ABM

Module Functions
1 Introduction to Functions
Created by Reymund S. Ortilla

LESSON OUTLINE
• Function: The Central Idea of Mathematics
• The Language & Notation of Functions
• More on Domains

1.1 Function: The Central Idea of Mathematics

Function is really the central idea of mathematics. You’ll use them in all of the materials that you’re going to use
for the rest of the subject. On that note, let’s start talking about what a function is.
The word “function” is being used in a technical sense. There is a technical definition so to speak. We’d like to
give you two (2) visions of what a function is. Either one of them is fine. And if you put both of them together,
you’ll get a better sense of what a function is.
DEFINITION: A function is a correspondence from the set 𝑿 (domain) into set 𝒀 (range) that associates each
element 𝒙 found in set 𝑿 with some unique element 𝒚 found in set 𝒀.

From the figure above, it is NOT OK to have a single element in set 𝑿 (domain) going out to two or more values
in set 𝒀 (range). This is called one-to-many relation.
On the other hand, it is still a function when we have two unique elements in set 𝑿 (domain) go to the same
element in set 𝒀 (range). This is called many-to-one relation.
ALTERNATE DEFINITION: A function is a “machine” that associates each input element to some unique
output element.

Introduction to Functions20 1
continuation… Introduction to Functions 2

Example 1.1.1
Which of the following mapping diagrams represent functions?

Solution
All of them are relations. However, relations 𝒇 and 𝒈 are functions while 𝒉 is not.
Note: A function yields a table. From Example 1, we get the following table:
𝒇 𝑔
𝑥 (Domain of 𝒇) 𝑦 (Range of 𝒇) 𝑥 (Domain of 𝒈) 𝑦 (Range of 𝒈)
1 3 5 1
2 5 6 0
3 9 7 1
4 17 8 0
5 33 9 0

Using this table, we can now then represent the functions 𝒇 and 𝒈 in the following way:
• 𝑓 = {(1, 3), (2, 5), (3, 9), (4, 17), (5, 33)}
• 𝑔 = {(5, 1), (6, 0), (7, 1), (8, 0), (9, 0)}
Example 1.1.2
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 and different y-values.
Meanwhile, 𝑔 is not a function because (1, 3) and (1, 4) are ordered pairs with the same x-value with different y-
values.
Sample function: Piecewise function

A function in pieces

Input −𝑥 for 𝑥≤0 Output

5 for 0<𝑥<2
𝑥2 − 1 for 𝑥≥2

3
The above diagram is a function represented as a machine. If we are to put the numbers −2, 1, , 3 to our machine,
2
then the output of our machine would be the following numbers: 2, 5, 8. The following table is the complete
representation of the above function.
continuation… Introduction to Functions 3

Function in pieces
𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡
−2 2
1 5
3
5
2
3 8

1.2 Language and Function Notations

Terminologies

Set X Function Set Y

Domain Single letters, abbreviations Range
Input Set Output Set
Elements: Elements:
• domain elements • output elements
• independent variable • dependent variable
• argument • image of the function
• value of the function

A lot of students think that a function only has one part, which is the “machine” or “correspondence”. The fact is,
a function consists of three (3) parts:
• Domain (input set)
• A “correspondence” or “machine”
• Range (output set)
Notations

Domain Function Range

The domain of a function is usually Usual notations: 𝑓(𝑥)
notated using a traditional single
• 𝑓, 𝑔, ℎ ln⁡(𝑥)
letter like:
• 𝑙𝑛, 𝑙𝑜𝑔, 𝑒𝑥𝑝, 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑔(𝑡)
• 𝑥
• 𝑡
Example 1.2.1
(6 − 𝑥)
𝑓(𝑥) =
(𝑥 + 2)
Correspondence Range
Domain

1.3 More on Domains

Unless specified, we agree that the domain of the given function is the largest set in real numbers, denoted as ℝ,
for which 𝑓(𝑥) makes sense.
Example 1.3.1. What is the domain of the following function?
1
𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥
Solution: The domain of the function 𝑓 is all ℝeal numbers except 𝑥 = 0.
continuation… Introduction to Functions 4

Shorthand notation for the phrase “the domain of 𝑓” is: Dom (𝑓) or Dom 𝑓. We can also use the following
notations to specify the domain of a function:
• Roster notation
• Interval notation
• Set-builder notation
Example 1.3.2. Using the given function in Example 1.3.1, instead of saying “The domain of the
function 𝒇 is all ℝeal numbers except 𝒙 = 𝟎”, we can use the following notation instead.
Solution:
• Dom 𝑓= { 𝑥 ∈ ℝ⁡|⁡𝑥⁡ ≠ 0 } → Set-builder notation
• (−∞, 0)⁡Ս⁡(0, ∞) → Interval notation
Example 1.3.3. Convert the following statement to set-builder notation: “The set of all ℝeal numbers
greater than 5, or, less than or equal to -3.
Solution:
• Set = { 𝑥 ∈ ℝ⁡|⁡𝑥 > 5⁡𝑜𝑟⁡𝑥 ≤ −3 } → Set-builder notation
• (−∞, −3] Ո (5, ∞) → Interval notation
 continuation… Introduction to Functions 5

Activity Functions
Sheet
Introduction to Functions
1
I. True or False. Write TRUE if the statement is true. FALSE otherwise.

1. All functions are relations.

2. All relations are functions.
3. A many-to-one relation is a function.
4. One-to-one relation is a function.
5. One-to-many relation is a function.
6. A function is a set of ordered pairs in which no two ordered pars have the same second element.
7. The set {⁡(7, 1), (−7, 1), (6, 2), (−6, 2)⁡} is an example of a function.
8. Given the set of ordered pairs in item #7, the domain of this set is { 7, −7, 6 }.
9. The set {⁡(𝑎, 𝑙), (𝑏, 𝑒), (𝑟, 𝑡)} is considered a relation and a function.
10. Relations that are functions show one-to-many or many-to-one correspondence.

II. Identification. Write F if it’s a function and R if it is not.

11. {⁡(1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3), (4, 4)⁡}

12. {⁡(1, 1), (1, 2), (1, 3), (1, 4)⁡}
13. 𝑦 = 7𝑥 + 2
14. 𝑥 = 𝑦2 − 5
15. {⁡(0, 0), (1, 1), (2, 4), (3, 9), … (𝑛, 𝑛2 ) …⁡}

III. Identify whether the following notation is an interval, roster, or set-builder notation.

16. { 𝑥⁡|⁡9 < 𝑥 ≤ 21 }

17. (−3, 7)
18. {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}
19. [−5, −1]⁡Ս⁡[3, 7]
20. (1, 2)

IV. Determine the domain of the following functions.

Function Set-builder notation Interval notation

21. 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 3
22. 𝑔(𝑘) = 2𝑘 2 + 4𝑘 − 6
23. 𝑏(𝑛) = √2𝑛 − 8
24. 𝑚(𝑡) = √9 − 3𝑡
𝑥−5
25. 𝑦 =
2𝑥+4
1
26. 𝑎(𝑟) = 𝑟 + ( )
𝑟−1
27. 𝑦 = √3𝑥 − 54
𝑥
28. 𝑓(𝑥) =
√𝑥+3
𝑥+1
29. 𝑦 =
5𝑥+7
𝑥+3
30. 𝑓(𝑥) =
√𝑥−8
Module 2: Function and Its Graph
Learning Outline
• Applications of Functions
• Visualizing Functions
• Evaluating Functions

Review of what a Function is

If 𝑥 and 𝑦 are two variables that are related in such a way that whenever a permissible
numerical value is assigned to 𝑥 there is determined one and only one corresponding
numerical value for 𝑦, then 𝑦 is called a function of 𝑥.
It is customary to express this is symbols by writing 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥). This is read “𝑦 equals 𝑓 of 𝑥”
and the letter 𝑓 represents the formula or rule of correspondence that yields 𝑦 when applied
to 𝑥.

Real-life Examples
Example 1: If a rock is dropped from the edge of a cliff, then it falls 𝑠 feet in 𝑡 seconds, then
𝑠 is a function of 𝑡. It has been found by experiment that (approximately) 𝑠 = 16𝑡 2 .
Example 2: The area of a circle 𝐴 is a function of its radius 𝑟. From geometry, it is known
that 𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2.
Example 3: If the manager of a bookstore buys 𝑛 books from a publisher at $8 each and the
shipping charges are $13, then his total cost 𝐶 is a function of 𝑛 given by the formula 𝐶 =
8𝑛 + 13.
Piecewise Functions
The preceding examples of functions have been given by a single formula. Some situations
however, can only be described by more than one formula, depending on the value of the
domain element.
Example 4: A user is charged Php 300.00 monthly for a particular plan, which includes 100
free text messages. Messages in excess of 100 are charged Php 1.00 each. Represent the
amount a consumer pays each month as a function of the number of messages 𝑚 sent in a
month.
Solution: Let 𝑡(𝑚) represent the amount paid by the consumer each month. It can be
expressed by the piecewise function
300 𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑚 ≤ 100
𝑡(𝑚) = {
200 + 𝑚 𝑖𝑓 𝑚 > 100

Evaluating Functions
Evaluating a function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) means you’re trying to find the value (or range/image) of
the function given 𝑥 as the domain (or argument/input).
In general, this means replacing the variable in the function, in this case, 𝑥, with a value
from the function’s domain and computing for the result.
To denote that we are evaluating 𝑓 at 𝑎 for some 𝑎 in the domain of 𝑓, we write 𝑓(𝑎).
Example 5: If a function 𝑓(𝑥) is defined by the formula 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 2𝑥 + 1, then 𝑓(1.5) =
2(1.5) + 1 = 4.
Example 6: Evaluate the following functions at 𝑥 = 2.
(a) 𝑞(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2
2𝑥+1
(b) 𝑟(𝑥 ) = 𝑥−1

Solution: Substitution 2 for 𝑥 in the functions above, we have

(a) 𝑞(2) = 22 − 2(2) + 2 = 2
2(2)+1
(b) 𝑟(2) = 2−1
=5

Example 7: Find 𝑔(−4) given 𝑔(𝑥 ) = √𝑥 + 1

Solution: This is not possible because −4 is not in the domain of 𝑔(𝑥).

Graph of a Function
Everyone knows about the use of graphs to summarize data and convey ideas. There are
many kinds of graphs, dealing with many different subjects, but all have one thing in
common: each is a visual display showing the way in which one variable quantity depends
on another.
Graphs are pictures of functions, and functions are the basic ingredients of quantitative
knowledge.

Definition: To graph a function 𝑓 which takes 𝑥 → 𝑓(𝑥), just plot all the ordered pairs
(𝑥, 𝑓(𝑥 )).

The independent variable 𝑥 can be thought of as a point moving along the 𝑥-axis from left
to right; each 𝑥 determines a value of the dependent variable 𝑦, which is the height of the
point (𝑥, 𝑦); and the graph of a function is simply the path of the point (𝑥, 𝑦) as it moves
across the plane and varies in height according to the nature of the given function.

Theorem: [ Vertical Line Test ]

A graph represents a function if and only if all vertical line intersects the graph at most once.
Example 8. Which of the following graphs can be graphs of functions?

Solution: Graphs (b) and (c) are graphs of a function while (d) and (e) are not because they
do not pass the vertical line test.
Exercises
2𝑥−4 1
1. (3 pts) If 𝑔(𝑥 ) = , find 𝑔(0), 𝑔(1) and 𝑔(− )
3𝑥 2 +1 2

2. (3 pts) If ℎ(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 1, find ℎ(𝑥 3 )

𝑥
3. (5 pts) If 𝐹(𝑥 ) = , find 𝐹[𝐹 (𝑥 )]
𝑥−1

4. (4 pts) Express the area 𝐴 of a square as a function of (

(a) the length of one side 𝑥
(b) the perimeter 𝑝
5. (8 pts) A page, 8.5" x 11" has a border width 𝑥 surrounding printed matter.
(a) Write down a function that represents the area of the printed matter.
(b) What is the domain of the function?
6. (10 pts) Draw the graph of the following functions
(a) 𝑦 = 𝑥
(b) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2
(c) 𝑦 = 𝑥 3
1
(d) 𝑦 = 𝑥

(e) 𝑦 = √𝑥
7. (6 pts) Given 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = √𝑥 − 3, evaluate the function at the following values:
1
(a) 𝑓(1−𝑥)

(b) 𝑓(𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 7)
8. (6 pts) Mark started selling snacks in the nearby school. In one day, he spends
Php200 for rent and Php25 for each snack item he prepares.
(a) Give the function that represents Mark’s expenses in a single day.
(b) How much are his expenses if he prepares 100 snack items?
(c) how much are his expenses if he prepares 150 snack items?
9. (10 pts) You have a part-time job that pays Php150 per hour. If you work more than
40 hours, you will be paid an additional 20 pesos for the succeeding hours until the
50th hour. Beyond that, you are already paid 1.5 times your hourly rate. Represent
these with a function and sketch the graph of the pay per unit hour.
10. (5 pts) Which of the following is NOT an example of an application of a function in
real life? Explain why.
(a) The amount of money you have is a function of the time spent earning it.
(b) Height of a person is based on the length of their femur.
(c) When driving, your location is a function of time.
(d) All of them are examples of a function in real life.