LECTURE 10 OF 10

TOPIC :

7.0 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
SUBTOPIC :

7.3 CONTINUITY
At the end of the lesson students are
able to:
Define the interval where a function is
continuous or discontinuous
OBJECTIVE :
Continuity of a function on a
half open interval (a,b]
A function f(x) is continuous on a half
open interval (a,b] if:

(i) f(x) continuous on an open interval (a,b)

(ii) f(x) is continuous from the left at x=b
) ( ) ( lim b f x f
b x
=

Definition
Continuity of a function on a
half closed interval [a,b)
A function f(x) is continuous on a half
open interval [a,b) if:

(i) f(x) continuous on an open interval (a,b)

(ii) f(x) is continuous from the right at x=a
) ( ) ( lim a f x f
a x
=
+

Definition
Example 1:
4
2
) f( (b)
x 4 x 2 f(x) (a)
. interval the on continuous function the that
show and defined be can below given
function the where interval the Determine
2

+
=
+ =
x
x
x
Solution:
) , 2 [
2
0 4 2 ) (
=
>
>
f
D
x
x f or def ined be can x f
2 2
( ) (2, )
lim 2 4 2 4 ( )
( ) is continuous on an open interval (2, )
x c
i Let c
x x c c f c
f x

e
+ = + =

(a)
2
2
( ) lim 2 4 4 4 4 4 (2)
( ) 2
(x) is continuous on an interval [2, )
x
ii x x f
f x is continuous from the right at x
Therefore f
+

+ = + = =
=

) , 4 ( ) 4 , 2 [
4 2
0 4 0 2
) ( ) (
=
= >
= > +
f
D
x and x
x and x
f or def ined be can x f b
( ) ( 2, 4)
2 2
lim ( )
4 4
( ) is continuous on an open interval ( 2, 4)
x c
i Let c
x c
f c
x c
f x

e
+ +
= =


) 4 , 2 [ interval the on continuous is ) (
2 ) (
) 2 ( 0
4 2
2 2
4
2
lim ) (
2

=
= =

+
=

+
+

x f Theref ore
x at right the f rom continuous is x f
f
x
x
ii
x
) , 4 ( interval open an on continuous is ) (
) (
4
2
4
2
lim
) , 4 ( ) (

=

+
=

+
e

x f
m f
m
m
x
x
m Let iii
m x
( ) , 4 ) 4 , 2 [
) ( on continuous is x f Therefore
Example 2:
( )
) , 2 ( interval open
an on continuous is x g if n of value the Find
3 , 2 ,
3 , 2 ,
6 5
3
) (
2
2

=
= =
+

=
x x n
x x
x x
x
x g
as def ined is g Function
Solution:
( )
3 ) (
, 2 ) (
=

x at continuous is x g therefore
in continuous is x g Given
9
) 2 )( 3 (
3
lim
) 3 ( ) ( lim
3
3
=


=

n
x x
x
g x g
x
x
9
) 2 (
1
lim
3
=

n
x
x
10
9 1
=
=
n
n
Example 3:
( )
numbers real every f or continuous
is x f if k of value the Find
x x
x kx
x f Given

s
>
=
1 , 2
1 , 2
) (
2
Solution:
( )
( ) , .
( ) 1,
Given that f x is continuous in
For f x continuous at x

=
1 1
1 1
lim ( ) lim ( ) (1)
lim(2 ) lim( 2)
x x
x x
f x f x f
x k
+
+


= =
=
2 1 2
3
k
k
=
=
Example 4
State the conditions for the function f to be
continuous on a closed interval [a,b].

>
< < +
s +
=
5 x , 4
5 x 3 , 1 Bx
3 x , 2 Ax
) x ( f
2
Given f is continuous on a closed interval
[-1,6] where A and B are constant. Find the
values of A and B. Hence, sketch the graph of
g= f(x) on a closed interval [-1,6].
Solution

A function f(x) is continuous on a closed
interval [a,b] if
(i) f is continuous on an open ( a , b )

(ii)

(iii)

) a ( f ) x ( f lim
a x
=
+

) b ( f ) x ( f lim
b x

A(3)
2
+2 = B(3)+1

9A+2 = 3B+1

9A-3B = -1 (1)
1 lim 2 lim
3
3
2
3
+ = +
=
+

Bx Ax
x inuous at For f cont
x
x
4 1 lim
5
5
= +
=

Bx
, x inuous at For f cont
x
5
3
B =
5B + 1 = 4
45
4
A =

>
< < +
s +
=
5 x , 4
5 x 3 , 1 x
5
3
3 x , 2 x
45
4
) x ( f
2

-1 3 5 6


x
y
4

>
< < +
s +
=
5 x , 4
5 x 3 , 1 x
5
3
3 x , 2 x
45
4
) x ( f
2
5
4
2
Example 5(Mac 2002):
. of continuity the Determine . for asymptotes the
all Find .
3
9
2
) ( as defined is function A
. of values
all for continuous if of value the Determine
] 3 , 3 [ , 9
] 3 , 3 [ , 18
) (
as defined is function A
. continuous be to for interval the determine
and 9 ) ( of graph Sketch the
2
2
2
h h
x
x
x h h
x
g A
x x
x Ax
x g
g
f
x x f

e
e
=
=
Solution:
9 ) ( of graph Sketch the : Question
2
= x x f
...) inequality this (Solving 0 ) 3 )( 3 (
) 3 )( 3 ( 9 ) (
2
> +
+ = =
x x
x x x x f
-3 3
3 or 3 > s x x
-3
3
x
y
3 3 : > s or x x the graph Domain of
. continuous be to for interval the determine : Question f
f
D continuous be to for interval The = f
) , 3 [ ] 3 , ( D
f
=
2
2
Question : A function is defined as
18 , [ 3,3]
( )
9 , [ 3,3]
Determine the value of .
g
Ax x
g x
x x
A

=

e

>
s s
<
=
3 , 9
3 3 , 18
3 , 9
) (
2
2
2
x x
x Ax
x x
x g
3 ) (
) (
= x at continuous x g x of values
all for continuous is x g that Given
) 3 ( 18 lim 9 lim
2
3
2
3
g Ax x
x x
= =
+

2
0 18 9
18 lim 9 lim
2
3
2
3
=
=
=
+

A
A
Ax x
x x
. of continuity the Determine . for asymptotes the
all Find .
3
9
2
) ( as defined is function A : Question
h h
x
x
x h h

=
! ! ! ! ! ) , 3 ( ) 3 , ( of Domain
, 3
=
=
g
x
3 : asymptote vertical = x
: asymptote horizontal
x
x
x

+
3
9
lim
2
1
3
9
1
lim
2

=
+
x
x
x
1
1
1
=

=
x
x
x

3
9
lim
2
1
3
9
1
lim
2

=

x
x
x
1
1
1
=

=
1 and 1
: asymptotes Horizontal
= =

y y
) , 3 ( ) 3 , ( at continuous is ) ( x h
Continuity of a function on a
half open interval (a,b]
A function f(x) is continuous on a half
open interval (a,b] if:

(i) f(x) continuous on an open interval (a,b)

(ii) f(x) is continuous from the left at x=b
) ( ) ( lim b f x f
b x
=

Definition
Continuity of a function on a
half closed interval [a,b)
A function f(x) is continuous on a half
open interval [a,b) if:

(i) f(x) continuous on an open interval (a,b)

(ii) f(x) is continuous from the right at x=a
) ( ) ( lim a f x f
a x
=
+

Definition