Functions & Their Graphs

EM 1101 Calculus 1
What phenomenon does
this equation represent?
What phenomenon does
this equation represent?
What phenomenon does
this equation represent?
What do these
equations represent?
FUNCTION, f
• a rule that assigns to each element x in a set D one
element, called f(x), in a set E.
GRAPH of a FUNCTION
• most common method of visualizing a function
GRAPH of a FUNCTION
• most common method of visualizing a function
GRAPH of a FUNCTION
A FUNCTION can be represented in 4 WAYS:
Piecewise Defined Functions
Piecewise Defined Functions
Common Functions
Common Functions
Aids in Graphing Functions
• Intercepts (x- & y- intercepts)
• Domain & Range
• Symmetry (Even, Odd)
• Asymptotes
Intercepts
Let y = f(x), where f(x) = 4x2 – 1
• To determine the y-intercept: set x = 0 and solve for y
y = 4(0)2 – 1 = – 1  y-int: (0, –1)

• To determine the x-intercept: set y = 0 and solve for x

0 = 4x2 – 1  x = ± 1/4 = ±1/2  x-int: (1/2, 0) &
(–1/2, 0)
Domain & Range
Let y = f(x), where f(x) = 4x2 – 1
• DOMAIN: D = (–∞, +∞), no values of x will give an
undefined value of f(x) or y
• RANGE: R = (–1, +∞)
Symmetry
Let y = f(x), where f(x) = 4x2 – 1
• Set x = –x, if f(–x) = f(x), then it is symmetrical wrt y-
axis; such type of function is also called an EVEN
function

f(–x) = 4(–x)2 – 1 = 4x2 – 1

Because of f(–x) = f(x), therefore the function is an
even function and symmetrical wrt y-axis
Symmetry
Let y = f(x), where f(x) = 4x2 – 1
• Set x = –x, if f(–x) = –f(x), then it is symmetrical wrt the
origin; such type of function is also called an ODD
function
• Set y = –y, if the whole equation remains the same
then it is symmetrical wrt x-axis
–y = 4x2 – 1 (not the same with the original equation)
therefore it is not symmetrical wrt x-axis
Asymptotes
Let y = f(x), where f(x) = 4x2 – 1
• Look at values of x that will make the function
undefined; these values are usually location of
asymptotes
• For the function above, there are no asymptotes