Chapter 1: Relations and Functions

1.1 Sets of Real Numbers and the Cartesian Coordinate Plane

A ________ is a ‘well-defined’ collection of objects which are called its ‘elements.’ ‘Well-defined’ means it is possible to
determine if something belongs to the __________ or not.

There are three ways to describe sets.

1. The Verbal Method:

2. The Roster Method:

3. The Set-Builder Method:

Sets of Numbers

Empty Set

Natural Numbers

Whole Numbers

Integers

Rational Numbers

Real Numbers

Irrational Numbers

Complex Numbers

We say that the sets are nested:

Interval Notation

Let 𝑎 and 𝑏 be real numbers with 𝑎 < 𝑏.

Sets of Real Numbers Interval Notation Region on the Real Number Line

{𝑥|𝑎 < 𝑥 < 𝑏}

{𝑥|𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 < 𝑏}

{𝑥|𝑎 < 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏}

{𝑥|𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏}

{𝑥|𝑥 < 𝑏}

{𝑥|𝑥 ≤ 𝑏}

{𝑥|𝑥 > 𝑎}

{𝑥|𝑥 ≥ 𝑎}

The _______________________ of two sets 𝐴 and 𝐵 is written 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 = {𝑥|𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 and 𝑥 ∈ 𝐵}.

The _______________________ of two sets 𝐴 and 𝐵 is written 𝐴 ∪ 𝐵 = {𝑥|𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 or 𝑥 ∈ 𝐵 (or both)}.

Parts of the Cartesian Coordinate Plane

The distance formula (which is derived from the Pythagorean theorem) says:

Example | Find and simplify the distance between 𝐴(−3, 2) and 𝐵(1, 4).

Example | Find all of the points with 𝑥-coordinate 3 which are 4 units from the point (1, 2).

1.2 Relations

A _______________________ is a set of points in the plane. They can be graphed by plotting all of the points in the
relation.

If a relation is expressed by an equation, the graph of that equation consists of all possible solutions to that equation.

Parts of a Graph

Name Description Example

intercept

axis of symmetry

vertex
1.3 Introduction to Functions

A relation in which each 𝑥-coordiante is matched with only one 𝑦-coordinate is said to describe 𝑦 as a
_________________________ of 𝑥.

_________________________________: A set of points in the plane represents 𝑦 as a function of 𝑥 if and obly if no two
points lie on the same vertical line.

Reminder: What do we mean by “if and only if?”

The set of the 𝑥-coordinates of the points in 𝐹 is called the ___________________ of 𝐹.

The set of the 𝑦-coordinates of the points in 𝐹 is called the ____________________ of 𝐹.

Example | Determine which equations represent 𝑦 as a function of 𝑥.

1. 𝑥 ! + 𝑦 " = 1 2. 𝑥 " + 𝑦 ! = 1 3. 𝑥 " 𝑦 = 1 − 3𝑦

1.4 Function Notation

We call 𝑥 the ________________________ variable and 𝑦 the ____________________________ variable.

We use function notation to describe the relationship between the two variables using algebraic notation. It follows the
form “𝑓(𝑥) = some algebraic expression” . Note that this is read “𝑓 of 𝑥” – it is not multiplication!

Example | Let 𝑓(𝑥) = −𝑥 " + 3𝑥 + 4. Find and simplify:

𝑓(−1) 𝑓(2𝑥) 𝑓(𝑥 + 2)

The ___________________ of a function consists of any inputs which make arithmetic sense when substituted. There
are two primary mathematical “sins” which we need to avoid:

1. Division by zero
2. Even roots of negative numbers

Example | Find the domain of each function and write in interval notation.
!
a. 𝑔(𝑥) = √4 − 3𝑥 b. ℎ(𝑥) = √4 − 3𝑥

" '
c. 𝑓(𝑥) = "# d. 𝑟(𝑡) = ($√*+!
#$% &
#$!
1.5 Function Arithmetic

All four arithmetic operations can be composed as normal (i.e. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥), (𝑓𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥), etc.)

,(.+/)$,(.)
The ____________________ of a function 𝑓 is the expression . When it is ‘simplified,’ the ℎ in the
/
denominator cancels out (the reason why will become clear next year in Calculus J ).

Example | Find and simplify the difference quotient: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 " − 𝑥 − 2.

Example | Find and simplify the difference quotient: 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥.

1.6 Graphs of Functions

We already know how to graph a few kinds of functions without simply finding points / using the “table method.” We
will review these in the next chapter.

If you are presented with a kind of function you don’t know how to graph, here is a useful strategy which will usually
work:
1. Find intercepts.
2. Test for symmetry (about either the 𝑦-axis or about the origin).
a. Symmetric about 𝑦-axis iff 𝑓(−𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥).
b. Symmetric about origin iff 𝑓(−𝑥) = −𝑓(𝑥).
3. Plot additional points as needed.

Example | Graph 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 " − 𝑥 − 6.

4 − 𝑥", 𝑥 < 1
Example | Graph 𝑓(𝑥) = E .
𝑥 − 3, 𝑥 ≥ 1
Words to Describe Function Behavior

Key Term Description

Increasing

Decreasing

Constant

Local Maximum /
Global Maximum

Local Minimum /
Global Minimum

Even

Odd

Neither

Example | Given this graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), answer the following.

a. Find the domain of 𝑓.

b. Find the range of 𝑓.

c. List the 𝑥-intercepts, if any exist.

d. List the 𝑦-intercepts, if any exist.

e. Solve 𝑓(𝑥) < 0.

f. Determine 𝑓(2).
g. Solve 𝑓(𝑥) = −3. h. Is 𝑓 even, odd, or neither?

i. List the intervals on which 𝑓 is decreasing. j. List the intervals on which 𝑓 is increasing.

k. Give the local and global maximums. l. Give the local and global minimums.
1.7 Transformations
There are three broad categories of transformations which functions may undergo: shifts, reflections, and dilations or
scalings.

Shifts

Upward (Vertical)

Downward (Vertical)

Left (Horizontal)

Right (Horizontal)

Reflections

Across the 𝑥-axis

Across the 𝑦-axis

Dilations & Scalings

Vertical Stretch

Vertical Shrink

Horizontal Stretch

Horizontal Shrink
Example | Describe and graph the following transformations of the following
function.

a. 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 1 b. ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥 + 2)

c. 𝑗(𝑥) = 2𝑓(𝑥) #
d. 𝑞(𝑥) = 𝑓 I" 𝑥J

e. 𝑟(𝑥) = 𝑓(−𝑥) f. 𝑠(𝑥) = −2𝑓(𝑥) + 3