Scribd
Upload
25 views32 pages

Lecture # 12 (Continuous Functions) SE

Uploaded by

muhammadshuja2004
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
25 views32 pages

Lecture # 12 (Continuous Functions) SE

Uploaded by

muhammadshuja2004
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 32

Calculus &

Analytical
Geometry
(MATH- 101)
Instructor: Dr. Naila Amir ([email protected])
Continuity

▪ Book: Thomas Calculus (14th Edition) by George B. Thomas, Maurice D. Weir, Joel R. Hass, Frank R. Giordano
▪ Chapter: 2 (2.5)
Continuity Test
Example
𝑥 + 1; 𝑥 < 2
Is the function𝑓(𝑥) = ቊ continuous at 𝑥 = 2?
2𝑥−1; 𝑥 > 2
Solution:

Since 𝑓(2) is not defined therefore the given function is not


continuous at 𝑥 = 2.
Example
𝑥+1 𝑥 <2
Is the function 𝑓(𝑥) = ቐ 𝑥 2 𝑥 = 2 continuous at 𝑥 = 2?
2𝑥 − 1 𝑥 > 2
Solution:
1)𝑓(2) = 4.
2) lim− 𝑓 (𝑥) = 3, lim+ 𝑓 (𝑥) = 3,
𝑥→2 𝑥→2
∴ lim 𝑓 𝑥 exists and lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 3.
𝑥→2 𝑥→2
3) lim 𝑓 (𝑥) ≠ 𝑓(2).
𝑥→2

Since third condition fails to exist so we conclude that 𝑓(𝑥) is not continuous (or
discontinuous) at 𝑥 = 2.
Discontinuity
Following figure identifies three values of 𝑥 at which the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) is not continuous. At
all other points in the interval (𝑎, 𝑏), the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) is uninterrupted and continuous.
Discontinuity
In previous figure, it appears that continuity at 𝑥 = 𝑐 can be destroyed by
any one of the following conditions.

1. The function is not defined at 𝑥 = 𝑐.


2. The limit of f(x) does not exist at 𝑥 = 𝑐.
3. The limit of 𝑓(𝑥) exists at 𝑥 = 𝑐, but it is not equal to 𝑓(𝑐).

If none of the three conditions above is true, the function 𝑓(𝑥) is called
continuous at 𝒄.
Types of Discontinuities
▪ Consider an open interval 𝐼 that contains a real number 𝑐.

▪ If a function 𝑓(𝑥) is defined on 𝐼 (except possibly at 𝑐), and 𝑓(𝑥) is not


continuous at 𝑐, then f is said to have a discontinuity at 𝑐.

▪ Discontinuities fall into two categories: removable and nonremovable.

▪ A discontinuity at 𝑐 is called removable if 𝑓(𝑥) can be made continuous by


appropriately defining (or redefining 𝑓(𝑐)).
Types of Discontinuities
For instance, the functions shown in figures (a) and (c) have removable discontinuities at 𝑐
and the function shown in (b) has a non-removable discontinuity at 𝑐.
Removable Discontinuities:

(We can fill the hole.)

Nonremovable Discontinuities:

jump Infinite (Essential) oscillating


Types of Discontinuities
Examples
Places to test for continuity
▪ Rational Expression
• Values that make denominator = 0
▪ Piecewise Functions
• Changes in interval
▪ Absolute Value Functions
• Use piecewise definition and test changes in interval
▪ Step Functions
• Test jumps from 1 step to next.
Examples
Discuss the continuity of each of the following functions:
Solution (a)
Solution (b)
Solution (c)
Solution (d)
Continuity on an open interval
A function is continuous on an open interval (𝑎, 𝑏) if it is continuous on
each point in the interval. A function that is continuous on the entire
real line is every where continuous.

Example:
𝑓(𝑥) is continuous on −3,2 .
Continuity on a closed interval
The concept of a one-sided limit allows us to extend the definition of continuity
to closed intervals. A function 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous on the closed interval [𝑎, 𝑏] if
it is continuous on the open interval (𝑎, 𝑏) and
lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑎 and lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑏 ,
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑏

i.e., the function is continuous from the right at 𝑎 and continuous from the left
at 𝑏.
Example:
𝑓(𝑥) is continuous on −3,2 .
Example
The domain of the function 𝑦 = sin 𝑥 is the set of all real numbers. 𝑓(𝑥) is
continuous on its entire domain, as shown in figure.
Example
Discuss the continuity of 𝑓 𝑥 = 1 − 𝑥 2 .
Solution:
The domain of 𝑓(𝑥) is the closed interval [– 1, 1]. At all points in the open
interval (– 1, 1), the given function is continuous. Moreover,

and

This implies that 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous on the closed


interval – 1, 1 .
Example
Consider the function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), whose domain is the closed interval [0, 4].
Discuss the continuity of 𝑓(𝑥) at 𝑥 = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Solution:
Example
Solution:
Continuous Extension to a Point
A function (such as a rational function) may have a limit even at a point
where its denominator is zero. If 𝑓(𝑐) is not defined, but lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑐
exists, we can define a new function 𝐹(𝑥) by the rule:

𝑓 𝑥 ; if 𝑥 is in the domain of 𝑓
𝐹(𝑥) = ቊ
𝐿; if 𝑥 = 𝑐

The function 𝐹 𝑥 is continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐. It is called the continuous


extension of 𝑓 to 𝑥 = 𝑐 . For a rational function 𝑓(𝑥) , continuous
extensions are usually found by canceling common factors.
Example

Solution:
Continuity by Function Type
The list below summarizes the functions we have studied so far that are continuous at
every point in their domains.

With this summary, we can conclude that a wide variety of elementary functions are
continuous at every point in their domains.
Continuity by Function Type
▪ Polynomials are continuous everywhere.
▪ Rational functions and other trigonometric functions are continuous except at the
values of 𝑥, where their denominators equal zero.
o “Removable” discontinuity if factoring and canceling “removes” the
zero in the denominator.
o “Non-removable” otherwise.

▪ For piecewise functions, find the values of 𝑓(𝑥) at the value of 𝑥 separating the
regions of the function.
▪ If the values of 𝑓(𝑥) are equal, the function is continuous.
▪ Otherwise, there is a (non-removable) discontinuity at this point.
Example
1. The function 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥| is continuous at every value of 𝑥.
• If 𝑥 > 0, we have 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥, a polynomial.
• If 𝑥 < 0, we have 𝑓 𝑥 = −𝑥, another polynomial.
• Finally, at the origin,
lim |𝑥| = 0 = 0.
𝑥→0

2. The function 𝑓(𝑥) = 1/𝑥 is a continuous function on its entire domain because it
is continuous at every point of its domain. It has a point of discontinuity at
𝑥 = 0 but 𝑥 = 0 does not belong to domain of 𝑓 𝑥 .
Practice
Question: Discuss the continuity of the following functions:
𝑥−4
; 𝑥 ≥ 0 and 𝑥 ≠ 4
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = ቐ 𝑥−2 at 𝑥 = 4.
4; 𝑥=4
𝑥 2 −𝑎2
; 0≤𝑥<𝑎
𝑥−𝑎
2. 𝑓 𝑥 =൞ 𝑎; 𝑥=𝑎 at 𝑥 = 𝑎.
2𝑎; 𝑥>𝑎

3. 𝑓 𝑥 = 21/𝑥 at 𝑥 = 0.
𝑒 1/𝑥 −1
4. 𝑓 𝑥 = ቐ𝑒 +1
1/𝑥 ; 𝑥≠0 at 𝑥 = 0.
0; 𝑥=0

You might also like