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General Mathematics

The document provides an outline for a course on general mathematics. It covers topics such as functions, domains and ranges, piecewise functions, rational functions, and exponential and logarithmic functions. Examples are provided to demonstrate key concepts like determining if a relation represents a function and finding the domain and range of functions.

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Felipe Alfonsó
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17K views6 pages

General Mathematics

The document provides an outline for a course on general mathematics. It covers topics such as functions, domains and ranges, piecewise functions, rational functions, and exponential and logarithmic functions. Examples are provided to demonstrate key concepts like determining if a relation represents a function and finding the domain and range of functions.

Uploaded by

Felipe Alfonsó
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

JASON ALFONSÓ

General
Mathematics
A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE

Katharos Matematikos
DO NOT REPRODUCE, COPY, OR SELL
COPYRIGHT IS STRICTLY ENFORCED
COURSE OUTLINE

1. Brush Up! Prerequisites for General Mathematics


2. What is a function?
a. The Vertical Line Test
3. Parent Functions
4. Domain and Range
a. Finding the Domain and Range of a Function
Algebraically
b. Finding the Domain and Range of a Function from
a Graph
5. Evaluating Functions
6. Piecewise-defined Functions
7. Rational Functions
a. Operations of Rational Functions
b. Graphing Rational Functions
8. Manipulating Functions
a. Combinations (Operations) of Functions
b. Composite Functions and its Domain
c. One-to-one Functions and the Horizontal Line Test
d. Inverse Functions
9. Exponential Functions
a. Graphing Exponential Functions
10. Logarithmic Functions
a. What is a logarithm?
b. Common Bases and Restricted Values
c. Evaluating Logs
d. Change of Base
e. The General Log Rule, Laws of Logarithms and
Natural Logs
f. Graphing Logarithmic Functions
Functions
 Function is just a special kind of relation between the values of two variables (like 𝑥 and
𝑦). One in which is for every value of 𝑥, has only one and one value of 𝑦 that’s related to
it.
 E.g., suppose the values of 𝑥 and 𝑦 are real numbers, and that for every value of 𝑥, the 𝑦
value that is related to is 𝑥 + 3. If we substitute any value of 𝑥, there should only be one
value of 𝑦 that is related to it. That is:
o If 𝑥 = 2, then 𝑥 + 3 will be 2 + 3 which is 5 (the 𝑦 value). The function can also
be written as 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 3
o As a functional notation (𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑦), we can write the function as 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 3.
We read this as “f of x equals to x plus 3.” The variable 𝑥 is the independent
variable because the value of 𝑦, the dependent variable, depends on the value of
𝑥. 𝑥 could be any number assigned to it but 𝑦 couldn’t be any number because the
function needs to be evaluated first depending on the value of 𝑥 to get the value
of 𝑦 that is related to it
o In other words, given 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑦, the 𝑥 is the input value and 𝑦 is the output value
 But how do we know if the equation or a function is really not a function? If the input
value gives two different output values, it is not a function. Remember – function has only
one and one value of 𝒚 that is related to it.
Example
1. Is 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 1 a function?
a. Yes! Because for every value of 𝑥, there can only be one output value. For
instance, if 𝑥 = 9, then 𝑓(9) = 8
2. Is 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 5 a function?
a. Yes! Because even though 𝑥 2 will always give you a positive number, and that
e.g., when 𝑥 = ±1 , 𝑓(−1) = 6 ; 𝑓(1) = 6, it still satisfies the definition as the
input value only gives one output value
16
3. Is 𝑦 2 = 𝑥 a function?
a. No! See, to find the value of 𝑦 at 𝑥,
16
i. 𝑦 2 = 𝑥
16
ii. √𝑦 2 = √ 𝑥
4
iii. 𝑦 = ± , this means that for every value of 𝑥, there is two different
√𝑥
output value. Which means it’s not a function
4. By correspondence:
1a. 1b.
Input Output Input Output
1 2 1 2
2 4 2 4
3 6 3 6
4 8 4 8
1a. is a function. Because an input gives only one output.
1b. is not a function. Because an input gives two outputs.
5. By table:
Table a Table b
𝑥 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)
1 2 1 3
2 4 2 4
1 3 -1 3
4 6 4 6
5 7 5 7

Table a is not a function. See, if x equals to 1, it gives 2 and 3 output values. Therefore, not a
function.
Table b is a function. 1 and -1 are input values that gives the same output values. As long as an
input value doesn’t give two output values, it is a function.

The Vertical Line Test


 The Vertical Line Test is another useful tool to test if a graph is a function.

Given this graph, to test if this is a function, drawing a vertical line


anywhere on the graph will tell you if it’s a function or not. If it
intersects the graph at most once, it is a function.

The graph is a function. It passed the vertical line test because the line
only intersects the graph at most once. The intersection of the vertical
line to the horizontal axis is the value of x, and the intersection of the
vertical line with the graph is the value of y at x.

Try it yourself! (Answer key next page)


o A is a function; B is a function; C is not a function

Parent Functions
 It is important for you to be familiarized with the parent graphs of functions because it
will help you in knowing whether a graph is function, behavior and give you a hint of its
domain and range (which we will tackle later on this course)
Domain and Range
 The domain is basically just a set of all real numbers ℝ that you can plug to the value of x
without making the function undefined. By undefined we mean having a 0 on the
0 1 2
denominator. 0 , 0 , 0 , ⋯ are examples of expressions in indeterminate form, meaning
undefined.
o The domain of a function can be expressed both in set builder notation or in
interval notation
 In set builder notation, the domain is in form of {𝑥|𝑥 ∈ ℝ}. This is read as
“x such that x is an element of all real numbers”. If there will be a
restriction in the domain, that will be for e.g., {𝑥|𝑥 ∈ ℝ − 1 }, read as “x
such that x is an element of real numbers except -1”. Although this
notation can also appear as {𝑥|𝑥 ≠ −1}.
 In interval notation, the domain is in form of interval of numbers. Having
the example above, the interval notation appears as (∞, ∞). If the
restriction is -1, then the domain in interval notation is (−∞, −1) ∪
(−1, +∞)
Try it yourself! Find the domain both in set builder and interval notation if:
1. 𝑥 ≠ ±1
2. 𝑥 ≠ 0
3. 𝑥 ≠ 6,7

 The range is “range” of values that can appear given a domain. So, if domain is set of all
input values that you can input without making the function undefined, the range is set
of all output values that you can get from the values of the domain.
o The range of a function can be expressed both in set builder notation or in interval
notation. The process is same with the domain, but instead you’ll have the
variable 𝑦

Examples
1
1. What is the domain and range of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = ?
√𝑥
a. We know that the radical expression in the denominator cannot have a x-value of
less than and 0 itself; otherwise the function cannot be defined over real numbers
as 𝑖 is an imaginary number. So,
i. In set builder notation, {𝑥|𝑥 > 0}; Range: {𝑦|𝑦 > 0};
ii. In interval notation, (0, +∞); Range: (0, +∞)
1
2. What is the domain and range of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥?
a. When 𝑥 = 0, the function is undefined. So,
i. In set builder notation, {𝑥|𝑥 ≠ 0}; Range: {𝑦|𝑦 ≠ 0}
ii. In interval notation, (−∞, 0) ∪ (0, +∞); Range: (−∞, 0) ∪ (0, +∞)

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