College Algebra

Learning Journal – Unit 1

A function is a relation in which each possible input value leads exactly to one output value, the
input value makes up the domain (the independent variable) and the the output value makes up the
range (the dependent variable). The notation y = f(x) defines a function named f.
The simplest function I can imagine is a constant function, and that kind of function has the same
output no matter what the input value is, and its form is y = b ( or f(x) = b ) where b is a constant
and it is possible to find constant function in our day-to-day lives. If I go to a supermarket and there
are several types of fruits inside bags (each bag has 2 bananas, 2 pears, 2 peaches and 2 apples) in
the center of the fruit section because they are getting old and they are all set to a specific lower
price so people can buy them, the relation between the bag of fruits and the price are an example of
a constant function where each bag costs 0.50$
Cost(bag of fruits) = 0.50.
It does not matter what bag you pick, they all have the same quantity of fruits inside and they all
cost the same.
It is possible to see a function, imagining we have 15 bags to sell at that price and if we number
them like: Bag of fruits number 1, Bag of fruits number 2, Bag of fruits number 3 and so on... we
can create this function:

As can be seen from the graph above, it does not matter if I pick bag number 6, or bag number 11
or whatever bag I pick I will always get the same price:
C(Bag 1) = 0.50 C(Bag 9) = 0.50
C(Bag 2) = 0.50 C(Bag 10) = 0.50
C(Bag 3) = 0.50 C(Bag 11) = 0.50
C(Bag 4) = 0.50 C(Bag 12) = 0.50
C(Bag 5) = 0.50 C(Bag 13) = 0.50
C(Bag 6) = 0.50 C(Bag 14) = 0.50
C(Bag 7) = 0.50 C(Bag 15) = 0.50
C(Bag 8) = 0.50

(NOTE: Only the blue dots matter and so the x, the independent variable, has to be a natural
number) ( x here is the bag number )

The domain of this function is D = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15}

The range of this function is R = {0.50}

Using the vertical line test I can see that it is indeed a function because it does not matter where I
draw that line it intersects the graph only once, but it is not a one-to-one function and I can see that
applying the horizontal line test.

The average rate of change is 0 and that makes sense since it is a constant function:

change output y2−y1 0.50−0.50

Average rate of change = = = = 0
change input x2−x1 15−1

444 words

References:

Study.com, High School Algebra, Constant Function: Definiton and Example, Chapter 16, Lesson
11 Retrieved from: https://study.com/academy/lesson/constant-function-definition-example.html

Arizona State University, Algebra and Trigonometry, Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3, Jay Abramson
Retrieved from:file:///C:/Users/Hatfield%20Cex/Desktop/Computer%20Science%20Course%20-
%20University%20of%20the%20People/College%20Algebra/AlgebraAndTrigonometry-
OP_NpLRuqX.pdf