Continuity of a Function

In mathematics, the term continuity has much the same meaning as it has in everyday usage. Informally, to say
that a function f is continuous at x = a means that there is no interruption in the graph of f at a. That is, its graph is
unbroken at a and there are no holes, jumps, or gaps.


| x
a

Def. of Continuity of a Function at a Number

A function f is said to be continuous at a if and only if the following three conditions are satisfied:

i. f (a) exists lim f ( x) exists

ii. x iii. xlim f ( x)  f (a )
a a

If any of these three conditions fails to hold at x = a, the function is said to be discontinuous at a.

Functions Discontinuous at x = a

y y

_ _
 


| x | x
a a

y y
y


x x

x
|
x=a x=a x=a

y y

_ _
 

a
a
| x | x

1
 y y
_ _
 
| x | x
a a

Def. of One-Sided Continuity of a Function

Let f be a function and let a, L  IR .
1. Right-Hand Continuity of f at a
f is said to be continuous from the right (right-hand continuous) at a if and only if xlim f ( x)  f (a)  L .
a 

y y
_ _
 
| x | x
a a

f is right-hand continuous at a f is right-hand discontinuous at a

2. Right-Hand Continuity of f at a
f is said to be continuous from the left (left-hand continuous) at a if and only if xlim f ( x)  f (a )  L .
a 

y y

_  _

| x | x
a a

f is left-hand continuous at a f is left-hand discontinuous at a

Types of Discontinuity of a Function

1. Missing-Point Discontinuity
A function f is said
y to have a missing-point discontinuity at x = a if
f (a ) does not exist but lim f ( x) exists,
xa
lim f ( x ) both exist but f (a )  lim f ( x) .
or f (a ) and x a x a
y

_ _
 


| x | x
a a

f (a ) does not exist, lim f ( x ) exists f (a ) and lim f ( x ) exist, f ( a )  lim f ( x)

xa xa xa

2
 2. Infinite Discontinuity
A function f is said to have an infinite discontinuity at x = a if f (x) increases numerically without bound as x
approaches a, that is, lim | f ( x) |   .
x a

y y
y


x x

x
|
x=a x=a x=a

f (a ) is undefined, lim f ( x )   f (a ) exists, lim f ( x)   f (a ) is undefined,

xa xa

lim f ( x)   lim f ( x )  
, xa 
x a 

3. Finite Jump Discontinuity

A function f is said to have a jump (finite jump) discontinuity if xlim
a 
f ( x) and lim f ( x) both exist but
xa
lim f ( x)  lim f ( x) .
xa  xa
y y

_ _
 
_  _

| x | x
a a

f (a ) exists, lim f ( x)  lim f ( x) f (a ) does not exist, lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)

x a  x a x a  x a
A discontinuity of f at a that can be made continuous by appropriately defining (or redefining) f (a) is called a
removable discontinuity otherwise it is an essential (or nonremovable) discontinuity. A missing-point discontinuity
is removable while infinite and jump discontinuities are essential.

Continuity on an Interval
Let f be a function defined on a closed interval [a, b]. Then f is said to be
i. continuous on an open interval (a, b) if and only if it is continuous at every number c  (a, b), that is,
lim f ( x)  f (c)  L  IR .
x c
ii. continuous on a closed interval [ a, b ] if and only if it is continuous on (a, b), as well as right-hand
continuous at a and left-hand continuous at b.
Theorems: Let f and g be functions and b  IR .
1. Limit of a Composite Function
If lim f ( x)  b and if f is continuous at b, lim ( f  g )( x)  f (b)  lim f ( g ( x))  f  lim f ( g ( x)  .
 
xa x c x c  x a 
2. Continuity of a Composite Function
If g is continuous at a and f is continuous at g(a), then f  g is continuous at a.
The following functions are continuous at every number in its domains:
1. polynomial function 5. exponential function
2. rational function 6. logarithmic function
3
 3. trigonometric functions sines and cosines
4. root function f ( x)  n x if n is a positive odd integer but if n is a positive even integer it is
continuous at every positive number only.
EXAMPLES ON CONTINUITY/DISCONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS

A. Sketch the graph of each of the following functions & determine the number at which the function is
discontinuous and show which of the 3 conditions are not satisfied. State the type of discontinuity.

 x2  x  6
 , x  3
x2  x  6 g ( x)   x 3
1. f ( x)  2. 
 1 , x  3
x3
 5
 , x  4
5 f ( x)   x  4
3. h( x )  4. 
 1 , x  4
x4
  1 , x  0


5. 6.
f ( x)   0 , x  0

 x , x  0

 x 2
 4 , x  2

g ( x)   4 , x  2
 4  x 2
, x  2



 1  x

 2  x
, x  2
 2   x
7. 8. f ( x )  x0
H ( x) , x 2
2 x  1
 , x  2 ,
x

B. The following functions are discontinuous at c but can be made continuous at c by redefining f. Does the
discontinuity appear to be removable? If so, how should f be redefined to remove it? Confirm analytically.
x2  4
1. f ( x)  , c2
x2

x 9
2. f ( x)  , c9
x 3

3
x 2
3. f ( x)  , c8
x 8

x3
4. f ( x)  , c  3
3 x

x3
5. f ( x)  , c3
3 x

C. Determine the no./nos. at which f is discontinuous?

x2
f ( x )  x 2  x  3 5. G ( x ) 
2
1.
x  2x  8
2

4
 x
f ( x)  3 x  1 , x  2
2. 6. f ( x)  
4  x
2
x  2
,x  2

x 3
,

 1
x 1  x 1 , x 1
3. f ( x)  7.

f ( x)  
 1
', x  1
2x  5 3  x

, x 1

x3  7
4. F ( x) 
x2  4
3 x  7 , x  4
D. Find k that make f continuous everywhere given: f ( x)  
kx  1 , x  4

E. Given the figures below, find the pt/s of discontinuity and state whether removable or essential.