Functions and Modelling Functions

Calculus - provided scientist a mathematics that could handle many of the difficult problems about
motion and things that change.

Function – a set of ordered pairs of numbers (x,y) in which no two distinct ordered pairs have the
same first number. The set of all admissible values of x is called the domain of the function, and the
set of all resulting values of y is called the range of the function.
- x and y are variables. Since the value of y is dependent on the choice of x, x is the
independent variable and y denotes the dependent variable
- f(x) is the function f of x denoting the particular value of y that corresponds to the value
of x.
- For instance, consider the formula for the area of a circle: A = πr 2. For each value
assigned to r, there corresponds a value of A. We say that A is a function of r and in
symbol we write, A = f(r)
- For the relation between x and y, it is symbolically written in the form: y = f(x)

Evaluation of Functions – To find the value of function at x, substitute each value of x by a specific
value. Ex: In a function y = x3 – 2x, what is the function of at x = 3. Ans: f(3) = 3 3 – 2(3) = 27-6 = 21.

Defining a function – giving the domain or set of domain that results to set of range that are real
numbers
Ex: Define the function

1) f(x) = 3x2- 5x + 2
Ans: No number (domain) or value of x results to non-real value of y. Therefore, the
domain is the set of all real numbers.

5𝑥−2
2) g(x) =
𝑥+4
Ans: if x = -4, quotient is zero which is prohibited. Therefore, the domain of g(x) is
the set of all real numbers except -4.

3) h(x) = √4 − 𝑥 2
Ans: √4 − 𝑥 2 is not a real number for x>2 or x<-2. The domain is [-2,2] (closed
interval)

Graph of a function – set of all points (x,y) in x-y plane for which (x,y) is an ordered pair in f.
- a vertical line intersects the graph of a function only once.

Ex: Determine the domain of the function g defined by g(x) = √𝑥(𝑥 − 2)

Ans: If x(x-2)< 0, it is not a real number
Case 1: x ≥ 0 and x-2 ≥ 0 or x ≥ 0 and x ≥ 2
Both inequalities hold if x ≥ 2, which is the interval [2,+∞)
Case 2: x ≤ 0 and x-2 ≤ 0 or x ≤ 0 and x ≤ 2
Both inequalities hold if x ≤ 0, which is the interval (-∞, 0].
 The domain is (-∞, 0] ∪ [2,+∞).

Graph of the given function:

Piecewise- Defined Functions – functions that are defined using more than one expression

Ex: Determine the domain and range of f and sketch its graph
x-1 if x < 3
f(x) =
{ 5 if x = 3
2x + 1 if x > 3

The domain of f is (-∞,+∞).

Ex: The function f is defined by

x2 if x ≠ 2
f(x) = { 7 if x = 2
Determine the domain and rage of f and sketch its graph.

Solution: Because f is defined for all x, the domain is (-∞,+∞). The graph, appearing in Figure
13, consists of the point (2,7) and all points on the parabola y = x 2 except (2,4). The range is [0,+ ∞).
Absolute value Function:
Ex: Determine the domain and range for the function f for which f(x) = |x| and sketch its graph.

Solution: From the definition of |x|,

x if x ≥ 0
f(x) = {7 if x < 0
The domain is (-∞,+∞). The graph consists of two half lines through the origin and
above the x axis; one has slope 1 and the other has slope -1. The range is [0,+∞).

Check your Understanding/Exercises 1:

 (for nos. 1 to 4, determine of the given set is a function. If it is a function, state its domain.
1. {(x,y) | y = √𝑥 2 − 1}
2. {(x,y) | y = x3}
3. {(x,y) | y = (x-1)2 + 2}
4. {(x,y) | x2 + y2 = 4}
 5. Given f(x) = 2x2 + 5x - 3, find
a. f(-2)
b. f(2x2)
c. f(x2 -3)
6. Given f(x) = √𝑥 + 9, find
a. f(x + 9)
b. f(x2 – 9)
c. f(x2 + 6x)
d. f(x4 - 6x2)

 (for nos. 7 to 13, determine the domain and range and sketch the graph of the function given)
7. f(x) = 3x – 1
8. g(x) = 5 – x2
9. g(x) = √9 − 𝑥 2
10. h(x) = | x - 3 |
11. f(x) = | 3x + 2 |

𝑥 2 −4
12. G(x) =
𝑥−2

𝑥 2 −25
13. H(x) =
𝑥+5

2x – 1 if x ≠ 2
14. g(x) = { 0 if x = 2

1 – x2 if x < 0
{
15. G(x) = 3x + 1 if 0 ≤ x

Operations on functions:
1) Sum : (f + g)(x) = f(x) + g (x)
2) Difference : (f – g ) (x) = f(x) – g(x)
3) Product : (f · g)(x) = f(x) · g(x)
4) Quotient : (f/g)(x) = f(x)/g(x) and g(x) ≠ 0

Composite Function
- Given functions f and g, the composite function, denoted by f ∘ g is defined by (f ∘ g)(x) =
f(g(x))
Ex: If f(x) = √𝑥, g(x) = 2x – 3
(f ∘ g)(x) = f(g(x)) = f (2x – 3) = √2𝑥 − 3
Types of function:
1) Identity function f(x) = x
2) Polynomial function (of degree n)
f(x) = anxn + an-1 xn-1 + an-2 xn-2 . . . .
where a0, a1, a2 . . . an are real numbers (an ≠ 0) and an is a nonnegative integer
3) Linear function – a polynomial function of degree 1
4) Quadratic function – a polynomial function of degree 2
5) Cubic function – a polynomial function of degree 3
6) Rational function – quotient of 2 polynomial functions
7) Algebraic function – include algebraic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division, raising to powers and extracting roots

Even and Odd Functions

Even: If f(-x) = f(x), symmetric with respect to y-axis. Ex: f(x) = x2
Odd: If f(-x) = -f(x). Ex: f(x) = x3

Check your Understanding/Exercises 2:

 Define the following function and determine the domain of the resulting function
a) f + g b) f – g c) f · g d) f/g e) g/f
1. f(x) = √𝑥; g(x) = 4 – x2
2. f(x) = | x | ; g(x) = | x – 3 |

1 𝑥
3. f(x) = ; g(x) =
𝑥+1 𝑥−2

 (for nos. 4 to 5) For the functions f and g and for the number c, find (f ∘ g)(x) and compute
(f ∘ g)(c)

4. f(x) = 3x2 – 4x ; g(x) = 2x – 5 ; c = 4

1 2
5. f(x) = ; g(x) = ;c=½
𝑥−1 𝑥 2 +1

 for nos. 6 and 7, determine analytically and graphically if the function given is odd or even

|𝑥|
6. f(x) =
𝑥
7. G(r) = x3 + 1

Modelling Functions
Steps:
1) Understand, picture out, draw
2) Determine the known and unknown quantities
3) Given data
4) Formulate
5) Solve the problem and make conclusions
 Ex: The volume of a gas having a constant pressure is directly proportional to the absolute
temperature, and at a temperature of 175° the gas occupies 100 m 3. (a) Find a mathematical model
expressing volume as a function of temperature. (b) What is the volume of the gas at a temperature
of 140°?

Sol’n:
(a) f(x) = kx
where: f(x) = volume of gas
x = temperature

at x = 175, f(x) = 100, so, 100 = k(175), k = 4/7

4
Thus, mathematical model of the given situation is f(x) = x.
7

4
(b) f(140) = (140) = 80
7
Conclusion: At a temperature of 140° the volume of the gas is 80 m3.

Ex: In a forest a predator feeds on prey, and for the first fifteen weeks since the end of the
hunting season the predator population is a function f of x, the number of prey in the forest, which
in turn is a function g of t, the number of weeks that have elapsed since the end of the hunting
season. If
1
f(x) = x2 – 2x + 50 and g(t) = 4t + 52
48

where 0 ≤ t ≤ 15, do the following: (a) Find a mathematical model expressing the predator
population as a function of the number of weeks since the end of the hunting season. (b) Find the
predator population 11 weeks after the close of the hunting season.

Ex: A cardboard box manufacturer wishes to make open boxes from rectangular pieces of
cardboard with dimensions 10 in. by 17 in. by cutting equal squares from the four corners and
turning up the sides. (a) Find a mathematical model expressing the volume of the box as a function
of the length of the side of the square cut out. (b) What is the domain of the function obtained in
part (a)?

Check your Understanding/Exercises 3:

 In each of the following, you are to obtain a function as a mathematical model of a particular
situation. Many of these models will appear again later in the text when we apply calculus to
the situation. Define the independent variable and the function value as numbers and
indicate the units of measurement. Be sure to complete the exercise by writing a conclusion.
1. A person’s approximate brain weight is directly proportional to his or her body weight,
and a person weighing 150 lb has an approximate brain weight of 4 lb. (a) Find a
mathematical model expressing the approximate brain weight of a person as a function
of the person’s body weight. (b) Find the approximate brain weight of a person whose
body weight is 176 lb.
2. The surface area of a sphere is a function of its radius. If r centimeters is the radius of a
sphere and A(r) square centimeters is the surface area, then A(r) = 4πr 2. Suppose a
balloon maintains the shape of a sphere as it is being inflated so that the radius is
changing at a constant rate of 3 centimeters per second. If f(t) centimeters is the radius
of the balloon after t seconds, do the following: (a) Compute (A∘ f)(t) and interpret your
result. (b) Find the surface area of the balloon after 4 seconds.
3. A closed tin can of volume 60 in3 is to be in the form of a right circular cylinder. Suppose
that the cost of material for the top and bottom is twice as much as it is for the sides.
(a)Find a mathematical model expressing the total cost of material as a function of the
base radius of the can. (b) If the material costs 5 pesos per in 2, how much does a can
having base radius of 2 in cost?