124 CHAPTER 2 Limits and Derivatives

2.5 EXERCISES
1. Write an equation that expresses the fact that a function f is 10. Explain why each function is continuous or discontinuous.
continuous at the number 4. (a) The temperature at a specific location as a function of time
(b) The temperature at a specific time as a function of the
2. If f is continuous on s2`, `d, what can you say about its
distance due west from New York City
graph?
(c) The altitude above sea level as a function of the distance
3. (a) From the graph of f , state the numbers at which f is due west from New York City
discontinuous and explain why. (d) The cost of a taxi ride as a function of the distance traveled
(b) For each of the numbers stated in part (a), determine (e) The current in the circuit for the lights in a room as a
whether f is continuous from the right, or from the left, function of time
or neither.
11–14 Use the definition of continuity and the properties of limits
y to show that the function is continuous at the given number a.
11. f sxd − sx 1 2x 3 d4, a − 21
t 1 5t
2
12. tstd − , a−2
2t 1 1
13. psvd − 2s3v 2 1 1 , a−1
_4 _2 0 2 4 6 x

14. f sxd − 3x 4 2 5x 1 sx 2 1 4 , a−2

15–16 Use the definition of continuity and the properties of limits

4.. FFrom the graph of t, state the intervals on which t is to show that the function is continuous on the given interval.
ccontinuous. 15. f sxd − x 1 sx
s 2 4 , f4, `d
y x21
16. tsxd − , s2`, 22d
3x 1 6

17–22 Explain why the function is discontinuous at the given

_3 _2 0 1 2 3
x number a. Sketch the graph of the function.
1
17. f sxd − a − 22
x12

5–8 Sketch the graph of a function f that is continuous except for

the stated discontinuity.
18. f sxd −
H 1
x12
1
if x ± 22

if x − 22
a − 22

5. Discontinuous, but continuous from the right, at 2

6. Discontinuities at 21 and 4, but continuous from the left at
19. f sxd − H x 1 3 if x < 21
2x if x . 21
a − 21

H
21 and from the right at 4
x2 2 x
7. R
Removable discontinuity at 3, jump discontinuity at 5 if x ± 1
20. f sxd − x 2 2 1 a−1
8. Neither left nor right continuous at 22, continuous only from 1 if x − 1
the left at 2

9. The toll T charged for driving on a certain stretch of a toll road

is $5 except during rush hours (between 7 am and 10 am and
2 . f sxd − 0
21
H
cos x if x , 0
if x − 0
1 2 x 2 if x . 0
a−0

H
between 4 pm and 7 pm) when the toll is $7.
(a) Sketch a graph of T as a function of the time t, measured 2x 2 2 5x 2 3
if x ± 3
in hours past midnight. 22. f sxd − x23 a−3
(b) Discuss the discontinuities of this function and their sig- 6 if x − 3
nificance to someone who uses the road.
 SECTION 2.5 Continuity 125

23–24 How would you “remove the discontinuity” of f ?

In other words, how would you define f s2d in order to make
f continuous at 2?
x2 2 x 2 2 x3 2 8
H
x 1 2 if x , 0
43. f sxd − e x if 0 < x < 1
2 2 x if x . 1
23 f sxd −
23. 24. f sxd −
x22 x2 2 4
44. The gravitational force exerted by the planet Earth on a unit
mass at a distance r from the center of the planet is
25–32 Explain, using Theorems 4, 5, 7, and 9, why the function
is continuous at every number in its domain. State the domain. GMr
if r , R
R3
2x 2 x 2 1
2
x 11 2
Fsrd −
25. Fsxd − 26. Gsxd − GM
x2 1 1 2x 2 2 x 2 1 if r > R
r2
sin t
sx 2 2
3
e
27. Qsxd − 28. Rstd −
x3 2 2 2 1 cos ␲t where M is the mass of Earth, R is its radius, and G is the
gravitational constant. Is F a continuous function of r?
tan x
29. Astd − arcsins1 1 2td 30. Bsxd − 45. For what value of the constant c is the function f continuous
s4 2 x 2
on s2`, `d?
31. Msxd − Î 11
1
x
32. Nsrd − tan21 s1 1 e2r d
2

f sxd − H cx 2 1 2x if x , 2
x 3 2 cx if x > 2

; 33–34 Locate the discontinuities of the function and illustrate 46. Find the values of a and b that make f continuous everywhere.
46.

{-
by graphing.
x2 2 4
1 if x , 2
33.
33. y − 34. y − lnstan xd 2
x22
1 1 e 1yx f sxd −
ax 2 2 bx 1 3 if 2 < x , 3
2x 2 a 1 b if x > 3
35–38 Use continuity to evaluate the limit.
47.
47 Suppose f and t are continuous functions such that ts2d − 6
35 lim x s20 2 x 2
35. 36. lim sinsx 1 sin xd and lim x l2 f3 f sxd 1 f sxd tsxdg − 36. Find f s2d.
x l2 x l␲

48. Let f sxd − 1yx and tsxd − 1yx 2.

37. lim ln
x l1
S D5 2 x2
11x
38. lim 3 sx
xl4
2 22x24
(a) Find s f + tds xd.
(b) Is f + t continuous everywhere? Explain.
49. Which of the following functions f has a removable discon-
39–40 Show that f is continuous on s2`, `d. tinuity at a? If the discontinuity is removable, find a function
t that agrees with f for x ± a and is continuous at a.
39. f sxd − H 1 2 x2
ln x
if x < 1
if x . 1 (a) f sxd −
x4 2 1
x21
, a−1

40. f sxd − H sin x if x , ␲y4

cos x if x > ␲y4
(b) f sxd −
x 3 2 x 2 2 2x
x22
, a−2

(c) f sxd − v sin x b , a − ␲

41–43 Find the numbers at which f is discontinuous. At which 5 . Suppose that a function f is continuous on [0, 1] except at
50
50.
of these numbers is f continuous from the right, from the left, 0.25 and that f s0d − 1 and f s1d − 3. Let N − 2. Sketch two
or neither? Sketch the graph of f . possible graphs of f , one showing that f might not satisfy the
conclusion of the Intermediate Value Theorem and one show-

H
x 2 if x , 21
41. f sxd − x if 21 < x , 1
1yx if x > 1 5
51
ing that f might still satisfy the conclusion of the Intermediate
Value Theorem (even though it doesn’t satisfy the hypothesis).
51.. If f sxd − x 2 1 10 sin x, show that there is a number c such
that f scd − 1000.
2x
H if x < 1
42. f sxd − 3 2 x if 1 , x < 4
sx if x . 4
5 . Suppose f is continuous on f1, 5g and the only solutions of
52.
52
the equation f sxd − 6 are x − 1 and x − 4. If f s2d − 8,
explain why f s3d . 6.
126 CHAPTER 2 Limits and Derivatives

53–56 Use the Intermediate Value Theorem to show that 65. Prove that cosine is a continuous function.
there is a root of the given equation in the specified interval.
66. (a) Prove Theorem 4, part 3.
5
53
53.. x 4 1 x 2 3 − 0, s1, 2d (b) Prove Theorem 4, part 5.
5 . ln x − x 2 sx
54 s , s2, 3d 67. For what values of x is f continuous?
55 x
5. e − 3 2 2x, s0, 1d
56. sin x − x 2 2 x, s1, 2d
f sxd − H 0 if x is rational
1 if x is irrational
68. For what values of x is t continuous?
57–58 (a) Prove that the equation has at least one real root.
(b) Use your calculator to find an interval of length 0.01 that
contains a root.
tsxd − H 0 if x is rational
x if x is irrational
69.. Is there a number that is exactly 1 more than its cube?
6
69
5 . cos x − x 3
57 58.. ln x − 3 2 2x
58
70. If a and b are positive numbers, prove that the equation
a b
; 59–60 (a) Prove that the equation has at least one real root. 1 3 −0
(b) Use your graphing device to find the root correct to three x 3 1 2x 2 2 1 x 1x22
decimal places. has at least one solution in the interval s21, 1d.
5 . 100e2xy100 − 0.01x 2
59.
59 71.. Show that the function
71
60 arctan x − 1 2 x
60.
f sxd − H x 4 sins1yxd
0
if x ± 0
if x − 0
61–62 Prove, without graphing, that the graph of the func-
tion has at least two x-intercepts in the specified interval. is continuous on s2`, `d.

61.. y − sin x 3,
61 s1, 2d 72. (a) Show that the absolute value function Fsxd − x is | |
continuous everywhere.
62. y − x 2 2 3 1 1yx,
62 s0, 2d (b) Prove that if f is a continuous function on an interval,
| |
then so is f .
(c) Is the converse of the statement in part (b) also true? In
63. Prove that f is continuous at a if and only if
| |
other words, if f is continuous, does it follow that f is
lim f sa 1 hd − f sad continuous? If so, prove it. If not, find a counterexample.
hl0
7 . A Tibetan monk leaves the monastery at 7:00 am and
73
64. To prove that sine is continuous, we need to show takes his usual path to the top of the mountain, arriving at
that lim x l a sin x − sin a for every real number a. 7:00 pm. The following morning, he starts at 7:00 am at the
By Exercise 63 an equivalent statement is that top and takes the same path back, arriving at the monastery
lim sinsa 1 hd − sin a at 7:00 pm. Use the Intermediate Value Theorem to show
hl0
that there is a point on the path that the monk will cross at
Use (6) to show that this is true. exactly the same time of day on both days.

2.6 Limits at Infinity; Horizonta Asymptotes