Basic Calculus

Continuity and Discontinuity of a

Function
 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you'll be able to:

❑ Illustrate continuity of a function at a number;

❑ Determine whether a function is continuous at a number or
not;
❑ Illustrate different types of discontinuity (removable, jump,
infinite); and
❑ Solve problems involving continuity of a function.
Definition of Terms
The continuity of a graph can be
defined as the ability to draw a graph
without lifting the pen from the paper.

In other words, a curve with no breaks,

gaps, nor holes in it refers to a
continuous curve.
Conditions on the Continuity of a Function

(i) f(a) is defined

(ii) lim 𝒇 𝒙 exist, and
𝒙→𝒂
(iii) lim 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒂)
𝒙→𝒂
 GUIDED PRACTICE #1
Evaluate the following functions:

𝟑
1. Show 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝒙 + 𝟐 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐱 = 𝟐.

𝒙 + 𝟏, 𝒙 < 𝟐
2. Show 𝒇 𝒙 = ൜ 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐱 = 𝟐.
𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏, 𝒙 ≥ 𝟐
 GUIDED PRACTICE #1
Evaluate the following functions:

1. Show 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟑 + 𝟐 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐱 = 𝟐.
𝒂. 𝒈 𝟐 = 𝟏𝟎 𝒃. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝟏𝟎
𝐱→𝟐 ∴ 𝒈 𝒙 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒙 = 𝟐
𝒄. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝒈 𝟐 = 𝟏𝟎
𝐱→𝟐
𝒙 + 𝟏, 𝒙 < 𝟐
2. Show 𝒇 𝒙 = ൜ 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐱 = 𝟐.
𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏, 𝒙 ≥ 𝟐
𝒂. 𝒇 𝟐 = 𝟑 𝒃. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟑 𝐥𝐢𝐦− 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝟐 + 𝟏 = 𝟑
𝐱→𝟐 𝐱→𝟐

𝒄. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒇 𝟐 = 𝟏𝟎 𝐥𝐢𝐦+ 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏 = 𝟐 𝟐 − 𝟏 = 𝟑
𝐱→𝟐 𝐱→𝟐
∴ 𝒈 𝒙 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒙 = 𝟐
 GUIDED PRACTICE #1
Evaluate the following functions:

𝒙+𝟐 𝒙<𝟐
3. Show 𝒇 𝒙 = ቐ 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐 𝟐 ≤ 𝒙 < 𝟑 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐱 = 𝟐.
𝒂. 𝒇 𝟐 = 𝟏 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟓 𝒙≥𝟑
𝒙𝟐 −𝒙−𝟐 𝒙−𝟐 (𝒙+𝟏)
𝒃. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝐱→𝟐 𝒙−𝟐 𝐱→𝟐 𝒙−𝟐

= 𝐥𝐢𝐦(𝒙 + 𝟏)
𝐱→𝟐
=𝟐+𝟏
=𝟑
𝒄. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 ≠ 𝒇 𝟐
𝐱→𝟐
Types of Discontinuities
Suppose f is discontinuous at 𝑥 = 𝑎. We say that 𝑥 = 𝑎 is a

❑ Removable Discontinuity if 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓(𝑥)exists but is not equal to 𝑓 𝑎

x→𝑎
❑ Jump Discontinuity if 𝑙𝑖𝑚− 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑙𝑖𝑚+ 𝑓(𝑥) both exist but are
x→𝑎 x→𝑎
not equal;
❑ Infinite Discontinuity if one or both of 𝑙𝑖𝑚− 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑙𝑖𝑚+ 𝑓(𝑥) is
x→𝑎 x→𝑎
infinite or does not exist.
Types of Discontinuities
REMOVABLE JUMP INFINITE
DISCONTINUITY DISCONTINUITY DISCONTINUITY

❑ Occurs when a rational ❑Occurs when the curve breaks at a ❑Occurs when curve has a vertical
expression has common factors particular point and starts asymptote
in the numerator and the somewhere else ❑ Limit is infinite or does not
denominator. Because these ❑ Right hand limit is not equal to exist due to asymptote
factors can be cancelled, the left hand limit
discontinuity is removable.
Illustrative Examples
The graph of 𝑓(𝑥) is given below. Based on this graph determine where
the function is discontinuous and what type of discontinuity it is.
Answers:
1. 𝑓 𝑥 is discontinuous at -4
𝑱𝒖𝒎𝒑 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒚
2. 𝑓 𝑥 is discontinuous at 2
𝑱𝒖𝒎𝒑 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒚
3. 𝑓 𝑥 is discontinuous at 4
𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒚
Illustrative Examples
The graph of 𝑓(𝑥) is given below. Based on this graph determine where
the function is discontinuous and what type of discontinuity it is.
Answers:
1. 𝑓 𝑥 is discontinuous at -8
𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒚
2. 𝑓 𝑥 is discontinuous at -2
𝑰𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒚
3. 𝑓 𝑥 is discontinuous at 6
𝑱𝒖𝒎𝒑 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒚
 GUIDED PRACTICE #2
Evaluate the following functions:

Identify the point(s) of discontinuity of the following functions and tell

whether the discontinuity is removable, jump or infinite.
𝒙𝟐 −𝒙−𝟐
𝒙𝟐 −𝟐𝒙−𝟑 𝒙≠𝟐
1. 𝒇 𝒙 = 3. 𝒇 𝒙 = ቐ 𝒙−𝟐
𝒙−𝟑
𝟏 𝒙=𝟐

𝟐
𝒙≠𝟎
2. 𝒇 𝒙 = ൝ 𝒙𝟐
𝟐 𝒙=𝟎
 GUIDED PRACTICE #2
Evaluate the following functions:

𝒙𝟑 −𝟐𝒙−𝟑
1. 𝒇 𝒙 =
𝒙−𝟑
𝒂. 𝒇 𝟑 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅.
𝒙𝟐 −𝟐𝒙−𝟑 𝒙−𝟏 (𝒙−𝟑)
𝒃. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝐱→𝟑 𝒙−𝟑 𝐱→𝟑 𝒙−𝟑

= 𝐥𝐢𝐦(𝒙 − 𝟏)
𝐱→𝟑
=𝟑−𝟏
=𝟐
𝒄. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 ≠ 𝒇 𝟑 f (3) is not defined, so f is discontinuous at x = 3.
𝐱→𝟑
Removable Discontinuity
 GUIDED PRACTICE #2
Evaluate the following functions:

𝟐
𝒙≠𝟎
2. 𝒇 𝒙 = ൝ 𝒙𝟐
𝟐 𝒙≠𝟎

𝒇 𝟎 𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅, 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒊𝒔 𝟐,
𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝒇 𝒙 𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚.
𝐱→𝟎
lim 𝒇 𝒙 ≠ 𝒇 𝟎
𝒙→𝟎
𝒔𝒐 𝒇 𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒙 = 𝟎
Infinite Discontinuity
 GUIDED PRACTICE #2
Evaluate the following functions:

𝒙𝟐 −𝒙−𝟐
3. 𝒇 𝒙 = ቐ 𝒙−𝟐 𝒙≠𝟐
𝟏 𝒙≠𝟐
𝒂. 𝒇 𝟐 = 𝟏
𝒙𝟐 −𝒙−𝟐 𝒙−𝟐 (𝒙+𝟏)
𝒃. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝐱→𝟐 𝒙−𝟐 𝐱→𝟐 𝒙−𝟐

= 𝐥𝐢𝐦(𝒙 + 𝟏)
𝐱→𝟐
=𝟐+𝟏
=𝟑 f (2) is defined, so f is discontinuous at x = 2.
𝒄. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 ≠ 𝒇 𝟐 Removable Discontinuity
𝐱→𝟐
 GUIDED PRACTICE #3
A. Determine whether the following functions are continuous or discontinuous
at 𝒙 = 𝒂. If its discontinuous, identify its type of discontinuity.

2
1. 𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑔 𝑥 = 4𝑥 + 𝑥 + 3 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 5

𝑥+3 𝑥<3
2. 𝐼𝑠 𝑓 𝑥 = ቐ 𝑥 2 − 4 𝑥 = 3 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 3
2𝑥 𝑥>3
 GUIDED PRACTICE #3
1. 𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑔 𝑥 = 4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 3 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 5

𝒂. 𝒈 𝟓 = 𝟏𝟎𝟖
𝟐 𝟐
𝒃. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟒𝒙 + 𝒙 + 𝟑 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟒 𝟓 +𝟓+𝟑
𝐱→𝟓 𝐱→𝟓

= 𝟒 𝟐𝟓 + 𝟖
= 𝟏𝟎𝟎 + 𝟖
= 𝟏𝟎𝟖
𝒄. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝒈 𝟓 = 𝟏𝟎𝟖
𝐱→𝟓

∴ 𝒈 𝒙 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒙 = 𝟓
 GUIDED PRACTICE #3
𝑥+3 𝑥<3
2. 𝐼𝑠 𝑓 𝑥 = ቐ 𝑥 2 − 4 𝑥 = 3 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 3
2𝑥 𝑥>3

𝒂. 𝒇 𝟑 = 𝟓
𝒃. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐𝒙 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐(𝟑) ∴ 𝒇 𝒙 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒙 = 𝟑
𝐱→𝟑 𝐱→𝟑

=𝟔 Removable Discontinuity
𝒄. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒇 𝟑 = 𝟔
𝐱→𝟑
 GUIDED PRACTICE #3
B. On what domain are the functions discontinuous? Tell whether the point is
removable, jump, or infinite.

2
𝑥 + 4𝑥 − 3
1. 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−5
2
𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 4
2. 𝐼𝑠 𝑓 𝑥 = ቐ 𝑥≠4
𝑥−5
10 𝑥=4
 GUIDED PRACTICE #3
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 3
1. 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−5

∴ 𝒇 𝒙 𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒙 = 𝟓
𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 4
Infinite Discontinuity 2. 𝐼𝑠 𝑓 𝑥 = ቐ 𝑥≠4
𝑥−5
10 𝑥≠4

∴ 𝒇 𝒙 𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒙 = 𝟒
Removable Discontinuity
Continuity at an Interval
On determining the interval of continuity, take note of the
following reminders:
❑Polynomial functions are always continuous at the interval −∞, +∞ .
❑Rational Functions are undefined at the values of x that makes the
denominator 0.
❑Radical Functions in the form 𝑓 𝑥 are undefined at the values of x
that makes 𝒇 𝒙 < 𝟎.
 GUIDED PRACTICE #4
Determine whether the function is continuous or not on the following intervals

𝟏. −𝟑, 𝟏 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔

𝟐. −𝟕, −𝟐 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔

𝟑. 𝟑, 𝟗 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔

𝟒. −𝟒, 𝟐 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔

𝟓. (𝟏𝟎, 𝟏𝟐] 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔

𝟔. 𝟏𝟐, 𝟏𝟕 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔
Continuity to Differentiability

Importance of Continuity to Differentiability

Differentiability is when the slope of the tangent

line equals the that for a function to be
differentiable, it must be limit of the function at a
given point. This directly suggests continuous, and
its derivative must be continuous as well.
 Enrichment Activity
Evaluate the limit of the following functions applying the limit
I. On what domain are the following functions continuous?

laws.
𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒙 + 𝟏 𝒙≤𝟎 𝒙𝟐 +𝟒𝒙+𝟒
𝒇 𝒙 =ቊ 2. 𝒇 𝒙 =
𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙 𝒙>𝟎 𝒙+𝟐
 Enrichment Activity
Evaluate 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒙
the limit of
+𝟏 𝒙≤𝟎 the following functions applying the limit
𝒇 𝒙 =ቊ
𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙 𝒙>𝟎
𝒂.
laws. 𝒇 𝟎 = 𝟐
𝒃. 𝐥𝐢𝐦−(𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒙 + 𝟏) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦−(𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟎 + 𝟏) 𝒃. 𝐥𝐢𝐦+(𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦+(𝟐 − 𝟑(𝟎)
𝐱→𝟎 𝐱→𝟎 𝐱→𝟎 𝐱→𝟎

=𝟏+𝟏 =𝟐−𝟎

=𝟐 =𝟐
𝒄. 𝐥𝐢𝐦−(𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒙 + 𝟏) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦+(𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙)
𝐱→𝟎 𝐱→𝟎

∴ 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒇 𝒙 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒙 = 𝟎 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏,

𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒇 𝒙 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 −∞, +∞
 Enrichment Activity
Evaluate the limit of the following functions applying the limit
𝒙𝟐 +𝟒𝒙+𝟒 Note: Rational Functions are undefined at the
2. 𝒇 𝒙 =
𝒙+𝟐 values of x that makes the denominator 0
laws.
𝟎
𝒂. 𝒇 −𝟐 = = 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆 If -2 is not part of the domain of 𝑓(𝑥), Check for
𝟎 the continuity on the Interval
−∞, −2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 −2, +∞
(𝒙𝟐 +𝟒𝒙+𝟒 (𝒙+𝟐)(𝒙+𝟐)
𝒃. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 ) 𝐥𝐢𝐦 ( ) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 + 𝟐 = −𝟐 + 𝟐 = 𝟎
𝐱→−𝟐 𝒙+𝟐 𝐱→−𝟐 𝒙+𝟐 𝐱→−𝟐

∴ 𝒇 𝒙 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 −∞, −𝟐 𝒂𝒏𝒅 −𝟐, +∞

 Summary ✓ Removable Discontinuity
The function is undefined or has
Continuity Discontinuity a different value at that point, but
it can be made continuous by
A function is said to A function is said to redefining the function at that
be continuous if it can be discontinuous at a point.
be drawn without point x = a if it fails to
picking up the pencil. meet the conditions
✓ Infinite Discontinuity
In other words, there for continuity at that The function approaches positive
are no breaks or point. There are or negative infinity at a specific
interruptions in the several cases in which x-value.
graph of the function. a function can be
discontinuous: ✓ Jump Discontinuity
The function has a sudden jump
in its graph at a specific x-value.