Functions

Math 1013

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Function

D: domain of f ;
E = {f (x) : x 2 D}: range
of f .
A symbol represent arbitrary
number in D is called
independent variable (e.g.,
x 2 D);
A symbol represent arbitrary
number in E is called a
dependent variable. (e.g.,
y 2 E).
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Visualizing a function: Graph
If f is a function with domain D, then its graph is the set of ordered
pairs
{(x, f (x)) | x 2 D}.
that can be represented in a coordinate plane.

fN)
-
............

I
=- !
in !
I
&

!
-
1

⑧
!
S
! i

ED
-

Math 1013 Functions 3 / 62

Exercise: Sketch the graph and find the domian and range for each
function: (a) f (x) = 2x 1; (b) g(x) = x2 .

x=2x" ragie
t
C
-

pay
.

I >
⑧
X

I
g(x)
⑧

(b) x I S
g(X)
= -

%...
↑ " 4
2

-
4

q(x) [x x 3, 0
Y
parge of
=
=

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Not all curves in the coordinate plane are graphs of functions.

Every x in the domain of f can be assigned only one function value

f (x).
Math 1013 Functions 5 / 62
-

Math 1013 Functions 6 / 62

Symmetry Function
1 Even function: f(x)=f(-x) for every x 2 D, e.g. f (x) = x2
2
(symmetry to the y axis). ( x)
-
x2

2 Odd function: f(x)=-f(-x) for every x 2 D, e.g. f (x) = x3

⑧
(symmetry about the origin). c x)
-
c -
=
x x .

Y
=-X
⑧

f( x)
-
-

Math 1013 Functions 7 / 62

Exercise: determine whether each of the following functions is even,
odd, or neither even or odd: (a) f (x) = x5 + x; (b) g(x) = 1 x4 ;
(c) h(x) = 2x x2 .
(b) GIX1 1 -
x4
x5
·
=

fN)
+
X
(a)
=

x)
Ex)5 #x) 1 c-
= -

c -

x)
f =

*
=1 x
x5
-

=
(-1) .
- x
=
x

= - x5 -
x
=

=X)

even function
odd
function .

odd

/ex
neither exen or .

2 ->

#x) 2x x
-

(c)
=

x)" xxx-
·

c
=

-2x
-

ax)
-
=

Math 1013 Functions 8 / 62

Increasing/decreasing Function
X

**
s
↓

I
↑
A

The inequality should be satisfied for every pair of numbers (x1 , x2 )

with x1 < x2 in I.

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 -

-----f(X))

" f(x2)-----

I
f(x2)

--
I

i
↓I
i ↓2 X2
XI

y = x2 is increasing on the inveral of [0, 1) and decreasing on the

interval of ( 1, 0].
-

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Polynomial Function
A function f is called a polynomial if

⑧
f (x) = an xn + an 1 xn
-
1
+ · · · + a2 x 2 + a1 x + a0 .

n nonegative integer called degree of the polynomial (given

an 6= 0);
a-O
0 , a1 , · · · , an coefficients of the polynomial.
Domain: R = ( 1, +1)
=

p
f (x) ==0 2x6 x4 + 25 x3 + 2 is a polynomial of degree 6.
Linear function y = mx + b(m = 0): degree 1.
Quadratic function y = ax2 + bx + c(a 6= 0): degree 2.
Cubic function y = ax3 + bx2 + cx + d(a 6= 0): degree 3.
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Power Function

f (x) = xa , where a is a constant.

Case 1: a = n where n is a positive integer.

exenfunction function
In general, if n is even, then is an even function and its graph is
similar to y = x2 . If n is odd, then is an odd function and its graph is
similar to that of y = x3 .

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 x6
2
x

X = 0 5
. -
/

0 5"
.
< 0 5
.

&
>
X =
2 1

2
6
- 2

↑x
As n increases, the graph of becomes flatter near 0 and steeper when
|x| > 1. (If x is small, then x2 is smaller, x3 is even smaller, x4 is
smaller still, and so on.)

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 1 p
Case 2: a = n1 where n is a positive integer. f (x) = x n = n x is a
=
root function.

-- ---

-
odd function .

TERR

p
f (x) = x — square root function: domain [0, 1). Forpother
-

even values of n, the graph is similar to that of f (x) = x.

p -

f (x) = 3 x — cubic root function:pdomain R. The graph for

odd n is similar to that of f (x) = Bn x.

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 1
Case 3: a = 1, f (x) = x
reciprocal function.
-
-

-
n

odd function

24- +
-

(4)

"I
-
=

y x
x +
0

fx)
+
+
-
-

X
+

o
x ot
In
->

= 1 2
-
-
34 . .
- +0

X
-

- 1 2 3 4 +x
n
=

x
=
,

i
.
, .
...
=

x
-
-
x f(x)
-

70 -
f(x)
.

+x ->

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Rational Function

A rational function is a ratio of two polynomials:

f (x) =
Q-
P (x)
Q(x)
,

where P (x), Q(x) are polynomials.

Domain of rational function f (x) is {x : Q(x) 6= 0}.
-
-

2x4 x2 +1 I
Example: find the domain of f (x) = x2 4
.
*

x2 4 6= 0 ) x2 6= 4 ) x 6= ±2.

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Algebraic Function

A function is called an algebraic function if it can be constructed

using algebraic operations (such as addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division, and taking roots) starting with polynomials.
p
Example: any rational functions,
p f (x) = x2 + 1,
x4 16x 2 3
f (x) = x+ x + (x + 2) 2x 9.
p

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