Relations and Functions
1 . Ordered Pair
If a pair of elements written in a small brackets and
grouped together in a particular order, then such a pair
is called ordered pair.
2. Equality of Two Ordered Pairs
Two ordered pairs (a, b) and (c,d) are equal, if their
corresponding elements are equal i.e . a =c and b =d .
3. Cartesian Product of Two Sets
For any two non-empty sets A and 8 , the set of all ordered
pairs (a, b) of elements a e A and b e 8 is called the
cartesian product of sets A and 8 and is denoted by A x 8.
Thus, Ax 8 = { (a, b) : a e A and b e 8}
If A = ~ or B = ~. then A x B = $
Note (i) A x B * B x A
(ii) If n(A) = m and n(B) = n, then n(A x B) = mn and n(B x A)= mn
(iii) If atleast one of A and B is infinite, then (A x B) is infinite and
(8 x A) is infinite.
4. Relation
A ~elation R from a non-empty set A to a non-empty set
8 1s a subset of the cartesian product set A x a
i.e. ~ c;;;, A xB. The subset is derived by describing a
relat1onsh1p between the first element and the second
element of the ordered pairs in A x a. The second
element is called image of first element.
The set of all first elements in a relation R, is called the
domain of the relation R and the set of all second
elements is called the range of R.
 Thus , ifR={(a,b) :a EA,b EB}, then is called the modulus function .
Domain (R) = {a : (a, b) ER and rang e- (R) = {b : (a, b) e R} Domain of f = R
Note (i) A relation may be represented either by the roster form or by the Range off = R' u { 0} i.e. (0, oo )
set builder form or by an arrow diagram which is a visual
representation of relation. (vi) Signum function The real function f : R ➔ R
(ii) If n(A) = m, n(B) = n, then n(A x B) = mn and the total number of
defin ed by

J~
possible relations from set A to set B = 2"'"
X *0 {- 1, X <0
5. Inverse Relation f (x) = x' = 0, x=0

Let A and 8 be two sets and R be a relation from set A to a

1
set B. Then , the inverse of relation R, denoted by W
relation from 8 to A and it is defined by
W 1 = {{b, a) : (a, b) ER}
1 (vii) Greatest integer function The real function
Domain of R = Range of W
1 f : R ➔ R defined by f(x) = [x ].is called the
Range of R = Domain of W
6. Functions
A relation f from a non-empty set A to non-empty set 8 is
said to be function, if every element of set A has one and
only one image in set 8.
In other words, a function f is a relation from a non-empty set
A to a non-empty set B such that the domain of f is A and
no two distinct ordered pairs in f have the same first element.
Domain, Codomain and Range
If f is a function from A to 8 i.e. each ·element of A
corresponds to one and , -o □ ly one . element of B, whereas
',. '·. - /.
every element in B need not be t~e image •-Of some x in A.
Then, the set A is called the domain of function f and the set B
is called the codomain of f. The subset of B containing the
images of elements of A is called the range of the function.
Note Every relation is a function but converse is not true.
7. Real Valued Function
A function f: A ➔ B is called a real valued function, if B is a
subset of R (set of all real numbers) . If A and 8 both are
subsets of R, then f is called a real function
l 0, X =0 1, X >0
, is a is called the signum function .
Domain of f = R; Range of f ={- 1, 0, 1}
greatest integer function , where [x] = integral part
of x or greatest integer less than or equal to x .
Domain of f = R; Range of f = Integer
(viii) Fractional part function The real function
f : R ➔ R defined by f(x) = {x}, x e R is called the
fractional part function .
f(x) = {x} = x - [x] for all x e R
Domain of f =R; Range of f = [0, 1)
(ix) Least (smallest) integer function The function
f: R ➔ R defined by f(x) = [x]for all x ER in called
the least integer function or the ceiling function.
Thus, for any real number x,
[x] or (x) =smallest integer greater than or equal
to X .
Domain = R; range = I
(x) Square root function The square root of a
x, whose domain is
function is defined as f (x) =✓
R+ i.e. (0, oo) and range i.e. W is [0, oo) .
(xi) Reciprocal function The function f :R-{O} ➔ R

8. Some Specific Types of Functions defined by f(x) = 2X is called the reciprocal

(i) Identity function The function f : R ➔ R defined by function. Its domain as well as range is R-{0} .
f(x) = x for each x ER is called identity function. *
(xii) Exponential function Let a ( 1) be a positive
Domain ·of f =R; Range of.f = R real number. Then , the function f :R ➔ R, defined
(ii) Constant function The function f : R ➔ R defined by by f(x) =ax, is called the exponential function . Its
f(x)=c,'v x ER, where c is a constant ER, is called a domain is R and range is (0, oo }
constant function. *
(xiii) Logarithmic function Let a ( 1) be a positive
Domain off= R; Range off= {c} real number. Then, the function t : (0, oo ) ➔ R,
(iii) Polynomial function A real function t: R ➔ R defined by defined by_f(x ) = loga x, is called the logarithmic
f(x) = 8a + a,x + ¥ + .. .+ anxn, where n is a non-negative function. Its domain is (0, oo) and range is R.
2

integer and Bo, a,, Bz ,... , a0 ER for each x ER, is called a

polynomial function. If an* 0, then n is called the degree
9. Algebra of Real Functions
of the polynomial. The domain of a polynonial function is
R and range depends on the polynomial representing the
function .
(iv) Rational function A function of the form f (x) , where f(x )
g(x)
and g(x) are polynomial functions of x defined in a
*
domain and g(x) 0, is called a rational function.
(v) Modulus function The real function f : R ➔ R defined by
f(x)=lxl={-x , x<O
X, X ~0
Let f : o, ➔ R and g : 0 2 ➔ R be two real functions
with domain 0 1 and 0 2 respectively. Then,
(i) (f + g)(x) = f(x) + g(x), V x E O, n 0 2
(ii) (f - g)(x) = f(x) - g(x), V x E 0 1 n 0 2
(iii) (fg) (x) = f(x) · g(x), V x E 0 1 n0 2
. f f (x )
(1v) g (x) = g(x) , V x e 0 1 n 0 2 - {x : g(x) = 0}
(v) (cf) (x) = c · f(x), V x E q, where c is a scalar (real
number) .