74

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36. Solve Problems 17 through 26 by using the trace feature of your calculator to make a table of x and f(x) values near the number x is approaching. 37. The accompanying graph represents a function f(x) that oscillates between 1 and 1 more and more frequently as x approaches 0 from either the right or the left. lim Does x 0 f(x) exist? If so what is its value? [Note: For students with experience in trigonometry, the function f(x) sin 1 behaves in this way.] x
y 1 x 1

38. The accompanying graph represents a function g(x) that oscillates more and more frequently as x approaches 0 from either the right or the left but with decreasing magnitude. Does x 0 g(x) exist? If so, what is its value? [Note: For students with lim experience in trigonometry, the function g(x)
y

x sin

1 behaves in this way.] x

6
Continuity

The dictionary denes continuity as an unbroken or uninterrupted succession. Continuous behavior is certainly an important part of our lives. For instance, the growth of a tree is continuous, as are the motion of a rocket and the volume of water owing into a bathtub. Informally, a continuous function is one whose graph can be drawn without the pen leaving the paper (Figure 1.45); that is, one with no holes or gaps. Not all functions have this property (recall the just in time inventory graph shown in Figure 1.43

Chapter 1 I Section 6

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75

of Section 5), but those that do play an important role in calculus. To ensure that a function f(x) has no hole or gap at x c, the function must be dened at c and the values of f(x) for x near c must be close to f(c). In other words, a small change in x must produce a small change in f(x). Here is a more precise denition of continuity in terms of limits.

FIGURE 1.45 A continuous graph.

Continuity

A function f is continuous at c if

(a) f(c) is dened (b) lim f(x) exists

xc xc

(c) lim f(x)

f(c)

If f(x) is not continuous at c, it is said to have a discontinuity there.

(c, f(c))

0
xc

0
xc

(a) f (c) is not defined

(b) lim f (x) does not exist

(c) lim f (x) f (c)

FIGURE 1.46 Three functions with discontinuities at x

c.

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Figure 1.46 shows the graphs of three functions with discontinuities at x c. In Figure 1.46a, the function is not continuous at x c because f(c) is not dened. In Figure 1.46b, lim f(x) does not exist, and in Figure 1.46c, lim f(x) f(c) even though
x c x c

f(c) is dened and the limit exists.

CONTINUITY OF POLYNOMIALS AND RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

Recall that if p(x) and q(x) are polynomials, then

x c

lim p(x) p(c) q(c)

p(c) if q(c) 0

and

p(x) x c q(x) lim

These limit formulas can be interpreted as saying that a polynomial or a rational function is continuous wherever it is dened. This is illustrated in the following examples.

EXAMPLE 6.1
Show that the polynomial p(x) 3x3 x 5 is continuous at x 1. Solution Verify that the three criteria for continuity are satised. Clearly p(1) is dened; in fact, p(1) 7. Moreover, lim p(x) exists and lim p(x) 7. Thus,
x 1 x 1 x 1

lim p(x)

p(1) 1.

as required for p(x) to be continuous at x

Explore!
x 1 using the x 2 enlarged decimal window [ 9.4, 9.4]1 by [ 6.2, 6.2]1. Is the function continuous? Is it continuous at x 2? How about at x 3? Also examine this function using a table with an initial value of x at 1.8, increasing in increments of 0.2. Graph f(x)

EXAMPLE 6.2
Show that the rational function f(x) Solution Note that f(3) 3 3 1 2 4. Since lim x
x 3

x x

1 is continuous at x 2

3.

0, you nd that 1) 2) 4 1

x 3

lim f(x)

x x 3 x lim

1 2

x 3

lim (x lim (x 3.

f(3)

x 3

as required for f(x) to be continuous at x

Chapter 1 I Section 6

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77

Explore!
Store h(x) of Example 6.3 (c) into the function editor (Y ) using Y1 (X 1)(X 1) (X 2)(X 1). Use a decimal window with a dot graphing style. Is this function continuous at x 1? Use the TRACE key to display the value of the function at x 1 and to nd the limiting values of y as x approaches 1 from the left side and from the right side.

EXAMPLE 6.3
Discuss the continuity of each of the following functions: (a) f(x) 1 x (b) g(x) x2 x 1 1 (c) h(x) x 2 1 if x x if x 1 1

Solution The functions in parts (a) and (b) are rational and are therefore continuous wherever they are dened (that is, wherever their denominators are not zero). 1 (a) f(x) is dened everywhere except x 0, and thus it is continuous for all x 0 x (Figure 1.47a). (b) Since x 1 is the only value of x for which g(x) is undened, g(x) is continuous except at x 1 (Figure 1.47b). (c) This function is dened in two pieces. First check for continuity at x 1, the value of x that separates the two pieces. You nd that lim h(x) does not exist,
x 1

since h(x) approaches 2 from the left and 1 from the right. Thus, h(x) is not continuous at 1 (Figure 1.47c). However, since the polynomials x 1 and 2 x are each continuous for every value of x, it follows that h(x) is continuous at every number x other than 1.

1 y= x x 0 1 (1, 2) 0

y=

x2 1 x+1 y=x+1 x 0 1 y=2x x

(a) Continuous for x 0

(b) Continuous for x 1

(c) Continuous for x 1

FIGURE 1.47 Functions for Example 6.3.

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Chapter 1

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EXAMPLE 6.4
For what value of the constant A is the following function continuous for all real x? f(x) Ax x2 5 3x 4 if x if x 1 1

Solution Since Ax 5 and x2 3x 4 are both polynomials, it follows that f(x) will be continuous everywhere except possibly at x 1. Moreover, f(x) approaches A 5 as x approaches 1 from the left and approaches 2 as x approaches 1 from the right. Thus, for lim f(x) to exist, we must have A 5 2 or A 3, in which case
x 1 x 1

lim f(x)

2 3.

f(1)

so f is continuous at x

1 only when A

CONTINUITY ON AN INTERVAL

For many applications of calculus, it is useful to have the following denitions of continuity on open and closed intervals.

Continuity on an Interval

Explore!
Use a graphing utility to graph x 2 as described in f(x) x 3 Example 6.5 by storing Y1 (X 2)/(X 3)(X 2)/(X 3) and Y2 (X 2)/(X 3)/(X 2)/(X 3). Use a viewing rectangle of [1, 4]1 by [ 250, 0]20. Deselect Y2 and graph Y1. Use TRACE to investigate Y1 for x values a little less than 3 while Y2 is deselected. Make a table. Repeat using Y2 while Y1 is deselected. Is there any difference in the tables?

I A function f(x) is said to be continuous on an open interval a x b if it is continuous at each x in the interval. It is said to be continuous on a closed interval a x b if f(x) is continuous on the open interval a x b and f(x) approaches f(a) as x approaches a from the right (for a x) and f(x) approaches f(b) as x approaches b from the left (for x b).

In other words, continuity on an interval means that the graph of f is one piece throughout the interval.

EXAMPLE 6.5
Discuss the continuity of the function f(x) on the open interval 2 x x x 2 3 2 x 3.

3 and on the closed interval

Solution The rational function f(x) is continuous for all x except x

3. Therefore, it is

Chapter 1 I Section 6

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79

Explore!
x3 8 , using a x 2 standard window. Does this graph appear continuous? Now use a modied decimal window [ 4.7, 4.7]1 by [0, 14.4]1, and describe what you observe. Which cases is this most like in Example 6.3? Graph f(x)

continuous on the open interval 2 x 3 but not on the closed interval 2 x 3, since it is discontinuous at the endpoint 3 (where its denominator is zero). The graph of f is shown in Figure 1.48.

FIGURE 1.48 The graph of f (x)

x x

2 . 3

THE INTERMEDIATE VALUE PROPERTY

An important feature of continuous functions is the intermediate value property, which says that if f(x) is continuous on the interval a x b and L is a number between f(a) and f(b), then f(c) L for some number c between a and b (see Figure 1.49). In other words, a continuous function attains all values between any two of its values. For instance, a girl who weighs 5 lb at birth and 80 lb at age 15 must have weighed exactly 50 lb at some time in her life, since her weight is a continuous function of time. The intermediate value property has a variety of applications. In Example 6.6, we show how it can be used to estimate a solution of a given equation.

y (a, f(a)) f (c) = L for some c between a and b

L (b, f(b)) a c b x

FIGURE 1.49 The intermediate value property.

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Chapter 1

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EXAMPLE 6.6
Show that the equation x2 Solution
1 x

1 x 1

has a solution for 1

2.

2 3

1 3 2 . Then f(1) and f(2) . Since f(x) is continuous x 1 2 3 for 1 x 2 and the graph of f is below the x axis at x 1 and above the x axis at x 2, it follows from the intermediate value property that the graph must cross the x axis somewhere between x 1 and x 2 (see Figure 1.50). In other words, there is a number c such that 1 c 2 and f(c) 0, so Let f(x) x2 x 1 c2 c 1 1 c 1

FIGURE 1.50 The graph of

y x
2

1 x 1

The root-location procedure described in Example 6.6 can be continued to estimate the root c to any desired degree of accuracy. For instance, the midpoint of the interval 1 x 2 is d 1.5 and f(1.5) 0.65, so the root c must lie in the interval 1.5 x 2 (since f(2) 0), and so on. Thats nice, you say, but I can use the solve utility on my calculator to nd a much more accurate estimate for c with much less effort. You are right, of course, but how do you think your calculator makes its estimation? Perhaps not by the method just described, but certainly by some similar algorithmic procedure. It is important to understand such procedures as you use the technology that utilizes them.

Note

P . R . O . B . L . E . M . S

1.6

In Problems 112, decide if the given function is continuous at the specied value of x. 1. f(x) 3. f(x) 5. f(x) 5x2 x x x x 6x 2 ;x 1 1 ;x 1 1 1 1; x 2 2. f(x) 4. f(x) 6. f(x) x3 2x 3x 2x 3x 2x2 4 ;x 2 1 ;x 6 x 2 2 5; x 0

Chapter 1 I Section 6

Continuity

81

7. f(x) 9. f(x) 10. f(x) 11. f(x)

x x x 2 x x x2 2x x2 x x2 4

2 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 3

;x if x if x if x if x if x if x if x if x

4 2 ;x 2 0 ;x 0 3 ;x 3 1 ;x 1 2 0 3

8. f(x)

x x 4

;x

12. f(x)

In Problems 13 through 24, list all the values of x for which the given function is not continuous. 13. f(x) 15. f(x) 17. f(x) 19. f(x) 21. f(x) 23. f(x)
WEATHER

3x2 x x 3x x 1 2 3 1

6x

14. f(x) 16. f(x) 18. f(x) 20. f(x) 22. f(x)

x5 3x 2x x2 x (x x x2 x2 9
2

x3 1 6 1 1 x 5)(x 2x x if x if x 1 2 2 2 1)

3x 2 (x 3)(x 6) x x2 2x 6x x 3 1 if x if x 1 1

24. f(x)

25. Suppose the air temperature is T (F) and the wind speed is v (mph).* Then the equivalent windchill temperature is given by the function W(v) T 91.4 1.6T (91.4 55 T)(0.0203v 0.304 v if 0 0.474) if 4 if v v 4 v 45 45

(a) Suppose T 30F. What is the windchill temperature when v 20 mph? What if v 50 mph? (b) For T 30F, what wind speed corresponds to a windchill temperature of 0F? (c) Is the windchill function W(v) continuous at v 4? What about at v 45?

* William Bosch and L. G. Cobb, UMAP Module No. 658, Windchill, 1984, pp. 244247.

82 Chapter 1

Functions, Graphs, and Limits

ELECTRIC FIELD INTENSITY

26. If a hollow sphere of radius R is charged with one unit of static electricity, then the eld intensity E(x) at a point P located x units from the center of the sphere satises: agfbgdfgc 0 1 2x2 1 x2 if 0 if x if x x R R 0? R

E(x)

Sketch the graph of E(x). Is E(x) continuous for x

POSTAGE

27. The postage function p(x) can be described as follows: aeedgfbgffdc 33 55 77 275 if 0 if 1 if 2 if 11 x x x x 1 2 3 12

p(x)

where x is the weight of a letter in ounces and p(x) is the corresponding postage in cents. Sketch the graph of p(x) for 0 x 6. For what values of x is p(x) discontinuous for 0 x 6?
ENERGY CONSUMPTION

28. The graph shows the amount of gasoline in the tank of Sues car over a 30-day period. When is the graph discontinuous? What do you think happens at these times?

Q (gals) 10

10

15

20

25

30

t (days)

INVENTORY

29. The graph shows the number of units in inventory at a certain business over a 2year period. When is the graph discontinuous? What do you think is happening at those times?

Chapter 1 I Section 6

Continuity

83

I (units in inventory) 300 200 100 0 6 12 18 24 t (months)

In Problems 30 and 31 nd the values of the constant A such that the function f(x) will be continuous for all x. 30. f(x) 31. f(x) Ax 3 3 x 2x2 1 3x Ax2 2x if x if x if x 3 if x 2 2 4 4 x 1 1. 2 2 x 2. 1 x on the open interval

32. Discuss the continuity of the function f(x) 0 x 1 and on the closed interval 0 x2 4 3x 2x x if x if x 33. Discuss the continuity of the function f(x) on the open interval 0 34. Show that the equation interval 0 x 8. 35. Show that the equation interval 0 x 1.
3

x
3

2 and on the closed interval 0 x 8 x2 9x2/ 3 2x 2x2

29 has at least one solution for the 1 must have at least one solution on the

36. Investigate the behavior of f(x)

5x 2 when x is near to (a) 2 and x 4 (b) 2. Does the limit exist at these values of x? Is the function continuous at these values of x?
2

37. Explain why there must have been some time in your life when your weight in pounds was the same as your height in inches. 38. Explain why there is a time every hour when the hour hand and minute hand of a clock coincide. 39. At age 15, Nan is twice as tall as her 5-year-old brother Dan, but on Dans 21st birthday, they nd that he is 6 inches taller. Explain why there must have been a time when they were exactly the same height.