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5 The Language of Relations and Functions

The document provides information on relations and functions in mathematics. It defines a relation as a set of ordered pairs where each value in the first coordinate (abscissa/domain) can be paired with one or more values in the second coordinate (ordinate/range). A function is a special type of relation where each abscissa maps to exactly one ordinate, so it has a one-to-one correspondence. Functions can be represented using tables, graphs, and mappings to show the relationship between inputs (domain) and outputs (range).

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Rafael Jotojot Jr.
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© © All Rights Reserved
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148 views

5 The Language of Relations and Functions

The document provides information on relations and functions in mathematics. It defines a relation as a set of ordered pairs where each value in the first coordinate (abscissa/domain) can be paired with one or more values in the second coordinate (ordinate/range). A function is a special type of relation where each abscissa maps to exactly one ordinate, so it has a one-to-one correspondence. Functions can be represented using tables, graphs, and mappings to show the relationship between inputs (domain) and outputs (range).

Uploaded by

Rafael Jotojot Jr.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Language of Relations and Functions

Learning Outcomes
Defined relation and a function
Distinguished relation from a function
Mapped and analyzed relations and functions

Introduction
There are many kinds of relationships in the world. For example, we say that two people
are related by blood if they share common ancestors. We can also speak of the relationship
between student and a teacher, employer and employee, doctor and patient, mentor and mentee
and many more.

Similarly in the language of mathematics, 𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 also involves the association of an


individual or object with another individual or another object.

Relation
A relation is a any set of one or more ordered pairs (𝑥, 𝑦). The first coordinate 𝑥 is also
called 𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑎, and the second coordinate 𝑦 is called 𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒. The set of all abscissa is referred
to as the 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛, and the set of all ordinates is referred to as the 𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒.

In a relation, there must be only one value of 𝑦 that corresponds to every value of 𝑥.

Exercise
1. From the two groups below, list all possible ordered pairs whose abscissa is a chemical symbol
of an element, and whose ordinate is the chemical name of that symbol.

Group A Group B
Ca Oxygen
K Gold
H Calcium
O Potassium
Au Hydrogen

The set ordered pairs, represented by 𝑆, that we can make here is:

𝑆 = {(𝐶𝑎, 𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑖𝑢𝑚), (𝐾, 𝑃𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑢𝑚), (𝐻, 𝐻𝑦𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑛), (𝑂, 𝑂𝑥𝑦𝑔𝑒𝑛), (𝐴𝑢, 𝐺𝑜𝑙𝑑)}

2. Given the relation {(2, −6), (1, 4), (2, 4), (0, 0), (1, −6), (3, 0)}.State the domain and the range.
The domain in this relation is: 𝐷 = {0, 1, 2, 3}
The range in this relation is: 𝑅 = {−6, 0,4}

Notice that we do not repeat the same values, as this is a rule for writing a set.

Relations can be written in several ways: ordered pairs, table, graph and mapping. The relation
in Exercise 1 is in written through table and in Exercise 2, it is in ordered pairs.
Graphing a relation is done through plotting the points in a rectangular coordinate plane,
where one dot or point represents the location of a pair (𝑥, 𝑦).

Mapping a relation is done with the following steps:


a) Create two ovals with the domain on the left and the range on the right
b) Write the elements inside the oval and do not make repetition of elements.
c) Connect using an arrow or a line segment the elements of the domain with the
corresponding elements in the rangle

Example: Map the relation 𝑅 = {(2, −6), (1, 4), (2, 4), (0, 0), (1, −6), (3, 0)}.

2 - 6
1 4
0
0
3

Function
A function is a special type of relation in which each element of the domain is paired with
exactly one element in the range. Furthermore, a set of ordered pairs is a function if no two
ordered pairs have equal abscissas. A function has one-to-one correspondence of elements. A
many-to-one correspondence also describes a function. The figures show the mapping of a
function.

{(−3, 1), (0, 2), (2, 4)} {(−1, 5), (1, 3), (4, 5)}

-3 1 -1
3
0 2 1
5
2 4 4

One-to-one Many-to-one

Deepening our understanding about functions, imagine a plant and its shadow. Can you
cite the things that affect or influence the length of the shadow? There are two: (1) the position
of the source of light, (2) the height of that plant.

From this, we can say that the length of the shadow is a function of position and height.
Thus, the length of the shadow is called the dependent variable or the value of the function. The
position of the light source and the height of the plant are called the independent variable or the
argument of the function.
Since a function is a relation, it follows that the set of all abscissas and all ordinates are
also called domain and range respectively. Other similar terms for abscissa are input, argument
and independent variable. Similar terms for ordinate are output, value and dependent variable.

Another useful way to think of a function is as a machine. Suppose there is a function


machine 𝑓 that squares 𝑥 and produces the output 𝑓(𝑥) or simply 𝑦. For example, each input
value is such as 1, 2, and 3 is squared by the function machine and produces the output values
of 1, 4 and 9 respectively. In illustration,

1 2 3

𝑥2

1 4 9

This indicates that using the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 , it follows that 𝑓(1) = 1, 𝑓(2) = 4, 𝑓(3) =
9.The set of input values {1, 2, 3} is the domain and the set of output values {1, 4, 9} is the range
of the function.

Evaluation

1) Determine if the set of ordered pairs below is a function or a just a relation. For easier
identification, draw and do the mapping.

𝐹 = {(4, 12), (5, 15), (6, 18), (7,21), (8, 24)}


𝐺 = {(4, 12), (4, 15), (5, 18), (5, 21), (6, 24)}
𝐻 = {(1, 2), (2, 4), (3, 6), (4, 8), (5, 10)}
𝐼 = {(1, 2), (2, 4), (1, 5), (3, 8), (4, 4)}

2) If we have the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 1. State a domain and a corresponding range with
four (4) elements each.

3) Using the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4, find: 𝑓(0), 𝑓(−1), and 𝑓(3).

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