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VEERARAGHAVAN C S
PGT IN MATHEMATICS
SRI KRISHNAA MHSS, COIMBATORE

GRAPHICAL MEANING OF CONTINUITY

O.PRE REQUISITE
Before learning this chapter, the student should know the following concepts.

Limits Meaning of Limits Left hand and Right Hand Limits (One sided limits) Existence of Limits.

0.1 SUMMARY OF PRE REQUISITE KNOWLEDGE

a) You could describe the end behaviour of a function as a limit.
b) You need to distinguish between the function evaluated at the point and the limit around the point.
c) Your main goal when evaluating limits graphically is to determine the existence of the limit.
d) You could understand that the function
i) could be defined at that point
ii) could be undefined at that point
iii) could be defined at some other place above that point or below that point.
e) When you evaluate limits graphically, regardless of what is happening at that point, you only look at the
neighbourhood to the left and right of the function at the point.

Note: By neighbourhood around a point a, we mean what is happening around x = a, not at the
point. In two dimensional plane neighbourhood of a point is left hand side and right hand side.
In three dimension, it is a sphere. You could understand this concept when you learn analytical geometry.

0.2 Why Graphical Meaning of Continuity should be learnt?

Studies shows that understanding calculus graphically has more potential than understanding kinematics
graphically in the interpretation of a function and its derivative.
[Refer: Understanding and interpreting Calculus Graphs by Nadia Perez Goytia et al.]

0.3 Learning Outcome

Can determine when a function is continuous from its graph.
Know how to evaluate and graph piecewise-defined function.
Recognize graphs of continuous functions and discontinuous functions.
Generate functions and graphs of functions demonstrating the different types of discontinuities.
Students will be able to distinguish between removable and non-removable discontinuities.

VEERARAGHAVAN C S, PGT IN MATHEMATICS, SRI KRISHNAA MHSS, COIMBATORE - 641025

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1
1.1 Introduction
Let us observe the graphs given below

Fig 1-1 Fig 1- 2 Fig 1-3 Fig 1-4

We can draw the graph Fig 1-4 without lifting the pencil or pen. In all other cases, the pencil has to be lifted to
draw the whole graph.
In case of Fig 1-4, we say that the function is continuous at x = a.
In other three cases, the function is not continuous at x = a.
In case (Fig 1-1), the limit of the function does not exist at x = 1.
In case (Fig 1-2) the limit exist, but is not equal to value of the function at x = 1.
In case (Fig 1-3) both left-hand and right hand limits exist, but are not equal.

You will learn that (Fig 1-1) and (Fig 1-2) has removable discontinuities and (Fig 1-3) has jump
discontinuities later in this same chapter.

1.2 Definition of Continuity at a point.

The function f(x) is continuous at x = a if the following conditions are all satisfied.
(i) The function f(x) is defined at x = a.
(ii) lim () exists.
(iii) lim () = ()
It is possible to have functions where two of these conditions are satisfied but the third is not.(Ref
Example 1.3.1 in the next page).
When a function is not continuous at x = a, then it is discontinuous at a and a is a point of
discontinuity. (Ref Examples 1.3.1 to 1.3.5)

Bhaskara stated theorems about the solutions which are known

now as Pell Equation. For Example, he posed the problem: Tell
me,O Mathematician, what is that square which multiplied by 8
becomes together with unity a square?. He asked here the
solution of the Pell Equation = 8 + 1. It has the simple
solution x = 1, y = 3. Further solutions can be constructed like x =
6,y = 17 from the graph given here.

VEERARAGHAVAN C S, PGT IN MATHEMATICS, SRI KRISHNAA MHSS, COIMBATORE - 641025

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1.3 Examples

Example 1.3.1 Consider the piece-wise function

1
() =
2 = 1
In this example, we have lim () exists!
The value of f(x) at x = 1 is defined but
lim () (1)
Therefore the function is not continuous at x = 1.
This is an example of a removable discontinuity.

i.e., a discontinuity at which the limit of the function exists but does not equal to the value of the function at
that point.

If we define f(x) = 1 when x = 1, it becomes continuous- the hole in the graph is filled in.

Example 1.3.2 Consider the piecewise function

absolute value.
0
() = || =
< 0
At x = 0, it has a very pointy change!
But it is still defined at x = 0 because f(0) = 0
(so no hole).

And the limit as you approach x = 0 (from either side) is also 0. (so no jump). So it is in fact continuous.
But it is not differentiable you will learn in next chapter derivatives.

Example 1.3.3 The function tan x is not continous, but

is continuous on for example in the interval
<< .
It has infinitely many points of discontinuity at
, 3 etc., all are infinite discontinuities.

An infinite discontinuity exist when one of the one-sided limits of the function is infinite.

VEERARAGHAVAN C S, PGT IN MATHEMATICS, SRI KRISHNAA MHSS, COIMBATORE - 641025

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Example 1.3.4 Consider the function

< 1
() = 0 = 1
2 ( 1) > 1
The point x0 = 1 is a jump discontinuity.

In this case both Left Hand Limit and Right Hand Limits exist and are finite, but are not equal. Hence the limit
does not exist. X0 is called a jump discontinuity or step discontinuity or discontinuity of the first kind. For this
type of discontinuity, the function f may have any value at x0.

Example 1.3.5
5
< 1
1
() = 0 = 1
1

1 > 1

The point x0 =1 is an essential discontinuity. In this case Left Hand Limit does not exist and the Right Hand
Limit is infinite. So x0 is an essential discontinuity.

For an essential discontinuity, only one of the two one-sided limits needs not to exist or to be infinite. It is
also known as infinite discontinuity or discontinuity of the second kind.

SUMMARY
A continuous function is simply a function with no gaps a function that you can draw without taking your pencil
off the paper.

EXERCISE 1-1
1) Draw the graphs and discuss the continuity of the function of each graph.

(| |)
a) ( ) = b) ( ) =

2) Say True or False. Give brief reasons.

a) ( ) =( is continuous in the interval [0,1].

)

VEERARAGHAVAN C S, PGT IN MATHEMATICS, SRI KRISHNAA MHSS, COIMBATORE - 641025

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b) () = is continuous in the interval ,

3) Is the function () = | 3| continuous at x = 3?

Answers:

1)a) The function is not continuous at x = - 1.

b) The function is not continuous at x = +2.

2) a) False.

The denominator is zero at x = which is in the interval [0,1]. Hence f(x) is not continuous in this interval.

b) False

The denominator of f(x) is zero at /3 which is in the interval , . Since the function is undefined at /3, it is not

continuous there.

3) lim | 3| = lim ( 3) = lim + 3 = -3 + 3 = 0

lim | 3| = lim 3=33=0

f(3) = |3 3| = |0| = 0.

Since lim () = lim () = (3), the function is continuous at the point x = 3.

GLOSSARY
Continuity - The function is continuous at a point if it satisfies the following three conditions.

1) f has to be defined at c.

2) the limit has to exist.

3) the value of this limit must equal f(c).

Discontinuity - The function which is not continuous at that point is discontinuous at that point.

Essential Discontinuity - For an essential discontinuity, only one of the two one-sided limits needs not to
exist or to be infinite.

Jump Discontinuity - a single limit does not exist because the one-sided limits, L and L+, exist and are
finite, but are not equal:

Removable Discontinuity - This discontinuity can be 'removed to make f continuous at x0'.

VEERARAGHAVAN C S, PGT IN MATHEMATICS, SRI KRISHNAA MHSS, COIMBATORE - 641025