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Understanding the Vertical Line Test

The vertical line test can be used to determine if a curve represents a function. If a vertical line intersects a curve more than once, the curve does not represent a function, as a function can only have one output for each input. Similarly, the horizontal line test can determine if a function is injective or surjective. If any horizontal line intersects the graph in more than one point, the function is not injective, and if the graph is not intersected at all, the function is not surjective. Function notation represents variables as functions of other variables, with the independent variable as the input and dependent variable as the output.

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468 views3 pages

Understanding the Vertical Line Test

The vertical line test can be used to determine if a curve represents a function. If a vertical line intersects a curve more than once, the curve does not represent a function, as a function can only have one output for each input. Similarly, the horizontal line test can determine if a function is injective or surjective. If any horizontal line intersects the graph in more than one point, the function is not injective, and if the graph is not intersected at all, the function is not surjective. Function notation represents variables as functions of other variables, with the independent variable as the input and dependent variable as the output.

Uploaded by

Angel Silva Vicente
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Vertical line test

The vertical line test, shown graphically. The abscissashows the domain of the (to be
tested) function.
In mathematics, the vertical line test is a visual way to determine if a curve is a graph
of a function or not. A function can only have one output, y, for each unique input, x. If a
vertical line intersects a curve on an xy-plane more than once then for one value of x the
curve has more than one value of y, and so, the curve does not represent a function. If
all vertical lines intersect a curve at most once then the curve represents a function. [1]
A Horizontal line is a straight, flat line that goes from left to right. Given a
function
(i.e. from the real numbers to the real numbers), we can decide if it
isinjective by looking at horizontal lines that intersect the function's graph. If any
horizontal line
intersects the graph in more than one point, the function is not
injective. To see this, note that the points of intersection have the same y-value
(because they lie on the line
) but different x values, which by definition means the
[1]
function cannot be injective.

Passes the test


(injective)

Fails the test (not


injective)

Variations of the horizontal line test can be used to determine whether a function
is surjective or bijective:

The function f is surjective (i.e., onto) if and only if its graph intersects any
horizontal line at least once.
f is bijective if and only if any horizontal line will intersect the graph exactly once.

Function notation is a method of writing algebraic variables as functions of


other variables
Writing functional notation as "y = f(x)" means that the value of variable y depends on
the value of x. In the simple function "f(x) = x + 3", y intercepts the y-axis at point (0,3)
on the graph, because x is 0 and y is 3. From there, the line is a one-to-one function,
with y and x increasing at the same rate. There are also compound functions that are
useful in problems requiring more than one set of data. For example, "g(f(x))" means the
initial function f is taken, then treated as the original x-value with a new line created on
the graph.
Domain and range are two other concepts to understand. Domain refers to the set of
independent variables (in most cases, x) for which a function applies. Range refers to the
dependent variable, most often y. When writing domain and range, students use curly
brackets and write the numbers from least to most, separating them with a comma.

Independent variables - The values that can be changed in a given model or


equation. They provide the "input" which is modified by the model to change the
"output."
Dependent variables - The values that result from the independent variables.

If a scientist conducts an experiment to test the theory that a vitamin could


extend a persons life-expectancy, then:

The independent variable is the amount of vitamin that is given to the subjects
within the experiment. This is controlled by the experimenting scientist.
The dependent variable, or the variable being affected by the independent
variable, is life span.

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