Differentiability Implies Continuity

Theorem

If \(X \subseteq \mathbb{R}\) and \(f : X \to \mathbb{R}\) is differentiable at \(a\), then \(f\) is continuous at \(a\).

First consider:

\[\begin{align*} \lim_{x \to x_0} (f(x_0) - f(x)) &= \lim_{x \to x_0} \left(\frac{f(x_0) - f(x)}{x_0 - x} (x_0 - x)\right) \\ &= \lim_{x \to x_0} \left(\frac{f(x_0) - f(x)}{x_0 - x}\right) \lim_{x \to x_0} (x_0 - x) \tag{1}\\ &= f'(x_0) \lim_{x \to x_0} (x_0 - x) \\ &= f'(x_0) \times 0 \\ &= 0 \\ \end{align*}\]

which implies that

\[\lim_{x \to x_0} f(x) = f(x_0).\]

The condition of differentiability allows the limit to be split at (1) since it exists.