RB Astillero Calculus 1 Functions

UNIT 1 - FUNCTIONS
Introduction
Welcome to Calculus 1 class. As you make your first step in learning Calculus, perhaps the first thing
that comes to your mind is that you are entering a totally unfamiliar territory. On the contrary, as you
go deeper into the course, you will discover that much of the things you will do in Calculus 1 are
more or less the same as what you already did in your junior and senior high school mathematics.
Simply recalling some concepts in algebra, analytic geometry, and trigonometry will largely do the
trick. To those of you who came from STEM class this unit will serve as a brief review of what you
already discussed in precalculus. To those who came from other tracks in senior high school, this
material will provide you with the necessary background to learn the foundational concepts of
Calculus 1.

Learning Outcomes
After completing this module, you are expected to:
1. Distinguish a function from other relations.
2. Sketch the graph of a given function.
3. Give the domain and range of a function.
4. Distinguish between even and odd function.
5. Give the value of a function.

Test Your Skills

1. Simplify: 𝑥 4 − 5𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 4 + 𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 3 − 6.
2. If x = 2, then what is the value of 2𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 3 ?
3. Let y = x + 2, express 𝑦 2 + 2𝑦 − 1 in terms of x.
4. At how many points will the line x = 5 crosses the curve 𝑦 2 = 2𝑥 − 3?
5. Sketch the graph of the parabola 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 3.
See the correct answers at the end of this module. If you answer at least 3 questions correctly, then
you are ready to study this module. If your score is anywhere from 0 to 2, you are advised to review
those topics which you did not answer correctly before proceeding to study this module.

Functions
Definition
A function is a set of ordered pairs of real numbers (x, y) in which no two distinct ordered pairs have
the same first number. The set of all admissible values of x is called the DOMAIN of the function,
and the set of all resulting values of y is called the RANGE of the function.

Examples of functions
1. y = x2

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ORDERED PAIRS: (1, 1), (-1, 1), (2, 4), (-2, 4), (3, 9), (-3, 9), (4, 16), (-4, 16)
y is a function.
DOMAIN: (-, +) since you can assign any real number to x.
RANGE : [0, +) since whatever the value of x, y is always positive
Note: ( ) – open interval, i.e. the end points are not included in the set.
[ ] – close interval, i.e. the end points are included in the set.

2. y = 3x3 + 1

ORDERED PAIRS: (1, 4), (-1, -2), (2, 25), (-2, -23), (3, 82), (-3, -80)
y is a function.
DOMAIN: (-, +) RANGE: (-, +)

3. y2 = x

ORDERED PAIRS: (1, 1), (1, -1), (4, 2), (4, -2), (9, 3), (9, -3)
DOMAIN: [0, +)
RANGE: (-, +)
 Not a Function [why?]

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4. y = √𝑥 2 − 9
Do your own mapping of the elements from set X to set Y and verify that we can obtain the
following:

ORDERED PAIRS: (3, 0), (-3, 0), (√10, 1), (−√10 , 1), (5, 4), (-5, 4), etc.
y is a function.
DOMAIN: (-, -3]  [3, +)
RANGE: [0, +)
Note: The symbol  is read as “union”, meaning the elements of the set (-, -3] is
combined with the elements of the set [3, +)

Function Notations
We use the symbols such as f, g, and h to denote a function
Examples:
1. f (x) = x2 or h(x) = x2 instead of y = x2.
2. f (x) = 2x2 + 5 instead of y = 2x2 + 5

Graph of a Function
Consider the graphs of the following curves.
(a) f (x) = x2

(b) 𝑦 = √5 − 𝑥
f (x)

x
0 1 2 3 4 5

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RB Astillero Calculus 1 Functions

(c) y = √𝑥 2 − 9

(d) x2 + y2 = 25

(a) The graph of f (x) = x2 is a vertical parabola that opens upward.

(b) The graph of 𝑦 = √5 − 𝑥 is the upper portion of a horizontal parabola that opens leftward.
(c) The graph of y = √𝑥 2 − 9 is the upper portion of hyperbola with center at the origin.
(d) The graph of x2 + y2 = 25 is a circle with center at the origin and radius 5.

Observe that (a), (b), and (c) are all functions because they satisfy definition 1.1. On the other hand,
(d) is not a function. A vertical line drawn to the graph of (a), (b), or (c) crosses the curve at one and
only one point whereas a vertical line drawn to (d) crosses the curve at two points.

Vertical Line Test for a Function

The graph of a function can be intersected by a vertical line in one and only one point.

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Piecewise Function
A piecewise function is a function built from pieces of different functions (usually three functions)
over different intervals.

Here is an example of a piecewise function.

value of f (x) interval

-4 , - 10 < x ≤ -5
f (x) = x +1 , -5 < x ≤ 5
6 , 5 < x < 10

If we graph this piecewise function, it will look like this:

f (x) = 6

f (x) = x + 1

f (x) = - 4

Note: - open interval, endpoint is not included

- closed interval, endpoint is included

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Exercises 1.1
Name__________________________________Course Yr. & Sec.__________Date__________Score_____
Draw a sketch of the graph of the following functions and determine the domain and range.
1. f (x) = √𝑥 + 1

Graph:

Domain:______________ Range:_______________

2.
-3 if x  -1
g(x) = 1 if -1 < x  2
4 if 2 < x

Note: This is a piecewise function.

Graph:

Domain:______________ Range:_______________

3. h(x) = |x|

Graph:

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Domain:______________ Range:_______________

𝑥 2 −9
4. g(x) = 𝑥−3

Graph:

Domain:______________ Range:_______________

5. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 2

Graph:

Domain:______________ Range:_______________

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Composite Function
Definition:
Given two functions f and g, the composite function, denoted by 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔, is defined by
(𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥))
and the domain of 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 is the set of all numbers x in the domain of g such that g (x) is the domain of
f.
Note: the notations 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 is read as “f composed g” or simply “f circle g.”

domain of f

domain of g
g f
x
g(x) f (g(x))

range of f ◦g

range of g

f ◦g
Examples:
1. Given f (x) = √𝑥 and g(x) = 2x – 3. Find (f ◦g)(x) and determine its domain and range.
Solution:
(f ◦g)(x) = f (g(x))
= f (2x -3)
= √2𝑥 − 3
DOMAIN of f ◦g = [3/2, +)
RANGE of f ◦g = [0, +)
2. Given that f and g are defined by f (x) = √𝑥 and g(x) = x2 – 1. Find (a) f ◦f, (b) f ◦g. Also
determine the domain of the composite function in each part.
Solution:
(a) (f ◦f)(x) = f (f(x))
= f ( √𝑥 )

= √ √𝑥
4
= √𝑥
DOMAIN = [0, +)

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(b) (f ◦g)(x) = f (g(x))

= f(x2 – 1)
= √𝑥 2 − 1
DOMAIN: (-, -1]  [1, +)

Even and Odd Functions

Definitions:
(i) A function f is an even function if for every x in the domain of f,
f (-x) = f (x)
(ii) A function f is an odd function if for every x in the domain of f,
f (-x) = -f (x)

Examples:
Determine if the following functions are even or odd.
1. f (x) = 3x4 – 2x2 + 7
f (-x) = 3(-x)4 – 2(-x)2 + 7
= 3x4 -2x2 + 7
= f (x)
 f is even.

2. g(x) = 3x5 – 4x3 – 9x

g(-x) = 3(-x)5 – 4(-x)3 – 9(-x)
= -3x5 + 4x3 + 9x
= -(3x5 – 4x3 – 9x)
= -g(x)
 g is odd.

3. h(x) = 2x4 + 7x3 – x2 + 9

h(-x) = 2(-x)4+7(-x)3 – (-x)2 + 9
= 2x4 – 7x3 – x2 + 9
 h is neither even nor odd.
Exercises 1.2
Name__________________________________Course Yr. & Sec.__________Date__________Score_____
Write E if the function is even, O if the function is odd, and N if the function is neither even nor odd.
1. y = (x 2 + 3)2 __________
3
2. y = x − 2x + 1 __________
2
3. y = e−x __________
4. y = 2sin x __________
2
5. y = x cos x __________
6. y = x + sin x __________

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Operations with Functions

Two functions f and g can be combined by following the four basic function operations.
 (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)  addition operation
 (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)  subtraction operation
 (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥)  multiplication operation
𝑓
 (𝑔) (𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥)/𝑔(𝑥)  division operation

Function Values
Given any value of x, we can find the value of the function by plugging in the value of x.
Examples:
1. Given f (x) = √5 − 𝑥 , find f (1), f (-6), f (0).
Solution:
f (1) = √5 − 1 = √4 = 2
f (-6) = √5 + 6 = √11
f (0) = √5 − 0 = √5

2. If f (x) = 2x + 3 and g (x) = x2 – 1, find (f + g)(4), (f – g)(5), (f·g)(-2), (f /g)(0)

Solution:
(f + g)(4) = f (4) + g(4)
= [2(4) + 3] + [42 – 1]
= 11 + 15 = 26
(f – g)(5) = f (5) – g(5)
= [2(5) + 3] – [52 – 1]
= (10 + 3) – (25 – 1)
= 13 – 24
= -11
(f·g)(-2) = f(-2)·g(-2)
= [2(-2) + 3][(-2)2 – 1]
= (-1)(3) = -3
(f / g)(0) = f(0)/g(0) = 2(0) + 3/02 – 1 = - 3

3. Given f (x) = 3x + 2 and g(x) = x2 + 3x + 7, find (f ◦g)(2) and (g ◦f)(-1).

Solution:
(f ◦ g)(x) = f (g(x))
= 3(x2 + 3x + 7) + 2
= 3x2 + 9x + 21 + 2
= 3x2 + 9x + 23
(f ◦ g)(2) = 3(2)2 + 9(2) + 23
= 12 + 18 + 23
= 53

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(g ◦ f)(x) = (3x + 2)2 + 3(3x + 2) + 7

= 9x2 + 12x + 4 + 9x + 6 + 7
= 9x2 + 21x +17
(g ◦ f)(-1) = 9(-1)2 + 21(-1) + 17
= 9 – 21 + 17
=5

Exercises 1.3
Name__________________________________Course Yr. & Sec.__________Date__________Score_____

1. Given f (x) = 3x2-1 and g(x) = 2x +1. Find f (2), g(-3), (f + g)(-1), (f – g)(4).

2. Given f (x) = 5x – 4 and g(x) = 2x + 7. Find (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(2) f (g(3)), g(f (3)), f (g(4t)).

𝑓
3. If f (x) = x + 2, g(x) = (3x + 2)/(x – 4), find f (3), g(4), (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(2), (𝑔)(5).

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4. If f (t) = |3t - 17| find f (5) and f (-4).

5. If f(x) = 5x – 1 and g(x) = 2x2 – 7, find (f ◦ g)(1), (g ◦ f)(4), (f ◦f)(-1), (g ◦ g)(-5).

6. The graph of the function f in the figure resembles the letter M. Define f (x) piecewise.

(-1,2) 2 (1, 2)

1
x
-2 -1 0 1 2

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RB Astillero Calculus 1 Functions

Answers to Tests Your Skills

1. 3𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 − 6

2. -1

3. 𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 7

4. Two

5.
y

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