QQM1023: Managerial Mathematics

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO
FUNCTION

1.1 Introduction

In the 17th century, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz,

one of the inventors of calculus, introduced the
term function into the mathematical
vocabulary. The concept of a function is one of
the most basic in all of mathematics, and it is
essential to the study of calculus.

1.2 Function

Briefly, a function is a special type of relation

that expresses how one quantity (the output)
depends on another quantity (the input). For
example, when money is invested at some
interest rate, the interest I (output) depends on
the length of time t (input) that the money is
invested. To express this dependence, we say
that I is a “function of” t. Functional relations
like this are usually specified by a formula that
shows what must be done to the input to find
the output.

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Definition

A function is a rule that assigns to each input

number exactly one-output number. The set of
all input numbers to which the rule applies is
called the domain of the function. The set of
all output numbers is called the range.

A variable that represents input numbers for a

function is called an independent variable. A
variable that represents output numbers is
called a dependent variable because its value
depends on the value of the independent
variable. We say that the dependent variable is
a function of the independent variable. That is,
output is a function of input.

For example, the equation

y=x–1

defines y as a function of x. This rule assigns

to each input x exactly one output x – 1, which
is y. If x = 4, then y = 3; if x = -4, then y = -5.
The independent variable is x and the
dependent variable is y.

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Not all equations in x and y define y as a

function of x. For example, let
y2 = x

If x is 4, then
y2 = 4
y = ± 4 = ±2

Hence, to the input 4, there are assigned not

one, but two, output numbers: 2 and – 2 . This
violates the definition of a function, so y is not
a function of x.

Usually, the letters f, g, h, F, G and so on are

used to represent function rules. For example,
y = x + 2, we may write y = f(x) = x + 2, or
simply,
f(x) = x + 2

As another example, the equation p = 2q – 1,

we write p(q) = 2q – 1.

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1.3 Function Values

Generally, f(x), which is read “f of x”, means

the output number in the range of f that
corresponds to the input number x in the
domain. Therefore
input
↓
f ( x)

↑
output

Output numbers such as f(-4) are called

function values. Keep in mind that they are in
the range of f.

Example
1:
Find the function values for each function.

a) f ( x ) = 2 x − 1; f ( 3)

u+4
b) h( u ) = ; h( 5) , h( − 4 ) , and h( u − 4 )
u

c) f ( x) = x 2 + 1; f ( x + h)

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 1 
d) f ( x ) = 4 ; f ( 4) , f  
 100 

2 Domain and Range

Let’s be specific about the domain of a

function. Unless otherwise stated, the domain
consist of all real numbers for which the rule
of the function makes sense; that is, the rule
gives function values that are real numbers.

For example,
1
h( x ) =
x−6

Here any real number can be used for x except

6, because the denominator is 0 when x is
6(undefined). So the domain of h is understood
to be all real numbers except 6.

As another example, let the equation

g (t ) = 2t − 1

The function g(t) is defined or is a real number

if 2t − 1 ≥ 0 . If 2t − 1 < 0 or negative, then the
function is undefined (It is an imaginary
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number). Since function values must be real

numbers, we must assume that
2t − 1 ≥ 0
2t ≥ 1
t ≥ 1/ 2

Thus the domain is the interval [1/2, ∞)

However, figure below shows the domain and

 x, if 0 ≤ x < 3

range of f ( x) =  x − 1 if 3 ≤ x ≤ 5
4 if 5 < x ≤ 7


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Range: 0 ≤ y ≤ 4

x
3 7

Domain: 0 ≤ x ≤ 7
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Example
2:
1. Find the domain for each function.

x
a) f ( x ) =
x2 − x − 2
b) g ( x) = 3 x 2 − x + 5

2. Find the range for each graph.

a) y

-3

b) y

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4 y

1
x

d) y

y=1

2 x

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1.5 Types of Functions and Graphs

1.5.1 Constant Function

A function of the form y = c, where c is a

constant, is called a constant function.

For example,
y=3 y

y=3

0 x

As another example,
1
y = −1, f ( x) = , h(x + 3) = 2
2

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1.5.2 Polynomial function

In general, a function of the form

f ( x) = an x n + an −1x n −1 + ... + a1x + a0

where n is a nonnegative integer and

an , an −1,..., a0 are constant with an ≠ 0 , is
called a polynomial function(in x)

Linear Function
a) f ( x ) = x + 1 b) y = 4 − x
1
c) y = 3 x d) f ( x ) = x
4
is linear function with leading coefficient a) 1,
b) –1, c) 3 and, d) ¼

Quadratic Function
a) y = x 2 − 3 x + 3 b) f ( x ) = 2x 2

is a polynomial function of degree 2(quadratic)

with leading coefficient a)1, b) 2

Cubic Function
a) y = 2 x3 + 1 b) f ( x) = x3 + 2x 2 −1

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is a polynomial function of degree 3(cubic)

with leading coefficient a)2, b) 1

1.5.3 Rational function

p( x )
A function of the form y = that is a
q( x )
quotient of polynomial functions is called a
rational function.

For example,
x2 − 6x
f ( x) = is a rational function, since the
x+5
numerator and denominator are each
polynomials.

But g ( x) = 2 x + 3 is also a rational function,

2x + 3
since 2 x + 3 = . In fact, every polynomial
1
function is also a rational function.

As another example,
2 1 3x
y= , y= , ( )
f x =
2
x +1 x−3 2x − 1

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1.5.4 Root function

A function of the form y = f ( x) = n g ( x) is
called a root function (n = 2,3…).

For example,
y = x − 1 , y = x + 2 , f(x) = (x – 10)1/3

1.5.5 Exponential function

The function f defined by

f(x) = bx,

Where b > 0, b ≠ 1, and the exponent x is any

real number, is called an exponential function
with base b.

1.5.6 Logarithmic function

The logarithmic function with base b, where

b > 0 and, b ≠ 1, is denoted by logb and is
defined by
y = logb x if and only if by = x

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1.5.7 Composite function

Definition

If f and g are functions, the composition of f

with g is the function f  g defined by
( f  g )( x) = f ( g ( x)) .
For example,
F(x) = (3x – 1)9, y = ( x 3 − x 2 + 6)5 ,
h(x) = (x2 + 1)3

1.5.8 Compound Function

Let
1, if − 1 ≤ s < 1,

F ( s ) = 0, if 1 ≤ s ≤ 2,
s − 3 if 2 < s ≤ 8


This is called a compound function because

the rule for specifying it is given by more than
one expression.

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1.5.9 Absolute-Value Function

 x, if x ≥ 0,
The function f ( x) =  is
− x , if x < 0.
called the absolute-value function.

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