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Unit 5

The document defines and provides examples of functions. It discusses key function concepts including: 1) The domain and codomain, and how the codomain becomes the range if every element has a pre-image. 2) One-to-one and onto functions, and how to test if a function is one-to-one using the horizontal line test. 3) Composition of functions as the composition of two functions f and g being the function g o f that maps the domain of f to the codomain of g. 4) The inverse of a function as the function that undoes what the original function did, denoted as f^-1. 5) Piecewise-defined

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59 views5 pages

Unit 5

The document defines and provides examples of functions. It discusses key function concepts including: 1) The domain and codomain, and how the codomain becomes the range if every element has a pre-image. 2) One-to-one and onto functions, and how to test if a function is one-to-one using the horizontal line test. 3) Composition of functions as the composition of two functions f and g being the function g o f that maps the domain of f to the codomain of g. 4) The inverse of a function as the function that undoes what the original function did, denoted as f^-1. 5) Piecewise-defined

Uploaded by

josephkapumburu0
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Unit 5: Functions

(For the purpose of this course, we use the term function in the mathematically loose sense.)

When we write f(x), we mean that f is a function of the variable x. In other words, f is a function
whose value depends on the value allocated to x.

Examples

1. For the function f ( x ) = 3 x + 7 , the value of f is 13 when x is allocated the value 2


. If we make the value of x to be 10, then the value of f will be 37.
2. For the function f ( x) = x − 2 x + 4 , the value of f is 4 when x is allocated the
2

value 0. If we make the value of x to be 5, then the value of f will be 19.

We can regard the function f ( x ) as an assignment between the values of x and those of f .

The domain of f is the set of all numbers that f can act on. The results of the actions are in the
codomain. Let it be noted that there can be some numbers in the codomain that are not as a
result of the action of f.

However, if every number in the codomain is as a result of the action of f, then the codomain
becomes known as the range of f.

• One-to-one and onto (horizontal line test)

A function is called one-to-one if it assigns only one number in the codomain to only one
number in the domain. One of the ways of testing whether a function is one-to-one is horizontal
line test.
f ( x) = x 2 + 3 s not one-to-one.

f ( x) = e x is one-to-one.

To mathematically test whether a function is one-to-one, set f ( a ) = f (b) . Then simplify to see
if a has to be equal to b .

Task

Which of the following functions are one-to-one?

1. f ( x) = 2 x − 6
2. f ( x) = x3 + 2 x − 1
3. f ( x) = x 2 − 3x − 6
4. f ( x) = e 2 x +3
f ( x) = e x
2
5.

A function is called onto if every number in the codomain has a pre-image in the domain. In this
case, the codomain is the same as the range of the function.

Task

Which of the following functions is onto?

1. f : R → R + such that f ( x) = 2 x − 6
2. f : R + → R + such that f ( x) = 2 x − 6
3. f : R + → R + such that f ( x) = 2 x + 6
4. f : R → R such that f ( x) = 2 x 2 − 6
5. f : R → R + such that f ( x) = 2 x 2 − 6

• Composition of functions

Imagine a situation where a system can optimally respond to drug g only if the system is in a
certain state; and to put the system in that state of readiness, drug f has to be administered.

The combined effect of the drugs can be discussed mathematically as composition of


functions.

If f : A → B and g : B → C , then the composition of f and g is the function gof that maps
A to C . The composition ( gof )( x ) is determined as g ( f ( x)) .

Task

1. Given that f ( x ) = 2 x + 3 and g ( x) = x − 5 , determine the compositions:


2

1.1 ( gof )( x )
1.2 ( fog )( x )
− x +3
2. Given that f ( x) = e and g ( x) = 2 ln x , determine the compositions:
2.1 ( gof )( x )
2.2 ( fog )( x )

• Inverse of functions

Consider a situation where a drug has to be administered to undo the effect of a previous drug.
This is common in treating patients who ingested poison.

If f : A → B , then the function that undoes what f did is referred to as the inverse of f . This
−1 −1
inverse is denoted as f . Thus f : B → A .
Task

1. Find the inverse of f ( x )


1.1 f ( x) = 5 x − 1
5x − 3
1.2 f ( x) =
2
x +5
1.3 f ( x) = e

3x + 5
2. If f ( x) = , calculate
2

2.1 f −1 (3)
−1
2.2 the value of x f ( x) = 8

• Piecewise defined functions

A function may be defined differently within a given domain.

In the figure above, f ( x ) is a straight line with a negative gradient between a and b; it is a
straight line with zero gradient between b and c; and it is a parabola between c and d. Thus, the
function is defined piecewise in the interval (a , d).

Task

x + 2 x, 0 x3
2
1. Let f ( x ) = {x +12 3 x6 . Determine
1.1 f (2)
1.2 f (3)
1.3 f (5)

2.
• Intro to logarithmic and exponential functions
• Limit of a function (definition, left and right limits, infinite and improper limits)

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