LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO DEL NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY

“For Nation’s Greater Heights”

MODULE 3

The Language of Relations and Functions

1. Title: MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE

2. Topic: The Language of Relations and Functions

3. Time Frame: 4 hrs.

4. Introduction

The concept of function was brought to light by mathematicians in the 17th century. In 1637,
a mathematician and the first modern philosopher, Rene Descartes, talked about many
mathematical relationships in his book Geometry. Still, the term “function” was officially first used
by German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz after about fifty years. He invented a
notation y = x to denote a function, dy/dx, to denote a function’s derivative. The notation y = f (x)
was introduced by a Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler in 1734.

5. Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:

1. Differentiate functions from relations; and
2. Find the domain and range of functions.

6. Learning Activities

What is a set?
A set is a collection of distinct or well-defined members or elements. In mathematics, members of a
set are written within curly braces or brackets {}. Members of assets can be anything such as; numbers,
people, or alphabetical letters, etc.

Example:
1. {a, b, c, …, x, y, z} is a set of alphabet letters.
2. {…, −4, −2, 0, 2, 4, …} is a set of even numbers.
3. {2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, …} is a set of prime numbers

Two sets are said to be equal; they contain the same members. Consider two sets, A = {1, 2, 3} and
B = {3, 1, 2}. Regardless of the members’ position in sets A and B, the two sets are equal because
they contain similar members.

What are ordered-pair numbers?

These are numbers that go hand in hand. Ordered pair numbers are represented within parentheses
and separated by a comma. For example, (6, 8) is an ordered-pair number whereby the numbers 6
and 8 are the first and second elements, respectively.

What is a domain?
A domain is a set of all input or first values of a function. Input values are generally ‘x’ values of a
function.

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What is a range?
The range of a function is a collection of all output or second values. Output values are ‘y’ values of a
function.

What is the Relation?

It is a subset of the Cartesian product. Or simply, a bunch of points (ordered pairs). In other words,
the relation between the two sets is defined as the collection of the ordered pair, in which the ordered
pair is formed by the object from each set.

For instance, (-2, 1), (4, 3), (7, -3)}, usually written in set notation form with curly brackets.

Relation Representation
There are other ways too to write the relation, apart from set notation such as through tables, plotting
it on XY- axis or through mapping diagram.

What is a function?
In mathematics, a function can be defined as a rule that corresponds/relates every element in one
set, called the domain, to exactly one element in another set, called the range. For example, y = x + 3
and y = x2 – 1 are functions because every x-value produces a different y-value.

The common functions in algebra include:

1. Linear Function
2. Inverse Functions
3. Constant Function
4. Identity Function
5. Absolute Value Function

How to Determine if a Relation is a Function?

We can check if a relation is a function either graphically or by following the steps below.
1. Examine the x or input values.
2. Examine also the y or output values.
3. If all the input values are different, then the relation becomes a function, and if the values are
repeated, the relation is not a function.

Note: if there is a repetition of the first members with an associated repetition of the second
members, the relation becomes a function.

A function is a "well-behaved" relation. Just as with members of your own family, some members of
the family of pairing relationships are better behaved than other. (Warning: This means that, while all

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“For Nation’s Greater Heights”
functions are relations, since they pair information, not all relations are functions. Functions are a sub-
classification of relations.) When we say that a function is "a well-behaved relation", we mean that,
given a starting point, we know exactly where to go; given an x, we get only and exactly one y.

Example 1. Identify the range and domain the relation below:

{(-2, 3), {4, 5), (6, -5), (-2, 3)}
Solution
Since the x values are the domain, the answer is, therefore, {-2, 4, 6}
The range is {-5, 3, 5}.

Example 2. Determine the domain and range of the following function:

Z = {(1, 120), (2, 100), (3, 150), (4, 130)}.

Solution
Domain of Z is {1, 2, 3, 4} and the range is {120, 100, 150, 130}.

Example 3. Check if the following ordered pairs are functions:

W= {(1, 2), (2, 3), (3, 4), (4, 5)}
Y = {(1, 6), (2, 5), (1, 9), (4, 3)}
Solution
All the first values in W = {(1, 2), (2, 3), (3, 4), (4, 5)} are not repeated, therefore, this is a function.
Y = {(1, 6), (2, 5), (1, 9), (4, 3)} is not a function because, the first value 1 has been repeated twice.

Example 4. Determine whether the following ordered pairs of numbers are a function.
R = (1,1); (2,2); (3,1); (4,2); (5,1); (6,7)
Solution
There is no repetition of x values in the given set of ordered pairs of numbers.
Therefore, R = (1,1); (2,2); (3,1); (4,2); (5,1); (6,7) is a function.

Example 5. Determine the following mapping whether it is a function or simply a relation.

This is a function. You can tell by tracing from

each x to each y. There is only one y for each
x; there is only one arrow coming from each x.

This is a function! There is only one arrow

coming from each x; there is only one y for
each x. It just so happens that it's always the
same y for each x, but it is only that one y. So
this is a function.

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 LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO DEL NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY
“For Nation’s Greater Heights”
This one is not a function: there are two arrows
coming from the number 1; the number 1 is
associated with two different range elements.
So this is a relation, but it is not a function.

Each element of the domain that has a pair in the

range is nicely well-behaved. But what about that
16? It is in the domain, but it has no range element
that corresponds to it! This won't work! So then this
is not a function; not even a relation!

The Vertical Line Test

If a vertical line intersects the graph in all places at exactly one point, then the relation is a function.

Example 6. Using the vertical line test, determine whether each of the following graph represents a
function or simply a relation.

This graph represents a relation only,

because if we draw a vertical line through
it, an infinite set of points from the graph
intersects the vertical line.

This graph shows a function, because

there is no vertical line that will cross this
graph twice.

This graph does not show a function, it

simply represents a relation, because any
number of vertical lines will intersect this
oval twice. For instance, the y-axis
intersects (crosses) the line twice.

Example 7. Let A = {0, 1, 2} and B = {1, 2, 3}. Suppose x in A is related to y in B if and only if, x < y.
Use the notation x R y for “x is related to y”. Determine the following:
a. Is 0 R 1?
b. Is 2 R 3?
c. Is 1 R 1?
d. Is 2 R 1?

Solution:
a. Yes, 0 R 1 because 0 < 1.
b. Yes, 2 R 3 because 2 < 3.
c. No, 1 R 1 because 1 = 1 and 1 < 1
d. No, 1 R 1 because 2 > 1 and 2 < 1

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Example 8. Let A = {0, 1, 2} and B = {1, 2, 3}.

Determine if 𝐴 x 𝐵 = {(𝑥, 𝑦)|𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 and 𝑦 ∈ 𝐵} is a function or not.

Solution:
𝐴 x 𝐵 represents a Cartesian product of A = {0, 1, 2} and B = {1, 2, 3}. That is,
𝐴 x 𝐵 = {(0, 1), (0, 2), (0, 3), (1, 1), (1, 2), (1, 3), (2, 1), (2, 2), (2, 3)}. Clearly, one x-value is paired to
more than one y-value. For instance, (0, 1), (0, 2), (0, 3). Thus, the relation is not a function.

Example 9. Let A = {1, 2} and B = {1, 2, 3} and define a relation 𝑅 from 𝐴 to 𝐵 as follows:
𝑥−𝑦
Given any (𝑥, 𝑦) ∈ 𝐴 x 𝐵, (𝑥, 𝑦) ∈ 𝑅 means that 2 is an integer.
a. Is (1, 1) ∈ 𝑅?
b. Is (2, 3) ∈ 𝑅?

Solution:
1−1 0
a. (1, 1) ∈ 𝑅 because 2 = 2 = 0, which is an integer.
2−3 −1
b. (2, 3) ∈ 𝑅 because = , which is not an integer.
2 2

Properties of Function
A function 𝐹 from a set 𝐴 to a set 𝐵 is a relation with domain A and range B that satisfies the following
two properties:
1. For every element 𝑥 in 𝐴, there is an element 𝑦 in 𝐵 such that (𝑥, 𝑦) ∈ 𝐹.
(This means that “every element of 𝐴 is the first element of an ordered pair in 𝐹.”)

2. For all elements 𝑥 in A and 𝑦 and 𝑧 in B, if (𝑥, 𝑦) ∈ 𝐹 and (𝑥, 𝑧) ∈ 𝐹, then 𝑦 = 𝑧.

(This means that “no two distinct ordered pairs in 𝐹 have the same first element.”)

Example 10. Let A = {2, 4, 6} and B = {1, 3, 5}. For all (𝑥, 𝑦) ∈ 𝐴 x 𝐵, (𝑥, 𝑦) ∈ 𝑆 means that 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 1.
Determine if 𝑆 is a function from 𝐴 to 𝐵.

Solution:
𝑆 is not a function because it does not satisfy property (1). It is not true that every element in 𝐴 is the
first element of the ordered pair in 𝑆. For example, 6 ∈ 𝐴 but there is no 𝑦 in 𝐵 such that 𝑦 = 6 + 1 =
7.

Equality of Functions
A relation is a subset of a Cartesian product and a function is a special kind of relation. Specifically, if
𝑓 and 𝑔 are functions from a set 𝐴 to a set 𝐵, then
𝒇 = {(𝒙, 𝒚) ∈ 𝑨 x 𝑩|𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) and 𝒈 = {(𝒙, 𝒚) ∈ 𝑨 x 𝑩|𝒚 = 𝒈(𝒙)

It follows that 𝒇 equals 𝒈, written as 𝑓 = 𝑔, if and only if, 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑥) for all 𝑥 in 𝐴.

Example 11. Define 𝑓: 𝑅 → 𝑅 and 𝑔: 𝑅 → 𝑅 by the following formulas:

𝒇(𝒙) = |𝒙| for all 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅 , and 𝒈(𝒙) = √𝒙𝟐 for all 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅.
Does 𝑓 = 𝑔?

Solution:

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 LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO DEL NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY
“For Nation’s Greater Heights”
Yes. Because the absolute value of any real number equals the square root of its square, |𝑥| = √𝑥 2
for all 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅. Hence, 𝑓 = 𝑔.

Example 12. Determine the domain and range of a functions:

a. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1
b. h( x)  x  4

Solution:
a. Through inspection, when you replace x by any value from the set of real numbers, it will
yield a unique value of y, (or f(x)). For instance,

Suppose 𝑥 = 1, 𝑓(1) = 2(1) + 1 = 2 + 1 = 3. This implies a pairing of (1, 3).

If 𝑥 = 0, 𝑓(0) = 2(0) + 1 = 0 + 1 = 1. This means an ordered pair (0, 1).
If 𝑥 = −1, 𝑓(−1) = 2(−1) + 1 = −2 + 1 = −1. This means a pairing of (−1, −1).

Clearly, whatever value from the set of real numbers we assign to x, it corresponds to a
unique value in y, which are also in the set of real numbers. Thus, the domain of 𝑓(𝑥) is
the set of real numbers, and its range is also the set of real numbers. In symbol,
Domain: 𝐷𝑓 = 𝑅 and Range: 𝑅𝑓 = 𝑅

b. In finding the domain of ℎ(𝑥), we are concerned of the values that we replace for 𝑥 so that
ℎ(𝑥) is defined. Remember that from the set of real numbers, negative numbers have no
defined square roots. Hence, in choosing for the value of 𝑥 that we replace in ℎ(𝑥), our
goal is to have a value which is not a negative number. This means that we target to have
a radicand (the entity inside the radical symbol) which is non-negative; meaning, values
from 0 and positive numbers.

Now, if x = 1, x – 4 = 1 – 4 = -3, which is outside of our goal. So, 1 is not in the domain of
h(x). But if x = 4, x – 4 = 4 – 4 = 0, which is non-negative. Also, if x = 5, x – 4 = 5 – 4 = 1,
also non-negative. This means that whatever value we assign for x from the set [4, ∞), it
will also yield to positive value, thus, with defined square roots.

Therefore, the domain of h(x) is [𝟒, ∞) or {𝒙/𝒙 ≥ 𝟒}.

To find the range, we will consider that the values for h(x) should be non-negative. Hence,
the range is [𝟎, ∞) or {𝒚/𝒚 ≥ 𝟎}.

Application Problems:
1. The square patch of grass below needs to be seeded around the 4
identical circular ponds. Write a function for the area (A) of grass that
needs to be seeded in terms of the radius of the ponds (r).

Solution:
To solve a word problem, the first step is always to translate the writing
into math. We know that the important pieces are:
 The area of the grass (A)
 The radius of the ponds (r)
 There are 4 ponds
 The sides of the square are 4 times the ponds' radius.

Since this problem involves area, your variables will probably be squared. That means that this function is
most likely going to describe a nonlinear relationship--the area of the grass won't increase or decrease
steadily alongside the radius of the ponds.

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 LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO DEL NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY
“For Nation’s Greater Heights”

We know that the outline of all the grass is in a square around the edges of the circular ponds. Think about
how the ponds lay on the grass, and try to imagine what operation we could use to figure out the exact area
(if not the equation itself).

Since the ponds fit neatly inside the square of grass, and the grass covers all the remaining area, we
can subtract the area of the circles (we'll call that 𝐴𝑐 ) from the area of the square (we'll call that 𝐴𝑠 ).

In this problem, we need the area of a circle (𝐴𝑐 = 𝜋𝑟 2 ) and the area of a square (𝐴𝑠 = 𝑠 2 ). Since there
are 4 ponds, the total area of the ponds will be 4𝐴𝑐 , and since one side of the square is equal to 4 times a
pond's radius, we can say that 𝑠 = 4𝑟. To find the area surrounding the ponds, we simply take the
difference between the area of the big grass square and the four smaller circles.

So now we know all our basic equations:

𝐴 = 𝐴𝑠 − 4𝐴𝑐
𝐴 = 𝑠 2 − 𝜋𝑟 2
𝐴 = (4𝑟)2 − 𝜋𝑟 2
𝐴 = 16𝑟 2 − 𝜋𝑟 2

Thus, the area (A) of grass that needs to be seeded in terms of the radius of the ponds (r) can be
expressed as
𝐴(𝑟) = 16𝑟 2 − 𝜋𝑟 2

References:

Mathematics in the Modern World (2018). Rex Book Store, Inc.

Ben-Shlomo Y, Brookes S, Hickman M. 2013. Lecture Notes: Epidemiology, Evidence-based Medicine and
Public Health (6th ed.), Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford.

https://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/public-health-textbook/research-methods/1a-epidemiology/methods-of-
sampling-population

http://www.stats.gla.ac.uk/steps/glossary/sampling.html

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