for Teachers for Schools for Enterprise
for Teachers for Schools for Enterprise
Copyright
Course Navigator
Monotonic Function: Definition & ExamplesNext Lesson 

Discontinuous Functions: Properties & Examples

Chapter 1 /  Lesson 9   Transcript
Try it risk-free for 30 days

An error occurred trying to load this video.

Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support.

Coming up next: Monotonic Function: Definition & Examples

You're on a roll. Keep up the good work!

Take Quiz Watch Next Lesson
 Replay
Your next lesson will play in 10 seconds
  • 0:00 What Is Discontinuous…
  • 0:54 Properties
  • 1:25 Removable Discontinuities
  • 2:10 Jump Discontinuities
  • 2:45 Asymptotic Discontinuities
  • 3:10 Lesson Summary
Add to Add to Add to

Want to watch this again later?

Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course.

Login or Sign up

Timeline
Autoplay
Autoplay
Speed

Recommended Lessons and Courses for You

Lesson Transcript
Instructor: Yuanxin (Amy) Yang Alcocer

Amy has a master's degree in secondary education and has taught math at a public charter high school.

In this lesson, you will learn about what makes a function discontinuous. You'll also explore different types of discontinuity, look at properties of discontinuity, and better understand the concept through examples.

What Is a Discontinuous Function?

You may have already heard of a continuous function, which is a function on a graph that is a continuous curve. When you put your pencil down to draw it, you never lift your pencil up until the function is complete.

A discontinuous function is the opposite. It is a function that is not a continuous curve, meaning that it has points that are isolated from each other on a graph. When you put your pencil down to draw a discontinuous function, you must lift your pencil up at least one point before it is complete.

If you ever see a function with a break of any kind in it, then you know that function is discontinuous. In the function we have here, you can see how the function keeps going with a break.

The discontinuous function stops where x equals 1 and y equals 2, and picks up again where x equals 1 and y equals 4.

Properties

There are some properties that are specific to discontinuous functions, and two are particularly important:

First, the function always breaks off at a certain point or multiple points. As we have already discussed, discontinuous functions have points where the graph just stops and picks up somewhere else.

Second, the limit of the function at a point of discontinuity is undefined for most discontinuous functions, but not in all cases. The limit can be defined but is still considered discontinuous.

Now, let's explore some of the common types of discontinuous functions.

Removable Discontinuities

One type of discontinuity is called a removable discontinuity, or a hole. It is called removable because the point can be redefined to make the function continuous by matching the value at that point with the rest of the function.

When graphed, a removable discontinuity, or a hole, is just a missing value in the function. Everything else looks like a continuous graph. If we define that missing point, we will have removed the discontinuity.

The removable discontinuity is noted on the graph by a little circle at the point of discontinuity. Do you see how if we define that particular point to be the same as the function at that point, we will have removed the discontinuity?

Jump Discontinuities

To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account

Register to view this lesson

Are you a student or a teacher?

Unlock Your Education

See for yourself why 30 million people use Study.com

Become a Study.com member and start learning now.
Become a Member  Back
What teachers are saying about Study.com
Try it risk-free for 30 days
Description

Earning College Credit

Did you know… We have over 160 college courses that prepare you to earn credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. You can test out of the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Anyone can earn credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level.

To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page

Transferring credit to the school of your choice

Not sure what college you want to attend yet? Study.com has thousands of articles about every imaginable degree, area of study and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you.

Research Schools, Degrees & Careers

Get the unbiased info you need to find the right school.

Browse Articles By Category

Browse an area of study or degree level.

Recommended Articles
You are viewing lesson Lesson 9 in chapter 1 of the course:

 Back To Course

Precalculus: Homework Help Resource

11 chapters | 88 lessons

Ch 1. Functions: Homework Help
Ch 2. Evaluating Exponential and...

Discontinuous Functions: Properties & Examples Related Study Materials

Create an account to start this course today
Try it risk-free for 30 days!
Create An Account

Explore our library of over 75,000 lessons

Browse by subject
Support