FUNCTIONS
Relation : A set of ordered pairs, a graph, a mapping diagram, a table,
an equation or a verbal statement
Function : A relation in which each element of the domain is associated
with one and only one element of the range.
Domain : Set of first elements of the pairs of the relation.
(Set of input values of function)
Codomain : Set of POSSIBLE second elements of the pairs of the
relation.
(Set of POSSIBLE OUTPUT values of function)
Range : Set of actual second elements of the pairs of the relation
(Set of output values/ Results of the function)
NB: The CODOMAIN is a PART OF THE DEFINITION or the
TARGET of the function whilst the RANGE is the CONSEQUENCE or
the RESULT of the definition of the function.
The graph of a relation (Is a relation a function?)
The graph of a relation can help you see whether a relation is a function.
If a vertical line can be drawn so that it passes through two points of the
relation then the relation is not a function.
Only one-to-one and many-to-one relations are functions
Composite function : Two or more functions combined to do the work of
one
The composite function fg (the composition of the function f with the
function g) is determined by:
The three step method
1. Substitute formula for g(x)
2. Apply formula for f(x)
3. Simplify
1
Example
f ( x)  4 x  3 g ( x)  x  2
1. f ( g ( x))  f ( x  3)
2. f ( g ( x))  4  2  4( x  3)  2
3. f ( g ( x))  4 x  10
Said another way, a composite function is a combination of two (or more)
functions, where you apply the first function and get an answer, and then
fill that answer into the second function and so on.
The order of the composition is extremely important and is read from right
to left (of the input value)
In general f ( g ( x))  g ( f ( x))
Injective Functions
The definition of a function guarantees a unique image of every member of
the domain. A given member of the range may have more than one pre-
image, however, if this is the case then the function is not injective.
Definition : A function f : A  B is injective, or one-to-one, if no member
of B is the image under f of two distinct elements of A.
To show that a function is injective, we assume that there are elements a1
and a 2 of A with f a1   f a2  and then show that a1  a2
i.e. f a1   f a2   a1  a2
Graphically speaking, if a horizontal line cuts the curve representing the
function at most once then the function is injective.
Test the following functions to see if they are injective.
1. f : R  R; f(x) = x3
2. f : R  R; f(x) = x2
3. f : [0, )  R; f(x) = x2
 FUNCTIONS

Surjective Functions DIAGRAM A DIAGRAM B DIAGRAM C

Let f : A  B be an arbitrary function with domain A and codomain B.
Part of the definition of a function is that every member of A has an image
under f and that all the images are members of B; the set R of all such
images is called the range of the function f.

Thus R = f(A) and clearly R B.

If it should happen that R = B, that is, that the range coincides with the
codomain, then the function is called a surjective function.

Definition : A function f : A  B is an surjective, or onto, function if the An injective function is called an injection, and is also said to be an
range of f equals the codomain of f. information-preserving or one-to-one function where each member of
the domain has one and only one image in the co-domain.
To show that a function is surjective show that ALL elements in the
codomain has a preimage in the domain.
(Diagrams A and B show injective functions)
To show that a function is NOT surjective show that at least one element A surjective function is one where its values span its whole codomain.
in the codomain does not have a pre image in the domain (this element This means that for every member y in the codomain there is at least one
does not map back to any element in the domain). member x in the domain such that f(x) = y.
Graph the following two functions
Said another way, a function f: X → Y is surjective if and only if its
1. f : R  R; f(x) = x3
range f(X) is equal to its codomainY.
2. f : R  R; f(x) = x2 and check to see if they are surjective.
The answers are (1) yes, (2) no. Can you see why?
A surjective function is called a surjection. (Diagrams B and C show
surjective functions)
Bijective Function
Definition : A function f : A  B is bijective (a bijection) if it is both
A Bijection, or a bijective function is a function f from a set X to a set Y
surjective and injective. If f : A  B is injective and surjective, then f is
with the property that, for every y in Y, there is exactly one x in X such
called a one-to-one correspondence between A and B. This terminology
that f (x) = y. Alternatively, f is bijective if it is a one-to-one
comes from the fact that each element of A will then correspond to a
correspondence between those sets; i.e., both one-to-one and onto
unique element of B and visa versa.
(Only Diagram B shows bijection)
Which of the following functions are surjective, injective and bijective ?
1. f : R  R; f(x) = x3;
2. f : R  R; f(x) = 2x;
3. f : R  R; f(x) = x3- 2x2 - 5x + 6

2
 FUNCTIONS

Inverse function : The function that maps each member of the range back  If g is the inverse of f, then f is the inverse of g.
to a corresponding member of the domain.  If f and g are inverses of each other then
g  f x  x and f g x   x
Finding an inverse function  If a function is a many to one relation then the inverse will naturally
-1
The inverse function f is determined by result in a one to many relation which is NOT a function.
a) Begin with the original equation representing the function. Hence for a function f to have an existing inverse function f MUST
Let f(x) = y. to be a BIJECTION.
b) Switch roles of x and y /f(x) in equation (interchange x and y).
c) Transpose expression to make y the subject The graph of an inverse function

Understanding that the old x/new y will become your new f -1(x) The graph of an inverse function is a reflection of the original function in
d) This y is the inverse function f -1(x) is the mirror line y  x .

NB
Example 1 Example 2 the domain of the inverse function f -1 is the range of the original
function f
AND the range of the inverse function f-1is the domain of the original
f x   2 x 2  3 x  2  2x  34   78
2
3 x
f x   NOTE : before attempting to find
2  4x
3  f 1 the inverse of quadratics ALWAYS
for inverse x 
2  4 f 1 complete the square before.

 x 24f 1
 3 f 1
for inverse x  2 f  1
 34 
2
 78
 2x  8 f 1
 3 f 1
 x  78  2 f 1
 34 
2

x  78    f 1  34 2
1 1
8f  f  3  2x
 1
2

 f 1
x   3  2 x  f 1  34   12 x  78 
9
 f 1  34  12 x  78 