INTRODUCTION TO FUNCTION

RELATION
A relation is any set of ordered pairs.

THREE (3) TYPES OF RELATION

1. ONE TO ONE
2. ONE TO MANY
3. MANY TO ONE

FUNCTION
A function is a relation in which for each value of the first component of
the ordered pairs, there is exactly one value of the second component

Example:
FUNCTION /
TYPE OF
MAPPING GRAPH NOT
RELATION
FUNCTION

1  4
2  5 ONE TO
FUNCTION
ONE
3  6

 1
 2  5 MANY TO
FUNCTION
 3  6 ONE
 4

 3
 1  4 ONE TO NOT
 2  5 MANY FUNCTION
 6

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Class exercise:
1. Determine the types of relation and state whether each relation defines a function or not.
i. J = { (5,1), (7,3), (2, -2) }
ii. K = { (-2,0), (0,0), (2,0) }
iii. L = { (1,3), (1,5), (2,4) }

2. Let f  x   x 2  2 x  1 . Find the following

i. f 4
ii. f  2
iii. f n  1

VERTICAL LINE TEST

If every vertical line intersects the graph of a relation in no more than one
point, then the relation represents a function.

Consider the graphs shown below and state whether they represent functions:

Domain
The set of all values of the independent variable (x).

Range
2
The set of all values of the dependent variable (y).
TYPES OF EQUATION
TYPES OF EXAMPLE DOMAIN RANGE
EQUATION
LINEAR 𝑦=𝑥 All real numbers All real numbers
or or
(-∞, ∞) (-∞, ∞)
QUADRATIC 𝑦 = 𝑥2 All real numbers y≥0
or or
(-∞, ∞) [0,∞)

SQUARE ROOT 𝑦 = √𝑥 x≥0 y≥0

or or
[0,∞) [0,∞)

FRACTION 1 All real numbers, All real numbers,

𝑦=
𝑥 except 0 except 0
or or
(-∞,0) ꓴ (0, ∞) (-∞,0) ꓴ (0, ∞)
or or
x<0, x>0 y<0, y>0

EXAMPLE OF GRAPH

TYPE OF GRAPH EXAMPLE

LINEAR

f ( x)  x ;xR

QUADRATIC

f : x  x2 , x  R

CUBIC

f ( x)  x 3 ; x  R

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 LOGARITHMIC

f ( x)  ln x; x  (0, )

Class exercise:
Find the domain and range of each relation below:
1.

2. 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 + 3

COMPOSITE FUNCTION

Definition:

Consider two functions f(x) and g(x). We define meaning that the output values of
the function g are used as the input values for the function f.

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Example

Given f x   x 2  1 and g x   2 x . Find  f  g x  .

f  g  x   f  g  x 
 f 2 x 
 2 x   1
2

 4x 2  1

Class exercise
If 𝑓 (𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 1 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 2 − 𝑥, find as a function of x

a) Find f  g x  and determine its domain and range

b) Find g  g x  and determine its domain and range

INVERSE FUNCTION

If f is a function, the inverse is denoted by f 1

Suppose y=f (x) then

x  f 1 ( y )

Example

y  f ( x)
9
y  x  32
5
5
x  ( y  32)
9
5
f 1 ( y )  ( y  32)
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Since y could be any variable, we can rewrite f 1 as a function of x as
5
f 1 ( x)  ( x  32)
9

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EXAMPLE OF INVERSE GRAPH
1.

2.

Class exercise

1
f ( x)   2, x  1.
Find the inverse of 1 x . State the domain of the inverse

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EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION

Definition:
The exponential function f with base a, is denoted by
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎 𝑥
where 𝑎 > 0, 𝑎 ≠ 1, and 𝑥 is any real number

f x   e x (Natural Exponential Function) where e = 2.71828.

Example
The value of f(x) = 3x when x = 2 is
f(2) = 32 = 9

Class exercise

Given 32x 5  3x  3 . Find x

Graph of Exponential Function

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Properties of Exponential Function

Example

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LOGARITHMIC FUNCTION

Definition:

For x  0 and 0  a  1,

y = loga x if and only if x = a y.

The function given by f (x) = loga x is called the logarithmic function

with base a.

Note:
log10 x = log x (Common log)
loge x = ln x (Natural log)
e = 2.71828...

Every logarithmic equation has an equivalent exponential form:

y = loga x is equivalent to x = a y

A logarithmic function is the inverse function of an exponential function.

Exponential function: y = ax
Logarithmic function: y = logax is equivalent to x = ay

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Properties of Logarithmic Function

Rules of Logarithmic Function

Change-of-Base Rule
For any positive real numbers x, a, and b, where

a  1 and b  1,

log b x
log a x  .
log b a

Class exercise
Solve log x + log (x – 15) = 2

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Example of Application

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