GEC 104 Mathematics in the Modern World

Unit II Mathematical Language and Symbols

Lesson 3 Functions and Relations

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

a. Define function.
b. Differentiate a function from a mere relation: set of ordered pairs, graph of a given set of
ordered pairs, vertical line test, given equation.
c. Determine if a given relation is a function using ordered pairs, graphs and equations.
d. Illustrate the meaning of function f(x).
e. Determine the value of f(x) given a value for x.

INTRODUCTION relations
“Relations and Functions” is one of the most important topics
in algebra. Relations and functions – these are the two different words
having different meaning mathematically. You might get confused
about their difference. Before we go deeper, let’s understand the
difference between both with a simple example.
An ordered pair represents (INPUT, OUTPUT): An ordered- functions
pair number is a pair of numbers that go together. The numbers are
written within a set of parentheses and separated by a comma. For
example, (4, 7) is an ordered-pair number; the order is designated by All functions are
the first element 4 and the second element 7. The pair (7, 4) is not the relations, but not all
same as (4, 7) because of the different ordering. Sets of ordered-pair relations are functions.
numbers can represent relations or functions.
Don’t consider
The relation shows the relationship between INPUT and
duplicates while writing
OUTPUT. Whereas a function is a relation that derives one OUTPUT
domain and range and
for each given INPUT.
also write it in.
increasing order.
What is a Function?
A function is a relation that describes that for each input there should only be one output or
we can say that a particular type of relationship (a set of ordered pairs) that follows a rule is called a
function, i.e. each x-value should be associated with only one y-value.
 Domain – It is a collection of the first values in the ordered pairs (Set of all input (x) values).
 Range – It is a collection of the second values in the ordered pairs (Set of all output (y) values).

What is the relation?

It is a subset of the Cartesian product. Or simply, a bunch of points (ordered pairs).
Examples: {(-2, 1), (4, 3), (7, -3)}, usually written in set notation form with curly brackets.

Relation Representation
There are other ways too to write the relation, apart from set notation such as through tables,
plotting it on XY- axis or through mapping diagram.
How to Determine if a Relation is a Function?
A function is a relationship between a first set, named the domain, and a second set, called
the range, such that each domain member corresponds to exactly one range member.

 State the domain and range of the following relation. Is the relation a function?
{(2, –3), (4, 6), (3, –1), (6, 6), (2, 3)}
domain: {2, 3, 4, 6} range: {–3, –1, 3, 6}

Examples: Using Mapping Diagram

Although the inputs equal to -1 and 1 have the This mapping is not a
same output, this relation is still a function function. The input for -2
because each input has just one output. has more than one output.

 The vertical line check-a graph represents a function if a vertical line which intersects the
graph more than once is impossible to draw.

Use the following criteria to decide whether y is a function of x, given a graph of a

relationship: if each vertical line you can draw goes through only 1 point, y is a function of x. When
a vertical line can be drawn that goes through 2 lines, y is not a function of x. It is known as the
vertical line check.

Example 1: Example 2:
In the following graph, y is a function of x: In the following graph, y is not a function of x:

Passes Fails
Vertical Line Vertical Line
Test Test

In order to decide whether x is a function of y, given a graph of a relationship, using the

following criterion: if each horizontal line you can draw passes only 1 point, x is a function of y. If you
can draw a horizontal line going through 2 points, x is not a function of y. It is known as the horizontal
line check.
 Example 1: Example 2:
In the following graph, x is a function of y: In the following graph, x is not a function of y:

Passes Fails
Horizontal Line Horizontal Line
Test Test

RELATIONS
A relation shows a relationship between two values.
A function is a relation where each input has only one output.

FUNCTIONS NOT FUNCTIONS

ACTIVITY 1 Relations Expressed as Ordered Pairs

Directions: Determine if the following relations are functions by writing FUNCTION or NOT
FUNCTION. Then state the domain and range.

1. {(1, -2), (-2, 0), (-1, 2), (1, 3)} 2. {(1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 5), (4, 10), (5, 15)}

Function: ___________________ Function: ___________________

Domain: ____________________ Domain: ____________________
Range: _____________________ Range: _____________________

3. ({ 17 , 154 ) ,( 154 , 17) ,(15 , 174 ),( 174 , 15)} 4. ({ −3 , 25 ) ,(−3 , 35 ) ,( 32 ,−5) ,( 5 , 25 )}
Function: ___________________ Function: ___________________
Domain: ____________________ Domain: ____________________
Range: _____________________ Range: _____________________
ACTIVITY 2 Relations Expressed as Graphing
Directions: Write each of the following as a relation, state the domain and range, then determine if it
is a function.

5. 6.

Relation: ___________________ Relation: ___________________

Domain: ____________________ Domain: ____________________
Range: _____________________ Range: _____________________
Function: ____________________ Function: ____________________

7. 8.

Relation: ___________________ Relation: ___________________

Domain: ____________________ Domain: ____________________
Range: _____________________ Range: _____________________
Function: ____________________ Function: ____________________

ACTIVITY 3 Relations Expressed as Mappings

Directions: Express the following as a mapping, state the domain and range, then determine if it is
a function.

9. {(-2, -1), (0, 3), (5, 4), (-2, 3)} 10. {(-1, 5), (0, 3), (2, 3), (3, -1)}

Function: ___________________ Function: ___________________

Domain: ____________________ Domain: ____________________
Range: _____________________ Range: _____________________
 1 1 1
11. {(-1, 7), (0, -3), (1, 10), (0, 7)} 12. {( ) ( ) ( ) ( )}
2
, 2 , ,2 , , 2 ,
4 8
−1
2
,2

Function: ___________________ Function: ___________________

Domain: ____________________ Domain: ____________________
Range: _____________________ Range: _____________________

ACTIVITY 4
Directions: Determine if the graph is a function, then state the domain and range.

13. 14.

Domain: ____________________ Domain: ____________________

Range: _____________________ Range: _____________________

Function: ____________________ Function: ____________________

15. 16.

Domain: ____________________ Domain: ____________________

Range: _____________________ Range: _____________________

Function: ____________________ Function: ____________________

17. 18.

Domain: ____________________ Domain: ____________________

Range: _____________________ Range: _____________________

Function: ____________________ Function: ____________________

19. 20.

Domain: ____________________ Domain: ____________________

Range: _____________________ Range: _____________________

Function: ____________________ Function: ____________________

Name: ______________________________________ Course & Year: ___________