Department of Computer Engineering

University of Science and Technology of the Southern Philippines

Functions
Precalculus

Engr. Darwin Jone Jupiter

Instructor 1a
Contents

1 Function Basics 4 Exponential Functions

2 Polynomial Functions 5 Logarithmic Functions

3 Rational Functions 6 Trigonometric Functions

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Function Basics
Domain and Range

A function f from a set D to a set Y is a rule that assigns a unique (single) element
f (x) ∈ Y to each element x ∈ D.
Domain: The set D of all possible input values.
Range: The set of all output values of f (x) as x varies throughout D.

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Function Representation

If f is a function with domain D, its graph consists of the points in the Cartesian plane
whose coordinates are the input-output pairs for f . In set notation, the graph is

{(x, f (x))|x ∈ D}

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Function Representation

If f is a function with domain D, its graph consists of the points in the Cartesian plane
whose coordinates are the input-output pairs for f . In set notation, the graph is

{(x, f (x))|x ∈ D}

Four possible ways to represent a function:

1 verbally (by a description in words)
2 numerically (by a table of values)
3 visually (by a graph)
4 algebraically (by an explicit formula)

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Vertical Line Test

A function f can have only one value f (x) for each x in its domain, so no vertical line can
intersect the graph of a function more than once. If a is in the domain of the function f ,
then the vertical line x = a will intersect the graph of f at the single point a, f (a).
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.

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Piecewise Functions

Functions defined by different formulas in different parts if their domain.

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Piecewise Functions

Functions defined by different formulas in different parts if their domain.

Examples:

absolute value greatest integer least integer function/

functions function/ integer floor integer ceiling function
function
y = |x| y = ⌈x⌉
y = ⌊x⌋

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Increasing and Decreasing Functions

A function f is called increasing on an interval I if

f (x1 ) < f (x2 ) , whenever x1 < x2 in I

A function f is called decreasing on an interval I if

f (x1 ) > f (x2 ) , whenever x1 < x2 in I

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 y y

f ( x2 ) f (x1 )

de
ing cre
as as
incre in g

f ( x1 ) f (x2 )

x1 x2 x x1 x2 x

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Even Functions

If a function f satisfies f (−x) = f (x) for every number x in its domain, then f is called an
even function.
Example:

f (x) = x 2
f (−x) = (−x)2
= x 2 = f (x)

The geometric significance of an even function is that its graph is symmetric about the
y − axis.

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 5 f (x ) 5 f (x )

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1
x x
−5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5
−1 −1

−2 −2

−3 −3

−4 −4

−5 −5
2
f (x ) = x f (x ) = x 2k

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Odd Functions

If f satisfies f (−x) = −f (x)for every number x in its domain, then f is called an odd
function.
Example:

f (x) = x 3
f (−x) = (−x)3
= −x 3 = −f (x)

The geometric significance of an even function is that its graph is symmetric about the
origin.

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 5 f (x ) 5 f (x )

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1
x x
−5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5
−1 −1

−2 −2

−3 −3

−4 −4

−5 −5
3
f (x ) = x f (x ) = x 2k +1

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Common Functions
Algebraic Functions

A function f is algebraic if it can be constructed using algebraic operations (such as

addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and taking roots) starting with polynomials.
Any rational function is automatically an algebraic function.

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 f (x )
4

1
x
2 4 6 8
−1

−2

−3

−4
1
f (x ) = x 3 (x − 4)

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Contents

1 Function Basics 4 Exponential Functions

2 Polynomial Functions 5 Logarithmic Functions

3 Rational Functions 6 Trigonometric Functions

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Polynomial Functions
Common Functions
Linear Functions

A function f is linear if a polynomial function is of degree 1 or 0. The graph of a linear

function is a straight line.
We can use the slope-intercept form of the equation of a line to write a formula for the
function as

y = mx + b

where m is the slope of the line and b is the y −intercept.

Form:

P(x) = ax + b

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Common Functions
Power Functions

A function f (x) = x a , where a is a constant, is called a power function.

Cases:
a = n, a ∈ Z+
a = −n
a = qp , a ∈ Q

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Common Functions
Polynomial Functions

A function P is called a polynomial function if

P(x) = an x n + an−1 x n−1 + · · · + a2 x2 + a1 x + a0

where n ∈ Z+ and the numbers a0 , a1 , ... , an are constants called the coefficients of the
polynomial.
If the leading coefficient an ̸= 0, then the degree of the polynomial is n.

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 5 f (x )

1
x
−5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5
−1

−2

−3

−4

−5
P (x ) = an x + an−1 x n−1 + · · · + a2 x2 + a1 x + a0
n

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 5 f (x ) 5 f (x )

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1
x x
−5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5
−1 −1

−2 −2

−3 −3

−4 −4

−5 −5
√ √
3
f (x ) = x f (x ) = x

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 5 f (x ) 5 f (x )

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1
x x
−5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5
−1 −1

−2 −2

−3 −3

−4 −4

−5 −5
3 2
f (x ) = x 2 f (x ) = x 3

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 5 f (x ) 1 f (x )
x
4 −1 1 2
−1
3
−2
2 −3

1 −4
x −5
−5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 −6
−1 −7
−2 −8
−9
−3
−10
−4
−11
−5 −12
x3 x2 1 f (x ) = 8x 4 − 14x 3 − 9x 2 + 11x − 1
f (x ) = − − 2x +
3 2 3

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 f (x )
10
8
6
4
2
x
−1 1 2
−2
−4
−6
−8
−10
−12
−14
−16
f (x ) = (x − 2)4 (x + 1)3 (x − 1)

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Contents

1 Function Basics 4 Exponential Functions

2 Polynomial Functions 5 Logarithmic Functions

3 Rational Functions 6 Trigonometric Functions

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Rational Functions
A rational function f is a ratio of two polynomials:

P(x)
f (x) =
Q(x)

where P and Q are polynomials. The domain consists of all values of x such that
Q(x) ̸= 0.
1
A simple example of a rational function is the function f (x) = , whose domain is
x
{x|x ̸= 0}.

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 f (x ) 8 f (x )
2 7
6
5
1 4
3

x 2

−4 −2 2 4 6 8 10 1
x
−4 −2 2 4 6 8 10
−1
−1
−2
−3
−4
−2
−5

5x 2 + 8x − 3 −6
f (x ) =
3x 2 + 2 −7
−8
11x + 2
f (x ) =
2x 3 − 1
Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 f (x )
3

x
−3 −2 −1 1 2 3

−1

−2

−3

2x 2 − 3
f (x ) =
7x + 4

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Contents

1 Function Basics 4 Exponential Functions

2 Polynomial Functions 5 Logarithmic Functions

3 Rational Functions 6 Trigonometric Functions

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Exponential Functions
The exponential functions are the functions of the form f (x) = ax , where the base a is a
positive constant. The domain is (−∞, ∞) and the range is (0, ∞).
If the base a is changed into the number e, the call the function f (x) = ex the natural
exponential function.

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 f (x ) f (x ) x
10
−7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
9 −1

8 −2

7 −3

6 −4

5 −5

4 −6

3 −7

2 −8

1 −9
x
−10
−7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
f (x ) = e ±x f (x ) = e ±x

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 10 f (x )
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
x
−10−9 −8 −7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −
−11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
−2
−3
−4
−5
−6
−7
−8
−9
−10
f (x ) = ln(x )

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Contents

1 Function Basics 4 Exponential Functions

2 Polynomial Functions 5 Logarithmic Functions

3 Rational Functions 6 Trigonometric Functions

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Logarithmic Functions
The logarithmic functions are the functions of the form f (x) = loga x, where the base a is a
positive constant, are the inverse functions of the exponential functions.
The logarithm with base e is called the natural logarithm.

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 2 f (x ) 2 f (x )
1 1
x x
−4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
−1 −1
−2 −2
−3 −3
−4 −4
−5 −5
−6 −6
f (x ) = ln(x ) f (x ) = ln(−x )

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 6 f (x ) 6 f (x )
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
x x
−4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
−1 −1
−2 −2
f (x ) = −ln(x ) f (x ) = −ln(−x )

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 2 f (x ) 6 f (x )
1 5
x
4
−4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
−1 3
−2 2
−3 1
x
−4
−4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
−5 −1
−6 −2
f (x ) = ln |x | f (x ) = −ln |x |

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 10 f (x )
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
x
−4 −3 −2 −1 −1 1 2 3 4
−2
−3
−4
−5
−6
−7
−8
−9
−10
f (x ) = ln(x )

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
These are functions that are not algebraic. They include the trigonometric, inverse
trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions, and many other functions as well.

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Contents

1 Function Basics 4 Exponential Functions

2 Polynomial Functions 5 Logarithmic Functions

3 Rational Functions 6 Trigonometric Functions

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Trigonometric Functions
Trigonometric functions are real functions which relate an angle of a right-angled triangle
to ratios of two side lengths.

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 4 f (x )
3
2
1
x
−3π −2π −π π 2π 3π
−1
−2
−3
−4
The Six Trigonometric Functions

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 1 f (x )
x
−3π −2π −π π 2π 3π
−1
f (x ) = sin (x )

1 f (x )
x
−3π −2π −π π 2π 3π
−1
f (x ) = cos (x )

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 4 f (x )
3
2
1
x
−3π −2π −π π 2π 3π
−1
−2
−3
−4
f (x ) = tan (x )

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 4 f (x )
3
2
1
x
−3π −2π −π π 2π 3π
−1
−2
−3
−4
f (x ) = sec (x )

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 4 f (x )
3
2
1
x
−3π −2π −π π 2π 3π
−1
−2
−3
−4
f (x ) = csc (x )

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
 4 f (x )
3
2
1
x
−3π −2π −π π 2π 3π
−1
−2
−3
−4
f (x ) = cot (x )

Math 111a| Jupiter, DJ Fundamentals University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Functions
Precalculus

Engr. Darwin Jone Jupiter

Faculty, CpE Department, USTP-CdO