BASIC

CONCEPTS
OF
FUNCTIONS
 LESSON 1:
FUNCTIONS
&
RELATIONS
Learning Outcome(s): At the end of the lesson, the
learner is able to represent real-life situations using
functions, including piecewise functions.
Lesson Outline:
1. Functions and Relations
2. Vertical Line Test
3. Table of Values
4. Piecewise functions
5. Evaluation of Functions
 FUNCTIONS AND RELATIONS
Definition of Relation:
 A relation is a rule that relates values from a set of values (called the domain) to a
second set of values (called the range).
 A relation is a set of ordered pairs (x,y).

Definition of Function:
 A function is a set of ordered pairs (x,y) such that no two ordered pairs have the
same x-value but different y-values. Using functional notation, we can write f(x) =
y, read as “f of x is equal to y.” In particular, if (1, 2) is an ordered pair associated
with the function f, then we say that f(2) =1.
 It is a relation define as a set of ordered pairs (x, y) where no two or more distinct
ordered pairs have the same first element (x).
 Every value of x corresponds to a unique value of y.

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 FUNCTIONS AND RELATIONS
Example 1:
Which of the following relations are functions?
f = {(1,2), (2,3), (3,5), (4,7)}
g = {(1,3), (1,4), (2,5), (2,6), (3,7)}
h = {(1,3), (2,6), (3,9),…,(n,3n)}

Solution.
The relations f and h are functions because no two ordered pairs have the
same x-value but different y-values.
Meanwhile, g is not a function because (1,3) and (1,4) are ordered pairs with
the same x-value but different y-values.

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 FUNCTIONS AND RELATIONS
Relations and functions can be represented by mapping diagrams where the
elements of the domain are mapped to the elements of the range using arrows. In this
case, the relation or function is represented by the set of all the connections
represented by the arrows.
Example 2.
Which of the following mapping diagrams represent functions?

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 FUNCTIONS AND RELATIONS

Solution. The relations f and g are functions because each value y in Y is unique for a
specific value of x. The relation h is not a function because there is at least one
element in X for which there is more than one corresponding y-value. For example,
x=7 corresponds to y = 11 or 13. Similarly, x=2 corresponds to both y=17 or 19.

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 FUNCTIONS AND RELATIONS
A relation between two sets of numbers can be illustrated by a graph in the Cartesian
plane, and that a function passes the vertical line test.

The Vertical Line Test

 A graph represents a function if and only if each vertical line intersects the graph
at most once.
 The vertical line test for a function states that if each vertical line intersects a
graph in the x-y plane at exactly one point, then the graph illustrates a function.

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 FUNCTIONS AND RELATIONS
Which of the following can be graphs of functions?
a. b. c.

d. e.

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 FUNCTIONS AND RELATIONS
Which of the following can be graphs of functions?
a. c. d.

Only graphs of a., c. and d. are graphs of functions because they pass the vertical
line test.

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 FUNCTIONS AND RELATIONS
Table of Values
A table of values is commonly observed when describing a function.
This shows the correspondence between a set of values of x and a set of values of y in
a tabular form.
Example:

x 0 1 4 9 16
y -5 -4 -1 4 11

x -1 0 1 2 3
y 9 8 7 6 5

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 FUNCTIONS AND RELATIONS
Determine the Domain and Range in the following table of values:
a. x 0 1 4 9 16
y -5 -4 -1 4 11

b. x -1 0 1 2 3
y 9 8 7 6 5

Answer:
a. Dom: {0, 1, 4, 9, 6} Rng: {-5, -4, -1, 4, 11}
b. Dom: {-1, 0, 1, 2, 3} Rng: {9, 8, 7, 6, 5}

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 FUNCTIONS AND RELATIONS
Piecewise Functions
These are functions which are defined in different domains since they are determined
by several equations.
Examples:
a.
b.

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 LESSON 1.2:
EVALUATING
FUNCTIONS
 EVALUATING
FUNCTIONS
It is the process of determining the value of the function at the
number assigned to a given variable.

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 EVALUATING FUNCTIONS
Example: Find the following values of the function.

a. f (2) c. f (0)
Solution: Solution:
Replace x by 2. Replace x by 0.

b. f (-1) d. f (- ½)
Solution: Solution:
Replace x by -1. Replace x by – ½ .

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 EVALUATING FUNCTIONS
Example: Find the following values of the function.

a. g(-2) c. g(5)
Replace x by -2. Use the 3rd equation. Replace x by 5. Use the 1st equation.

b. g(1)
Replace x by 1. Use the 3rd equation. d. g(7)
Replace x by 7. Use the 2nd equation.

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 EVALUATING FUNCTIONS
Example: Find the following values of the function.

a. h(1) b. h(-2)
Solution: Solution:
Replace x by 1. Replace x by -2.

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