Question

Find the values of a and b such that the function defined by

is a continuous function.

Answer 1

The given function f is

It is evident that the given function f is defined at all points of the real line.

If f is a continuous function, then f is continuous at all real numbers.

In particular, f is continuous at x = 2 and x = 10

Since f is continuous at x = 2, we obtain

Since f is continuous at x = 10, we obtain

On subtracting equation (1) from equation (2), we obtain

8a = 16

⇒ a = 2

By putting a = 2 in equation (1), we obtain

2 × 2 + b = 5

⇒ 4 + b = 5

⇒ b = 1

Therefore, the values of a and b for which f is a continuous function are 2 and 1 respectively.