BASIC CALCULUS

Continuity of a
Function at a Point
Prepared by. Alfred Merin
While
Whileriding
ridingon
onaa train
trainand
and
all
all stations
stations are
are in
in
operation,
operation, youyou will
will have
have aa
very
very smooth
smooth travel
travel from
from
start
start to to finish.
finish. InIn this
this
situation,
situation, wewe can
can say
say that
that
you
you have
have aa continuous
continuous
travel.
travel.
 However, if one station
While riding on a train and
all stations are experienced
in a problem,
operation, you will have you
a have no choice but to
very smooth travel from go down from that station
start to finish. In this and continue to another
situation, we can say thatone. In this situation, we
you have a continuous can say that your travel is
travel. not continuous.
 Your travel can be compared to
graphs of functions wherein some
are continuous, while others are not
at some points.
How can we determine
if a function is
continuous at a given
point?
➢ Illustrate the continuity of a function at a point.
➢ Determine whether a function is continuous at
a point or not using its graph.
➢ Determine whether a function is continuous at
a point or not using its equation.
Recall of lim 𝒇(𝒙) and 𝒇(𝒄)
𝒙→𝒄

Recall from the previous lessons that there are

functions whose limit as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐 is not equal
to the value of the function at 𝑐.

In symbols, lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 𝑓(𝑐).

𝑥→𝑐

What does this imply about the graph of 𝑓?

Intuitive Definition of Continuity of a Function

✓ A function is said to be continuous if its graph

has no breaks or holes, and you can trace it
without lifting your pen. A continuous function is
defined for any real number.
The graph on the right is an example of a function
that is continuous at any point 𝑥 = 𝑐.
This, however, is a graph of a function that is not continuous.
In this case, the function is discontinuous at 𝑥 = 1.
Consider the graph of the
function 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 − 2 on
the right.
Can you trace the graph
from the left going to
the right of 𝑥 = 2
without lifting your pen?
How about in this graph
of the function shown
at the right?
A function 𝑓 is said to be continuous at the number 𝑐 if
and only if the following conditions are satisfied:

1. 𝑓(𝑐) exists;
2. lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists, and
𝑥→𝑐
3. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑐).
𝑥→𝑐

If at least one of these conditions fails to hold at 𝑐, the

function is said to be discontinuous at 𝑐.
Determine if the
function 𝑓 𝑥 below is
continuous at 𝑥 = 3
and 𝑥 = 0.
Determine if the
function 𝑓 𝑥 below is
continuous at 𝑥 = 3
and 𝑥 = 0.

The function is discontinuous at 𝒙 = 𝟎.

Determine if the graph of the function below is
continuous at 𝒙 = −𝟏 and 𝒙 = 𝟐.
Is the graph at the right
continuous at 𝑥 = 2,
𝑥 = −3, and 𝑥 = 4?
Is the graph below continuous at 𝑥 = 2, 𝑥 = −3, and 𝑥 = 4?

The function is continuous at 𝒙 = −𝟑 and 𝒙 = 𝟒, but not at 𝑥 = 2.

 𝟏
Is the graph below continuous at 𝒙 = 𝟏, 𝒙 = − ,
𝟐
and 𝒙 = −𝟓?
Determine if 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 1 is continuous at 𝑥 = 2.
Determine if 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 1 is continuous at 𝑥 = 2.

The function is continuous at 𝒙 = 𝟐.

 𝟏
Determine if 𝒇 𝒙 = is continuous at 𝒙 = 𝟑.
𝒙−𝟑 𝟐
How can we
determine if a
function is continuous
at a given point
without tracing its
graph?
A function 𝑓 is said to be continuous at the number 𝑐 if
and only if the following conditions are satisfied:

1. 𝑓(𝑐) exists;
2. lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists, and
𝑥→𝑐
3. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑐).
𝑥→𝑐

If at least one of these conditions fails to hold at 𝑐, the

function is said to be discontinuous at 𝑐.
Using the formal definition of continuity of a
function at a point, what functions are
automatically continuous everywhere?
Determine if 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 − 6𝑥 + 2 is continuous at 𝑥 = −3.
2
Determine if 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 − 6𝑥 + 2 is continuous at 𝑥 = −3.
2

𝒇 𝒙 is continuous at 𝒙 = −𝟑.
Determine the following functions below.

𝟏. 𝒉 𝒙 = 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟒𝒙 + 𝒙 − 𝟓 is continuous at 𝒙 = 𝟒.
𝟑 𝟐

𝟐𝒙−𝟑
𝟐. 𝒈(𝒙) = continuous at 𝒙 = −𝟐?
𝒙𝟐 +𝟒𝒙+𝟒

𝒙−𝟓
3. Is 𝒉 𝒙 = continuous at 𝒙 = 𝟓?
𝒙𝟐 +𝟓𝒙+𝟔
Determine the following functions below.

𝟏. 𝒉 𝒙 = 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟒𝒙 + 𝒙 − 𝟓 is continuous at 𝒙 = 𝟒.
𝟑 𝟐

𝟐𝒙−𝟑
𝟐. 𝒈(𝒙) = continuous at 𝒙 = −𝟐?
𝒙𝟐 +𝟒𝒙+𝟒

𝒙−𝟓
3. Is 𝒉 𝒙 = continuous at 𝒙 = 𝟓?
𝒙𝟐 +𝟓𝒙+𝟔
Is a rational function continuous
everywhere? Why or why not?
We can easily determine if
polynomial functions or rational
functions are continuous at a point.
Remember the following guidelines:
1. If 𝑓(𝑥) is a polynomial function,
then 𝑓 𝑐 is always defined for any 𝑐
and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑐) . Thus,
𝑥→𝑐
polynomial functions are
continuous at any point.
 𝑃 𝑥
2. If 𝑓 𝑥 = is a rational function,
𝑄 𝑥
then lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑐) provided that
𝑥→𝑐
𝑄 𝑐 ≠ 0, which implies that 𝑐 is not
in the domain of 𝑓. Thus, rational
functions are only continuous in
their respective domains.
Find the value or values of the constant 𝑘 so that
𝑥+3
𝑓 𝑥 = 2 is continuous at 𝑥 = −3.
𝑥 +5𝑥−7𝑘
Find the value or values of the constant 𝑘 so that
𝑥+3
𝑓 𝑥 = 2 is continuous at 𝑥 = −3.
𝑥 +5𝑥−7𝑘

𝟔
𝒇(𝒙) is continuous at 𝒙 = −𝟑 as long as 𝒌 ≠ − .
𝟕
For what value or values of 𝒌 is
𝟓
𝒇 𝒙 = continuous at 𝒙 = −𝟑?
𝟕+𝒌 𝒙−𝟑
The following properties can be observed
about the continuity of a function at a
point.
Property 1: 𝑓 𝑥 + 𝑔 𝑥 is continuous at 𝑐 .

Proof:
Suppose 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are both continuous at 𝑥
= 𝑐. Thus, lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑐) and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑐).
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

lim 𝑓 𝑥 + 𝑔 𝑥 = lim 𝑓 𝑥 + lim 𝑔 𝑥

𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
=𝑓 𝑐 +𝑔 𝑐
Property 2: 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑔 𝑥 is continuous at 𝑐 .

Proof:
Suppose 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are both continuous at 𝑥 =
𝑐. Thus, lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑐) and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑐).
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

lim 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑔 𝑥 = lim 𝑓 𝑥 − lim 𝑔 𝑥

𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
=𝑓 𝑐 −𝑔 𝑐
Property 3: 𝑓 𝑥 ⋅ 𝑔 𝑥 is continuous at 𝑐 .

Proof:
Suppose 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are both continuous at 𝑥 =
𝑐. Thus, lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑐) and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑐).
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

lim 𝑓 𝑥 ⋅ 𝑔 𝑥 = lim 𝑓 𝑥 ⋅ lim 𝑔 𝑥

𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
=𝑓 𝑐 ⋅𝑔 𝑐
 𝑓 𝑥
Property 4: is continuous at 𝑐 .
𝑔 𝑥
Proof:
Suppose 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are both continuous at 𝑥 =
𝑐. Thus, lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑐) and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑐).
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

𝑓 𝑥 lim 𝑓 𝑥
𝑥→𝑐
lim =
𝑥→𝑐 𝑔 𝑥 lim 𝑔 𝑥
𝑥→𝑐
𝑓 𝑐
= ,𝑔 𝑐 ≠ 0
𝑔 𝑐
Using the properties of the continuity of a function a a
𝑥+3
point, determine if 𝑓 𝑥 = is continuous at 𝑥 = 0.
𝑥−2
Using the properties of the continuity of a function a a
𝑥+3
point, determine if 𝑓 𝑥 = is continuous at 𝑥 = 0.
𝑥−2

𝒙+𝟑
𝒇 𝒙 = is continuous at 𝒙 = 𝟎.
𝒙−𝟐
Using the properties of the continuity of a
function at a point, determine if
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙 + 𝟑 is continuous at
𝟑

𝒙 = −𝟑.
 𝑔(𝑥)
If 𝑓 and 𝑔 are both polynomial functions, is 𝑓 𝑥 +
𝑓(𝑥)
always continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐 for any 𝑐? Why or why not?
 𝑔(𝑥)
If 𝑓 and 𝑔 are both polynomial functions, is 𝑓 𝑥 +
𝑓(𝑥)
always continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐 for any 𝑐? Why or why not?

𝑔 𝑥
𝑓 𝑥 + is not always continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐.
𝑓 𝑥
The functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 are rational functions such that 𝑓 is
continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐 and 𝑔 is continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑑. Is 𝑓(𝑥)
+ 𝑔(𝑥) always continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐 + 𝑑? Why?
The functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 are rational functions such that 𝑓 is
continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐 and 𝑔 is continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑑. Is 𝑓(𝑥)
+ 𝑔(𝑥) always continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐 + 𝑑? Why?

𝑓 𝑥 + 𝑔(𝑥) is not always continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐 + 𝑑.

The functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 are rational functions such that 𝑓 is
continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐 and 𝑔 is continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑑. Is 𝑓(𝑥)
+ 𝑔(𝑥) always continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐 + 𝑑? Why?
The functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 are rational functions such that 𝑓 is
continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐 and 𝑔 is continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑑. Is 𝑓(𝑥) +
𝑔(𝑥) always continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐 + 𝑑? Why?

𝑓 𝑥 + 𝑔(𝑥) is not always continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐 + 𝑑.

Determine if the graph is continuous or discontinuous at the
given points.

1. 𝑥 = −1
2. 𝑥 =2
3. 𝑥 =1
4. 𝑥 = −3
Determine if the graph is continuous or discontinuous at the
given points.

1. 𝑥 = −1
2. 𝑥 =2
3. 𝑥 =1
4. 𝑥 = −3
B. Determine if the following functions are continuous or
discontinuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐.

1. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 1;
3 2
𝑥= 2
𝑥 3 +3𝑥 2 −𝑥−3
2. 𝑓 𝑥 = ; 𝑥 = −1
𝑥+1
2𝑥 + 3, if 𝑥 ≤ 3
3. 𝑓 𝑥 = ቊ ; 𝑥 = −3
𝑥 − 5, if 𝑥 > 3
❑ A function 𝑓 is said to be continuous at the number 𝑐 if
and only if the following conditions are satisfied:
o 𝑓(𝑐) exists;
o lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists, and
𝑥→𝑐
o lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑐).
𝑥→𝑐
If at least one of these conditions fails to hold at 𝑐, the
function is said to be discontinuous at 𝑐.
If 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are both continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐, then the
following properties can be observed:
○𝑓 𝑥 + 𝑔(𝑥) is continuous at 𝑐;
○𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑔(𝑥) is continuous at 𝑐;
○𝑓 𝑥 ⋅ 𝑔(𝑥) is continuous at 𝑐, and
𝑓 𝑥
○ is continuous at 𝑐, provided that 𝑔 𝑐 ≠ 0.
𝑔 𝑥