CONTINUITY AT A POINT AND

TYPES OF DISCONTINUITIES
BASIC CALCULUS – LESSON 6
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, you shall be able to
1. illustrate continuity of a function at a point; and
2. define and differentiate the three types of discontinuities.
Illustration 1

Is 𝑓 𝑥 continuous at 𝑥 = 1?

Is 𝑓 𝑥 continuous at 𝑥 = 0?

Is 𝑓 𝑥 continuous at 𝑥 = 5?
Illustration 2

Is 𝑔 𝑥 continuous at 𝑥 = 1?

Is 𝑔 𝑥 continuous at 𝑥 = 0?

Is 𝑔 𝑥 continuous at 𝑥 = 5?
Illustration 3

Is 𝐻 𝑥 continuous at 𝑥 = 1?

Is 𝐻 𝑥 continuous at 𝑥 = 0?

Is 𝐻 𝑥 continuous at 𝑥 = 5?
Illustration 4

Is ℎ 𝑥 continuous at 𝑥 = 1?

Is ℎ 𝑥 continuous at 𝑥 = 0?

Is ℎ 𝑥 continuous at 𝑥 = 5?
CONDITIONS ON CONTINUITY AT A POINT

A function 𝒇 is said to be continuous at 𝒙 = 𝒄 if the following conditions are

all satisfied.
1. 𝒇 𝒙 is defined at 𝒙 = 𝒄

2. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) exists

𝒙→𝒄

3. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒇 𝒄 NOTE: If any of these conditions FAILED,

𝒙→𝒄
then 𝒇(𝒙) is DISCONTINUOUS at 𝒙 = 𝒄.
Example 1: Is 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 − 2 continuous at 𝑥 = 1?

𝑓 1 = (1)3 +(1)2 −2 = 0 𝑓 𝑥 is defined at 𝑥 = 𝑐

lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = (1)3 +(1)2 −2 = 0 𝑥→𝑐
𝑥→1

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(1) lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓 𝑐

𝑥→𝑐
𝑥→1

Therefore, 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟑 + 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐 is continuous at 𝒙 = 𝟏.

In fact, 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟑 + 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐 is continuous at every real number.

 𝑥 2 +𝑥−6
Example 2: Is 𝑓 𝑥 = continuous at 𝑥 = 2?
𝑥−2
(2)2 +2 − 6 0 𝑓 𝑥 is undefined at 𝑥 = 𝑐
𝑓 2 = =
2−2 0
(𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 2) lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = = 2 + 3 = 5 𝑥→𝑐
𝑥→2 𝑥−2

lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 𝑓(2) lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 𝑓 𝑐

𝑥→𝑐
𝑥→2
𝒙𝟐 +𝒙−𝟔
Therefore,𝒇 𝒙 = is discontinuous at 𝒙 = 𝟐.
𝒙−𝟐
 𝑥 2 −𝑥−2
, 𝑥 ≠2
Example 3: Let 𝑔 𝑥 = ቐ 𝑥−2 Is 𝑔(𝑥) continuous at 𝑥 = 2?
0, 𝑥=2

𝑓 2 =0 𝑓 𝑥 is defined at 𝑥 = 𝑐

(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 2) lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = =2+1=3 𝑥→𝑐
𝑥→2 𝑥−2
lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 𝑓(2) lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 𝑓 𝑐
𝑥→2 𝑥→𝑐

Therefore, 𝒈(𝒙) is discontinuous at 𝒙 = 𝟐.

REMARKS

If 𝒇 is a polynomial function, then 𝒇(𝒙) is continuous at any point 𝒙 = 𝒄.

If 𝒇 is a rational function and 𝒇(𝒄) is defined and equal to its limit as 𝒙 →

𝒄, then 𝒇(𝒙) is continuous at 𝒙 = 𝒄.
TYPES OF DISCONTINUITIES

1. Removable Discontinuity

2. Essential Discontinuity
• Jump Essential Discontinuity
• Infinite Essential Discontinuity
REMOVABLE DISCONTINUITY

A function is said to have a removable discontinuity at 𝒙 = 𝒄 if

(a) 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) exists; and
𝒙→𝒄
(b) either 𝒇(𝒄) is undefined or 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) ≠ 𝒇 𝒄 .
𝒙→𝒄

It is said to be removable because the discontinuity may be

removed by redefining 𝒇 𝒄 that it will equal 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙).
𝒙→𝒄
Example 4

Is 𝑔 𝑥 continuous at 𝑥 = 1?
 3𝑥 2 −4𝑥+1
Example 4: Is 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥−1
continuous at 𝑥 = 1?

3(1)2 − 4 1 + 1 0
𝑓 1 = = 𝑓 𝑥 is undefined at 𝑥 = 𝑐
1−1 0
(3𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 1)
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists
= 3 1 − 1 = 2 𝑥→𝑐
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 𝑓(1) lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 𝑓 𝑐
𝑥→𝑐
𝑥→1
3𝑥 2 −4𝑥+1
𝒇 𝒙 = is discontinuous at 𝒙 = 𝟏.
𝑥−1
 𝟑𝒙𝟐 −𝟒𝒙+𝟏
𝟑𝒙𝟐 −𝟒𝒙+𝟏 , 𝒙 ≠𝟏
Example 4: Redefining 𝒇 𝒙 = to 𝒇 𝒙 = ቐ 𝒙−𝟏
𝒙−𝟏
𝟐, 𝒙=𝟏

𝑓 1 =2 𝑓 𝑥 is defined at 𝑥 = 𝑐
(3𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 1) lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = =2 𝑥→𝑐
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(1) lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓 𝑐
𝑥→1 𝑥→𝑐

3𝑥 2 −4𝑥+1
𝑓 𝑥 = is now continuous at 𝑥 = 1.
𝑥−1
𝟑𝒙𝟐 −𝟒𝒙+𝟏
Therefore, 𝒇 𝒙 = has a removable discontinuity at 𝒙 = 𝟏.
𝒙−𝟏
ESSENTIAL DISCONTINUITY

A function is said to have an essential discontinuity at 𝒙 = 𝒄 if

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) 𝐃𝐍𝐄.
𝒙→𝒄
CASE 1. JUMP ESSENTIAL DISCONTINUITY

A function is said to have a jump essential discontinuity at 𝒙 = 𝒄

if 𝐥𝐢𝐦− 𝒇(𝒙) ≠ 𝐥𝐢𝐦+ 𝒇 𝒙 , where both one-sided limits have
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
real values.
Example 5

Is 𝐻 𝑥 continuous at 𝑥 = 0?
Example 5:
Is 𝐻 𝑥 continuous at 𝑥 = 0?

𝐻 0 =1 𝐻 𝑥 is defined at 𝑥 = 𝑐

lim− 𝐻(𝑥) = 0 lim 𝐻(𝑥) 𝐷𝑁𝐸

𝑥→0 lim− 𝐻(𝑥) ≠ lim+ 𝐻(𝑥) 𝑥→0
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
lim+ 𝐻(𝑥) = 1
𝑥→0

𝑯 𝒙 has a jump essential discontinuity at 𝒙 = 𝟎.

CASE 2. INFINITE ESSENTIAL DISCONTINUITY

A function is said to have an infinite essential discontinuity at

𝒙 = 𝒄 if 𝐥𝐢𝐦− 𝒇(𝒙) = ±∞ and 𝐥𝐢𝐦+ 𝒇(𝒙) = ±∞.
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
Example 6

Is ℎ 𝑥 continuous at 𝑥 = 0?
 1
Example 6: Is ℎ 𝑥 = continuous at 𝑥 = 0?
𝑥

1
ℎ 0 = ℎ 𝑥 is undefined at 𝑥 = 𝑐
0
1
lim− ℎ(𝑥) = − = −∞
𝑥→0 0 lim− ℎ(𝑥) ≠ lim+ ℎ(𝑥) lim ℎ(𝑥) 𝐷𝑁𝐸
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→0
1
lim+ ℎ(𝑥) = + = +∞
𝑥→0 0

𝒉 𝒙 has an infinite essential discontinuity at 𝒙 = 𝟎.

Example 7: Consider the graph of the function 𝒇 𝒙 below.

Is 𝒇 𝒙 continuous at 𝒙 = −𝟐?

YES
Example 7: Consider the graph of the function 𝒇 𝒙 below.

Is 𝒇 𝒙 continuous at 𝒙 = 𝟑?

NOT

What type of discontinuity

happens at 𝒙 = 𝟑?

JUMP ESSENTIAL DISCONTINUITY

Example 7: Consider the graph of the function 𝒇 𝒙 below.

Is 𝒇 𝒙 continuous at 𝒙 = 𝟎?

NOT

What type of discontinuity

happens at 𝒙 = 𝟎?

REMOVABLE DISCONTINUITY
Example 7: Consider the graph of the function 𝒇 𝒙 below.

Is 𝒇 𝒙 continuous at 𝒙 = 𝟏?

YES
Example 7: Consider the graph of the function 𝒇 𝒙 below.

Is 𝒇 𝒙 continuous at 𝒙 = 𝟕?

YES
 𝑥 2 +4𝑥+3
Example 8: Determine on which point the function 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥+3
discontinuous and identify the type of discontinuity that takes place.
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 3
𝑓 𝑥 = is discontinuous at 𝑥 = −3
𝑥+3
2
−3+ 4 −3 + 3 9 − 12 + 3 0
𝑓 −3 = = = 𝑓 𝑥 is undefined at 𝑥 = −3
−3 + 3 0 0
(𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 + 1)
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −2
= 𝑥 + 1 = −3 + 1 = −2 𝑥→−3
𝑥→−3 𝑥+3
Since the 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 exists but 𝒇 −𝟑 is undefined, therefore, 𝒇 𝒙 has a
𝒙→−𝟑
removable discontinuity at 𝒙 = −𝟑.
 𝑥 + 4, 𝑥 ≤ −2
Example 9: Determine on which point the function 𝑓 𝑥 = ቊ
−2𝑥 − 11, 𝑥 > −2
discontinuous and identify the type of discontinuity that takes place.

𝑓 𝑥 is discontinuous at 𝑥 = −2 since the lim 𝑓 𝑥 𝑑𝑛𝑒

𝑥→−2
lim − 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 4 = −2 + 4 = 2
𝑥→−2

lim + 𝑓(𝑥) = −2𝑥 − 11 = −2 −2 − 11 = 4 − 11 = −7

𝑥→−2

Since the 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 𝒅𝒏𝒆 but the one-sided limits are real numbers,
𝒙→−𝟐
therefore, 𝒇 𝒙 has a jump essential discontinuity at 𝒙 = −𝟐.
 𝑥+7
Example 10: Determine on which point the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 2
𝑥 +3𝑥
discontinuous
and identify the type of discontinuity that takes place.
𝑥+7
𝑓 𝑥 = 2 is discontinuous at 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = −3
𝑥 + 3𝑥
0+7 7 −3 + 7 4 𝑓 𝑥 is undefined at
𝑓 0 = = 𝑓 −3 = =
2
(0) +3(0) 0 (−3) +3(−3) 0 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = −3
2

0+7 7 −3 + 7 4
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = = lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 2
=
𝑥→0 2
(0) +3(0) 0 𝑥→0 (−3) +3(−3) 0

Since both 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 and 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 don’t exist and both involve one-sided infinite limits,
𝒙→𝟎 𝒙→−𝟑
therefore, 𝒇 𝒙 has infinite essential discontinuities at 𝒙 = 𝟎 and 𝒙 = −𝟑.