Lesson 3.
Continuity of a Function
at a Point
Basic Calculus
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
While riding on a train
and all stations are in
operation, you will
have a very smooth
travel from start to
finish. In this situation,
we can say that you
have a continuous
travel. 2
However, if one
station experienced a
problem, you have no
choice but to go down
from that station and
continue to another
one. In this situation,
we can say that your
travel is not
continuous.
3
Your travel can be compared to graphs of
functions wherein some are continuous,
while others are not at some points.
4
How can we determine if a
function is continuous at a
given point?
5
Learning Competencies
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:
● Illustrate continuity of a function at a
number (STEM_BC11LC-IIIc-1).
● Determine whether a function is
continuous at a number or not
(STEM_BC11LC-IIIc-2).
6
Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:
● 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.
7
Recall of and
Recall from the previous lessons that there are functions
whose limit as approaches is not equal to the value of the
function at .
In symbols, .
What does this imply about the graph of ?
8
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.
9
Definition of Continuity of a Function
The graph on the right
is an example of a
function that is
continuous at any
point .
10
Definition of Continuity of a Function
This, however, is a
graph of a function that
is not continuous. In
this case, the function
is discontinuous at
.
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Continuity of a Function at a Point Given Its Graph
Consider the graph of the
function on the right.
12
Continuity of a Function at a Point Given Its Graph
Can you trace the graph
from the left going to the
right of without lifting your
pen?
13
Continuity of a Function at a Point Given Its Graph
How about in this
graph of the function
shown at the right?
14
Let’s Practice!
Determine if the
function shown at
the right is
continuous at and .
15
Let’s Practice!
Determine if the function below is continuous at and .
The function is discontinuous at .
16
Try It!
Determine if the graph of the function
below is continuous at and .
Let’s Practice!
Is the graph at the
right continuous
at , , and ?
18
Let’s Practice!
Is the graph below continuous at , , and ?
The function is continuous at and , but not at .
19
Try It!
Is the graph below continuous at , , and ?
Let’s Practice!
Determine if is continuous at .
21
Let’s Practice!
Determine if is continuous at .
The function is continuous at .
22
Try It!
Determine if is continuous at .
How can we determine if a
function is continuous at a
given point without tracing its
graph?
24
Continuity of a Function at a Point Given Its Equation
A function is said to be continuous at the number if and
only if the following conditions are satisfied:
1. exists;
2. exists, and
3. .
If at least one of these conditions fails to hold at , the
function is said to be discontinuous at .
25
Using the formal definition of
continuity of a function at a
point, what functions are
automatically continuous
everywhere?
26
Let’s Practice!
Determine if is continuous at .
27
Let’s Practice!
Determine if is continuous at .
is continuous at .
28
Try It!
Determine if is continuous at .
Let’s Practice!
Is continuous at ?
30
Let’s Practice!
Is continuous at ?
is discontinuous at .
31
Try It!
Is continuous at ?
Is a rational function continuous
everywhere? Why or why not?
33
Tips
We can easily determine if polynomial
functions or rational functions are
continuous at a point. Remember the
following guidelines:
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Tips
● If is a polynomial function, then is
always defined for any and . Thus,
polynomial functions are
continuous at any point.
35
Tips
● If is a rational function, then
provided that , which implies that is
not in the domain of . Thus, rational
functions are only continuous in
their respective domains.
36
Let’s Practice!
Find the value or values of the constant so that
is continuous at .
37
Let’s Practice!
Find the value or values of the constant so that
is continuous at .
is continuous at as long as .
38
Try It!
For what value or values of is
continuous at ?
Properties of Continuous Functions at a Point
The following properties can be observed about the
continuity of a function at a point.
40
Properties of Continuous Functions at a Point
Property 1: is continuous at .
Proof:
Suppose and are both continuous at . Thus, and .
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Properties of Continuous Functions at a Point
Property 2: is continuous at .
Proof:
Suppose and are both continuous at . Thus, and .
42
Properties of Continuous Functions at a Point
Property 3: is continuous at .
Proof:
Suppose and are both continuous at . Thus, and .
43
Properties of Continuous Functions at a Point
Property 4: is continuous at .
Proof:
Suppose and are both continuous at . Thus, and .
44
Properties of Continuous Functions at a Point
lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )
𝑓 ( 𝑥) 𝑥→𝑐
lim ∧¿
𝑥 → 𝑐 𝑔 ( 𝑥) lim 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )
𝑥→ 𝑐
𝑓 (𝑐 )
¿= , 𝑔 (𝑐 ) ≠ 0
𝑔 (𝑐 )
45
Let’s Practice!
Using the properties of the continuity of a function a a
point, determine if is continuous at .
46
Let’s Practice!
Using the properties of the continuity of a function a a
point, determine if is continuous at .
is continuous at .
47
Try It!
Using the properties of the continuity of
a function at a point, determine if is
continuous at
.
Let’s Practice!
If and are both polynomial functions, is always
continuous at for any ? Why or why not?
49
Let’s Practice!
If and are both polynomial functions, is always
continuous at for any ? Why or why not?
is not always continuous at .
50
Try It!
Given that and are both continuous at ,
determine if
is always continuous at .
Let’s Practice!
The functions and are rational functions such that is
continuous at and is continuous at . Is always
continuous at ? Why?
52
Let’s Practice!
The functions and are rational functions such that is
continuous at and is continuous at . Is always
continuous at ? Why?
is not always continuous at .
53
Try It!
If and are both rational functions that
are continuous at , is always
continuous at ? Why?
Check Your Understanding
Determine if the graph is continuous or discontinuous at
the given points.
1.
2.
3.
4.
55
Check Your Understanding
Determine if the following functions are continuous or
discontinuous at .
1. ;
2. ;
3. ;
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Let’s Sum It Up!
● A function is said to be continuous at the
number if and only if the following conditions are
satisfied:
o exists;
o exists, and
o .
If at least one of these conditions fails to hold at ,
the function is said to be discontinuous at .
57
Let’s Sum It Up!
● If and are both continuous at , then the following
properties can be observed:
○ is continuous at ;
○ is continuous at ;
○ is continuous at , and
○ is continuous at , provided that .
58
Challenge Yourself
Let and be polynomial functions.
Determine if the function is
continuous at any point and explain
why.
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Photo Credits Bibliography
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from
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aspx
, January 18, 2020.
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Edwards, C.H., and David E. Penney. Calculus: Early
under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Transcendentals. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey:
Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2008.
Slide 3: MRT-3 Philippines breakdown by Exec8 is licensed Leithold, Louis. The Calculus 7. New York: HarperCollins
under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. College Publ., 1997.
Larson, Ron and Edwards, Bruce. Calculus. United States of
America: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, 2010.
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