Determine whether the function f(x) is continuous at x=−3.f(x)={18−x2,15+3x,amp;x≤−3amp;xgt;−3f(x) is discontinuous at x=−3f(x) is continuous at x=−3
Q. Determine whether the function f(x) is continuous at x=−3.f(x)={18−x2,15+3x,x≤−3x>−3f(x) is discontinuous at x=−3f(x) is continuous at x=−3
Check Function Definition: To determine if the function f(x) is continuous at x=−3, we need to check three conditions:1. The function is defined at x=−3.2. The limit of f(x) as x approaches −3 exists.3. The limit of f(x) as x approaches −3 is equal to the function value at x=−3.
Find Left Limit: First, let's check if the function is defined at x=−3. We look at the piece of the function that applies when x is less than or equal to−3, which is f(x)=18−x2. Plugging in x=−3, we get f(−3)=18−(−3)2=18−9=9. So, the function is defined at x=−3.
Find Right Limit: Next, we need to find the limit of f(x) as x approaches −3 from the left side (from values smaller than −3). Since the function for x≤−3 is f(x)=18−x2, we use this to find the limit. The limit as x approaches −3 from the left is the same as the function value at x=−3, which we already calculated as 9.
Compare Limits: Now, we need to find the limit of f(x) as x approaches −3 from the right side (from values greater than −3). The function for x > -3 is f(x)=15+3x. Plugging in x=−3, we get the limit as x approaches −3 from the right to be 15+3(−3)=15−9=6.
Check Continuity: Since the limit from the left side as x approaches −3 is 9 and the limit from the right side as x approaches −3 is 6, the two limits are not equal. Therefore, the limit of f(x) as x approaches −3 does not exist.
Check Continuity: Since the limit from the left side as x approaches −3 is 9 and the limit from the right side as x approaches −3 is 6, the two limits are not equal. Therefore, the limit of f(x) as x approaches −3 does not exist.Because the limit of f(x) as x approaches −3 does not exist, the function f(x) is not continuous at −33. The function fails the second condition for continuity.