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 1 2 3 4 5
y 2 4 6 8 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.

x f(x) y
Identifying Functions
Determine whether each relation is a
function or not.
1. {(2, 3), (3, 0), (5, 2), (4, 3)}
2. {(4, 1), (5, 2), (5, 3), (6, 6), (1, 9)}
3.
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. Given: , find .
2. Given: , find
3. Given: , find
4. 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
Determine the domain of the
following.
5. 7.
6.
 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 4 1 0 1 4
y -2 -1 0 1 2
 Practice Exercises:
A. Determine whether the given relation is a

function orx not.1 2 3 4 5

6. y 2 4 8 16 32

7. 10.
8.
9.
 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).
C. Determine the domain of f.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Common Functions

Linear Function

and are real numbers
Domain and range: all real numbers
Graph: line with slope and y-
intercept
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 y-
intercept 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 Root Function

or
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 Root Function

or
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.