BASICS OF

FUNCTIONS

Learning Objectives:
Identify relations that are functions
based on the different
representations.
Determine the domain and range of
a given function.
Evaluate a function at a given value.
Classify functions as even, odd, or
neither odd nor even.

Learning Objectives:
Identify common functions and their
graphs.
Sketch the graph of a function using
horizontal and vertical shifting of
common functions.
Perform addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division, and
composition of functions

Relations

A relation is a correspondence between

two sets of objects.
Illustration: Correspondence
To each book in a library there
corresponds the number of pages in the
book.
To each human being there corresponds a
birth date.
If the temperature of the air is recorded
throughout the day, then to each instant
of time there corresponds a temperature.

Relations

A relation is a mapping, or pairing,

of input values with output values.

The set of input values is called the

domain.
The set of output values is called the
range.

Representations of
Relations
A relation can be represented in the
following ways:
Set of ordered pairs:
{(-2, 3), (-1, 4), (0, 5), (1, 6), (2, 7)}
{(4, -2), (1, -1), (0, 0), (1, 1), (4, 2)}
Table
x
y

1
2

2
4

3
6

4
8

5
10

Representations of
Relations
A relation can be represented in the
following ways:
Graph

Representations of
Relations
A relation can be represented in the
following ways:
Mapping diagram

Representations of
Relations

A
relation can be represented in the
following ways:
Equation

Function

A relation is a function provided

there is exactly one element from
the set of range that corresponds to
each element from the set of
domain.

f(x)

Identifying Functions
Determine whether each relation is a
function or not.
1.
2.
3.

{(2, 3), (3, 0), (5, 2), (4, 3)}

{(4, 1), (5, 2), (5, 3), (6, 6), (1, 9)}

Identifying Functions
Determine whether each relation is a
function or not.
4.

5.

Vertical Line Test

If any vertical line passes through
more than one point of the graph,
then that relation is not a function.
Are these functions?

FUNCTION!

FUNCTION!

NotaFunction!

Vertical Line Test

FUNCTION!

NotaFunction

NotaFunction!

FUNCTION!

Function Notation

y f x
Input
Output

Name of
Function

Function Notation
f(x) = 3x - 4 is read as f of x equals
three times x minus 4.
x is the independent variable.
y or f(x) is the dependent variable.
For the function f(x) = 3x - 4,
f(5) = 3(5) - 4 = 15 - 4 = 11, and
f(-2) = 3(-2) - 4 = - 6 - 4 = -10.

Evaluating a Function

1.
2.
3.
4.

Given: , find .

Given: , find
Given: , find
Given: , find and

Domain and Range

Generally, the domain is implied to be the
set of all real numbers that yield a real
number functional value in the range.
Some restrictions to the domain:
1. Denominator cannot equal zero (0).
2. If the index of the root is an even
number, radicand must not be negative.
3. Practical problems may limit domain.

Domain and Range

Determine
the domain and range of the
following functions.

1.
3.
2. +2
4. +4, x>2

Practice Exercises:
A. Determine whether the given relation is a
function or not.
1. {(6, 3), (7, 4), (7, 2), (0, 2)}
2. {(7, 1), (7, 3), (7, 4)}
3.
4.

5.

x
y

4
-2

1
-1

0
0

1
1

4
2

Practice Exercises:
B. Evaluate each function for the given values.
1. If , find f(-3).
2. If , find f(6).
3. If , find f(3).

Common Functions

Linear

Function

and are real numbers

Domain and range: all real numbers
Graph: line with slope and yintercept

Common Functions

Linear

Function

Example:
and

Common Functions

Constant

Function

Special case of the linear function,

where

is any real number

Domain: all real numbers; Range:
Graph: horizontal line whose yintercept corresponds to the point

Common Functions

Constant

Function

Example:

Common Functions

Identity
Function

Special case of the linear function,

where and

Domain: all real numbers; Range:

Graph: line that passes through the
origin, and every point that lies on the
line has equal x- and y-coordinates

Common Functions

Identity

Function

Common Functions

Square

Function

Domain: all real numbers; Range:

Graph: parabola with vertex at the
origin, symmetric with respect to the
y-axis.

Common Functions

Square

Function

Common Functions

Cube

Function

Domain and range: all real numbers

Graph: Curve that passes through
the origin, symmetric with respect to
the origin.

Common Functions

Cube

Function

Common Functions

Square

Root Function

or
Domain and range:
Graph: Curve with an endpoint at the
origin

Common Functions

Square

or

Root Function

Common Functions

Cube

Root Function

or
Domain and range: all real numbers
Graph: Curve that passes through
the origin, symmetric with respect to
the origin.

Common Functions

Cube

or

Root Function

Common Functions

Absolute

Value Function

Domain: all real numbers; Range:

Graph: symmetric with respect to the
y-axis.

Common Functions

Absolute

Value Function

Common Functions

Reciprocal

Function

Domain and range:

Graph: symmetric with respect to the
origin; x- and y-axes are asymptotes

Common Functions

Reciprocal

Function

Odd and Even Functions

A function given by y = f(x) is even if, for

each x in the domain,
f(-x) = f(x).

The graph of an even function is symmetric with

respect to the y-axis

A function given by y = f(x) is odd if, for

each x in the domain,
f(-x) = - f(x).

The graph of an odd function is symmetric with

respect to the origin

Odd and Even Functions

Determine
whether f is even, odd, or
neither even nor odd.