Relations and

Functions
Learning Outcomes

At the end of this lesson, the student should be able to:

● Define relations and functions;
● Conduct the operations of functions; and
● Solve problems involving break-even points and
supply and demand equations.
Relations
Relation

What is a relation?
1. A relation from set X to Y is the set of ordered
pairs of real numbers (x, y) such that to each
element x of the set X there corresponds at least
one element of the set Y.
2. Let A and B be sets. A relation R from A to B is a
subset of A x B. The set A is called the domain of R
and the set B is called its co-domain.
Notation

The notation for a relation R may be written

symbolically as follows:
x R y meaning (x, y) ∈ R.
The notation x R y means that x is not related to y by
R;
x R y meaning (x, y) ∉ R.
 Example

Let A = {1,2} and B = {1,2,3} and define a relation R from A to B as

follows: Given any (x,y) ∈ A x B,
𝑥−𝑦
(x,y) ∈ R means that is an integer
2
a. State explicitly which ordered pairs are in A x B and which are in R.
b. Is 1 R 3? Is 2 R 3? Is 2 R 2?
c. What are the domain and the co-domain of R?
 Solution

a. A x B = {(1,1), (1,2), (1,3), (2,1), (2,2),(2,3)}. To determine explicitly

the composition of R, examine each ordered pair in A x B to see
whether its element satisfy the defining condition for R.
1−1 0
(1,1) ∈ R since = = 0, which is an integer
2 2
1−2 −1
(1,2) ∉ R since = , which is not an integer
2 2
1−3 −2
(1,3) ∈ R since = = −1, which is an integer
2 2
2−1 1
(2,1) ∉ R since = , which is not an integer
2 2
 Solution

2−2 0
(2,2) ∈ R since = = 0, which is an integer
2 2
2−3 −1
(2,3) ∉ R since = , which is not an integer
2 2
Thus, R = {(1,1), (1,3), (2,2)}.
b. Yes, 1 R 3 because (1,3) ∈ R. No, 2 R 3 because (2,3) ∉ R. Yes, 2
R 2 because (2,2) ∈ R.
c. The domain of R is {1,2} and the co-domain is {1,2,3}.
Arrow Diagram of a Relation

Suppose R is a relation from a set A to a set B. The

arrow diagram for R is obtained as follows:
1. Represent the elements of A as points in one
region and the elements of B as points in another
region.
2. For each x in A and y in B, draw an arrow from x to
y, if and only if, x is related to y by R.
 Example

Let A = {1,2,3} and B = {1,3,5} and define relations S and T from A to B

as follows:
For all (x, y) ∈ A x B, (x,y) ∈S means that x < y, i.e., S is a “less
than” relation.
T = {(2,1), (2,5)}
Draw arrow diagrams for S and T.
 Solution

a. A x B = {(1,1), (1,3), (1,5), (2,1), (2,3), (2,5), (3,1), (3,3), (3,5)}. It is

given by x < y so S = {(1,3), (1,5), (2,3), (2,5), (3,5)}
 Solution

b. T = {(2,1), (2,5)}
Concepts of
Functions
Function

What is a function?
1. A function is a relation that uniquely assigns or
associates elements of one set with the elements
of another set.
2. A function is a relation in which every input is
paired with exactly one output. A function from
set X to Y is the set of ordered pairs of real
numbers (x, y) in which no two distinct ordered
pairs have the same first component.
Properties of a Function

There are two properties of functions:

1. Every element of A is the first element of an
ordered pair of F.
2. No two distinct ordered pairs in F have the same
first element.
 One-to-One and Onto
Functions
There are different types of correspondences as shown below.
(a) One-to-One, not Onto (b) Onto, not One-to-One (c) One-to-One, and Onto

(d) Neither One-to-One, nor Onto (e) Not a Function

Functions

Functions are said to be

● One-to-one or an injunction if and only if f(a) ≠
f(b) whenever a ≠ b.
● Onto or a surjection if and only if for every
element b ∈ B, there corresponds an element a ∈
A with f(a) = b.
● If the function is both one-to-one and onto, then
it is considered a one-to-one correspondence or
a bijection.
Example

Using ordered pairs as an example:

{(−1, 1), (0, 3), (2, 4)(−2, 4)}
This is a function since the first components −1, 0, 2,
−2 are associated with exactly one value in the second
set.
{(−1, 1), (0, 3), (2, 4)(2, −4)}
This is not a function since the first component, 2, is
associated with two elements, 4 and -4.
Evaluating
Functions
Evaluating Functions

● The symbol f(x) means function of x and it is read

as “f of x”. Thus, the equation y = 2x + 1 could be
written in a form of f(x) = 2x + 1 meaning y = f(x).
It can be stated that y is a function of x.
● Let us say we have a function in a form of f(x) = 3x
– 1. If we replace x = 1, this could be written as
f(1) = 3(1) – 1. The notation f(1) only means that
we substitute the value of x = 1 resulting the
function value. Thus f(x) = 3x – 1; let x = 1 f(1) =
3(1) – 1 = 3 – 1 = 2.
Operations on
Functions
Operations on Functions
The following are definitions on the operations on
functions.
● The sum of f and g, denoted by 𝑓 + 𝑔 is the
function defined by 𝑓 + 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑥 + 𝑔 𝑥 .
● The difference of f and g, denoted by 𝑓 − 𝑔 is the
function defined by 𝑓 − 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑔 𝑥 .
● The product of f and g, denoted by 𝑓 ∙ 𝑔 is the
function defined by 𝑓 ∙ 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑥 ∙ 𝑔 𝑥 .
𝑓
● The quotient of f and g, denoted by is the
𝑔
𝑓 𝑓 𝑥
function defined by 𝑥 = .
𝑔 𝑔 𝑥
Composite
Function
Composite Function

The composite function of f and g, denoted by

𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 is the function defined by 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 𝑥 =
𝑓 𝑔 𝑥 . Note that the domain 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 is the set of all
numbers x in the domain of g such that 𝑔 𝑥 is the
domain of f. Similarly the composite function of g by
f denoted by 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓 is the function defined by
𝑔∘𝑓 𝑥 =𝑔 𝑓 𝑥 .
Cost-Volume
Function
Cost-Volume Function

In many businesses, the cost C of production and the

number x of items produced can be expressed as a linear
equation. A linear function like this is used when:
● there are fixed costs—such as rent, utilities, and
salaries—that are the same each week, independent
of the number of items produced;
● there are variable costs that depend on the number
of items produced, such as the cost of materials for
the items, packaging, and shipping costs.
Cost-Volume Function

The general form of the cost function C is given by

C(x) = mx + b
where
x is the number of items produced (volume),
b is the fixed cost,
m is the unit cost (the cost per item),
C(x) is the total cost of producing x items.
 Example

If the cost of manufacturing x electronic products per week is given by

C(x) = 415x + 5200
then:
a) Determine the unit cost and the fixed cost.
b) Determine the cost of producing 700 products per week.
c) Determine how many products were produced if the production
cost for one week was Php 230,130.
 Solution

a) The unit cost is Php 415, and the fixed cost is Php 5200 per
week.
b) Substitute x = 700 into the cost equation to obtain
C(x) = 415x + 5200
C(700) = 415(700) + 5200
= 290,500 + 5200
= 295,700
So, the total cost is Php 295,700.
 Solution

c) This information gives C(x) = 230,130, so we have

230,130 = 415x + 5200
We need to solve this for x:
230,130 – 5,200 = 415x
224,930 = 415x
224,930
x=
415
x = 542
So, 542 products were produced that week.
Revenue Function
Revenue Function

The revenue R obtained from sales and the number

x of items produced can be expressed as a linear
equation of the form R(x) = px, where p is the price
charged for each unit sold.
 Example

T’s and More has a sale on T-shirts at Php 210 each.

a) Give the revenue function.
b) The store sold 213 T-shirts. What was the total revenue?
c) One organization bought Php 9,870 worth of T-shirts. How many
did they buy?
 Solution

a) The revenue function is given by

R(x) = 210x

b) The revenue for 213 shirts is obtained from the revenue function
when x = 213:
R(213) = 210(213) = 44,730
The total revenue was Php 44,730.
 Solution

c) This gives R(x) = 9,870, so

9,870 = 210x
9,870
x=
210
x = 47
The organization bought 47 T-shirts.
Break-Even Point
Solve Problems Involving the Break-
Even Point
When the cost C of production exceeds the revenue
R from the sales, the business is operating at a loss;
when the revenue R exceeds the cost C, there is a
profit; and when the revenue R and the cost C are
equal, there is no profit or loss. The point at which R
= C that is, the point of intersection of the two lines,
is usually referred to as the break-even point.
 Example

Sweet Delight Candies, Inc., has daily fixed costs from salaries, rent,
and other operations of $300. Each pound of candy produced costs $1
and is sold for $2.
a) Find the cost C of production for x pounds of candy.
b) Find the revenue R from selling x pounds of candy.
c) What is the break-even point? That is, how many pounds of
candy must be produced and sold daily to guarantee no loss
and no profit?
d) Graph C and R and label the break-even point.
 Solution

a) The cost C of production is the fixed cost of $300 plus the variable
cost of producing x pounds of candy at $1 per pound. That is,
C(x) = $1 ∙ x + $300 = x + 300
b) The revenue R realized from the sale of x pounds of candy at the
price of $2 per pound is
R(x) = $2 ∙ x = 2x
 Solution

c) The break-even point is the point where R = C.

R=C
2x = x + 300 R(x) = 2x, C(x) = x + 300
x = 300 Solve for x.
That is, 300 pounds of candy must be produced and sold daily
to break even. The break-even point is (300, 600).
 Solution

d) F

Notice that for x > 300, the revenue R always exceeds the cost
C so that a profit results. Similarly, for x < 300, the cost exceeds
the revenue, resulting in a loss.
 Example

After negotiations with employees of Sweet Delight Candies and an

increase in the price of sugar, the daily cost C of production for x
pounds of candy changed to
C(x) = $1.05x + $330
a) If each pound of candy is sold for $2.00, how many pounds must
be produced and sold daily to make a profit?
b) If the selling price is increased to $2.25 per pound, what is the
break-even point?
c) If it is known that 325 pounds of candy can be produced and
sold daily, what price should be charged per pound to guarantee
no loss?
 Solution

a) If each pound is sold for $2.00, the revenue R from sales is

R(x) = $2x
where x represents the number of pounds produced and sold
daily. Set R = C to find the break-even point.
R=C
2x = 1.05x + 330 R(x) = 2x, C(x) = 1.05x + 330
0.95x = 330 Subtract 1.05x from each side.
330
x= = 347.37 Solve for x.
0.95
If 347 pounds or less of candy are produced and sold daily, a
loss is incurred; if 348 pounds or more are sold daily, a profit
results.
 Solution

b) If the selling price is increased to $2.25 per pound, the revenue

R from sales is
R(x) = $2.25x
The break-even point is the point where R = C.
R=C
2.25x = 1.05x + 330 R(x) = 2.25x, C(x) = 1.05x + 330
1.2x = 330
330
x= = 275
1.2
With the new selling price, the break-even point occurs when
275 pounds of candy are produced and sold daily.
 Solution

c) If we know that 325 pounds of candy will be produced and sold

daily, the price per pound p needed to guarantee no loss (that is,
to guarantee at worst a break-even point) is the solution of the
equation
R=C
xp = 1.05x + 330 R(x) = xp, C(x) = 1.05x + 330
325p = (1.05)(325) + 330 x = 325
325p = 671.25 Simplify.
p = $2.07 Solve for p.
The company should charge $2.07 per pound to guarantee no
loss, provided at least 325 pounds will be produced and sold
daily.
Supply and Demand
Equations
Supply and Demand

The supply equation in economics is used to specify

the amount of a particular commodity that sellers
are willing to offer in the market at various prices.
The demand equation specifies the amount of a
particular commodity that buyers are willing to
purchase at various prices.
Supply and Demand

An increase in price p usually causes an increase in

the supply S and a decrease in demand D. On the
other hand, a decrease in price brings about a
decrease in supply and an increase in demand. The
market price is defined as the price at which supply
and demand are equal (the point of intersection).
 Example

The supply and demand for flour have been estimated as being given
by the equations

S = 0.8p + 0.5 D = –0.4p + 1.5

where p is measured in hundreds of pesos and S and D are measured

in kilogram units of flour. Find the market price and graph the supply
and demand equations.
 Solution

The market price p is the solution of the equation

S=D
0.8p + 0.5 = –0.4p + 1.5
1.2p = 1.0
p = 0.83
At a price of Php 83 per kilogram, supply and
demand for flour are equal.