Calculus (MATH ZC 233/PE ZC 233)

Session-3

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee

BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Continuity
In this session, we will learn the continuity and differentiability
of the function.
A function f is continuous at x = c if the graph of y = f (x) can
be drawan in one stroke (without lifting chalk/pencil) across
x = c.

Formally, we say that a function f is continuous at x = c, if

f (c) is defined (c lies in the domain of f )

limx→c f (x) exists (f has a limit as x → c) and

limx→c f (x) = f (c) (the limit equals the function value).

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus
Continuity and differentiability of a function
Note 1
According to the definition, if x = c is not in the domain of a
function f , then the question of continuity of f at x = c does not
arise.

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Note 2
We say a function f is continuous if it is continuous at all points
of its domain.

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Rules of Continuity

If functions f and g are continuous at x = c, then the following

functions are continuous at x = c.

f + g and f − g.

f g.

k f , where k is any number.

f
g (provided g(c) ̸= 0).

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Note 3

Every polynomial is continuous at every point of the real

line.

Every rational function is continuous at every point where

its denominator is different from zero.

If f is continuous at c and g is continuous at f (c) then g ◦ f

is continuous at c.

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Example 9

The following functions are continuous:

sin(x)

cos(x)

ex

log(x), x > 0

All polynomial functions

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Example 10
Check the continuity of the function:
 1
x−3 , if x < 4,
f (x) =
2x + 3, if x ≥ 4.

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Example 11
Check the continuity of the function:

 1 − x, if x < 0,
f (x) = 0, if x = 0,
1 + x, if x > 0.


Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Example 12

At what points are the following functions continuous?

1
f (x) = x−2 − 3x.

x+1
f (x) = x 2 −4x+3
.

f (x) = |x − 1| + sin x.

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Example 13
For what value of a is
x 2 − 1,

x < 3,
f (x) =
2ax, x ≥3

continuous at every x?

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
The Intermediate Value Theorem
Suppose f (x) is continuous function on [a, b].

Then if y0 is a number between minx∈[a,b] f (x) and

maxx∈[a,b] f (x), there exists a number c between a and b such
that f (c) = y0 .

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Derivative

The derivative of a function f at a point x0 , denoted by f ′ (x0 ) is

defined by
f (x) − f (x0 )
f ′ (x0 ) = lim
x→x0 (x − x0 )
whenever the limit on right exists.

The process of calculating a derivative is called differentiation.

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Derivative (contd...)

Left hand derivative of f at x = x0 ,

f (x0 ) − f (x0 − h)
lim .
h→0 h
Right hand derivative of f at x = x0 ,

f (x0 + h) − f (x0 )
lim .
h→0 h
The function f (x) is said to be differentiable at x0 if the
derivative of f (x) exists. i.e., Left hand derivative and Right
hand derivative of f exists and equal.

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Derivative (contd...)

The function f (x) is said to be differentiable on open interval

(a, b), if the function is differentiable at every point of (a, b).

The function f (x) is said to be differentiable on closed interval

[a, b], if the function is differentiable on (a, b), right hand
derivative exists at x = a and left hand derivative exists at
x = b.

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Note 1

Given a function f (x) that is differentiable at x = a, the following

are all equal.

the derivative of f at x = a, f ′ (a)

the slope of the tangent line of f at the point (a, f (a)) and

the instantaneous rate of change of y = f (x) with respect

to x at x = a.

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Differentiability and Continuity

If f is differentiable at x = c, then f is continuous at c.

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Proof

Given that f ′ (c) exists, we must show that limx→c f (x) = f (c)
(or) equivalently, that

lim f (c + h) = f (c).
h→0

If h ̸= 0 then

f (c + h) = f (c) + (f (c + h) − f (c)) ,
f (c + h) − f (c)
= f (c) + h.
h

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Proof (contd...)

Now take limit as h → 0 on both sides, we obtain

f (c + h) − f (c)
lim f (c+h) = lim f (c)+ lim lim h = f (c)+f ′ (c) 0.
h→0 h→0 h→0 h h→0

Thus, we have
lim f (c + h) = f (c).
h→0

This implies that f is continuous function at x = c.

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Note 2

The converse of the Theorem is false.

A function need not have a derivative at a point where it is

continuous.

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Example 1

The functions
f (x) = |x|
and
g(x) = x 1/3
are examples of functions that are continuous for all x, but are
not differentiable at x = 0.

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Solution

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Solution

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Example 2

x
Differentiate f (x) = x−1 .

Where does the curve y = f (x) have slope −1?

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Solution
We find f ′ (x) by evaluating the limit
f (x + h) − f (x)
f ′ (x) = lim .
h→0 h
We calculate
x+h x
f (x + h) − f (x) (x+h)−1 − x−1
= .
h h
Simplifying, we obtain
f (x + h) − f (x) −1
= .
h (x − 1) (x + h − 1)
Thus,
−1 −1
f ′ (x) = lim = .
h→0 (x − 1) (x + h − 1) (x − 1)2
Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus
Continuity and differentiability of a function
Solution (contd...)

The slope of y = f (x) will be −1 provided

−1
= −1.
(x − 1)2

Simplifying, we obtain x = 0 and x = 2.

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Differentiation Rules
Derivative of a constant.
d
If c is constant, then dx C = 0.

Power rule for positive integers.

If n is a positive integer, then
d n
x = n x n−1 .
dx
The Constant Multiple Rule.
If u is a differentiable function of x, and c is a constant,
then
d du
(c u) = c .
dx dx
Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus
Continuity and differentiability of a function
Differentiation Rules (contd...)

The sum rule.

If u and v are differentiable functions of x, then their sum
u + v is differentiable at every point where u and v are
both differentiable.
d du dv
(u + v ) = + .
dx dx dx
The product rule.
If u and v are differentiable at x, then so is their product
u v , and
d dv du
(u v ) = u +v .
dx dx dx

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Differentiation Rules (contd...)

The Quotient rule.

If u and v are differentiable at x and v (x) ̸= 0, then the
quotient vu is differentiable at x and

d  u  v u′ − u v ′
= .
dx v v2
Power rule for negative integers.
If n is a negative integer and x ̸= 0 then

d n
x = n x n−1 .
dx

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Example
Find derivative of f (x) where
x
f (x) = x 10 + sin x + ex + log x + .
x +1

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Example

dy
If y = u 3 + 1 and u = x + 1, then find dx .

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Example

x

10 df
If f (x) = 5 +1 , find dx .

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Example

dy
If y = sin2 x find dx .

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Example

dy
If y = sin2 (x 2 + 1), find dx .

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function
Example
If √
x+x 2 )
y = e (4 ,
dy
then find dx .

Dr. Monojit Bhattacharjee BITS Pilani-K K Birla Goa Campus

Continuity and differentiability of a function