MATH 11C

DIFFERENTIAL & INTEGRAL CALCULUS

FUNCTIONS

A function is a relation that associates, with each value of x in a

certain set, exactly one value of another variable y.

Examples: Which of the following is a function?

1. y=3 x 3 - function
2. y 2=x - not a function
3. xy=1 - function
4. y 3=8 x - function
5. y=± √ x−7 – not a function

Functional Notation

The notation y=f (x ), read as “y equals f of x”, is used to designate

that y is a function of x. Often, a function is defined by giving the formula
for an arbitrary value f(x). For example y=x 2−10 is the same function as
2
f ( x )=x −10 .
Any letter may be used in the function notation; thus g ( x ) , h ( x ) , f (x),
etc., may represent functions of x.

Evaluation of Functions

Examples: Evaluate the ff:

1. If f ( x )=x 3−5 x−2
Find: f (−2)
f (−2 )=(−2)3−5 (−2)−2
f (−2 )=−8+10−2
f (−2 )=0

f (−3/2)
−3 −3 3 −3
f( )2
=(
2
) −5 (
2
)−2
−3 −27 15
f( )2
=
8
+ −2
2
−3 17
f( )2
=
8

f (0)
f ( 0 )=( 0)3 −5(0)−2
f ( 0 )=0−0−2

Lecture 1.1: Functions

MATH 11C
DIFFERENTIAL & INTEGRAL CALCULUS

f ( 0 )=−2

2. Let g ( x )=x 2−3 x+7

Find the following:
g(10)
g(10)¿ (10 )2−3(10)+7
g ( 10 )=100−30+7
g ( 10 )=77

g ( a+1 )= ( a+1 )2−3 ( a+1 ) +7

g ( a+1 )=a2 +2 a+1−3 a−3+7
g ( a+1 )=a2−a+5

2 2 2
g(r ¿ ¿2)=( r ) −3 ( r ) +7 ¿
g(r ¿ ¿2)=r 4−3 r 2 +7 ¿

g ( x+ h )=( x +h )2−3 ( x +h ) +7
g ( x+ h )=x 2 +2 hx+ h2−3 x−3 h+7

2 2
g ( x +h )−g ( x ) [ ( x+ h ) −3 ( x+ h ) +7 ]−[ x −3 x+7 ]
=
h h
g ( x +h )−g ( x ) x +2 hx +h −3 x−3 h+ 7−x 2 +3 x−7
2 2
=
h h
g ( x +h )−g ( x ) 2 hx+ h2−3 h
=
h h
g ( x +h )−g ( x ) h(2 x+ h−3)
=
h h
g ( x +h )−g ( x )
=2 x+ h−3
h

Function of Two Variables

The variable z is said to be a function of the variables x and y if

there exists a relation such that to each pair of values of x and y there
corresponds one or more values of z. Here, x and y are the independent
variables and z is the dependent variable.
The function notation used in this case is z=f ( x , y ) : read as “z
equals f of x and y”. The f (a , b) denotes the value of z when x=a and y=b,
provided the function is defined for these variables.

Example:
If f ( x , y )=x 3−3 xy + y 2

Lecture 1.1: Functions

MATH 11C
DIFFERENTIAL & INTEGRAL CALCULUS

Find:
f ( 2,3 )=23−3( 2)(3)+32
f ( 2,3 )=8−18+9
f ( 2,3 )=−1

f (−3,0 )=(−3)3 −3(−3)(0)+02

f (−3,0 )=−27−0+0
f (−3,0 )=−27

3 2 3 2
f ( x , y +k )−f (x , y ) [ x −3 x ( y+ k ) + ( y +k ) ] −[ x −3 xy+ y ]
=
k k
f ( x , y +k )−f (x , y ) [ x −3 xy−3 kx+ y +2 ky +k 2 ]−[ x 3−3 xy + y 2 ]
3 2
=
k k
f ( x , y +k )−f (x , y ) [ x −3 xy−3 kx+ y +2 ky +k 2 ]−x 3+3 xy − y 2
3 2
=
k k
2
f ( x , y +k )−f (x , y ) [−3 kx +2 ky +k ]
=
k k
f ( x , y +k )−f (x , y ) k [ −3 x +2 y + k ]
=
k k
f ( x , y +k )−f (x , y )
=−3 x +2 y +k
k

Operations Involving Functions

A. Sum of Function
f +g ------- f ( x ) + g(x )
B. Difference of Function
f −g ; g−f ----------- f ( x )−g ( x ) ; g ( x )−f ( x)
C. Product of function
f • g ------------ f (x) • g(x )
D. Quotient of Function
f g f (x ) g(x )
; --------- ;
g f g ( x) f ( x )
E. Composite Function
f ο g ; gοf ----------- f [ g ( x ) ] ; g [f ( x ) ]

EXAMPLES:
1. Given: f ( x )=2 x−1
g ( x )=6−x−x 2
Find:
a. f ( x ) + g ( x )=2 x −1+ 6−x−x 2
¿−x 2+ x +5
b. f ( x )−g ( x )=2 x−1−6 + x+ x 2
¿ x 2+ 3 x−7

Lecture 1.1: Functions

MATH 11C
DIFFERENTIAL & INTEGRAL CALCULUS

c. f ( x ) • g ( x ) =( 2 x−1 ) ( 6−x−x 2 )
¿ 12 x −6−2 x 2+ x−2 x 3 + x 2
¿ 13 x−6−x2 −2 x 3
d. f ( x ) οg ( x )=2 ( 6−x −x2 ) −1
¿ 12−2 x−2 x2 −1
¿−2 x 2−2 x +11

Odd and Even Functions

If f ( x )=f (−x ) ---- EVEN
If f (−x )=−f (x ) ----- ODD
Otherwise, a function is neither ODD nor EVEN

EXAMPLES: State whether the ff is odd, even, or neither odd nor

even functions:
1. f ( x )=3 x 4 −2 x 2 +7
f (−x )=3(−x) 4−2(−x )2+ 7
f (−x )=3 x 4 −2 x2 +7
f ( x )=f (−x )=even

2. g ( x )=3 x5 −4 x 3−9 x
g (−x )=3(−x )5−4 (−x )3−9(−x )
g (−x )=−3 x 5+ 4 x 3 +9 x
g (−x )=−g ( x )=odd

3. h ( x )=2 x 4−7 x 3−x 2 +9

h (−x )=2(−x )4 −7 (−x )3 −¿
h (−x )=2(−x )4 −7 (−x )3 −¿
h (−x )=2 x 4 +7 x 3−x 2+ 9
h (−x ) ≠ h ( x ) ≠−h ( x ) therfore it i s neither odd nor even

4. xy=1
1
let y=f ( x ) , f ( x )=
x
−1
f (−x )=
x
f (−x )=−f ( x )=odd

Lecture 1.1: Functions