# Thread: how to find the value of "k" if the given function is continuous

1. ## how to find the value of "k" if the given function is continuous

The problem is given below:
f(x) = [Sec x – sqrt.2] / [x – π/4] if x ≠ π/4
= k if x = π/4
Is continuous at x = π/4
Find the value of “k”.
I do not get any idea to proceed.
Kindly enlighten me.
With warm regards,
Aranga

2. ## Re: how to find the value of "k" if the given function is continuous

Since you are asked to determine "k" so that the function is "continuous" start with the definition of continuous!

A function, f, is continuous at x= a if and only if $\displaystyle \lim_{x\to a}= f(a)$. So you need to determine $\displaystyle \lim_{x\to \frac{\pi}{4}}\frac{sec(x)- \sqrt{2}{x- \frac{\pi}{4}}$.

The difficulty, for me, is that how you do that depends upon what you know about "continuity", "limits", and "differentiability" of the trig functions. And I don't know that.

Simply setting x equal to $\displaystyle \frac{\pi}{4}$ gives $\displaystyle \frac{0}{0}$ so you might consider "L'hopital's rule". That, however requires that you know the derivative of sec(x) and if you know that sec(x) is differentiable at $\displaystyle \frac{\pi}{2}$ you could use the fact that this limit is the derivative sec(x) at $\displaystyle \frac{\pi}{4}$. If you can't use the differentiability of sec(x) you might rewrite the fraction as $\displaystyle \frac{\frac{1}{cos(x)}- \sqrt{2}}{x- \frac{\pi}{4}}= \frac{1}{cos(x)}\frac{1- \sqrt{2}cos(x)}{x- \frac{\pi}{4}}$.

3. ## Re: how to find the value of "k" if the given function is continuous

I do not know L'Hospital's rule.

I am suppose to solve without that.

I came upto what you have mentioned. but after that I am not getting any idea to proceed.

In a similar model, I have seen {sinx - cos x}/[x- Pi/4]

I converted the numerator as sin [x-Pi/4].

But in the mentioned problem above, I am stuck.

4. ## Re: how to find the value of "k" if the given function is continuous

Originally Posted by arangu1508
I do not know L'Hospital's rule.
I am suppose to solve without that.
I came upto what you have mentioned. but after that I am not getting any idea to proceed.
Frankly I do not know how one proceeds without L'Hospital's rule. I say it is just busy work.

Do you know and use the mean value theorem?

5. ## Re: how to find the value of "k" if the given function is continuous

Let $u = x - \dfrac{\pi}{4}$. As $x \to \dfrac{\pi}{4}, u \to 0$. So, we have:

$$\lim_{u \to 0} \dfrac{\sec\left( u + \dfrac{\pi}{4} \right) - \sqrt{2}}{u}$$

Multiply top and bottom by $\tan u$:

$$\lim_{u \to 0} \dfrac{\sin u}{u}\cdot \sec u \cdot \dfrac{\sec\left( u + \dfrac{\pi}{4} \right) - \sqrt{2} }{\tan u}$$

I don't recall where to go from there. I am guessing it has something to do with the sum of angles formula for secant, but I do not recall exactly.

6. ## Re: how to find the value of "k" if the given function is continuous

I was wrong. Multiply top and bottom by $\sin u$:

$$\lim_{u \to 0} \dfrac{\sin u}{u} \cdot \dfrac{\sec \left(u + \dfrac{\pi}{4} \right) - \sqrt{2}}{\sin u}$$

$$\lim_{u \to 0} \dfrac{\sin u}{u} \cdot \dfrac{\dfrac{1}{\cos \left(u + \dfrac{\pi}{4} \right)} - \sqrt{2}}{\sin u}$$

$$\lim_{u \to 0} \dfrac{\sin u}{u} \cdot \dfrac{\dfrac{\sqrt{2}}{\cos u - \sin u} - \sqrt{2}}{\sin u}$$

$$\sqrt{2}\lim_{u \to 0} \dfrac{\sin u}{u} \cdot \dfrac{1-\cos u + \sin u}{\sin u(\cos u - \sin u)}$$

$$\sqrt{2}\lim_{u \to 0} \dfrac{\sin u}{u} \cdot \left(\dfrac{1-\cos u}{\sin u(\cos u - \sin u)} + \dfrac{ \sin u}{\sin u(\cos u - \sin u)}\right)$$

$$\sqrt{2}\lim_{u \to 0} \dfrac{\sin u}{u} \cdot \left(\dfrac{1-\cos u}{\sin u(\cos u - \sin u)}\cdot \dfrac{1+\cos u}{1 + \cos u} + \dfrac{1}{\cos u - \sin u}\right)$$

$$\sqrt{2}\lim_{u \to 0} \dfrac{\sin u}{u} \cdot \left(\dfrac{\sin u}{(\cos u - \sin u)(1+\cos u)} + \dfrac{1}{\cos u - \sin u}\right)$$

$$\sqrt{2}\left(\lim_{u \to 0} \dfrac{\sin u}{u} \right) \cdot \left( \lim_{u \to 0} \dfrac{\sin u}{(\cos u - \sin u)(1+\cos u)} + \dfrac{1}{\cos u - \sin u}\right)$$

$$\sqrt{2}(1) \cdot \left( \dfrac{0}{(1-0)(1+1)} + \dfrac{1}{1-0}\right) = \sqrt{2}$$

7. ## Re: how to find the value of "k" if the given function is continuous

It is very useful. I got the idea now. I am able follow the steps.