CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO

FUNCTION
1.1 Introduction
In the 17
th
century, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz,
one of the inventors of calculus, introduced the
term function into the mathematical
vocabulary. The concept of a function is one
of the most basic in all of mathematics, and it
is essential to the study of calculus.
1.2 Function
Briefly, a function is a special type of relation
that expresses how one quantity (the output)
depends on another quantity (the input). For
example, when money is invested at some
interest rate, the interest I (output) depends on
the length of time t (input) that the money is
invested. To express this dependence, we say
that I is a function of t. Functional relations
like this are usually specified by a formula that
shows what must be done to the input to find
the output.
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Definition
A function is a rule that assigns to each input
number exactly one-output number. The set of
all input numbers to which the rule applies is
called the domain of the function. The set of
all output numbers is called the range.
A variable that represents input numbers for a
function is called an independent variable. A
variable that represents output numbers is
called a dependent variable because its value
depends on the value of the independent
variable. We say that the dependent variable is
a function of the independent variable. That is,
output is a function of input.
For example, the equation
y = x 1
defines y as a function of x. This rule assigns
to each input x exactly one output x 1, which
is y. If x = 4, then y = 3; if x = -4, then y = -5.
The independent variable is x and the
dependent variable is y.
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Not all equations in x and y define y as a
function of x. For example, let
x y
2
If x is 4, then
2 4
4
2
t t

y
y
Hence, to the input 4, there are assigned not
one, but two, output numbers: 2 and 2 . This
violates the definition of a function, so y is not
a function of x.
Usually, the letters f, g, h, F, G and so on are
used to represent function rules. For example,
y = x + 2, we may write y = f(x) = x + 2, or
simply,
f(x) = x + 2
As another example, the equation p = 2q 1,
we write p(q) = 2q 1.
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1.3 Function Values
Generally, f(x), which is read f of x, means
the output number in the range of f that
corresponds to the input number x in the
domain. Therefore

input
output
x f ) (
Output numbers such as f(-4) are called
function values. Keep in mind that they are in
the range of f.
Find the function values for each function.
a)
( ) 1 2 x x f
;
( ) 3 f
b) ( )
u
u
u h
4 +
;
( ) ( ) 4 , 5 h h
, and
( ) 4 u h
c)
1 ) (
2
+ x x f
;
) ( h x f +
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Example
1:
d)
( ) 4 x f
;
( )

,
_

100
1
, 4 f f
1.4 Domain and Range
Lets be specific about the domain of a
function. Unless otherwise stated, the domain
consist of all real numbers for which the rule
of the function makes sense; that is, the rule
gives function values that are real numbers.
For example,
6
1
) (

x
x h
Here any real number can be used for x except
6, because the denominator is 0 when x is
6(undefined). So the domain of h is understood
to be all real numbers except 6.
As another example, let the equation
1 2 ) ( t t g
The function g(t) is defined or is a real number
if 0 1 2 t . If 0 1 2 < t or negative, then the
function is undefined (It is an imaginary
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number). Since function values must be real
numbers, we must assume that
2 / 1
1 2
0 1 2

t
t
t
Thus the domain is the interval [1/2, )
However, figure below shows the domain and
range of

'

<

<

7 5 4
5 3 1
3 0 ,
) (
x if
x if x
x if x
x f
y
4
3
2
x
3 7
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Domain: 0 x 7
R
a
n
g
e
:

0

4
1. Find the domain for each function.
a)
2
) (
2

x x
x
x f
b)
5 3 ) (
2
+ x x x g
2. Find the range for each graph.
a) y
x
-3
b) y
2
x
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Example
2:
c) y
1
x
d) y
3
y = 1
2 x
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1.5 Types of Functions and Graphs
1.5.1 Constant Function
A function of the form y = c, where c is a
constant, is called a constant function.
For example,
3 y
y
y = 3
0 x
As another example,
1 y
,
( )
2
1
x f
, h(x + 3) = 2
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1.5.2 Polynomial function
In general, a function of the form
0 1
1
1
... ) ( a x a x a x a x f
n
n
n
n
+ + + +

where n is a nonnegative integer and

0 1
,..., , a a a
n n
are constant with
0
n
a
, is
called a polynomial function(in x)
Linear Function
a)
( ) 1 + x x f
b)
x y 4
c)
x y 3
d)
( ) x x f
4
1

is linear function with leading coefficient a) 1,

b) 1, c) 3 and, d)
Quadratic Function
a)
3 3
2
+ x x y
b)
( )
2
2x x f
is a polynomial function of degree 2(quadratic)
with leading coefficient a)1, b) 2
Cubic Function
a)
1 2
3
+ x y
b)
( ) 1 2
2 3
+ x x x f
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is a polynomial function of degree 3(cubic)
with leading coefficient a)2, b) 1
1.5.3 Rational function
A function of the form
( )
( ) x q
x p
y
that is a
quotient of polynomial functions is called a
rational function.
For example,
5
6
) (
2
+

x
x x
x f
is a rational function, since the
numerator and denominator are each
polynomials.
But
3 2 ) ( + x x g
is also a rational function,
since
1
3 2
3 2
+
+
x
x . In fact, every polynomial
function is also a rational function.
As another example,
1
2
+

x
y
,
3
1

x
y
,
( )
1 2
3
2

x
x
x f
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1.5.4 Root function
A function of the form
n
x g x f y ) ( ) ( is
called a root function (n = 2,3).
For example,
1 x y , 2 + x y , f(x) = (x 10)
1/3
1.5.5 Exponential function
The function f defined by
f(x) = b
x
,
Where b > 0, b 1, and the exponent x is any
real number, is called an exponential function
with base b.
1.5.6 Logarithmic function
The logarithmic function with base b, where
b > 0 and, b 1, is denoted by log
b
and is
defined by
y = log
b
x if and only if b
y
= x
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1.5.7 Composite function
Definition
If f and g are functions, the composition of f
with g is the function
g f
defined by
)) ( ( ) )( ( x g f x g f
.
For example,
F(x) = (3x 1)
9
,
5 2 3
) 6 ( + x x y
,
h(x) = (x
2
+ 1)
3
1.5.7 Compound Function
Let

'

<

<

8 2 3
, 2 1 , 0
, 1 1 , 1
) (
s if s
s if
s if
s F
This is called a compound function because
the rule for specifying it is given by more than
one expression.
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1.5.8 Absolute-Value Function
The function

'

<

. 0 ,
, 0 ,
) (
x if x
x if x
x f
is
called the absolute-value function.
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