝑓(𝑥) = + 𝑎, for 𝑥 > 3
𝑥−3
= 5, 𝑥=3
= 2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 𝑏, for 𝑥 < 3
is continuous at 𝑥 = 3.
a) a = 1 & b = -22 b) a = 2 & b = 19
c) a = 0 & b = +22 d) a = -1 and b = -22

32𝑥 −1
(3) 𝑓(𝑥) = 8𝑥 −1 + 𝑎, for 𝑥 > 0
= 2, for 𝑥 = 0
= 𝑥 + 5 − 2𝑏, for 𝑥 < 0
is continuous at 𝑥 = 0.
 Continuity Answer key

Solved Example
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
C C D A C C A D A

Part – II- Find K

1 2 3 4 5
B C A C A
Part -III- Find a & b
1 2 3 4 5
D D B D B