CONTINUITY OF

FUNCTIONS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Illustrates a continuity of a
function at a number.
Relate continuity into real-life
situations.
BUZZ TIME (w/ seatmate)

What/where do you envision yourself to be

a) 2 years from now?
b) 6 years from now?
c) 10 years later?
 VOCATION
CHOSEN
LIFE OF
WORK
COLLEGE
SENIOR HIGH
SCHOOL

JUNIOR HIGH
SCHOOL 26-35
22-26
ELEMENTARY

18-22
How will you
16-18
12-16 actualize your
6-12 goal/s?
CONTINUITY AT A NUMBER/POINT

A function 𝑓(𝑥) is said to be continuous at the number

𝒂 if all the following conditions are satisfied.
1) 𝑓(𝑎) exists
2) lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists
𝑥→𝑎
3) lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑎)
𝑥→𝑎
If any of the above conditions fail, the function
𝑓(𝑥) is said to be discontinuous at a number 𝑎.
EXAMPLE:

Is 𝑓 𝑥 = 4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 2 continuous at 𝑥 = 1?
CONDITIONS SATISFIED OR NOT?

𝑓(𝑎) exists
lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists
𝑥→𝑎
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑎)
𝑥→𝑎
EXAMPLE:

𝑥 2 −4
Is 𝑓 𝑥 = continuous at 𝑥 = 1, 𝑥 = 2?
𝑥−2
CONDITIONS SATISFIED OR NOT

𝑓(𝑎) exists
lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists
𝑥→𝑎
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑎)
𝑥→𝑎
PRACTICE:

Math Groupie on pages 68-69 of your book.

Test B., no.s 11 and 16 only.
Buzz Time

1) When can you have say that a function is

continuous at a point?
2) In our school community or society, what do
you think are things or aspects that needs
continuous actions to effect a great purpose?
Seatwork:

Math Groupie on pages 68-69 of your book.

Test B., no.s 12, 13 and 18 only.
• The graph of 𝒇(𝒙) is given below. Based on this graph
determine where the function is discontinuous.
CONTINUITY ON AN OPEN INTERVAL

A function 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous on an open

interval (𝑎, 𝑏) if it is continuous at every point
of the interval (𝑎, 𝑏).

Method to Use: Table of Values

EXAMPLE:

Is 𝑓 𝑥 = 9 − 𝑥 2 continuous at (−3,3)?
x -2.9 -2 -1 0 1 2 2.9
f(x) 0.77 2.236 2.828 3 2.828 2.236 0.77
CONTINUITY ON A CLOSED INTERVAL

A function 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous on a closed interval

[𝑎, 𝑏] if the following conditions are satisfied.
1)It is continuous on the open interval (𝑎, 𝑏).
2) It is continuous from the right of 𝑎.
3) It is continuous from the left of 𝑏.
EXAMPLE:

Is 𝑓 𝑥 = 9 − 𝑥 2 continuous at [−3,3]?
Removable Discontinuity:

• This discontinuity occurs when there is a

hole in the graph of the function.
• It is called removable discontinuity
because one can remove the discontinuity
by redefining the function.
 𝒙𝟐 −𝟒
Example: 𝒇 𝒙 =
𝒙−𝟑
Definition of Terms
Limits of Exponential Function
• An exponential functions is a
function in which the exponent of
the expression is a variable.
The Natural Exponential Function
• The exponential function with base 𝑒 is
frequently used in advanced mathematics.
The natural exponential function is 𝑓(𝑥)= 𝑒 𝑥
where = 2.718281828.
Limits of Logarithmic Function

• Exponential functions of the form 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑏 𝑥

were graphed in the previous lesson. The inverse of
𝑦 = 𝑏 𝑥 which is 𝑥 = 𝑏 𝑦 is also a function. For 𝑏 > 0
and 𝑏 ≠ 1, the logarithmic function 𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑥 is
equivalent to 𝑥 = 𝑏 𝑦.
TYPES OF DISCONTINUITY
Removable Discontinuity
• This discontinuity occurs when there
is a hole in the graph of the function.
Jump Discontinuity
• This discontinuity occurs when the graph of the
function stops at one point and seems to jump at the
another point. In the jump discontinuity, the left
hand and the right hand limits exist but are not
equal.
Infinite Discontinuity
• In this type of discontinuity, at
least one of the two limits is
infinite.
Intermediate Value Theorem
• In the figure below
• A) 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous on the closed interval [𝑎, 𝑏].
• B) 𝑓(𝑎) = 𝑦1
• C) 𝑓 𝑏 = 𝑦2
Extreme Value Theorem
• If a function 𝑓(𝑥)is continuous on a closed
interval [𝑎, 𝑏], then 𝑓(𝑥) has an absolute
maximum an absolute minimum value at
some points on that closed interval.