THEME 1 - FUNCTIONS AND CHANGE

Unit 1.1 - What is a function? - pp. 2-5

Definition

A function is a rule that takes certain numbers as inputs and assigns to each a definite
output number. The set of all input numbers is called the domain of the function and
the set of resulting output numbers is called the range of the function. The input is
called the independent variable and the output is called the dependent variable.
Remarks
1. There are four ways to represent a function: tables, graphs, formulas and
descriptions in words.
2. We use real valued functions with f the function so that f :   .
The domain and range of a function always consist of real numbers and it is not
necessary to indicate that the elements of the range or domain are real numbers
e.g the domain of fx  1x is x | x  0.
3. The range and domain of a function are sets and must be represented in either
set or interval notation.

Set notation Interval notation Set notation Interval notation

x | a  x  b a, b x | x  a a, 
x | a  x  b a, b x | x  a a, 
x | a  x  b a, b x | x  b  , b
x | a  x  b a, b x | x  b  , b

We use the symbol, , for the set of all real numbers with    ,   x | x  .

Example 1 (Interpretations)
The number of species of algae, a, is a function of the number of snails per square meter, s.
1. Use function notation, e.g. f  , to represent the given information.
2. Indicate the horizontal intercept and the vertical intercept on a set of axes,
represent using function notation and interpret your answers.

Example 2 (Working with time)

The function P  ft  6. 51. 04 t gives the population of a town in millions,
with t in years since 2010.
1. Sketch the function without calculating function values.
2. Use interval notation to represent the domain and range of the function.
3. Calculate and interpret the function value f4.

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p1 of 18

Definition (Textbook, p. 5)

A function f is increasing if the values of fx increase as x increases.

A function f is decreasing if the values of fx decrease as x increases.

Example 3
Consider the function y  fx  x 2  2x  1.
1. Sketch the function without calculating function values.
2. Represent the domain and range of the function.
3. Use the graph and find the interval(s) on which the function is increasing and the
intervals on which the function is decreasing.

Example 4
Graph each of the following functions:
4.1 fx  6  x2  x 2
4.2 fx  3 x
4.3 fx  0. 3 x
Use the graph to answer the following question for every given function.
Use interval notation to represent the interval(s) where the function is concave up and the
interval(s) where the function is concave down.

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p2 of 18

Unit 1.2 - Types of functions - Lecture notes
Linear functions
Formula: y  fx  mx  b.
The domain is ,  and the vertical intercept is y  f0  b.
The slope (gradient) is m.
If m  0 the function is increasing on the interval , .
If m  0 the function is decreasing on the interval , .
decreasing
If m  0 the function is neither increasing nor _______
dereasing.

Exponential functions
Formula: y  fx  a x , a  0.
The domain is ,  and the range is y | y  0  0, .
The vertical intercept is y  f0  a 0  1.
If a  1 the function is increasing on the interval , .
If 0  a  1 the function is decreasing on the interval , .

y  ax, a  1 y  ax, 0  a  1
Remark
e  2. 718. . is the symbol for an important irrational number (in the same way that
  3. 14 6. . is a symbol for another important irrational number).
The exponential functions y  e kx are important exponential functions.
Example

y  ex y  e kx , k  0 y  e x y  e kx , k  0

Logarithmic functions
Formula: y  fx  log a x.
The domain is x | x  0  0,  and the range is , .
The function has no vertical intercept and the horizontal intercept is x  1.
If a  1 it is an increasing function on the interval 0, .
If 0  a  1 it is a decreasing function on the interval 0, .

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p3 of 18

 this module.
We will use the logarithmic function with base e  2. 718, y  log e x  lnx, in _________
thismodule.

y y 1 y
1 1
0
1 2 3 4 5
0 -1 x 0
2 4 1 2 3 4 5
x x
-1 -2 -1

y  log a x, a  1 y  log a x, 0  a  1 y  ln x

Power functions
Formula: y  fx  x n , n  
You have to know the shape of the graph, domain and range of the power functions.
1. If n  2, 4, 6, . . . the shape of the graph y  x n is similar to the graph of y  x 2 .
The domain is ,  and the range is y | y  0  0, .
2. If n  3, 5, 7, . . . the shape of the graph y  x n is similar to the graph of y  x 3 .
The domain is ,  and the range is , .
3. If n  2, 4, 6, . . . the shape of the graph y  x n is similar to the graph of
y  12 . The domain is x | x  0 and the range is y | y  0  0, .
x
4. If n  1, 3, 5, . . . the shape of the graph y  x n is similar to the graph of
y  1x . The domain is x | x  0 and the range is y | y  0.
1
5. If n  2, 4, . . . the shape of the graph y  x n is similar to the graph of y  x .
The domain is x | x  0  0,  and the range is y | y  0  0, .
1
6. If n  3, 5, . . . the shape of the graph y  x n is similar to the graph of y  3 x.
The domain is ,  and the range is , .

y y

x
x

y  x n , n  2, 4, 6, . . . y  x n , n  3, 5, 7, . . . y  x n , n  2, 4, 6, . . .

y y y

x x
x

y  x n , n  1, 3, 5, . . . 1

y  x n , n  2, 4, 6, . . .
1
y  x n , n  3, 5, . . .

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p4 of 18

Remarks
1. You must be able to use the formula of a function to visualize the graph, calculate
the intercepts and sketch the graph without calculating other function values.
2. When you graph a function concavity is important. For example, fx  x 5 is
increasing and concave down on_____)
, 0 and gx  x 1/5 is increasing and
concave up on ____)
, 0.
3. What does it mean when we say the graph of y  x 4 is similar to the graph of
y  x 2 ? Both functions have domain , , range 0,  and have one turning
point at x  0. The shape of the graphs are similar, both functions are decreasing
, 0 and increasing on the interval (___
on the interval ____) 0,  and both are concave
up on the interval , . The similarity is demonstrated in the following example.

Example
The following graphs are sketched below:
I y  x 4 (solid line) and y  x 2 (dotted line) for x  1. 5, 1. 5.

II y  x 2 for x  10, 10.

III y  x 4 for x  10, 10.

y4 100 10000
y y
50 5000
2

-2 -1 0 1 2 -10 -5 0 5 10 -10 -5 0 5 10
x x x

I II III

Polynomial functions
Definition
A polynomial is the sum of multiples of power functions with nonnegative integer exponents.
A polynomial is a function y  fx  a n x n  a n1 x n1  . . . a 1 x  a 0 , with n a nonnegative
integer n   0  and a n  , n  0, 1, 2, . . .
If a n  0 the degree of the polynomial is n.
If a n  0 the leading term is a n x n .

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p5 of 18

Remark
A polynomial of degree n has at most n  1 turning points.
Example
The polynomials fx  x 3  x  xx  1x  1 and px  x  1 3  x 3  3x 2  3x  1 are
graphed below. The polynomial fx  x 3  x is of degree 3 and has two turning points,
whereas px  x  1 3 is of degree 3 with no turning points.

2 y 5
y
1

-1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.5 1.0 1.5 -1 1 2 3

-1 x x
-2 -5

fx  x 3  x px  x  1 3

Remark
The shape of the graph of the polynomial px  a n x n  a n1 x n1  . . . a 1 x  a 0 on a large
viewing window is similar to the shape of the graph of the leading term y  a n x n . Example
Consider the polynomial fx  x 3  2x 2  x  xx  1. The leading term is x 3 .
The following graphs are sketched below:
I The graph of fx  x 3  2x 2  x for x  0. 5, 1. 5.
II The graph of fx  x 3  2x 2  x for x  10, 10.
III The graph of y  x 3 for x  10, 10.

y 1.0 y 1000 y
1000

0.5

-10 -5 5 10
1
-10 -5 5 10
x x
x -1000

I II III

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p6 of 18

Trigonometric functions
Formulas: y  fx  sin x and y  gx  cos x.
The domain is ,  and the range is y |  1  y  1  1, 1.
Remark
We will NOT use degrees to measure angles, but radian measure (where the size of the
angle is represented as a real number). Radian measurement is discussed in Theme 3.

1.0
y y
1.0
0.5 0.5

-6 -4 -2 2 4 6 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6
-0.5 x -0.5 x
-1.0 -1.0

y  sin x y  cos x

Example 1
Consider the three functions fx  4x, gx  x 4 and hx  4 x .
Give the name of the function and graph the function without calculating function values or
using a graphing tool. Use the graph to represent the domain and range
of the function.

Example 2
Sketch the exponential functions fx  1. 2 x , gx  0. 2 x and hx  e 2x .

Example 3
Use a graph to solve the inequality x 2  x  2  0.

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p7 of 18

Unit 1.3 - New functions from old functions - pp. 66 - 69
Example 1
Consider the functions given below:
x 0 2 4 6 8 10 x 0 2 4 6 8 10
fx 10 6 3 4 7 11 gx 2 3 5 8 12 15
What are the following function values?
fg0, gf0 and gg0

Example 2
Let fx  x 4 and gx  3 x .
What are the formulas of the following composite functions?
fgx and gfx.

Example 3
Consider the functions h 1 x  1  x , h 2 x  sin 3 x  sin x 3 and h 3 x  cosx 5 .
Identify the functions fx and gx if h i x  fgx, i  1, 2, 3, given that gx is
neither composite nor the function y  x.
Example 4
Identify the functions fx, gx and hx if y  fghx  1 .
ln1  2x
You cannot use the function y  x or a composite function.

Example 5 (Finding the domain of a function)

Use set notation to represent the domain of each of the following functions.

i ft  1 ii fa  4
a2  a  6 iii fb  3
b2  b  6
t 2  81
iv fx  lnx 3  x 2  2x v fz  z  10  z vi fx  ln4  x 2 

Example 6 (Shifts)
Graph each function on its own set of axes:
fx  x  1 5 and gx  x 7  1

Example 7 (Reflections)
Find the domain and graph the functions fx   4 x and gx  x

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p8 of 18

Unit 1.4 - Linear Functions - pp. 9-13

Summary
1. A linear function is a function with formula y  fx  mx  b.
2. m is the slope of the straight line and f0  b is the vertical intercept.
3. If m  0 the function is increasing on ,  and if m  0 the function is
decreasing on , 
4. If x 1 , y 1  and x 2 , y 2  are points on the linear function then
y y y fx 2   fx 1 
m  x 22  x 11  x2  x1 .
x
5. m is the rate of change of y with respect to x.
6. The values of x and y in a table represents a linear function y  mx  b if
differences in y values are constant for equal difference in x.

Example 1
In 2005 the population of a city was 3 490 000 and in
2010 the population was 3 740 000.
1. Find a formula for the population, P in millions, as a function of time,
t in years since 2000, assuming that it is a linear function.
2. Interpret the slope of the linear function.
3. Estimate the population in 2020.

Example 2
If the function below represents a linear function, find the formula of the function.

i r 2 4 6 8 ii x 20 40 60 80
t 3 5 8 12 y 90. 5 89. 8 89. 1 88. 4

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p9 of 18

Unit 1.5 - Rates of change - pp. 16 - 22

Definition

Let y be a function of t, that is y  ft.

The change in y y between t  a and t  b is y  fb  fa

y y fb  fa
The average rate of change of y   between t  a en t  b is  .
t t ba
The average rate of change is the slope of the secant line between the points
a, fa and b, fb.
The relative change in f as f changes from fa to fb is
change in f f fb  fa
  .
the initial value of f fa fa
The relative change in f is a number and we interpret the number as a percentage.

Example 1
In this example we illustrate you how to answer a question in this module.
You have to show the formula, steps, include units with your answer and
in the case of a word problem your final answer is a sentence.

Let ft  2t 2  1 be the height of a rocket, in meters, t seconds after lift-off.

1. Calculate and represent graphically the change in f over the interval 1, 2 .
2. Calculate and represent graphically the average rate of change of f between
t  1 and t  3.
3. Calculate the relative change in f as f changes from f1 to f3 and interpret
your answer.
Solution
1. f  f2  f1  6.
The change in f between t  1 and t  2 is 6 meters.
It is the length of the vertical dotted line in the following graph:

f
10

0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
t

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p10 of 18

 f f3  f1
2.   8.
t 31
The average rate of change of f between t  1 and t  3 is
8 meters per second. It is the slope of the secant line in the
following graph:

f
15

10

0 1 2 3
t

f f3  f1
3.   5. 333
f1 f1
The relative change in f as f changes from f1 to f3 is 5. 333.
The height of the rocket increases by 533. 333% over the time interval.

Example 2
The amount of quinine in the bloodstream of a patient is given by the function
Q  ft  500. 94 t with Q in mg and t in hours since taking the medication.

i Calculate the change in Q between t  1 and t  4.

ii Calculate the average rate of change in Q over the interval 2, 6 and interpret your
answer.
iii Find the relative change in Q over the interval 2, 6 and interpret your answer.

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p11 of 18

Unit 1.6 - Continuity, rate of change and the derivative - pp. 90-93 and p.128 - 132

Definition
A function f is continuous on an interval if the graph of f on the interval is in "one piece."
Remarks
1. If f is continuous on an interval I you can sketch the graph without "lifting" your
pencil from the paper. The graph has no "holes" or " jumps" or "breaks" on the
interval I.
2. We will not use the formal definition given on p. 131 in the textbook.
3. The functions that we work with in this module (see unit 1.2) are continuous on
the domain of the function.

Example 1
Find the interval(s) on which the function given below is continuous.
(i) fx  lnx  3 (ii) gt  t  2 (iii) hx  1
x1
Note that the domain is represented, using set notation, but for continuity
we use interval notation.
Solution
i The domain of fx  lnx  3 is x | x  3  0  x | x  3
The function f is continuous on the interval 3, .
ii The domain of gt  t  2 is t | t  2  0  t | t  2
The function g is continuous on the interval 2, 
iii The domain of hx  1 is x | x  1  0  x | x  1
x1
The function h is continuous on the interval , 1 and on the interval 1, 

EXAMPLE of a discontinuous function

Consider the piecewise defined function on the domain 1, 20
1 if 1x5
0. 5 if 5  x  10
fx 
1. 5 if 10  x  15
2 if 15  x  20

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p12 of 18

The function is discontinuous at x  5, x  10 and x  15.
The behaviour of the function near the point x  5
is inconsistent with its behaviour at the point x  5.

2
y
f
1

0 5 10 15 20
x

Note that f  5, f  10 and f  15 are not defined,

hence the function is not differentiable if x  5, 10, 15.
Revision

Let y be a function of t, that is y  ft.

The change in y y between t  a and t  b is y  fb  fa

y y fb  fa
The average rate of change of y   between t  a en t  b is  .
t t ba
The average rate of change is the slope of the secant line between the points
a, fa and b, fb.
The relative change in f as f changes from fa to fb is
change in f f fb  fa
  .
the initial value of f fa fa
The relative change in f is a number and we interpret the number as a percentage.
Remark
How do we define the rate of change of a function at one point?

Definition
Let x  a be in the domain of the function y  fx.

f  a is the instantaneous rate of change (or rate of change) of f at x  a.

f  a is called the derivative of f at x  a.
fa  h  fa
The definition of the derivative: f  a lim (if the limit exists).
h0 h
f  a is the limit of the average rates of change of f over shorter and shorter
intervals containing a.
f  a is estimated by calculating average rate of change over a small interval:
fa  h  fa
f  a  with h small e.g. h  0. 00001
a  h  a
Graphically: f  a is the slope of the tangent line to the graph of f at x  a.

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p13 of 18

Example (graphical interpretation)
In the graphs below the function y  fx  x 2  2 is represented by a thick solid line.
1. The slope of the thin solid in Sketch I represents the average rate of change of
y  fx  x 2  2 over the interval 1, 5.
2. The slope of the thin solid line in Sketch II represents the derivative of
fx  x 2  2 at the point x  3.

y y
20 20

10 10

0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 0 2 4
x x

Sketch I Sketch II
Remarks
fa  h  fa
How can we estimate the limit f  a lim ?
h0 h
We can use one small interval (the length of h to estimate the limit.
fa. 0001  fa
If you use an interval of length 0. 0001 then f  a  .
0. 0001
Example 2
The function P  ft  10e 0.05t gives the population of a town,
in millions, with t in years since 2000.
i Calculate the average rate of change in the population from 2000 to 2013.
ii Estimate the rate of change of the population in 2005 by using an interval
of length 0. 0001.

Example 3
Let fx  ln2x  1.
i Estimate f  2 by using an interval of length 0. 0001.

ii What is the equation of the tangent line to fx at x  2.

Remarks
We will not use the definition to find f  a.
In unit 2.1 we will introduce the differentiation rules and formulas
to be used to determine f  a without proofs.

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p14 of 18

How to we estimate a derivative if a table of function values is given?
You cannot estimate by using one small interval, because you do not have the formula. You
have to calculate the average rate of change to the right of a and the average rate of
change to the left of a and then calculate the average of these two answers.

Example 4
An object is moving in a straight line.
Let s  ft be the distance (in meters) after t seconds.
i Use the table below to estimate the velocity at t  7.
ii Use the table below to estimate the velocity at t  9.
t 0 2 4 7 9
s 0 3 2 2. 5 5
Solution
i Velocity is the rate of change of distance, you have to estimate f  7.
f9  f7
The average rate of change to the right is  5  2. 5  1. 25
97 2
f7  f4
The average rate of change to the left is  2. 5  2  0. 167
74 3
 f  7  1. 25  0. 167  0. 7085
2
The velocity is 0. 7085 meters per second.
ii You cannot calculate the average rate of change to the right of t  9.
f9  f7
 f  9   5  2. 5  1. 25 meters per second.
97 2
The velocity is 1. 25 meters per second.

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p15 of 18

Unit 1.7 - The derivative function - p. 128 and pp. 97 - 100

Definition
Let y be a function of x, y  fx.
fx  h  fx
The derivative function, y  f  x, is defined as f  x lim if the limit exists.
h0 h
If the limit exists we say f is differentiable in x.

Remark
f  a is the slope of the tangent line to the graph of f at x  a.
The following theorem is based on this property.

Theorem 1
Let I be an interval in the domain of f.
Assume that f is continuous and differentiable on the interval.
f is increasing on I if and only if f  x  0 on I
f is decreasing on I if and only if f  x  0 on I
f is constant on I if and only if f  x  0 on I

Remark
You must use Theorem 1 to sketch the graph of the derivative function
if the graph of a function is given.
Example 1 (To illustrate Theorem 1)
Given the graphs of the function fx  x 4  1 and the derivative function f  x  4x 3 .

y y

x
x

fx  x 4  1 f  x  4x 3
From the graph of f and f  the following can be observed:
f  x  0 at x  0, because a tangent line at x  0 is parallel to the x axis, with slope 0.
On the interval , 0:
f is decreasing and f  x is negative f  x  0.
On the interval 0, :
f is increasing and f  x is positive f  x  0.

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p16 of 18

Example 2
Given the graphs of y  fx and y  gx.
2.1 y  fx 2.2 y  gx

y
y

x
x

i Graph the derivative function on the same set of axes.

ii Answer the following questions for both f and g :
Are the slopes of the tangent lines
a ________________________
Is the slope of the tangent line increasing or decreasing on , 0?
b Is_______________________
the slope of the tangent line increasing or decreasing on 0, ?
Solution Are the slopes of the tangent lines

2.1
i The function y  f  x is represented by the dashed line.

y
f'

x
f

ii For the graph of f and f  :

The slopes of the lines tangent to f are increasing
a ___________________________________
The slope of the tangent line to f is increasing on , 0.
Therefore
The slopesthe
of graph of ftangent
the lines

is increasing , 0.
onincreasing
to f are
The slope of the tangent line is increasing on 0, .
b ___________________________________
Therefore the graph of f  is increasing on 0, 

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p17 of 18

 2.2
i The function y  g  x is represented by the dashed line.

y g'

g x

ii For the graph of g and g  :

The slopes of the lines tangent to g are decreasing...
The slope of the tangent line to g is decreasing on , 0.
a ____________________________________
Therefore the graph of g  is decreasing on , 0.
The slopes of the lines tangent to g are increasing...
The slope of the tangent line to g is increasing on 0, .
b ____________________________________
Therefore the graph of g  is increasing on 0, 

Example 3
Use Theorem 1 and the graph of each function to sketch a posible graph
of the derivative function on the same set of axes.

y 1.0 y
y 0.6
40 g h
0.5
0.4

20 f 0.0
1 2 3 4 0.2
x
-0.5
0 0.0
0 2 4 6 0 2 4 6 8 10
x -1.0 x

Remark
The derivative in the point a, fa does not exists if
i the function in not continuous at x  a (the graph has a "hole" or a "jump), then
f  a does not exists.
ii the graph has a "corner" at x  a.
The following functions are NOT differentiable at x  1.

y4 y4
y5
2 2

-2 -1 0 1 2 3 -4 -2 0 2 4 -4 -2 0 2 4
x x x

WTW 134 2022 Theme 1 Lecture notes p18 of 18