# Chapter 11 - Section 11.3 - Limits and Continuity - Exercise Set - Page 1161: 16

The function f\left( x \right)=\left\{ \begin{align} & x-4\text{ if }x\le 0 \\ & {{x}^{2}}+x-4\text{ if }x>0 \end{align} \right. is continuous at $0$.

#### Work Step by Step

Consider the function f\left( x \right)=\left\{ \begin{align} & x-4\text{ if }x\le 0 \\ & {{x}^{2}}+x-4\text{ if }x>0 \end{align} \right., Find the value of $f\left( x \right)$ at $a=0$, \begin{align} & f\left( 0 \right)=0-4 \\ & =-4 \end{align} The function is defined at the point $a=0$. Now find the value of $\,\underset{x\to 0}{\mathop{\lim }}\,f\left( x \right)$. First find the left hand limit of $\,f\left( x \right)$. The function $f\left( x \right)=x-4$ when $x<0$. $\underset{x\to {{0}^{-}}}{\mathop{\lim }}\,f\left( x \right)=0-4=-4$ Now find the right hand limit of $\,f\left( x \right)$. The function $f\left( x \right)={{x}^{2}}+x-4$ when $x>0$. $\underset{x\to {{0}^{+}}}{\mathop{\lim }}\,f\left( x \right)={{0}^{2}}+0-4=-4$ Since the left hand limit and right hand limit are equal, that is $\underset{x\to {{0}^{-}}}{\mathop{\lim }}\,f\left( x \right)=-4=\underset{x\to {{0}^{+}}}{\mathop{\lim }}\,f\left( x \right)$ Thus, $\underset{x\to 0}{\mathop{\lim }}\,f\left( x \right)=-4$ From the above steps, $\,\underset{x\to 0}{\mathop{\lim }}\,f\left( x \right)=-4=f\left( 0 \right)$ Thus, the function satisfies all the properties of being continuous. Hence, the function f\left( x \right)=\left\{ \begin{align} & x-4\text{ if }x\le 0 \\ & {{x}^{2}}+x-4\text{ if }x>0 \end{align} \right. is continuous at $0$.

After you claim an answer you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.