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25 Even and Odd Functions

This document discusses even and odd functions. Even functions satisfy f(x) = f(-x) and have symmetry about the y-axis. Odd functions satisfy -f(x) = f(-x) and have symmetry about the origin. Most functions are neither even nor odd. The document provides examples of even functions like cos(x) and odd functions like sin(x). It also discusses how even and odd functions behave when added or multiplied.

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298 views4 pages

25 Even and Odd Functions

This document discusses even and odd functions. Even functions satisfy f(x) = f(-x) and have symmetry about the y-axis. Odd functions satisfy -f(x) = f(-x) and have symmetry about the origin. Most functions are neither even nor odd. The document provides examples of even functions like cos(x) and odd functions like sin(x). It also discusses how even and odd functions behave when added or multiplied.

Uploaded by

api-299265916
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Even and Odd Functions

They are special types of functions

Even Functions
A function is "even" when:

f(x) = f(x) for all x


In other words there is symmetry about the y-axis (like a reflection):

This is the curve f(x) = x2+1


They got called "even" functions because the functions x2, x4, x6, x8, etc behave like that,
but there are other functions that behave like that too, such as cos(x):

Cosine function: f(x) = cos(x)


It is an even function

But an even exponent does not always make an even function, for
2
example (x+1) is not an even function.

Odd Functions
A function is "odd" when:

f(x) = f(x) for all x


Note the minus in front of f: f(x).
And we get origin symmetry:

This is the curve f(x) = x3x


They got called "odd" because the functions x, x3, x5, x7, etc behave like that, but there are
other functions that behave like that, too, such as sin(x):

Sine function: f(x) = sin(x)


It is an odd function

But an odd exponent does not always make an odd function, for example x +1 is not an
odd function.

Neither Odd nor Even


Don't be misled by the names "odd" and "even" ... they are just names ... and a function
does not have to be even or odd.
In fact most functions are neither odd nor even. For example, just adding 1 to the curve
above gets this:

This is the curve f(x) = x3x+1


It is not an odd function, and it is not an even function either.
It is neither odd nor even!

Even or Odd?
Example: is f(x) = x/(x21) Even or Odd or neither?
Let's see what happens when we substitute x:
Put in "x":
Simplify:

f(x) = (x)/((x)21)
= x/(x21)

= f(x)

So f(x)

= f(x) and hence it is an Odd Function

Special Properties
Adding:

The sum of two even functions is even

The sum of two odd functions is odd

The sum of an even and odd function is neither even nor odd (unless one function is
zero).

Multiplying:

The product of two even functions is an even function.

The product of two odd functions is an even function.

The product of an even function and an odd function is an odd function.

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