Mathematics I Spring2021

Functions
Lecture 3
Instructor: Dr Saba Fazal Firdousi
Exercise 2.1 & 2.2
Functions

• A
  function is a rule that assigns to each element x of
X at most one element of Y denoted by f(x).
• Domain: The subset of X consisting of all x for which
the function f(x) is defined.
• Input and is the independent variable.
• Range:The set of all elements in Y of the form f(x) for
some x in X. Output and dependent variable.
 Finding Domains of Functions
• The domain of a function is all those values of the
independent variable (x) which let you calculate a value for
the dependent variable (y).
• It is easier to determine which values of x do not lie in the
domain of a function.
• To calculate the domain, first identify what sort of a function
it is:
– Polynomial
– Rational Function
– Radical Function
 Domain of Polynomials
• A
  polynomial is a function where the powers of the variable
are positive integers.
• A polynomial can have constants, variables and exponents,
but never division by a variable.

• To calculate the domain of , pick up any value of x and

substitute.
• You will be able to calculate no matter what value of x is
taken. Therefore,

The domain of a polynomial is all real values of x.

 Domain of Rational Functions
• A
  rational function is a quotient of polynomials.

• Remember, if the denominator has a value of zero, then the

function is undefined or has no real value.
• To find the domain of a rational function:
– Step 1: Equate the denominator to 0.
– Step 2: Solve for x.
– Step 3: The value of x obtained does not lie in the domain.
 Domain of Rational Functions
• Example:
  Find the domain of

The domain of the function is all values of except 4.

• Example: Find the domain of

or
The domain of the function is all values of except and 2.
 Domain of Radical Functions

• It
  is not possible to find the square root of negative numbers.
• To find the domain of a radical function:
– Step 1: Let the expression inside the radicand be .
– Step 2: Solve for x.
– Step 3: The inequality obtained gives the range of x that
lies in the domain.
• Example: Find the domain of

The domain of the function is all values of

 Domain of Radical Functions

• Example:
  Find the domain of

The domain of the function is all values of

 Example 3: Finding Function Values

•   Let

a) Find g(1)

b) Find

c) Find

d) Find
 Example 4: Finding a Difference Quotient

•   If find
 Question 48

•  
Suppose the yearly demand function for a particular actor to star in a
film is , where q is the number of films he stars in during the year. If the
actor currently charges $600,000 per film, how many films does he star
in each year? If he wants to star in four films per year, what should his
price be?
 Question 50
•  insurance company examined the records of a group of individuals
An
hospitalized for a particular illness. It was found that the total
proportion discharged at the end of t days of hospitalization is given by

Evaluate (a) , (b) , and (c) . (d) At the end of how many days was half of
the group discharged?
Equality of functions

•  
Two functions are said to be equal if
they have the same domain
they give the same function values for each input.
 
Example: Are
 
No. Since the domain of g(x) is all real numbers and of f(x) is
all real numbers except x = 1
 
Exercise 2.2

• Constant Functions
• Domain: All real numbers.
• H(x) = 5
• So no matter what the input is the output
• is a constant equal to 5.
•  
Polynomial Functions
F(x) =
Leading coefficient is and degree of the polynomial is n.
 
Examples:

 
 
Is g(x) = a polynomial?
 
Is h(x) = 3x + 4 a polynomial?
•Rational
  Functions
A function that is a quotient of polynomial functions is
a rational function. For example
•Absolute
  Value Function
 
•Case
  defined functions
Case defined function is one where the rule for
specifying
the function is different for some different disjoint
cases.

Find F(1)
F(1.5)
F(3)