Clears
Graphs and Functions
Topic
-1 0/5 Brea
Horizontal line test
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Explanation Page
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QUESTION
For each function graphed below, state whether it is one-to-one.
Graph 1 Graph 2 Graph 3
y y y
4 4 4
2 2 2
x x x
-4 -2 2 4 -4 -2 2 4 -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8
-2 -2 -2
-4 -4 -4
One-to-one? Yes No Yes No Yes No
Graph 4 Graph 5 Graph 6
y y y
8 8
4
6 6
4 4
2
2 2
x x x
-4 -2 2 4 -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8 -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8
-2 -2
-2
-4 -4
-6 -6
-4
-8 -8
One-to-one? Yes No Yes No Yes No
EXPLANATION
A function is one-to-one if and only if no two points on its graph have the same y-coordinate.
For example, suppose the graph of a function contains the points 0, 5 and 4, 5 .
The function cannot be one-to-one, since the y-coordinate 5 is paired with x-coordinates 0 and 4.
Note that these two points both lie on the horizontal line y = 5.
Given the graph of a function, we can use the horizontal line test to determine whether the function is one-to-one.
If we are able to draw a horizontal line that intersects the graph more than once, then the
graph fails the horizontal line test. The function is not one-to-one.
If it is impossible to draw a horizontal line that intersects the graph
More
more than once, then the graph passes the horizontal line test. The
function is one-to-one.
Graph 1 Graph 2 Graph 3
y y y
4 4 4
2 2 2
x x x
-4 -2 2 4 -4 -2 2 4 -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8
-2 -2 -2
-4 -4 -4
This fails the horizontal line test. This fails the horizontal line test. This passes the horizontal line test.
We can draw a horizontal line that We can draw a horizontal line that It is impossible to draw a horizontal
intersects the graph more than intersects the graph more than line that intersects the graph more
once (for example, the line y = 0). once (specifically, the line y = 4). than once. So the function is
So the function is not one-to-one, So the function is not one-to-one, one-to-one, and the answer is Yes.
and the answer is No. and the answer is No.
More
Graph 4 Graph 5 Graph 6
y y y
8 8
4
6 6
4 4
2
2 2
x x x
-4 -2 2 4 -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8 -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8
-2 -2
-2
-4 -4
-6 -6
-4
-8 -8
This fails the horizontal line test. This passes the horizontal line test. This fails the horizontal line test.
We can draw a horizontal line that It is impossible to draw a horizontal We can draw a horizontal line that
intersects the graph more than line that intersects the graph more intersects the graph more than
once (specifically, the line y = 3). So than once. So the function is once (for example, the line y = − 4).
the function is not one-to-one, and one-to-one, and the answer is Yes. So the function is not one-to-one,
the answer is No. and the answer is No.
ANSWER
Graph 1 Graph 2 Graph 3
y y y
4 4 4
2 2 2
x x x
-4 -2 2 4 -4 -2 2 4 -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8
-2 -2 -2
-4 -4 -4
One-to-one? Yes No Yes No Yes No
Graph 4 Graph 5 Graph 6
y y y
8 8
4
6 6
4 4
2
2 2
x x x
-4 -2 2 4 -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8 -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8
-2 -2
-2
-4 -4
-6 -6
-4
-8 -8
One-to-one? Yes No Yes No Yes No
More Practice
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