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LESSON PROPER:

DEFINITION
A function is a set of ordered pairs of numbers (x,y) such that to each values of the first
variable (x) there corresponds a unique value of the second variable (y).

Figure 1. Machine Diagram for function 𝑓

Let’s think function as a machine (see Figure 1). If 𝑥 is in the domain of the function 𝑓,
then when 𝑥 enters the machine, it is accepted as an input and produces an output 𝑓(𝑥). Thus,
we can think of the domain as the set of all possible inputs and the range as the set of all possible
outputs.
The first of the two numbers in the ordered pair (x,y) is called the independent variable
or argument of the function. The second variable y is called the dependent variable.

For a square with side of length c, the area is given by:

𝑨 = 𝒄𝟐 , 𝒄>𝟎
Dependent variable Independent variable
(We can briefly say that A is a function of c since any values of c will produce a unique value of A)

Example 1: Determine if each of the following are functions:

a.) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 1 (Answer: 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 1 is a function. Given an 𝑥, there is only one way to


square it then add 1. No matter what value of 𝑥 will always yield a unique value of 𝑦.)
b.) 𝑦 2 = 𝑥 + 1 (Answer:𝑦 2 = 𝑥 + 1 is a not a function. Assuming 𝑥 = 0,
𝑦 2 = 0 + 1 = 1, yielding two possible values of 𝑦 which are +1 and -1.)

CLASSIFICATION OF FUNCTION
All functions are classified as either
algebraic or transcendental. The algebraic
functions are rational integral functions or
FUNCTION
polynomials, rational fractions or
quotients of polynomials, and irrational
functions, of which the simplest are those
algebraic transcendental formed from rational functions by the
extraction of roots.

The elementary transcendental


rational irrational elementary higher functions are trigonometric and inverse
trigonometric functions, exponential
trigonometric functions, in which the variable occurs as
exponential an exponent and logarithmic functions.
integral fractional inverse
logarithmic
trigonometric
DOMAIN AND RANGE OF A FUNCTION

Domain- is the set of all values that can be plugged into a function and have the function exist
and have a real number for a value. (Note: Need to avoid division by zero, square roots of
negative numbers, logarithms of zero and negative numbers)
Range- is the set of all possible values that a function can take.

Example 2: Find the domain and range of each of the following functions:

a.) 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟑
Answer: Range: (−∞, +∞); Domain: −∞ < 𝑥 < +∞ or (−∞, +∞)
Function is a linear polynomial with slope 5 (from 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏); function can take any
value so the range and domain are all real numbers.

b.) 𝒈(𝒕) = √𝟒 − 𝟕𝒕
𝟒 4
Answer: Range: [𝟎, +∞); Domain: 𝒕 ≤ or (−∞, ]
𝟕 7
Function is a square root, thus they are always positive or zero and because we can have
the square root of zero in this case.
𝟒 𝟒
𝐠 ( ) = √𝟒 − 𝟕 ( ) = √𝟎 = 𝟎
𝟕 𝟕
For the domain, we need to make sure that we will not take square roots of negative
numbers, therefore we require that,
√𝟒 − 𝟕𝒕 ≥ 𝟎
𝟒 ≥ 𝟕𝒕
𝟒 𝟒
≥𝒕 →𝒕≤𝟕
𝟕

c.) 𝒉(𝒙) = −𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟓


Answer: Range:(−∞, 23]; Domain: −∞ < 𝑥 < +∞ or (−∞, +∞)
Function is a quadratic polynomial; function can take any value so the domain is all real
numbers.
For the range, the quadratic polynomial is a parabola (standard form 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 𝑦)
that opens down (coefficient of 𝒙𝟐 is negative). Solving for the vertex of a parabola:
𝑏 12
𝑥=− =− =3
2𝑎 2(−2)
h(3) = −2(3)2 + 12(3) + 5 = 23

d.) 𝒇(𝒛) = |𝒛 − 𝟔| − 𝟑
Answer: Range: [−3, ∞); Domain: −∞ < 𝑧 < +∞ or (−∞, +∞)
Function contains an absolute value (absolute value will either be positive or zero).
Absolute value will be zero if 𝒛 is 6 therefore absolute value portion of this function is greater
than or equal to zero. Subtracting 3 from the absolute value portion will be, Range: [−3, ∞).
e.) 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝟖
Answer: Range: 8; Domain: −∞ < 𝑥 < +∞ or (−∞, +∞)

FUNCTIONAL NOTATION

Commonly, we use a symbol such as 𝑓(𝑥 ), which is read as “𝑓 of 𝑥”, to denote a


function of 𝑥.
𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙)

Also, letters other than f may be used in the same way:


𝒛 = 𝒘(𝒗), 𝒖 = 𝒔(𝒗)
(this denotes that 𝑧 and 𝑢 are both functions of 𝑣)

EVALUATION OF FUNCTIONS
Example 5:

Let 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 + 3. Find 𝑓(2), 𝑓(−4), 𝑓(0), 𝑓 (𝑢 − 1), 𝑓(−𝑥)


Since 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 + 3,

• 𝑓(2) = 22 + 3 = 7

• 𝑓(−4) = (−4)2 + 3 = 19

• 𝑓(0) = (0)2 + 3 = 3

• 𝑓(𝑢 − 1) = (𝑢 − 1)2 + 3 = 𝑢2 − 2𝑢 + 1 + 3 = 𝑢2 − 2𝑢 + 4

• 𝑓(−𝑥 ) = (−𝑥)2 + 3 = 𝑥 2 + 3

Example 6:

1
Let 𝑔(𝑦) = cos 2𝑦 − 2 sin 𝑦. Find 𝑔(𝜋), 𝑔 ( 𝜋) , 𝑔(0), and [𝑔(𝑥 ) + 𝑔(−𝑥)]
2
Since𝑔(𝑦) = cos 2𝑦 − 2 sin 𝑦,

• 𝑔(𝜋) = cos 2𝜋 − 2 sin 𝜋 = 1 − 0 = 𝟏

1 1 1
• 𝑔 ( 𝜋) = cos 2 ( 𝜋) − 2 sin 𝜋 = −1 − 2 = −𝟑 NOTE: 𝝅 = 𝟏𝟖𝟎°
2 2 2

• 𝑔(0) = cos 2(0) − 2 sin 0 = 1 − 0 = 𝟏


• 𝑔(𝑥 ) = cos 2𝑥 − 2 sin 𝑥 ; 𝑔(−𝑥 ) = cos(−2𝑥) − 2 sin(−𝑥)
= cos 2𝑥 − 2 sin 𝑥 + (cos 2𝑥 + 2 sin 𝑥)
= 𝟐𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟐𝒙

Example 7:

A right has a fixed base of length 7. Express the length of the altitude of the triangle as a
function of the length of the hypotenuse.
From Pythagorean Theorem:
𝒄𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐
where:
c = hypotenuse
𝑐 2 = 𝑎 2 + 72 a= altitude/height
a c 𝑎2 = 𝑐 2 − 49 b= base
∴ 𝒂 = √𝒄𝟐 − 𝟒𝟗, 𝒉 > 𝟕
𝑎 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡) 𝑜𝑓 ℎ

b=7
Figure 3

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