Chapter 1

Functions and Graphs

1.2 Basics of Functions

and Their Graphs
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Chapter 1

Homework

1.2 Pg 159 6, 10, 18, 22, 32, 38,

53, 64. 66, 68, 70, 78,
82, 84, 88, 89. 92

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Objectives:
Find the domain and range of a relation.
Determine whether a relation is a function.
Determine whether an equation represents a function.
Evaluate a function.
Graph functions by plotting points.
Use the vertical line test to identify functions.
Obtain information about a function from its graph.
Identify the domain and range of a function from its graph.
Identify intercepts from a function’s graph.

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Definition of a Relation

A relation is any set of ordered pairs.

The set of all first components (X) of the ordered pairs is called the domain
of the relation
The set of all second components (Y) is called the range of the relation.

Find the domain and range of the relation:

{(0, 9.1), (10, 6.7), (20, 10.7), (30, 13.2), (40, 21.2)}.

domain: {0, 10, 20, 30, 40}

range: {9.1, 6.7, 10.7, 13.2, 21.2}

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Definition of a Function

A function is a correspondence from a first set, called the domain, to a

second set, called the range, …

such that each element in the domain corresponds

to exactly one element in the range.

Consider a trip to the doughnut shoppe. If you are allowed to choose more than
one doughnut that would be a relation, but not a function. One person from the
domain can be matched with more than one doughnut from the range of
doughnuts. If, howsomever, you are only allowed one doughnut, that would define
a function. Even if your friends choose the same doughnut it is still a function.
One person, one doughnut.

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Function

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Function

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Example: Determining Whether a Relation is a Function

Determine whether the relation is a function: {(1, 2), (3, 4), (6, 5), (8, 5)}.

Yeperdoo - No t wo ordered pairs in the given relation have the same first
component and different second components. Thus, the relation is a function.

If an equation is solved for y and more than one value of y can be obtained for
a given x, then the equation does not define y as a function of x.

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Example: Determining Whether an Equation Represents
a Function
Determine whether the equation defines y as a function of x.

x +y =1
2 2
y = 1− x
2 2
y = ± 1− x 2

The ± indicates that for certain values of x, there are t wo values of y.

For this reason, the equation does not define y as a function of x.

Please note: 1− x ≠ 1− x
2

Making this mistake will make my head explode.

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Function Notation
The special notation f(x), read “f of x” or “f at x”, represents the value of the
function (commonly known as “y”) at the number x.

Students are occasionally confused by function notation. Especially when the

input value is an expression.

If f(x) = x2 + 2, then f(x+1) = (x+1)2 + 2. Note that the input value is x+1 , and
that is what is squared.

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Example: Evaluating a Function
If f(x) = x2 – 2x + 7 evaluate f(–5)
f (x ) = x − 2x + 7
2

f (−5) = (−5) − 2(−5) + 7

2

f (−5) = 25 +10 + 7 = 42 Thus f(–5) = 42

If f(x) = x2 – 2x + 7 evaluate f(x+2)

f (x + 2) = (x + 2) − 2(x + 2) + 7
2

f (x + 2) = (x + 4 x + 4) − 2x − 4 + 7 = x + 2x + 7
2 2

Thus f(x+2) = x2+2x+7

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Graphs of Functions

The graph of a function is the graph of its ordered pairs.

Graph the functions f (x ) = 2x and g (x ) = 2x − 3 in the same rectangular

coordinate system. Select integers for x, starting with –2 and ending with 2.

Why do you think we choose –2 to 2 for our domain values?

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Example: Graphing Functions (continued)
We set up a partial table of coordinates for each function, plot the points, and
connect the points.

f (x ) = 2x g (x ) = 2x − 3

x y = f (x) x y = f (x)
–2 –4 –2 –7
–1 –2 –1 –5
0 0 0 –3
1 2 1 –1
2 4 2 1

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Use the graph to find f(5)

f(5) = 400

For what value of x is

f(x) = 100?

f(9) ≈ 400, so x ≈ 9 f(5)=400

f(9)=100

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The Vertical Line Test for Functions
If any vertical line intersects a graph in more than one point, the graph does not
define y as a function of x.

Use the vertical line test to identify graphs in which y is a function of x.

not a function function not a function

function

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Domain
The domain of a function is the set of all possible input values (all possible x values).
The domain can be explicit, meaning that it is decided apriori or defined for the
function. Such as deciding ahead of time (apriori) that we will restrict the
domain to positive integers.
The domain can be implicit, meaning that the function is not defined for some
values. Taking the square root of negative numbers result in imaginary values,
so if we are only interested in real numbers the domain of the square root
function is implicitly defined as positive real numbers.

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Range
The range of a function is the set of all possible output values (all possible f(x) or y
values).
The range is the resulting set of values from substituting all defined values (x)
of the domain.

domain

f
x a f(x)

range

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Domain

What is the domain of the first function?

f (x ) = 4 − x 2

⎡⎣ −2, 2 ⎤⎦

What is the domain of the 2nd function?

f (x ) = x − 42

( −∞, −2 ⎤⎦ ∪ ⎡⎣ 2, ∞ )

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Domain
When determining the domain of a function ask yourself a couple of questions.
1. What values make sense in the problem.
Do negative values make sense? Do fractional values make sense?
2. What values are prohibited?
Even roots of negative values? Denominators of 0?

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Domain
Find the appropriate domains.

1 1
f (x ) = 2 = D: All reals except 2 and 4,
x − 2x − 8 (x − 2)(x − 4)
(-∞, 2)∪(2, 4)∪(4, ∞)

f (x ) = x − 8
2 x ≥8
2 D : x ≤ − 8, x ≥ 8
( −∞, − 8 ⎤ ∪ ⎡ 8, ∞
⎦ ⎣ )

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Finding Domain and Range From a Function’s Graph

To find the domain of a function from it’s graph, look for all the inputs on the
x-axis that correspond to points on the graph.

To find the range of a function from it’s graph, look for all the outputs on the
y-axis that correspond to points on the graph.

A function may have more than one x-intercept, but a function can have
only one y-intercept.

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Finding Domain and Range From a Function’s Graph
Use the graph of the function to identify its domain and its range.

Domain {x | −2 ≤ x ≤ 1} y = f (x )
⎡⎣ −2,1⎤⎦
1

{y | 0 ≤ y ≤ 3}
1
Range Note: the solid dots on the
ends denote inclusion of
⎡⎣0,3 ⎤⎦ that value.

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Example: Identifying the Domain and Range of a
Function from Its Graph
Use the graph of the function to identify its domain and its range.

Domain {x | −2 < x ≤ 1}
( −2,1⎤⎦
1 y = f (x )
Range {y | −1≤ y < 2} 1

⎡⎣ −1, 2 ) Note: the open ends

denote exclusion of
that value.

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Example: Identifying Intercepts from a Function’s
Graph
Identify the x- and y-intercepts for the graph of f(x).

x-intercepts

( −3,0) ( −1,0) ( 2,0)

y-intercept

(0, −6)

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