GENERAL MATHEMATICS try, we will always get a zero or positive value

of y.
CHAPTER 1:FUNCTIONS &THEIR GRAPHS Lesson We say the range in this case is y ≥ 0. * The
1: Functions curve goes on forever vertically, beyond what
Function- a relation in which each element of the domain is shown on the graph, so the range is all
corresponds to exactly one element of range; a relation nonnegative values of y
where each element in the domain is related to only one Relation- a rule that relates values from a set of
value in the range by some rule; is a set of ordered pairs values (called the domain) to a second set of
(x,y) such that no two ordered pairs have the same x-value values (called the range); set of ordered pairs
but different y-values. Using functional notation, we can (x,y). Example:
write f(x) = y, read as “f of x is equal to y.” In particular, if
(1, 2) is an ordered pair associated with the function f, then
we say that f(2) = 1 Determine whether the following are
Relation in table Relation in graph
functions a) A = {(1, 2), (2, 3), (3, 4), (4, 5)}- FUNCTION
b) B = {(1, 3), (0, 3), (2, 1), (4, 2)}- FUNCTION
c) C = {(1, 6), (2, 5), (1, 9), (4, 3)}- not a function because
the first element, 1, is repeated. Domain- set of the first
coordinates or the x( the set D
is the domain of f)
When finding the domain, remember: -The denominator
(bottom) of a fraction cannot be zero
-The number under a square root sign must be positive
in this section
Example: y= √x+4
The domain of this function is x≥ −4, since x cannot be less Relation in mapping diagram
than −4
NOTE! -The only ones that "work" and give us an answer
are the ones greater than or equal to −4. This will make the
number under the square root positive.
-The enclosed (colored-in) circle on the point (−4,0). This
indicates that the domain "starts" at this point. *In general,
we determine the domain of each function by looking for Functions Defined by Equation
those values of the independent variable (usually x) which
Defining a function by displaying the rule of
we are allowed to use. (Usually we have to avoid 0 on the
correspondence in a table or listing all the
bottom of a fraction, or negative values under the square
ordered pairs only works if the domain and
root sign).
range are finite.
Range- set of the second coordinates or the y ( the set R is
Vertical Line Test for a Function - if each
the range of f)
vertical line in a rectangular coordinate system
-The range of a function is the spread of possible y- passes through at most one point on the graph
values (minimum y-value to maximum y-value) - of the equation but if it passes through two or
Substitute different x-values into the expression for y to more points on the graph then the equation
see what is happening. (Ask yourself: Is y always does not define a function
positive? Always negative? Or maybe not equal to
Domain of a Function- set of all inputs for the
certain values?)
function; may be stated explicitly
-Make sure you look for minimum and maximum
values of y.
Example: y= √x+4
Piecewise Function- known as compound function;
-We notice the curve is either on or above the defined by multiple sub-functions where each sub-
horizontal axis. No matter what value of x we
function applies to a certain interval of the main
functions of the domain
Example:

Example:

Find (g – f)(x).

What is h(−1)? x is ≤ 1, so we use h(x) = 2, so h(−1) =

2
What is h(1)? x is ≤ 1, so we use h(x) = 2, so h(1) = 2
What is h(4)? x is > 1, so we use h(x) = x, so h(4) Example:
=4
Floor Function- a very special piecewise function.
It has an infinite number of pieces

Example:
Example:
Lesson 1.2: Evaluating a Function Evaluating a
function- finding the value of the function for a given
value of the variable Example: f(x)=x^2−5x+3
In terms of function notation we will “ask” this using
the notation f(4). So, when there is something other
than the variable inside the parenthesis we are really
asking what the value of the function is for that
particular quantity.
* f(4)=(4)2−5(4)+3=16−20+3= −1
Lesson 1.4: Composition of Functions
Lesson 1.3: Operations on a Function Operations on a Composition of Functions - another method
Function- for all the values of x for which both g(x) and of contributing a function from two given
h(x) are defined SUM: (g + h)(x)= g(x)+h(x) functions; consists of using the range element
DIFFERENCE: (g-h)(x)= g(x)-h(x) of one function as the domain element of
PRODUCT: (gh)(x)= g(x) . h(x) another function The composite of function
QUOTIENT: (g/h)(x)= g(x)/h(x); h(x) #0 or composition of f by g, is given by (g o f)
(x)=g[f(x)] for all x in the domain of f such
that f(x) is in the domain of g Example: (g º f)
(x) f(x) = 2x+3 and g(x) = x2 *(g º f)(x) =
(2x+3)2
(f º g)(x) = f(g(x)) numerator : x=−1denominator : x=5
* (f º g)(x) = 2x2+3
Lesson 2.1: Rational Equations Rational
Equations- equations that contain rational
expressions; it can be solved using the techniques for
performing operations with rational expressions and
for solving algebraic equations
Example 1: Solve: 5/x−1/3=1/x.
Solution: We first make a note that x≠0 and then We need regions that make the rational
multiply both sides by the LCD, 3x: expression negative. That means the middle
region. Also, since we’ve got an “or equal to”
part in the inequality we also need to include
where the inequality is zero, so this means we
include x=−1. Notice that we will also need
to avoid x=5 since that gives division by zero.
The solution for this inequality is, −1≤x<5 [−1,5)
Lesson 2.3: Rational Functions
Check your answer by substituting 12 for x to see if Rational Function- a function of the form
you obtain a true statement. f(x)=P (x)/Q(x) where P&Q are polynomials.
The domain of a rational function consists of
all real nos. x except those for which the
denominator is zero x- a^- : x approaches a
from the left x- a^+ : x approaches a from
the right x(negative infinity): x goes to
negative infinity; that is, x decreases without
bound x(positive infinity): x goes to infinity;
Answer: The solution is 12. that is, x increases without bound
Rational Function- a function of the form f(x)= Example: Sketch the graph of the following
P(x)/Q(x) where P and Q are polynomials. The domain function f(x)=3x+6/x−1
are consists of all real nos. x except those for which the The y -intercept is, f(0)=6/−1=−6
denominator is zero. Examples: * The function R(x) = (0,−6) The x -intercepts will be,
(x^2 + 4x - 1) / (3x^2 - 9x + 2) is a rational function
since the numerator, x^2 + 4x - 1, is a polynomial and
3x+6=0 x=−2 (−2,0)
the denominator, 3x^2 - 9x + 2 is also a polynomial * Vertical asymptotes: x−1=0 x=1 *There
The function R(x) = 1 / ((x - 1)(x^2 + 3)) is a rational are now two regions of x’s. They are x<1
function since the numerator, 1, is a polynomial (yes, a and x>1.
constant is still a polynomial) and the denominator, (x -
1)(x^2 + 3), is also a *Now, the largest exponent in the numerator
polynomial (it's just in a factored form). Lesson 2.2: and denominator is 1 and so by the fact
Rational Inequality rational Inequality - is an there will be a horizontal asymptote at the
inequality which contains a rational expression. The line. y=3/1=3
trick to dealing with rational inequalities is to always *Now, we just need points in each region of
work with zero on one side of the inequality. x’s. Since the y-intercept and x-intercept are
Example: Solve x+1/x−5 ≤0. already in the left region we won’t need to get
any points there. That means that we’ll just
need to get a point in the right region. It
doesn’t really matter what value of x we pick
here we just need to keep it fairly small so it
will fit onto our graph. where P(x) and Q(x) have no common factors, has the
f(2)=3(2)+6/2−1=12/1=12 (2,12) vertical asymptote x=a Oblique Asymptote- also
*Okay, putting all this together gives the following known as diagonal or slant asymptote; the line y=
graph. mx+b is an oblique asymptote for the graph of f(x); if
f(x) gets close to mx+b or x gets really large or really
small Find the slant (oblique) asymptote.

*Since the polynomial in the numerator is a

higher degree (2nd) than the denominator (1st),
we know we have a slant asymptote. To find it,
we must divide the numerator by the
denominator. We can use long division to do
that:

Note that the asymptotes are shown as dotted lines.

Vertical Asymptotes- the line x= a of the function

y=f(x) if y approaches (pos.&neg.)infinity as x *Notice that we don't need to finish the
approaches a from the right or left long division problem to find the
remainder. We only need the terms that
Example: will make up the equation of the line. The
We must set the denominator equal to 0 and solve: slant asymptote is y = x - 11.
*As you can see in this graph of the function, the
x+5=0 curve approaches the slant asymptote y = x - 11
but never crosses it:
x = -5
There is a vertical asymptote at x = -5 Horizontal
Asymptote- the line y=b of the function y=f(x) if y
approaches b as x approaches (pos.&neg. infinity)

Example:
Both polynomials are 2nd degree, so the asymptote
is at
RULES!
- If both polynomials are the same degree,
divide the coefficients of the highest degree terms. - If
the polynomial in the numerator is a lower degree
than the denominator, the x-axis (y = 0) is the
horizontal asymptote.
- If the polynomial in the numerator is a higher
degree than the denominator, there is no horizontal
asymptote. There is a slant asymptote, which we will
study in a later lesson. Theorem on Vertical
Asymptote- If the real nos. a is a zero of the
denominator Q(x), then the graph of f(x)= P(x)/Q(x),
God Bless! Review Well!