Find the points of discontinuity, if any, of the following functions :

Basic Idea:


A real function f is said to be continuous at x = c, where c is any point in the domain of f if :


where h is a very small ‘+ve’ no.


i.e. left hand limit as x c (LHL) = right hand limit as x c (RHL) = value of function at x = c.


This is very precise, using our fundamental idea of limit from class 11 we can summarise it as, A function is continuous at x = c if :



Here we have,


…Equation 1


The function is defined for all real numbers, so we need to comment about its continuity for all numbers in its domain ( domain = set of numbers for which f is defined )


Let c is any random number such that c < 0 [thus c being a random number, it can include all negative numbers ]


f(c) = [ using eqn 1]



Clearly,


We can say that f(x) is continuous for all x < 0


Now, let m be any random number from the domain of f such that m > 0


thus m being a random number, it can include all positive numbers]


f(m) = 2m + 3 [using eqn 1]



Clearly,


We can say that f(x) is continuous for all x > 0


As zero is a point at which function is changing its nature so we need to check LHL, RHL separately


f(0) = 2×0+3 = 3 [using eqn 1]


LHL =


[ sin –θ = – sin θ and ]


RHL =


Thus LHL ≠ RHL


f(x) is discontinuous at x = 0


Hence, f is continuous for all x ≠ 0 but discontinuous at x = 0.


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