Math 8 Unit 4 Study Guide — Functions

Recognize a relation as a correspondence between varying quantities.

relation: A relation is a set of ordered pairs
Write an example of a relation: , ,

Recognize a function as a correspondence between inputs and outputs where each input has exactly one
output.
This is a function. You can tell by tracing from each x to each y. There is only one y for
each x; there is only one arrow coming from each x.

Ha! Bet I fooled some of you on this one! This is a function! There is only one arrow
coming from each x; there is only one y for each x. It just so happens that it's always
the same y for each x, but it is only that one y. So this is a function; it's just an
extremely boring function!

This one is not a function: there are two arrows coming from the number 1; the
number 1 is associated with two different range elements. So this is a relation, but it is
not a function. Name___________________________________
Period___________ Date______________

Okay, this one's a trick question. Each element of the domain that has a pair in the
range is nicely well-behaved. But what about that 16? It is in the domain, but it has no
range element that corresponds to it! This won't work! So then this is not a function. It
isn’t even a relation!

Source: PurpleMath.com

Distinguish between relations that are functions and those that are not functions.
Given the graph of a relation, if you can draw a vertical line that crosses the graph in more than one place, then the
relation is NOT a function.

Is the relation in the table a function? Explain why or why not in the space below.
x y
0 –5
1 –1
1 3
1 6

Identify relations and functions as linear and nonlinear.

In a linear function, a constant change in x means a constant change in y.

Is the set of ordered pairs a linear function?

Explain why or why not.
Recognize functions in a variety of representations and a variety of contexts.
Write or draw an example of each for the input-output table.
x 1 2 3 4
y 2 6 10 14

 Ordered Pair
 Graph
 Mapping
 Equation

Translate among verbal, tabular, graphic, and algebraic representations of functions.

Algebraic Representation Table Ordered Pair Graph

y = 4x – 3 (-2, -11)
(-1, -7)
(0, -3)
(1, 1)
(2, 5)

Understand and recognize arithmetic sequences as linear functions with whole-number input values.

4, 10, 16, 22, 28,… Is this sequence arithmetic? What is the 1st term in this sequence?
19, 13, 7, 1, -5,… Is this sequence arithmetic? What is the 4th term in this sequence?

Interpret the constant difference in an arithmetic sequence as the slope of the associated linear
function.
Find the slope (common difference) in each arithmetic sequence.
a) 32, 24, 16, 8,… m = c) What is the rule for getting from one number to the next in this
b) b) 9, 12, 15, 18,… m = sequence? -16, -15, -14, -13,...

Use tables to describe sequences recursively and with a formula in closed form.

Find the 15th term of 8, 15, 22, 29,…

Find the 10th term of 29, 22, 15, 8,…

Write a recursive definition for the following sequence: 7, 9, 11, 13, 15,…
t1 = 7
tn = tn-1 + d