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Section 2.1 Functions

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17 views7 pages

Section 2.1 Functions

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halmuall
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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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2.

Functions and Limits

2.1 Functions
Learning Objectives

• Understand the definition of a function and what is meant by domain and range.
• Know the different ways that a function can be represented.
• Know how to find the domain and range of a function.
• Know how to graph piecewise defined functions.
• Understand the definitions of even and odd functions, their geometric interpretation and how to
determine whether a function is even, odd, or neither.

Definition 2.1.1 A function f from a set D into E, denoted by f : D ! E, is a rule that assigns to each
element x 2 D a unique element f (x) 2 E.

† Images in this section are courtesy of Calculus 8th Ed., Stewart


24 Chapter 2. Functions and Limits

The most common method for visualizing a function is its graph. If f is a function with domain D, then its
graph is the set of ordered pairs
{(x, f (x)) : x 2 D}.

†
⌅ Example 2.1 The graph of a function f is shown below.
(a) Find the values f (1) and f (2).
(b) What is the domain and range of f ?

p
⌅ Example 2.2 Find the domain and range of the function f (x) = x2 x 2.
2.1 Functions 25

2.1.1 Representation of Functions


• verbally (by description in words)
• numerically (by table of values)
• visually (by a graph)
• algebraically (by explicit formula)

⌅ Example 2.3 A rectangle has perimeter 20 m. Express the area of the rectangle as a function of the length
of one of its sides.

x+4 p
⌅ Example 2.4 Find the domain of each function (a) f (x) = 2 (b) g(x) = 4 x2
x + 3x 10
26 Chapter 2. Functions and Limits

Question: The graph of a function is a curve in the xy-plane. Which curves in the xy-plane are graphs of
functions?
Vertical Line Test A curve in the xy-plane is the graph of a function of x if and only if no vertical line
intersects the curve more than once.

⌅ Example 2.5 Graph the curve x2 + y2 = 9 and determine if the curve is a function. If not, explain why.
Justify your answer algebraically and graphically.
2.1 Functions 27

2.1.2 Piecewise Defined Functions


Functions that are defined by different formulas in different parts of their domains.

⌅ Example 2.6 Sketch the graph of the absolute value function f (x) = |x|.

⌅ Example 2.7 A function f is defined by


8
>
> x2 if x < 0
>
<
f (x) = 4 if x = 0
>
>
: px
>
if x > 0

Evaluate f ( 3), f (0), f (2) and sketch the graph.


28 Chapter 2. Functions and Limits

2.1.3 Symmetry

Figure 2.1: A graphical example of an even function

Figure 2.2: A graphical example of an odd function

†††

† † † Images courtesy of Wolfram Alpha


2.1 Functions 29

⌅ Example 2.8 Determine whether each of the following functions is even, odd, or neither even nor odd.
(a) f (x) = x3 + x (b) g(x) = 2x4 + cos(x) (c) h(x) = sin(x) + |x|

I (Section 1.1, Ex: 1.1 -1.8, 1.10, 1.1, Q: 11,13, 15, 19, 21, 29, 31, 41, 43, 47)
I (Section 1.2, Ex. 1.19, Q. 95, 97)

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