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Continuity

This document discusses continuity and discontinuity of functions. It defines continuity as a function being continuous everywhere with no breaks or jumps in the graph. Discontinuities occur where the function is not continuous and can be either removable, where defining the point makes the function continuous, or non-removable, where there is a break in the graph. The document provides examples of determining continuity of polynomial, rational, and piecewise functions and identifying the type of discontinuities.

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Alona Nay Agcaoili
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67 views

Continuity

This document discusses continuity and discontinuity of functions. It defines continuity as a function being continuous everywhere with no breaks or jumps in the graph. Discontinuities occur where the function is not continuous and can be either removable, where defining the point makes the function continuous, or non-removable, where there is a break in the graph. The document provides examples of determining continuity of polynomial, rational, and piecewise functions and identifying the type of discontinuities.

Uploaded by

Alona Nay Agcaoili
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Continuity

TS: Making decisions after


reflection and review
Objectives
 To find the intervals on which a function is
continuous.
 To find any discontinuities of a function.
 To determine whether discontinuities are
removable or non-removable.
Video Clip from
Calculus-Help.com
Continuity
What makes a function continuous?
 Continuous functions are predictable…

1) No breaks in the graph


A limit must exist at every x-value or the
graph will break.

2) No holes or jumps
The function cannot have undefined
points or vertical asymptotes.
Continuity
 Key Point:
Continuous functions
can be drawn with a
single, unbroken
pencil stroke.
Continuity
 Mathematically speaking…
If f (x) is continuous, then for every x = c
in the function, lim f ( x)  f (c)
x c

 In other words, if you can evaluate any


limit on the function using only the
substitution method, then the function is
continuous.
Continuity of Polynomial and
Rational Functions
 A polynomial function is continuous at
every real number.

 A rational function is continuous at every


real number in its domain.
Polynomial Functions
3 2
f ( x)  x  x f ( x)  x  2 x  3

 Both functions are continuous on (, ) .


Rational Functions
1 x2  1
f ( x)  f ( x) 
x x 1

continuous on: continuous on:


(, 0)  (0, ) (, 1)  (1, )
Rational Functions
1 1
f ( x)  2 f ( x)  2
x 1 x 1

continuous on: continuous on:


(, ) (,  1)  (1, 1)  (1, )
Piecewise Functions
 x 2  4, x  2
f ( x)  
 x  2, x  2

22  4  4  4  0

2  2  0
continuous on
(, )
Discontinuity
 Discontinuity: a point
at which a function is
not continuous
Discontinuity
 Two Types of Discontinuities
1) Removable (hole in the graph)
2) Non-removable (break or vertical
asymptote)

 A discontinuity is called removable if a


function can be made continuous by
defining (or redefining) a point.
Two Types of Discontinuities
Discontinuity
 Find the intervals on which these function are
continuous.
x2 Point of discontinuity:
f ( x)  2
x  3x  10 x20 Removable
discontinuity
x2 x  2

( x  2)( x  5) Vertical Asymptote:

1 x5  0 Non-removable
 x5 discontinuity
( x  5)
Discontinuity

x2
f ( x)  2
x  3x  10

Continuous on: (,  2)  (2, 5)  (5, )


Discontinuity

2 x, x  2
f ( x)   2
 x  4 x  1, x  2

lim ( 2 x)  4
x2

lim ( x 2  4 x  1) 3
x 2

Continuous on:
f (2)  4
(, 2]  (2, )
Discontinuity
 Determine the value(s) of x at which the
function is discontinuous. Describe the
discontinuity as removable or non-removable.
x2  1 2
x  10 x  9
(A) f ( x)  2 (B)
f ( x) 
x  5x  6 x 2  81

2 2
x  4x  5 x 4
(C) f ( x)  2
(D) f ( x)  2
x  25 x  2x  8
Discontinuity
2
x 1
(A) f ( x)  2
x  5x  6
( x  1)( x  1)

( x  6)( x  1)

x  1 Removable discontinuity

x6 Non-removable discontinuity


Discontinuity
2
x  10 x  9
(B) f ( x) 
x 2  81
( x  9)( x  1)

( x  9)( x  9)

x  9 Removable discontinuity

x9 Non-removable discontinuity


Discontinuity
2
x  4x  5
(C) f ( x)  2
x  25
( x  5)( x  1)

( x  5)( x  5)

x5 Removable discontinuity

x  5 Non-removable discontinuity
Discontinuity
x2  4
(D)
f ( x)  2
x  2x  8
( x  2)( x  2)

( x  4)( x  2)
x  2 Removable discontinuity

x4 Non-removable discontinuity


Conclusion
 Continuous functions have no breaks, no
holes, and no jumps.

 If you can evaluate any limit on the


function using only the substitution
method, then the function is continuous.
Conclusion
 A discontinuity is a point at which a
function is not continuous.
 Two types of discontinuities
 Removable (hole in the graph)
 Non-removable (break or vertical
asymptote)

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