MAT 183 : CALCULUS 1

CHAPTER 1
FUNCTIONS, LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
1.1. FUNCTIONS

If a variable 𝑦 depends on a variable 𝑥 in such a way that each value of 𝑥 determines exactly
one value of 𝑦, then we say that 𝑦 is a function of 𝑥.

1.1.1. Domain and Range

Function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
Domain: the set of all 𝑥 values
Range : the set of 𝑦 values when 𝑥 varies over the domain

Examples 1: (Linear function) Find the domain and range

a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥

𝐷𝑓 = (−∞, ∞) and 𝑅𝑓 = (−∞, ∞)

b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 − 2𝑥

𝐷𝑓 = (−∞, ∞) and 𝑅𝑓 = (−∞, ∞)

Examples 2: (quadratic function) Find the domain and range

a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2

𝐷𝑓 = (−∞, ∞) and 𝑅𝑓 = [0, ∞)

b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 2

𝐷𝑓 = (−∞, ∞) and 𝑅𝑓 = [−2, ∞)

Examples 3 : (rational function) Find the domain and range

*To determine domain, the number inside a square root sign ≥ 0.

a) 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥
∴𝑥≥0
𝐷𝑓 = [0, ∞) and 𝑅𝑓 = [0, ∞)

b) 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 − 2 + 3
∴𝑥−2 ≥0
𝑥 ≥2
𝐷𝑓 = [2, ∞) and 𝑅𝑓 = [3, ∞)
Examples 4: (exponential and logarithmic function) Find the domain and range
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 𝑥

𝐷𝑓 = (−∞, ∞) and 𝑅𝑓 = (0, ∞)

b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 (𝑥 + 2)
*Only allowable inputs to logarithms are positive numbers.
𝑥 + 2 > 0 → 𝑥 > −2
𝐷𝑓 = (−2, ∞) and 𝑅𝑓 = (−∞, ∞)
1.1.2. Arithmetic operation on function

a) (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)

b) (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)
c) (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑓 𝑓(𝑥)
d) (𝑔) (𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑥)

Examples 5:

Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 − 2𝑥 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 2. Find

a) (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥)
Solution: 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) = (1 − 2𝑥) + (𝑥 2 + 2) = 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑

b) (𝑔 − 𝑓)(2)
Solution: 𝑔(2) − 𝑓(2) = [22 + 2] − [1 − 2(2)] = 6 − (−3) = 𝟗

c) (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥)
Solution: 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥) = (1 − 2𝑥)(𝑥 2 + 2) = 𝑥 2 + 2 − 2𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 = −𝟐𝒙𝟑 + 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟐

𝑔
d) (𝑓 ) (1)

𝑔(1)
Solution: 𝑓(1)

12 + 2
= = −𝟑
1 − 2(1)

1.1.3. Composite functions

𝑓 𝑔
𝑥 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑔[𝑓(𝑥)]

𝑔𝑓

Composite function: (𝒈 ° 𝒇)(𝒙) = 𝒈[𝒇(𝒙)]

Example 6: Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 1)2 + 5. Find

a) Domain and range of 𝑔(𝑥)
𝐷𝑔 = (−∞, ∞); 𝑅𝑔 = [5, ∞)
 b) (𝑔 ° 𝑓)(𝑥)
2
= 𝑔[𝑓(𝑥)] = 𝑔(2𝑥 + 3) = [(2𝑥 + 3) − 1] + 5 = (2𝑥 + 2)2 + 5
= 4𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 4 + 5 = 𝟒𝒙𝟐 + 𝟖𝒙 + 𝟗

c) (𝑓 ° 𝑔)(2)
= 𝑓[𝑔(2)]
𝑔(2) = (2 − 1)2 + 5 = 6
= 𝑓(6)
= 2(6) + 3 = 𝟏𝟓

d) 𝑓 2 (𝑥)
= 𝑓[𝑓(𝑥)]
= 𝑓(2𝑥 + 3)
= 2(2𝑥 + 3) + 3 = 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟗

1.1.4. Inverse functions

f

x y

𝑓 −1
*𝐷𝑓−1 = 𝑅𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅𝑓−1 = 𝐷𝑓

To find 𝑓 −1 : Let y equal to the given function, solve x and replace x by the inverse notation
& y by x
2𝑥+3
Example 7: Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔(𝑥) = 1 − 5𝑥. Determine
𝑥−1

a) Domain and range of 𝑓(𝑥)

*denominator of 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 0
Therefore 𝑥 − 1 ≠ 0 → 𝑥 ≠ 1

𝑫𝒇 = (−∞, 𝟏) ∪ (𝟏, ∞)
 𝑥−2≠0 →𝑥 ≠2

𝑹𝒇 = (−∞, 𝟐) ∪ (𝟐, ∞)

b) (𝑓 −1 ° 𝑔)(2)
= 𝑓 −1 [𝑔(2)]

𝑔(2) = 1 − 5(2) = −9
−1
= 𝑓 (−9)
3−9 𝟔
= =
−9 − 2 𝟏𝟏
1.1.5. Piecewise functions
EXERCISES 1:

1. Find domain and range for 𝑓(𝑥) = 2 + √𝑥 − 1

2. Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 + √𝑥 − 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 3. Find

a) (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥)
b) (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥)
c) (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥)
𝑓
d) (𝑔) (𝑥)

3. Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔(𝑥) = √𝑥. Find (𝑓 ° 𝑔)(𝑥) and (𝑔 ° 𝑓)(𝑥)

4. Given 𝑓(𝑥) = √3𝑥 − 2. Find 𝑓 −1 (𝑥).