Pre-Calculus For Dummies
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As your pre-calculus teacher will tell you, functions that aren't continuous at an x value either have a removable discontinuity (a hole in the graph of the function) or a nonremovable discontinuity (such as a jump or an asymptote in the graph):

  • If the function factors and the bottom term cancels, the discontinuity at the x-value for which the denominator was zero is removable, so the graph has a hole in it.

    For example, this function factors as shown:

    image0.png

    After canceling, it leaves you with x – 7. Therefore x + 3 = 0 (or x = –3) is a removable discontinuity — the graph has a hole, like you see in Figure a.

    The graph of a removable discontinuity leaves you feeling empty, whereas a graph of a nonremovable

    The graph of a removable discontinuity leaves you feeling empty, whereas a graph of a nonremovable discontinuity leaves you feeling jumpy.

  • If a term doesn't cancel, the discontinuity at this x value corresponding to this term for which the denominator is zero is nonremovable, and the graph has a vertical asymptote.

    The following function factors as shown:

    image2.png

    Because the x + 1 cancels, you have a removable discontinuity at x = –1 (you'd see a hole in the graph there, not an asymptote). But the x – 6 didn't cancel in the denominator, so you have a nonremovable discontinuity at x = 6. This discontinuity creates a vertical asymptote in the graph at x = 6. Figure b shows the graph of g(x).

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Mary Jane Sterling aught algebra, business calculus, geometry, and finite mathematics at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois for more than 30 years. She is the author of several For Dummies books, including Algebra Workbook For Dummies, Algebra II For Dummies, and Algebra II Workbook For Dummies.

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