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CH 00

This document provides an overview of functions including: 1. Basic concepts such as the definition of a function, domain and codomain, and representing functions using graphs and tables. Vertical line test and properties like even/odd and monotonicity are also introduced. 2. Classification of common function types including polynomial, power, rational, trigonometric, exponential, logarithmic, algebraic and transcendental functions. 3. Methods for obtaining new functions from old ones through transformations like shifting, stretching and reflecting graphs, as well as function combinations and compositions.

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Nanxiang Chen
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46 views5 pages

CH 00

This document provides an overview of functions including: 1. Basic concepts such as the definition of a function, domain and codomain, and representing functions using graphs and tables. Vertical line test and properties like even/odd and monotonicity are also introduced. 2. Classification of common function types including polynomial, power, rational, trigonometric, exponential, logarithmic, algebraic and transcendental functions. 3. Methods for obtaining new functions from old ones through transformations like shifting, stretching and reflecting graphs, as well as function combinations and compositions.

Uploaded by

Nanxiang Chen
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 0 Functions

Contents
0. Functions 1
0.1. Basic concepts of functions 1
0.2. Classification of functions 2
0.3. New functions from old functions 4

0. Functions
In this chapter, we will briefly recall functions and their properties covered by high
school.
0.1. Basic concepts of functions. Text Sec1.1: 1, 3, 7-10, 38, 45, 49, 62, 67, 73-80.
Definition 0.1. A function f is a rule that assigns to each element x in a set X
exactly one element, called f (x), in a set Y .
Usually, we write a function
f : X → Y, x 7→ f (x)
where
(1) x ∈ X, i.e. x belongs to a set X , called the Domain (Red region in the figure);
(2) f (x) ∈ Y , i.e. f (x) belongs to a set Y , called the Codomain (Blue and Yellow
regions in the figure);
(3) The set of all possible values of f (x) as x ∈ X, called the Range (Yellow region
in the figure);
(4) x is independent variable,
(5) f (x) is dependent variable.

For a function f , its graph is the set of points


{(x, f (x)) : x ∈ D}
in xy-plane. One can also use a table to represent a function.
1
2

Ex. Sketch the graph of following two piecewise defined functions.


(1) f (x) = |x|. i.e. Absolute value of x.
(2) f (x) = [x]. i.e. largest integer not greater than x.

Proposition 0.2 (Vertical Line Test). A curve in the xy-plane is the graph of a func-
tion if and only if no vertical line intersects the curve more than once.
VLT is equivalent to following statements: for any given input x, the output f (x) is
determined uniquely. Otherwise, f is not well-defined function.
Symmetry of a function is an important topic.
(1) A function f is even if
f (−x) = f (x), ∀x ∈ D.
(2) A function f is odd if
f (−x) = −f (x), ∀x ∈ D.
Monotonicity of a function is another important topic.
(1) A function f is increasing on an interval I, if
f (x1 ) < f (x2 ), ∀x1 < x2 in I.
(2) A function f is decreasing on an interval I, if
f (x1 ) > f (x2 ), ∀x1 < x2 in I

0.2. Classification of functions. Text Sec1.2: 3-4, 13, 15

A mathematical model is a mathematical description of a real-world phenomenon,


and usually represented by a function. In your senior years, you will study some math
models for population, demand of product, speed of an object, ...

Some typical functions used for models are


3

(1) Polynomial function


P (x) = an xn + an−1 xn−1 + · · · + a1 x + a0
where ai are coefficients. If an 6= 0, then the degree of P (x) is n.
(a) Linear model
f (x) = mx + b
where m is slope, b is y-intercept.
ex. The relationship between Fahrenheit (F) and Celsius (C) is F = 59 C +
32.
(b) Quadratic model
f (x) = ax2 + bx + c.
(c) Cubic model A polynomial with degree 3.
(2) Power function
f (x) = xa
where a is constant.
Ex. Sketch the graph of power function if a is (1) positive integer; (2) reciprocal
of positive integer; (3) -1;
(3) Rational function
P (x)
f (x) =
Q(x)
where P, Q are polynomials.
ex. find domain of f (x) = 2−3x
x2 −4
.
(4) Trigonometric functions The common trigonometric functions are sin, cos, tan, cot.
(5) Exponential functions
f (x) = ax
where the base a 6= 1 is a positive constant.
ex. Sketch the graph of y = ax when a is a constant satisfying (1) a < 1 (2)
a > 1.
(6) Logarithmic functions
f (x) = loga x
where a 6= 1 is a positive constant.
ex. Sketch the graph of y = loga x when a is a constant satisfying (1) a < 1 (2)
a > 1.
(7) Algebraic function It is a function constructed by polynomials using algebraic
√
operations (such as +, −, ×, ÷, n ). ex. find domain and symmetry of f (x) =
√
x2 +1
x3
(8) Transcendental functions It is a non-algebraic function, including the trig;
inverse of trig; exp.; log; and ...
ex. Can you find a Transcendental function not mentioned in the above?
4

Ex. Classify following functions as one of the types we discussed: poly, power,
rational, Trig, exp, log, algebraic, transc.,
(1) f (x) = 5x ,
(2) g(x) = x5
1+x
(3) h(x) = 1− √
x
1+x
(4) u(x) = 1−x1.5 + xπ .

0.3. New functions from old functions. Text Sec1.3: 5, 26, 29 35, 53, 57, 61 63,
64
We will discuss two ways of obtaining a new function from old functions:
(1) Shifting, stretching, or reflecting a given function;
(2) Combination/Composition of two given functions

Let a > 0 and b > 1. Given a function y = f (x), we can obtain a new function using
following transformations
(1) y = f (x) + a, by shifting y = f (x) a units upward; i.e. ↑a
(2) y = f (x) − a, by ↓a
(3) y = f (x − a), by →a
(4) y = f (x + a), by ←a
(5) y = bf (x) by stretching y = f (x) vertically by a factor of b, i.e. lb
(6) y = 1b f (x), by compressing y = f (x) vertically by a factor of b, l1/b
(7) y = f (bx), by compressing horizontally, ↔1/b .
(8) y = f (x/b), by stretching horizontally, ↔b
(9) y = −f (x), by reflect y = f (x) about x-axis, i.e. Rx .
(10) y = f (−x), by reflect y = f (x) about y-axis, i.e. Ry .
Ex. Using transformation, graph
√ √
f (x) = 2 −x − 1, and g(x) = |2 −x − 1|, for x ≤ 0.
5

Given Two functions of f and g, we may have following combinations: using defini-
tion of +, −, ×, ÷
f + g, f − g, f g, f /g
Also, composition f ◦ g is defined by

(f ◦ g)(x) = f (g(x)).
2
Ex. Given F (x) = cos (x + 9), try to find functions f, g, h s.t. F = f ◦ g ◦ h.

Remark 0.3. f ◦ g 6= g ◦ f in general. Try to give an example.

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