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    1.5a Continuity

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    1.5a Continuity

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    10 views4 pages

    1.5a Continuity

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    zhaoyijmeng

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    You are on page 1of 4

    1.

    5a Continuity

    In this lesson, we introduce the concept of continuity. This concept puts a mathematical framework on
    the idea of a function’s values being “connected” to one another. This is another of those mathematical
    concepts which is best approached graphically. We want to define continuous functions to be those
    whose values “flow” or “continue” as inputs change without any breaks or jumps. More bluntly, a
    continuous function whose graph can be drawn without picking up one’s pencil. To make this rigorous,
    though, we need limits.

    Here is the definition. This definition really says three things, and all are necessary for continuity.

    1) The limit of F as x approaches a must exist.


    2) The function must be defined at a (i.e., a is in the domain of f).
    3) Both sides must be equal. Taken together, you might say something like for F to be continuous at
    a, its limit as x goes to a and its value at a should match.

    Let’s look at this example.

    Here, we have four special x-values. Each helps us get a grip on what the definition is saying. This
    function is continuous at a. The limit of the function exists as x approaches a, the function is defined at
    a, and they are equal.

    At the other three marked points, however, the function is NOT continuous. Let’s see where the
    definition breaks down.

    At point b, a limit exists, but the function is not equal to this value at b. This actually has a funny name:
    “removable discontinuity”. You might think of Acme’s portable holes. If we “remove the hole” by setting
    the value of f(b) appropriately, the function could be made continuous.
    Point C is called a jump discontinuity. The function is defined there, but the limits from either side do not
    link up. The function “jumps” from one value to another at that point.

    Lastly, at d, we have a vertical asymptote, and the limit cannot be defined there. This is called an infinite
    discontinuity.
    Self-assessment 1.

    It is important to understand sums, differences products and ratios of continuous functions are
    continuous. Same is true for compositions of continuous functions.

    Put together, we can make some conclusions about the functions we are familiar with: namely, all of
    these functions are continuous on their domains.
    Recall that these functions were those that have the “direct substitution property” That is just another
    way of saying they are continuous on their domains. Let’s look at an example.

    Where is the following function continuous? This is the composition of a logarithmic function and a
    polynomial. So it is continuous on its domain. To find that domain, recall that natural log is defined at all
    positive numbers and that x2 is positive at all real numbers except 0. So f(x) is continuous at all real
    numbers except 0. We often use interval notation to express this.

    Notice the graph of f shows an infinite discontinuity at 0.

    Let’s look at a more complicated example.

    This is a trigonometric function composed with a power function as we taking square rooting ½+sinx is
    raising it to ½. Power functions are continuous at all positive numbers as its domain is all real numbers.
    So we look for numbers x such that ½+sin x is greater than 0 as the domain for the square root function
    is everything that is greater or equal to zero. This occurs at regular intervals every 2π units (because sin
    is periodic). One such interval is (-π /6 to 7π /6).
    Self-assessment 2.

    Self-assessment 3.

    Congrats on finishing this module. We have seen how to use limits to define what it means for a function
    to be continuous at particular points of its domain. We also discussed the fact that algebraic
    combinations of many familiar functions are continuous at all points of their domains.

    Self-assessment answers.

    1. Jump discontinuity, removable discontinuity, continuous at this point

    2. (-2, 5)

    3. a=-4

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