CHAPTER 4.
MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE
AND SYMBOLS –
Relations and Functions
Core Idea
“Mathematics has its own symbols,
syntax, and rules.”
learning objectives
1. discuss the definitions of relations and functions;
2. determine the domain and codomain of the relation
3. map the domain to range;
4. familiarize the different types of relations and
functions;
5. identify if an expression or set is a relation or a
function; and
6. evaluate functions.
RELATION
RELATION A relation pertains to the relationship
between two or more variables.
Height and Weight
Mother and Children of a Child
Relationship
Salary and Number
of Hours of an
Employee
TYPES OF RELATIONS
❑ one – to – one
❑ many – to – one
❑ one – to – many
TYPES OF RELATIONS
one – to – one
girls boys
Leah Luke
Mary Mark
Becky Ben
TYPES OF RELATIONS
many – to – one
girls boys
Leah Luke
Mary Mark
Becky Ben
TYPES OF RELATIONS
one – to – many
girls boys
Leah Luke
Mary Mark
Becky Ben
RELATION Definition.
Let 𝐴 and 𝐵 be sets. A relation 𝑅 from A to B is a
subset of 𝐴 × 𝐵. Given an ordered pair 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈
𝐴 × 𝐵,
𝑥 is related to 𝑦 by 𝑅, written 𝒙 𝑹 𝒚,
if and only if 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝑅.
The set 𝐴 is called the domain (set of first
elements) of 𝑅 and the set 𝐵 (set of second
elements) is called its co-domain.
Historical background
C.S Peirce (19th century) – American mathematician
and logician introduced this formal definition of relation
RELATION Example 1. Relation as a Subset
Let A = {0,1,2} and B = {1,2,3} and define a
relation 𝑅 from 𝐴 to 𝐵 as follows:
Given any 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝐴 × 𝐵,
𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝑅 means that 𝑥 is less than 𝑦.
1. Find the elements of 𝑅.
2. Is 1 𝑅 1? Is 0 𝑅 1? Is 2 𝑅 3?
3. Identify the domain and co-domain of 𝑅.
Remark: A relation 𝑅 is as subset of 𝐴 × 𝐵.
RELATION
Practice 1.
Let Y = {0,1,2} and Z = {0,1} and define a relation 𝑊
from 𝑌 to 𝑍 as follows:
Given any 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝑌 × 𝑍,
𝑥+𝑦
𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝑊 means that is an integer.
2
1. What are the elements of 𝑊?
2. Is 1 𝑊 0? Is 2 𝑊 0? Is 2 𝑊 1?
3. What is the domain and co-domain of W ?
RELATION Arrow Diagrams of a Relation
Suppose 𝑅 is a relation from set 𝐴 to set 𝐵.
For each 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 and 𝑦 ∈ 𝐵, an arrow is drawn
from 𝑥 to 𝑦 if and only if
𝒙 𝑹 𝒚 and (𝒙, 𝒚) ∈ 𝑹.
𝐴 𝐵
0 3
1 4 𝑹 = { 0,5 , 1,4 , 2,3 }
2 5
RELATION Example 3. Arrow Diagram of Relations
Consider the relation
𝑹 = { 0,0 , 1,3 , 2,0 , (3,2)}.
Draw an arrow diagram for 𝑹.
0 0
1 1
2 2
3 3
RELATION Example 4. Arrow Diagram of Relations
Let 𝐴 = {1,2,3} and 𝐵 = {1,3,5} and define a
relations 𝑆 and 𝑇 from 𝐴 to 𝐵 as follows: For all
𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝐴 × 𝐵,
𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝑆 means that 𝑥 < 𝑦
and 2,1 , 2,5 ∈ 𝑇.
Draw the arrow diagrams for 𝑆 and 𝑇.
FUNCTION
input
output
FUNCTION Definition.
A function 𝐹 from a set 𝑋 to a set 𝑌 is a
Notations: relation with domain 𝑋 and range 𝑌 that
satisfies the following properties:
𝒇 𝒙 or 𝒚 (i) for every element 𝑥 ∈ 𝑋, there is an
element 𝑦 ∈ 𝑌 such that 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝐹; and
(ii) for all elements 𝑥 ∈ 𝑋 and 𝑦, 𝑧 ∈ 𝑌,
if 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝐹 and 𝑥, 𝑧 ∈ 𝐹, then 𝑦 = 𝑧.
A function is a relation between a dependent and independent
variable/s where in for every value of the independent variable,
(x or input), there exists a unique or a single value of the
dependent variable, (y or output).
TYPES OF FUNCTIONS
Which of the following relations is NOT a
function?
❑ one – to – one
❑ many – to – one
❑ one – to – many
Remark: All functions are relations, but not all relations
are functions.
FUNCTION Example 6. Function as a Mapping
Consider the following relations from 𝑋 to 𝑌
illustrated by the set of arrow diagrams.
Which of these are functions?
(a) (b) (c)
FUNCTION
FUNCTION NOT A
FUNCTION
(d) (f)
NOT A NOT A
FUNCTION FUNCTION
FUNCTION Example 7. Function as Set of Ordered Pairs
Consider the following relations 𝑅 from 𝑋 to 𝑌,
where 𝑋 = 2,3,4 and 𝑌 = 3,4,5,6. Which of
these relations are functions?
a. 𝑅 = 2,3 , 3,4 , 4,5 FUNCTION
b. 𝑅 = 3,3 , 3,4 NOT A FUNCTION
c. 𝑅 = 2,3 , 3,4 , 2,5 , 2,6 NOT A FUNCTION
d. 𝑅 = (2,5), (3,5), (4,5) FUNCTION
Remark: NO two or more ordered pairs in 𝑅 must have the
same domain.
FUNCTION Example 8. Function as a Graph
Every function has a corresponding graph in the
xy-plane. Consider the following graph, which of
them are functions?
(a) (b) (c) (d)
NOT A FUNCTION FUNCTION NOT A FUNCTION FUNCTION
Remark: NO two or more points must be intersected on the graph of a function
upon applying vertical line test.
FUNCTION Example 9. Function as Set of Ordered Pairs
Let 𝐴 = {2,4,6} and 𝐵 = 1,3,5 . Which of the
relations 𝑅, 𝑆, and 𝑇 defined below are
functions from 𝐴 to 𝐵.
a. 𝑅 = { 2,5 , 4,1 , 4,3 , 6,5 }
b. For all 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝐴 × 𝐵, 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝑆 means
that 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 1.
c. 𝑇 is defined by the arrow diagram
FUNCTION Definition.
A function 𝐹 from a set 𝑋 to a set 𝑌 is a
Notations: relation with domain 𝑋 and range 𝑌 that
satisfies the following properties:
𝒇 𝒙 or 𝒚 (i) for every element 𝑥 ∈ 𝑋, there is an
element 𝑦 ∈ 𝑌 such that 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝐹; and
(ii) for all elements 𝑥 ∈ 𝑋 and 𝑦, 𝑧 ∈ 𝑌,
if 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝐹 and 𝑥, 𝑧 ∈ 𝐹, then 𝑦 = 𝑧.
A function is a relation between a dependent and independent
variable/s where in for every value of the independent variable,
(x or input), there exists a unique or a single value of the
dependent variable, (y or output).
FUNCTION Example 10. Function as a Machine
A function can be viewed as a machine that
needs an input which require a rule (represented
by an equation defined by formulas) to produce
an output. Consider the illustration:
input (𝒙)
output (𝒚)
FUNCTION Example 11. Function as a Machine
𝒙=𝟓
𝒚 = 𝟐𝟓
𝑦 = 𝑥2
𝑦 = (5)2
FUNCTION Example 12. Function as a Machine
𝒙=𝟐
𝒚 = −𝟓
𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 9
𝑓 2 =2 2 −9
𝑓 2 =4−9
End of Discussion…
