FUNCTIONS
Definition: In Practical Apllication, “The value of 1 quantity depend on the value of another”
Mathematically, a function can be thought of as correspondence from a set X of real number X to
set Y of real numbers Y where the number is unique for a specific value of X.
A function is a relationship between two variables x and y gives y as a function of x if to each
value of x there corresponds just one value of y
A function is a set of ordered pairs of numbers (X,Y) in w/c no two distinct ordered pairs have
the same 1st number
Example
Y=2x+1= linear function
Y= Ax2+Bx+C= quadratic function
CLASSIFICATION OF FUNCTION
I. Algebraic Functions
1. Rational Integral
2. Rational Fractions
3. Irrational Fractions
II. Transcendental Function
1. Elementary Transcendental Function
2. Higher Transcendental Function
Example
For which of the following equations is y a function of x
a. X2 + y =3
y= 3- X2 ; let x= 1
y = 3- (1)2
y= 2 (y is a function of x)
b. y2 + x = 5
y2 = 5-x ; let x= 1
2
y = 5- 1
y2 = 4
y = √4
y = ±2
FUNCTION NOTATION
Function notation is the way a function is written. It is meant to be a precise way of giving
information about the function without a rather lengthy written explanation.
The most popular function notation is f (x) which is read "f of x".
This is NOT the multiplication of f times x
Traditionally, functions are referred to by single letter names, such as f, g, h and so on. Any
letter(s), however, may be used to name a function.
Examples:
1. f(x) = x+5
2. g(x)= 3x2-1
3. f(z) = z2 – 2z +3
The f (x) notation is another way of representing the y-value in a function, y = f (x).
The y-axis may even be labeled as the f (x) axis, when graphing.
Ordered pairs may be written as (x, f (x)), instead of (x, y).
Note: The notation f : X → Y tells us that the function's name is "f " and its ordered pairs
are formed by an element x from the set X, and by an element y from the set Y.
(The arrow → is read "is mapped to".)
DOMAIN AND RANGE
DOMAIN - set of all possible x-values which will make the function "work", and will output
real y-values.
When finding the domain, remember:
The denominator (bottom) of a fraction cannot be zero
The number under a square root sign must be positive in this section
How to find the domain
In general, we determine the domain of each function by looking for those values of the
independent variable (usually x) which we are allowed to use. (Usually we have to avoid 0 on the
bottom of a fraction, or negative values under the square root sign).
RANGE - the resulting y-values we get after substituting all the possible x-values.
How to find the range
The range of a function is the spread of possible y-values (minimum y-value to
maximum y-value)
Substitute different x-values into the expression for y to see what is happening. (Ask
yourself: Is y always positive? Always negative? Or maybe not equal to certain values?)
Make sure you look for minimum and maximum values of y.
Example
Find the Domain and Range of the following:
1. y = x2
x -2 -1 0 1 2
y 4 1 0 1 4
D(f) = { x / x ∈ R {¿ ¿ {R }} R } or D(f) = (−∞ ,+∞ )
R(f) = { y / y ≥ 0 {¿ ¿ {R }} R } or R(f) = [ 0, + ∞ ¿
2. f(x)= √ x−2
x -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
y Error Error Error Error 0 √1 √2
D(f) = { x / x ≥ 2 {¿ ¿ {R }}R } or D(f) = [2,+ ∞ ¿
R(f) = { y / y ≥ 0 {¿ ¿ {R }} R } or R(f) = [ 0, + ∞ ¿
1+ x
3. f(x) =
1−x
x -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
y −1 0 1 Error -3 -2 −5
3 3
D(f) = { x / x ∈ R∧x ≠1 {¿ ¿ {R }}R }
R(f)= (−∞ ,+∞ )
EVALUATION OF FUNCTIONS
To evaluate a function, substitute the input (the given number or expression) for the function's
variable (place holder, x). Replace the x with the number or expression.
Example
Given the function f (x) = x2 +3x - 4, find
1. f (0)
Solution: Substitute 0 into the function in place of x. f (0) = (0)2 +3(0) – 4= -4
2. f(2)
Solution: Substitute 2 into the function in place of x. f (2) = (2)2 +3(2) – 4= 6
3. f(2w)
Solution: When substituting expressions, like 2w, into a function, using parentheses will
help prevent algebraic errors. For this problem, use (2w). f (2w) = (2w)2 + 3(2w) – 4
= 4w2 + 6w -4 (Note: the answer is in terms of w.)
w+h
4. f(w+h)
x w+h
Solution: f(w+h)= (w+h)2 + 3(w+h) – 4
hw+h2
= w2 + 2hw+ h2 + 3w+3h-4 w2
+ hw
2
w+
2hw+h2
5. f(x)+f(h) = ?
GRAPH OF A FUNCTION
Definition: If f is a function, then the graph of f is the set of all points (x,y) in the plane which
(x,y) is an ordered pair in f. The graph of the function f is the same as the graph of y = f(x)
Examples
1. Find the domain and range of f(x) = x. Sketch the graph.
D(f) = (−∞ ,+∞ )
R(f) = (−∞ ,+∞ )
2. Find the domain and range of f(x) = x2. Sketch the graph.
D(f) = (−∞ ,+∞ )
R(f) = [0, + ∞ ¿
3. Find the domain and range of f(x) = x3. Sketch the graph.
D(f) = (−∞ ,+∞ )
R(f) = (−∞ , + ∞ ¿
4. Graph
{
2
x if x <0
g(x)=
√ x if x ≥ 0
Solution:
In this case, we graph the squaring function over negative x-values and the square root function
over positive x-values.
Notice the open dot used at the origin for the squaring function and the closed dot used for the
square root function. This was determined by the inequality that defines the domain of each piece
of the function. The entire function consists of each piece graphed on the same coordinate plane.
5. Graph
{
3
x if x <0
x if 0 ≤ x ≤ 4
6 if x >4
Solution:
In this case, graph the cubing function over the interval (−∞,0). Graph the identity function over
the interval [0,4]. Finally, graph the constant function (x)=6 over the interval (4,∞). And
because f(x)=6 where x>4, we use an open dot at the point (4,6). Where x=4, we use
f(x)=x and thus (4,4) is a point on the graph as indicated by a closed dot.
