Function Notation

A function is a ‘job’
 Function Notation f(x)
You are familiar with function notation like:
y = 5x + 3 or y= x2 + 4x + 6

y = f(x) means that y is a function of x.

You read f(x) as ‘f of x’.

So, if y = x2 + 2, we can also write

f(x) = x2 + 2
Example
If f(x) = 3x + 7, find:
th a t o ur
is m e ans we
(a) f(1) = 3(1) + 7 Th is 1 . S o
e o f x
val u x w i t h1
=3+7 bsti tu te
su
= 10
a t ou r
e a n st h
This m S o w e
(b) f(4) = 3(4) + 7 o f x is4 .
value te x w it h4
= 12 + 7 su bsti tu
= 19
t h a t o ur
(c) f(-2) = 3(-2) + 7 s m e a ns w e
Thi is -2 . S o
e o f x -2
= -6 + 7 valu t ex w i t h
stit u
sub
=1
Example
Let f(x) = 4x2 – 3, find:
th a t o ur
is m e ans we
(a) f(3) = 4(3)2 – 3 Th is 3 . S o
e o f x
val u x w i t h3
= 4(9) - 3 bsti tu te
su
= 36 - 3
= 33

(b) f(-5) = 4(-5)2 – 3 th a t o ur

s m e a ns we
= 4(25) - 3 Thi is - 5. S o
e o f x -5
valu t ex w ith
= 100 - 3 stit u
sub
= 97
Try these…
(1) Let f(x) = 7x – 8. Find the value of:
(a) f(2) (b) f(8) (c) f(-8)

(2) Let f(x) = 3x2 + 2. Find the value of each of these.

(a) f(4) (b) f(-1) (c) f(22)

(3) Let g(x) = 3x2 – 2x + 1. Find:

(a) g(3) (b) g(-2) (c) g(0)
Example
If g(x) = 5x - 9, then:
th at o ur
is m e ans t o 21
(a) Solve g(x) = 21 Th
o n i s eq u a l
s i
expres
⇒ 5x – 9 = 21 q u a tio n!
lv e t h ee
⇒ 5x = 30 Now so
⇒x=6
(b) Solve g(x) = -64 at o ur
e a n s th
This m a l to -64
⇒ 5x - 9 = -64 n i s e qu
sio
expres
⇒ 5x = -55 u atio n!
e t h e eq
ow so lv
⇒ x = -11 N
Example
If f(x) = x2 – 3x, then solve f(x) = 4.
th at o ur
⇒ x – 3x = 4
2
s m e a ns to 4
Thi i s eq u a l
s io n
⇒ x2 – 3x – 4 = 0 expres
u a ti o n!
⇒ (x - 4)(x + 1) = 0 t h ee q
l v e
Now so
⇒ (x - 4) = 0 or (x + 1) = 0
⇒ x = 4 or x = -1
Try these…
(1) Let h(x) = 2x – 5. Solve h(x) = 7.
(2) Let g(x) = 4x - 3. Solve g(x) = 0.
(3) h(x) = x2 – 2
(a) Find h(3) and h(-6)
(b) Solve h(x) = 7
(4) Let f(x) = 3x2 – 11x.
(a) Find f(-3)
(b) Solve f(x) = 20
Example
If h(x) = 2x + 7, then write an expression for:

(a) h(3x) = 2(3x) + 7 th a t o ur

e a n s
This m
x . S o we
= 6x + 7 e o f x is 3
3x
valu t ex w i t h
sti tu
sub
(b) 3h(x) = 3(2x + 7) re
s w e a
= 6x + 21 h is m ea n y 3.
T g h( x ) b
pl y in
multi

(c) 4h(x) = 4(2x + 7) s w e a re

h is m e an y 4.
T g h( x ) b
= 8x + 28 pl y in
multi
Example
Let f(x) = x2 + 7, then write an expression for:
d d 2 to
(a) f(x) +2 = (x + 7) + 2
2
ea ns w e a
This m f(x).
= x2 + 9
ur v a l ue
t h ato
(b) f(x + 2) = (x +2)2 + 7 h i s m ea n s
. S o we
T ( x + 2 )
of x i s ( x + 2)
= (x +2) (x +2) + 7 u te x wi th
substit
= x2 + 4x + 4 + 7
= x2 + 4x + 11
Try these…
(1) Let g(x) = 5x + 6. Write an expression for:
(a) g(3x) (b) 3g(x)

(2) h(x) = x2 - 6. Write an expression for each of these.

(a) 2h(x) (b) h2(x) (c) h(x) + 3 (d) h(x+3)

(3) Let p(x) = 7 – 3x. Write an expression for:

(a) 3p(x) (b) p(3x) (c) p(x) + 3 (d) p(x+3)

(4) f(x) = 3x2 - 2x. Write an expression for each of these.

(a) f(x – 1) (b) f(x) - 1 (c) f(-x) (d) -f(x)
Self Assessment
Do you understand how to use and solve problems
involving function notation?

Yes – I fully Mostly – I just Not really – I

understand need a little am finding this
the topic. more practice. topic quite
difficult.