Functions and their Graphs

Relation
 Relation – pairs of quantities that are related
to each other

 Example: The area A of a circle is related to

its radius r by the formula

A = r . 2
Function
 There are different kinds of relations.

 When a relation matches each item from one

set with exactly one item from a different set
the relation is called a function.
Definition of a Function
 A function is a relationship between two
variables such that each value of the first
variable is paired with exactly one value of
the second variable.

 The domain is the set of permitted x values.

 The range is the set of found values of y.

These can be called images.
Vertical Line Test
 Used to determine if a graph is a function.
 If a vertical line intersects the graph at more
than one point, then the graph is NOT a
function.

NOT a Function
Functional Notation

◼ We have seen an equation written in the form

y = some expression in x.

◼ Another way of writing this is to use

functional notation.

◼ For Example, you could write y = x²

as f(x) = x².
Piecewise-Defined Function

◼ A piecewise-defined function is a function that is

defined by two or more equations over a specified
domain.

◼ The absolute value function f (x ) = x

can be written as a piecewise-defined function.

◼ The basic characteristics of the absolute value

function are summarized on the next page.
Absolute Value Function is a
Piecewise Function
Even and Odd Functions
Graphically
 Algebraically

Let’s look at the graphs again and see if this applies.

Graphically

☺ ☺
One-to-one functions
◼ A function is one-to-one if each
element in the co-domain has a unique
pre-image
 Meaning no 2 values map to the same
result a 1
a 1
e 2
e 2
i 3
i 3
o 4
o 4
5
5
A function that is
A one-to-one function not one-to-one 42
More on one-to-one
◼ Injective is synonymous with one-to-
one
 “A function is injective”
◼ A function is an injection if it is one-to-
one a 1
e 2
i 3
o 4
◼ Note that there can
5
be un-used elements
in the co-domain A one-to-one function
43
Onto functions
◼ A function is onto if each element in
the co-domain is an image of some
pre-image
 Meaning all elements in the right are
mapped to
a 1
a 1
e 2
e 2
i 3
i 3
o 4
o 4
5
u

A function that
An onto function 44
is not onto
More on onto

◼ Surjective is synonymous with onto

 “A function is surjective”
◼ A function is an surjection if it is onto
a 1
e 2
◼ Note that there can i 3

be multiply used o 4
u
elements in the
co-domain An onto function
45
 Onto vs. one-to-one
◼ Are the following functions onto, one-to-
one, both, or neither?
a 1 a 1
a 1
b 2 b 2
b 2
c 3 c 3
c 3
4 d 4
4
1-to-1, not onto Both 1-to-1 and onto Not a valid function

a 1 a 1
b 2 b 2
c 3 c 3
d d 4
46
Onto, not 1-to-1 Neither 1-to-1 nor onto
Bijections
a 1
b 2
◼ Consider a function that is
c 3
both one-to-one and onto: d 4

◼ Such a function is a one-to-one

correspondence, or a bijection

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Identity functions

◼ A function such that the image and the

pre-image are ALWAYS equal

◼ f(x) = 1*x
◼ f(x) = x + 0

◼ The domain and the co-domain must

be the same set 48
Inverse functions
Let f(x) = 2*x

R f R

f-1

f(4.3)
4.3 8.6
f-1(8.6)

Then f-1(x) = x/2

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 More on inverse functions
◼ Can we define the inverse of the following functions?

a 1 a 1
b 2 b 2
c 3 c 3
4 d

What is f-1(2)? What is f-1(2)?

Not onto! Not 1-to-1!

◼ An inverse function can ONLY be done defined on a

bijection
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Compositions of functions

◼ Let (f ○ g)(x) = f(g(x))

◼ Let f(x) = 2x+3 Let g(x) = 3x+2

◼ g(1) = 5, f(5) = 13

◼ Thus, (f ○ g)(1) = f(g(1)) = 13

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Compositions of functions
f○g

A B C
g f

g(a) f(a)

a f(g(a))
g(a)

(f ○ g)(a)

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