LEARNING CONCEPTS AND ACTIVITIES

FUNCTION
In many situations in science, business, and mathematics, a correspondence exists between two sets
of objects. The concept of correspondence plays an important role in function. Here are some of
the examples that shows one quantity depend on another.

Your height depends on your The temperature depends on The cost of a mailing package
age the date depends on its weight

Transaction charge depends The number of bacteria over a

To each username account
on the amount you will send period of time
there corresponds a password

Can you think of other example that describe real-life relationship between two quantities?

Example:
If Katherine wants to buy boxes of facemask, how much will she pay? And of course,
the more boxes she will purchase, the greater amount it will cost. It does not tell us the
total amount she will pay until we know the quantity of facemasks she will buy. Thus,
we need a rule that relates to this situation. For example, we let 𝒙 be the number of
facemask box, 𝒇(𝒙) be the total amount of Katherine will pay, where each box of
facemask cost Php120.

We can express this rule as:

a. equation
The equation will be 𝑓(𝑥) = 120𝑥.

b. table
Based on the equation, in one box of facemask, it cost Php120, which we denote by the
ordered pair (1, 120).
Number of box 0 1 2 3 4 5
𝒙
Total Cost 0 120 240 360 480 600
𝒇(𝒙)

c. ordered pair
{(0, 0), (1, 120), (2, 240), (3, 360), (4, 480), (5, 600)}
d. graph

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DEFINITION OF A FUNCTION
• A function is a correspondence between two sets X and Y in which each element of X
corresponds to exactly one element of set Y. The domain is set X (independent variable)
and the range is set Y (dependent variable).
• A function may be defined by a set of ordered pairs, mapping, table, graph, or an
equation.

FUNCTIONS DEFINED BY A SET OF ORDERED PAIRS

Given the following set of ordered pairs, determine if it is a function or not. Then, determine the
domain and range.
1. a = {(1,4), (2, 5), (3, 6)}
2. b = {(Kat, Violet), (Kalvin, Black), (Kat, Red)}
3. c = {(–3, 5), (–2, 5), (–1, 5), (0, 5), (1, 5), (2, 5)}

1. Domain: {1, 2, 3} 2. Domain: {Kat, Kalvin} 3. Domain: {-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2}

Range: {4, 5, 6} Range: {Violet, Black, Red} Range: {5}

Since there are no elements It is NOT A FUNCTION The values in the domain
in the domain that are the because it has the same first does not repeat, therefore it
same, it is a FUNCTION. coordinate. is a FUNCTION.

FUNCTIONS DEFINED BY AN ARROW DIAGRAM

• An arrow or mapping diagram consists of two columns. The first column represents the
domain and the other column for its range. Lines or arrows are drawn from to domain to
range to represent the relation between any two elements.

Given the mapping diagram below, write the set of ordered pairs. Then, determine if it is a function
or not. Give the domain and range.
1. 2. 3. 4.

Ordered Pairs Domain Range Function or Not

1. {(-1, 3), (0, 2), {1, 1)} {-1, 0, 1} {3, 2, 1} Function

2. {(-1, 0), (-1, 5), {-2, 5), (-3, 8)} {-1, -2, -3} {0, 5, 8} NOT
3. {(-1, 3), (0, 3), {1, 3), (2, 3)} {-1, 0, 1, 2} {3} Function
4. {(1, 3), (3, 5), {3, 7), (5, 7), (5, 9)} {1, 3, 5} {3, 5, 7, 9} NOT

FUNCTIONS DEFINED BY GRAPH

Vertical Line Test for a function
• An equation defines a function if each vertical line in the rectangular coordinate system
passes through at most one point on the graph of the equation.
• If any vertical line passes through two or more points on the graph of an equation, then the
equation does not define a function.

FUNCTION NOT FUNCTION FUNCTION NOT FUNCTION

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FUNCTIONS DEFINED BY EQUATIONS
• The elements of the domain can be imagined as input to a machine that applies a rule so
that each input corresponds to only one output.

Determine which of the following equations specify functions with independent variable x.
1. 4y – 3x = 8 2. y2 – x2 = 16

Solving for the dependent variable y, we Solving for the dependent variable
have: y2 – x2 = 16
4y = 8 + 3x y2 = 16 + x2
y=2+¾x
𝑦 = ±√16 + 𝑥 2
Since each input value x corresponds to
exactly one output value in y, the equation Since 16 + x2 is always positive real number
defines a function. and since each positive real number has two
real square roots, each value of the
independent variable 𝑥 corresponds to two
values of the dependent variable,
𝑦 = √16 + 𝑥 2 and 𝑦 = −√16 + 𝑥 2 . Thus, the
equation is NOT a function.

DOMAIN AND RANGE OF A FUNCTION

• Domain 𝐷 of a function is the set of all x-coordinates in the set of ordered pairs.
• Range 𝑅 of a function is the set of all y-coordinates in the set of ordered pairs.
• There are some restrictions to consider when finding the domain and range of some
functions that involve the following:
a. Radicals with even indices: Radicands must be nonnegative
b. Fractions: Denominators must not be equal to zero
• To find the domain, solve for 𝑦.
• To find the range, solve for 𝑥.

Find the domain and range of each function.

1.𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 9 2. 𝑔(𝑥) = √𝑥 3. ℎ(𝑥) =
1
4. 𝑦 =
𝑥+3
𝑥−4 𝑥−2

Using Interval Notation Using Interval Notation

Using Interval Notation Using Interval Notation
Domain: (−∞, ∞) Domain: [0, ∞) D: (−∞, 4) ∪ (4, ∞) D: (−∞, 2) ∪ (2, ∞)
Range: (−∞, ∞) Range: [0, ∞) R: (−∞, 0) ∪ (0, ∞) R: (−∞, 1) ∪ (1, ∞)
Using Set-builder Notation Using Set-builder Notation
Using Set-builder Notation Using Set-builder Notation
Domain: {𝑥|𝑥 ∈ ℛ} Domain: {𝑥|𝑥 ≥ 0} Domain: {𝑥|𝑥 ≠ 4} Domain: {𝑥|𝑥 ≠ 2}
Range: {𝑦|𝑦 ∈ ℛ} Range: : {𝑦|𝑦 ≥ 0 } Range: : {𝑦|𝑦 ≠ 0 } Range: {𝑦|𝑦 ≠ 1}

Find the domain and range of the graphs below.

1. 2. 3.

Using Interval Notation Using Interval Notation Using Interval Notation

Domain: [-3, 2) Domain: (−∞, ∞) Domain: (−∞, 2) ∪ (2, ∞)
Range: [-5, 4] Range: [−2, ∞) Range: (−∞, 3) ∪ (3, ∞)

Using Set-builder Notation Using Set-builder Notation Using Set-builder Notation

Domain: {𝑥| − 3 ≤ 𝑥 < 2} Domain: {𝑥|𝑥 ∈ ℛ} Domain: {𝑥|𝑥 ≠ 2}
Range: {𝑦| − 5 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 4} Range: {𝑦|𝑦 ≥ −2} Range: {𝑦|𝑦 ≠ 3}

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EVALUATING FUNCTION

• Function notation uses 𝑓(𝑥) to represent the y value. In words, 𝑓(𝑥) is said
“𝑓 𝑜𝑓 𝑥”.
• The elements of the domain can be imagined as input to a machine that
applies a rule so that each input corresponds to only one output.
• To evaluate a function is to find the value the function for a given value of the
variable.

Examples:
Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2, find 𝑓(7) and 𝑓(−4).

𝑓(7) = 3(7) + 2
𝑓(−4) = 3(−4) + 2
𝑓(7) = 21 + 2
𝑓(−4) = −12 + 2
𝑓(7) = 23
𝑓(−4) = −10

Evaluate the following functions at x = -2.

1. 𝑎 (𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 − 6
2. 𝑏 (𝑥) = √3𝑥 + 6
|𝑥|
3. 𝑐 (𝑥) =
4
1. 𝑎 (𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 − 6 2. 𝑏 (𝑥) = √3𝑥 + 6 3. 𝑐 (𝑥) =
|𝑥|
4
𝑎 (−2) = 3(−2)2 − 7(−2) − 6 𝑏 (−2) = √3(−2) + 6 |−2|
𝑎 (−2) = 3(4) + 14 − 6 𝑐 (−2) =
𝑏 (−2) = √−6 + 6 4
𝑎 (−2) = 12 + 8 2
𝑏 (−2) = √0 𝑐 (−2) =
𝑎 (−2) = 20 4
𝑏 (−2) = 0 1
𝑐 (−2) =
4
*The absolute value of a number |x| is the distance of a
point from 0 on the number line.

PIECE-WISE FUNCTION
• A piecewise function is a function that is defined on a sequence of intervals.
• Piecewise functions are defined using the common functional notation, where the body of
the function is an array of functions and associated subdomains. Crucially, in most settings,
there must only be a finite number of subdomains, each of which must be an interval, in
order for the overall function to be called "piecewise".

Graph the following piecewise function.

𝑥 + 1 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 − 4 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1 𝑥 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < −1
𝑓(𝑥) = {
−𝑥 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 1 < 𝑥 ≤ 3 𝑥2
𝑔(𝑥) = { + 1 𝑖𝑓 − 1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2
−1 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 > 2

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PROBLEM: The cost of hiring a catering services to serve food for a party is Php150 per head for 20
persons or less, Php130 per head for 21 to 50 persons, and Php110 per head for 51 to 100 persons.
For 100 or more persons, the cost is at Php100 per head. Represent the total cost as a piecewise
function of the number of attendees of the party.

Representation:
150ℎ , 𝑖𝑓 0 ≤ ℎ ≤ 20
130ℎ , 𝑖𝑓 21 ≤ ℎ ≤ 50
𝑓(𝑥) = {
110ℎ , 𝑖𝑓 51 ≤ ℎ ≤ 100
100ℎ , 𝑖𝑓 ℎ > 100

Evaluate the piecewise defined function at the indicated value.

𝑥 2 +1 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 <0
1. 𝑚(𝑥) = {2𝑥−1 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≥0
a. 𝑚(−2)
b. 𝑚(0)
c. 𝑚(3)

a. 𝑚(−2) b. 𝑚(0) c. 𝑚(3)

Since 𝑥 = −2, the value is for Since 𝑥 = 0, the value is for Since 𝑥 = 3, the value is for
the inequality 𝑥 <0 𝑥 ≥ 0 hence, we will use the 𝑥 ≥ 0 thus, we will use the
therefore, we will use the linear function 𝑚(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 1. function 𝑚(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 1.
quadratic function 𝑚(𝑥) =
𝑥 2 + 1. 𝑚(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 1 𝑚(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 1
𝑚(0) = 2(0) − 1 𝑚(3) = 2(3) − 1
𝑚(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 1 𝑚(0) = 0 − 1 𝑚(3) = 6 − 1
𝑚(−2) = (−2)2 + 1 𝑚(0) = −1 𝑚(3) = 5
𝑚(−2) = 4 + 1
𝑚(−2) = 5

2𝑥+3 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≠2
2. 𝑛(𝑥) = {4 𝑖𝑓 𝑥=2

a. 𝑛(5) b. 𝑛(2) c. 𝑛 (− )
1
2
Since 𝑥 = 5, the value is for Since 𝑥 = 2, we will use the 1
𝑥 ≠ 2 therefore, we will use constant function 𝑛(𝑥) = 4. Since 𝑥 = − , the value is for
2
the linear function 𝑛(𝑥) = 𝑥 ≠ 2 therefore, we will use
2𝑥 + 3. the function 𝑛(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3.
𝑛(2) = 4
𝑛(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3 𝑛(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3
𝑛(5) = 2(5) + 3 1 1
𝑛 (− ) = 2 (− ) + 3
𝑛(5) = 10 + 3 2 2
𝑛(5) = 13 1
𝑛 (− ) = −1 + 3
2
1
𝑛 (− ) = 2
2

• A function is a relation where each element in the domain is related to only one
value in the range by some rule.
• We can illustrate a function by an arrow diagram, table, equation, graph, or a set
of ordered pairs.
• If any vertical line intersects a graph in exactly one point, the graph is a function.
• A piecewise function is a function that is defined on a sequence of intervals.
• Evaluating a function means substituting the variable in the function, in this case
x, with a value from the function’s domain and computing for the result

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References:
1. Chua, R. E. et al. (2016). General Mathematics. Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House. pp. 1-
23.
2. Camilon, M. G. et al. (2016). General Mathematics for SHS. Quezon City: Educational Resources
Corp. pp. 1-12.
3. Oronce, O. A. et al. (2016). General Mathematics. Quezon City: Rex Publishing, Inc. pp. 1-35.
4. Versoza, D. B. et al. (2016). General Mathematics Learner’s Material First Edition. Quezon City:
Lexicon Press Inc. pp. 1-12.
5. Crisologo, L. A. et al. (2016). TEACHING GUIDE FOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL General Mathematics.
Quezon City: EC-TEC. pp. 1-19.

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