Introduction to Functions

Defn: A relation is a set of ordered pairs.

A  0,0 , 1,1, 1,1, 4,2, 4,2 

Domain: The x values of the ordered pair.

domain A : 0, 1, 4

Range: The y values of the ordered pair.

range  A :  2,  1, 0, 1, 2
 Introduction to Functions
State the domain and range of each relation.

x y x y x y
1 3 4 2 2 3
2 5 -3 8 5 7
-4 6 6 1 3 8
1 4 -1 9 -2 -5
3 3 5 6 8 7

domain :  4, 1, 2, 3 domain :  3,  1, 4, 5, 6 domain :  2, 2, 3, 5, 8

range : 3, 4, 5, 6 range : 1, 2, 6, 8, 9 range :  5, 3, 7, 8
 Introduction to Functions

Defn: A function is a relation where every x value has one and

only one value of y assigned to it.
State whether or not the following relations could be a
function or not.

x y x y x y
4 2 1 3 2 3
-3 8 2 5 5 7
6 1 -4 6 3 8
-1 9 1 4 -2 -5
5 6 3 3 8 7

function not a function function

 Introduction to Functions
Functions and Equations.
State whether or not the following equations are functions or
not.
y  2x  3 y  x2 x  y2

x y x y x y
0 -3 2 4 1 1
5 7 -2 4 1 -1
-2 -7 -4 16 4 2
4 5 3 9 4 -2
3 3 -3 9 0 0

function function not a function

 Introduction to Functions
Graphs can be used to determine if a relation is a
function.
Vertical Line Test
If a vertical line can be drawn so that it intersects a
graph of an equation more than once, then the equation
is not a function.
 Introduction to Functions
The Vertical Line Test
y

y  2x  3
x y function
0 -3
5 7
x
-2 -7
4 5
3 3
 Introduction to Functions
The Vertical Line Test
y

y  x2 function
x y
2 4
-2 4 x
-4 16
3 9
-3 9
 Introduction to Functions
The Vertical Line Test
y

x  y2 not a function
x y
1 1
1 -1
x
4 2
4 -2
0 0
 Introduction to Functions
Domain and Range from Graphs
y
Find the domain and
range of the function Domain
graphed to the right.
Use interval
notation.
x
Range
Domain: [–3, 4]
Range: [–4, 2]
 Introduction to Functions
Domain and Range from Graphs
y
Find the domain
and range of the
function graphed to
the right. Use Range
interval notation.
x

Domain: (– , )
Range: [– 2, ) Domain
 Function Notation
Function Notation
Shorthand for stating that an equation is a function.
Defines the independent variable (usually x) and the
dependent variable (usually y).
y  3x  1 y x   3x  1 f x   3 x  1
y  y x   f x 
 Function Notation
Function notation also defines the value of x that is to be use
to calculate the corresponding value of y.
f x   2 x  5 f(x) = 4x – 1 g(x) = x2 – 2x
find f(3). find f(2). find g(–3).
f 3  23  5 f(2) = 4(2) – 1 g(–3) = (-3)2 – 2(-3)
f 3  1 f(2) = 8 – 1 g(–3) = 9 + 6
f(2) = 7 g(–3) = 15
3, 1
(2, 7) (–3, 15)
 Function Notation

Given the graph of y

the following function, ●
find each function
value by inspecting
the graph. ●
f(x)
f(5) = 7
x
f(4) = 3 ●

f(5) = 1
f(6) = 6
●
Is it a function? Give the domain and range.

FUNCTION
Domain :  4,2
Range :  4,4
 Give the Domain and Range.

Domain : x  1 Domain : 2  x  2
Range : y  2 Range : 0  y  3
 Functional Notation: Find the following
f ( x)  3x 2  x  2 f ( x)  x  x  2
2

f (3) f ( m  3)

3 3   3  2
2
m  3  m  3  2
2

27  3  2 m  3m  3  m  3  2
30  2
m 2  3m  3m  9  m  3  2
32
m 2  5m  8
Let’s look at Functions
Graphically
Find f(2) + g(4)

f ( x) g ( x)
 f (5)  g (0)

f ( x) g ( x)
 f ( 4)  g ( 1)

f ( x) g ( x)
 f ( 2)  g (0)

f ( x) g ( x)
Piecewise-Defined Function
• A piecewise-defined function is a function that is defined
by two or more equations over a specified domain.

• The absolute value function f x   x

can be written as a piecewise-defined function.

• The basic characteristics of the absolute value function

are summarized on the next page.
Absolute Value Function is a Piecewise
Function
 Example
• Evaluate the function when x = -1 and 0.
Domain of a Function
• The domain of a function can be implied by
the expression used to define the function

• The implied domain is the set of all real

numbers for which the expression is defined.

• For example,
• The function has an implied
domain that consists of all real x other than
x = ±2

• The domain excludes x-values that result in

division by zero.
• Another common type of implied domain is
that used to avoid even roots of negative
numbers.
• EX:
is defined only for x  0.

The domain excludes x-values that result in

even roots of negative numbers.
Graphs of Functions

Lesson 3
• Objective:
To graph a function using domain and
range, even or odd, relative min/max.

• Purpose:
To introduce methods to help graph a
function.
Domain & Range of a Function

What is the
domain of
the graph of
the function
f?

A :  1,4 
Domain & Range of a Function

What is the
range of
the graph of
the function
f?

 5,4
Domain & Range of a Function
Find f  1 and f 2 .

f  1  5

f 2   4
• Let’s look at domain and range of a function
using an algebraic approach.

• Then, let’s check it with a graphical approach.

 Find the domain and range of
f x   x  4.

• Algebraic Approach

The expression under the radical can not be negative.

Therefore, x  4  0. Domain
A: x  4 Since the domain is never negative the
or range is the set of all nonnegative real
4,   numbers.
A: y  0
or Range
0,  
 Find the domain and range of
f x   x  4.

• Graphical Approach
Increasing and Decreasing
Functions
• The more you know about the graph of a
function, the more you know about the
function itself.

• Consider the graph on the next slide.

Falls from x = -2 to x = 0.

Is constant from x = 0 to
x = 2.

Rises from x = 2 to x = 4.
Ex: Find the open intervals on which the function is increasing,
decreasing, or constant.

Increases over
the entire real
line.
Ex: Find the open intervals on which the function is increasing,
decreasing, or constant.

INCREASING :
 ,1 and 1,  
DECREASING :
 1,1