The Language of Relations and Functions

Relations
Objects in mathematics may be related in various ways. A set A may be said to be
related to a set B. For example: A is a subset of B, A and B have at least one common
element, or A and B have the same elements. A number x may also be related to a number
y. For example, x < y, x is a factor of y, or 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 1.
A relation is a correspondence between two things or quantities. It is a set of
ordered pairs (x, y). Two important factors connected with a relation are the domain and
range. The set of all values of x is called the domain while the set of values of y is called
the range. A relation may also be expressed as a statement, arrow diagram, table, equation,
set-builder notation and graph.
For example, the relation is given by
R= {(1, 2), (2, 4), (3, 6), (4, 8), (5, 10), …}
The given relation R can be described as follows:
a. By Statement
R is the set of ordered pairs where the second elements is twice of the first
elements.
b. By Arrow Diagram

1 2

2 4

3 6

4 8

5 10

. .

c. By Table
X 1 2 3 4 5 . . .
Y 2 4 6 8 10 . . .
 d. By Set-builder Notation
R = {(x, y)|y = 2x, x ∈ N}
e. By a Graph

(5, 10)

(4, 8)

(3, 6)

(2, 4)

(1, 2)

A relation may be formed from two sets A and B. To understand this, let us
introduce the concepts of Cartesian Product.
Cartesian Product
Consider two arbitrary sets M and N. The set of all ordered pairs (m,n) where: a
∈ 𝐴 and b ∈ B is called the Cartesian Product. By notation,
A x B = {(a, b)|𝑎 ∈ 𝐴 and b ∈ 𝐵}
Example 1.
Let A = {1, 2} and B = {1, 2, 3}. Find A x B.
Solution:
A x B = {(1,1), (1,2), (1, 3), (2,1), (2, 2), (2,3)}

Example 2.
Let M = {a, b, c} and N = {1, 7}. a.) Find M x N and b.) Find N x M.
 Solution:
a.) M x N = {(a, 1), (a, 7), (b, 1), (b, 7), (c, 1), (c, 7)}
b.) N x M = {(1, a), (1, b), (1, c), (7, a), (7, b), (7, c)}

Example 3.
Let J = {0, 1, 2} and K = {1, 2, 3}. Find J x K.
Solution:
J x K = {(0, 1), (0, 2), (0, 3), (1, 1), (1, 2), (1, 3), (2, 1), (2, 2), (2, 3)}

Example 4.
In J x K, can you identify a relation R = {(𝑥, 𝑦) |𝑥 < 𝑦}?
Solution:

Examine the ordered pairs in J x K where the value of the first element is less than
the second element. Hence, we have
R = {(0, 1), (0, 2), (0, 3), (1, 2), (1, 3), (2, 3)}

Now, we give a formal definition of a relation.

Example 5.
Find a relation R such that y is twice of x if A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {2, 4, 6}.
Solution:
1st step: Define A x B.
A x B = {(1, 2), (1, 4), (1, 6), (2, 2), (2,4), (2, 6), (3, 2), (3, 4), (3,6)}
nd
2 step: Examine each ordered pair.
R = {(1, 2), (2,4), (3,6)}

Example 6.
𝑥 −𝑦
Find a relation R such that is an integer if A = {1, 2,} and B = {1, 2, 3}.
2
Solution:
1st step: Define A x B
A x B = {(1,1), (1, 2), (1, 3), (2, 1), (2, 2), (2, 3)}
nd
2 step: Examine each ordered pair.
R = {(1,1), (1, 3), (2, 2)}
1 −1 0
since: (1,1) → = = 0, which is an integer
2 2
 1 −3 −2
(1,3) → = = −1, which is an integer
2 2

2 −2 0
(2,2) → = = 0, which is an integer
2 2
All the other three ordered pairs cannot be part of the relation because the results
1 −2 −1
are not integers. For example, (1, 2) → 2 = 2 which is NOT an integer.

Functions
The concept of function provides the essential tool in applying mathematical
formulations in solving problems. For example, the distance (d) a car travels is related to
the product of its speed (s) and the time (t) of travel in the equation d = st.
Definition:
Let D and R be two sets. A function from D to R is a rule that associates or assigns
to each element in D a single element in R. We then say that a quantity y is a function of
another quantity x if a rule exists such that a unique value of y is assigned a corresponding
value of x. To denote this relationship, we use the functional notation:
y = f(x)
where f indicates that a function exists between variables x and y.
For instance, the statement “the area (A) of a circle depends on its radius (r)” can
be denoted as A= f(r), where A represents the area and r, the radius. This is read as “Area
is a function of its radius”. In fact, the area of a circle is given by the formula:
A = 𝜋𝑟 2. Hence, a function may be considered as a formula or equation. In the
equation y = 2x – 3, every value of x gives only one value of y. Then y is a function of x.
this may be written as
f(x) = 2x – 3
The functional notation y = f(x) allows us to denote specific values of a function.
To evaluate a function is to substitute the specified values of the independent variable in
the formula and simplify.

Example 1. When f(x) = 2x – 3, find

a. f(0)

b. f(1)

c. f(-1)

d. f(5-x)
 Solution:

a. f(0) = 2(0) – 3 = 0 – 3 = – 3

b. f(1) = 2(1) – 3 = 2 – 3 = – 1

c. f(-1) = 2(-1) – 3 = – 2 – 3 = – 5

d. f(5-x) = 2(5 – x) – 3 = 10 – 2x – 3 = – 2x + 7

Graph of a Function
For a given function y = f(x), we can set up ordered pairs of values (x, y) or (x,f(x)).
These ordered pair can be plotted in the xy- plane to show how the relation looks like.
To graph a given function, follow these steps:
1. Take representative values of x in the domain of the function and solve for f(x). Then
construct a table of values for x and f(x).
2. Plot the points whose coordinates are the ordered pairs (x, f(x)) from the table of values.
3. Join the plotted points in the plane with a straight line or smooth curve. Label the graph.
Example 2.
Illustrate the graph of f(x) = x2 + 2x – 8
Solution:
You should be able to recognize that the given function is a quadratic function
whose graph is represented by a parabola.
Construct a table of values as follows
X -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
f(x) -5 -8 -9 -8 -5 0 7

Then, plot each point (x, f(x)) from the table above.
Operations on Functions
This deals with the basic operations on functions and their effects on the domain of
functions.
The sum, difference, product and quotients of two functions are also functions.
Let f and g be two functions:
a. The sum of two functions, f + g, is the function defined by
(f + g)(x) = f(x) + g(x)
b. The difference of two functions, f - g, is the function defined by
(f - g)(x) = f(x) - g(x)
c. The product of two functions, f . g, is the function defined by
(f . g)(x) = f(x) . g(x)
d. The quotient of two functions, f /g, is the function defined by
(f / g)(x) = f(x) / g(x)
 The domain of the first three new functions: f + g, f – g, and f.g is defined as the
intersection of the domains of f and g. The domain of the quotient f/g excludes those
numbers that will make the denominator g(x) zero.
Example 3. Let f(x) = 5x – 2 and g(x) = x – 1. Find the following:
1. (f + g)(x)
2. (f - g)(x)
3. (f . g)(x)
4. (f / g)(x)
Solution:
1. (f + g)(x) = (5x – 2) + (x – 1) = 5x – 2 + x – 1 = 6x – 3
2. (f - g)(x) = (5x – 2) – (x – 1) = 5x – 2 – x + 1 = 4x – 1
3. (f . g)(x) = (5x – 2)(x – 1) = 5x2 – 5x – 2x + 2 = 5x2 – 7x + 2
4. (f / g)(x) = (5x – 2)/(x – 1)
Composition of Functions
This pertains to the combinations of two or more functions. The new function is
called a composite function.
Let two functions be f and g. The composition of f with g, denoted by f ₒ g (read as
“f circle g”), is the function defined by
(f ₒ g)(x)= f(g(x))
where the domain of f ₒ g consists of all numbers x in the domain of g for which
g(x) is in the domain of f.
Example 4. Let f(x) = 3x + 2 and g(x) = 1 – x.
a. Find (f ₒ g) (x)
b. Find (g ₒ f) (x)
Solution:
a. (f ₒ g)(x) = f(g(x))
= f (1 – x)
= 3(1 – x) + 2
= 3 – 3x + 2
= 5 – 3x
 b. (g ₒ f)(x) = g(f(x))
= g(3x + 2)
= 1 – (3x + 2)
= 1 – 3x – 2
= – 3x – 1

Domain of a Function
For the function y = f(x), we call the set from which we take values of the
independent variable x the Domain of the function. The set of all possible values of y as x
varies over the domain is called the Range of the function.
When we define functions, we should be aware of two restrictions.
The first restriction concerns rational expressions: we should never divide by zero.
The domain of functions involving rational expressions excludes those values of the
independent variable that will make the denominator zero.
The second restriction involves radical expressions: we never take the square root
of a negative number. Therefore, the domain of this type of function does not include those
values of the independent variable that will make the radicand negative.
Example 1. Discuss the domain of each function:
a. f(x) = 2x + 1
b. g(x) = x2
3
c. h(x) = 𝑥+4

d. k(x) = √𝑥 + 3
Solution:
a. f(x) = 2x + 1 is a linear function. Its domain is the set of real numbers.
b. g(x) = x2 is a quadratic function. Its domain is the set of real numbers.
3
c. h(x) = 𝑥+4
is a rational function. Note that x can not assume a value of x that
makes the denominator equal to zero. The only exemption to the domain of the
function is x = − 4 since x + 4 = − 4 + 4 = 0.

d. k(x) = √𝑥 + 3 is a square root function. Note that x cannot assume values of x