Ashesi University

Course Name: Engineering Calculus Activities & Problem Solving

Module 1 – Exploring functions Date: Sept. 14, 2020

Objectives

• Determine whether or not a correspondence is a function.

• Find function values.
• Graph functions and determine whether or not a graph is that of a function.
• Find the domain and the range of a function.

• Functions arise whenever one quantity depends on another. For example:

- The human population of the world P depends on the time t.
- The cost C of mailing an envelope depends on its weight w.

In the above figure, the first set is called the domain and the second set is called the
range. Given a member of the domain, there is exactly one member of the range to
which it corresponds. This type of correspondence is called a function.

Definition
•A function f consists of a set of inputs, a set of outputs, and a rule for assigning
each input to an output.

A function can be expressed symbolically using the function notation, 𝒇(𝒙) where f is
the name of the function and x is the input variable. The notation 𝒇(𝒙) represents the
output value corresponding to a given x. If the output variable is denoted by y, you can
write 𝑦 = 𝒇(𝒙) and say that the output y is a function of x.

Representation of Functions
There are four possible ways to represent a function:
■ Verbally (by a description in words), example the area A of a circle depends on the
radius r of the circle.
■ Numerically (by a table of values) example
𝑥 1 2 3 4
𝑓(𝑥) 1 4 9 16

■ Visually (by a graph) example

■ Algebraically (by an explicit formula) example 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 1.

The Vertical-Line Test

A graph represents a function if it is impossible to draw a vertical line that intersects
the graph more than once.

Trial 1.1:
1. Determine whether each of the following is the graph of a function.
 2. Each of the following tables defines a relationship between an input and an
output. Which of the relationships represent functions? Explain your answers.

Classification and Properties of functions

Classification Properties
1. Linear function Domain
2. Polynomial (Power) function Range
3. Rational function Increasing and Decreasing (in terms
behaviour of the function)
4. Piecewise function Composition
5. Exponential function Zeros (Roots)
6. Trigonometric function
7. Logarithmic function

The Domain and Range of a function

Associated with any function is a specific set of input values. The collection of all
possible input values is called the domain of the function whiles the collection of all
possible values of the output variable is called the range.
Example 1: For the function whose graph is shown below, determine each of the
following.

a) The number in the range that is paired with 1 (from the domain). That is, find 𝑓(1).
b) The domain of 𝑓.
c) The number(s) in the domain that is (are) paired with 1 (from the range). That is,
find all x-values for which 𝑓(𝑥) = 1.
d) The range of 𝑓.

2. Find the domain, range and zeros of the following functions:

3 3
(a) 𝑓(𝑥) = | 𝑥 | (b) 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = (c) 𝑔(𝑥) = √4 + 3𝑥 (d) ℎ(𝑥 ) =
2𝑥−5 √𝑥 2 −5𝑥+6

3. A table is often used to define a function that has a finite number of input and
output pairs. Consider the function f defined by the following table and assume that
these points are the only input/output pairs that belong to the function f.