EGERTON UNIVERSITY

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E-CAMPUS

MATH 112: Basic Mathematics

Topic 7 Handout

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Topic 7: Functions

Introduction

Welcome to topic seven. This topic is aimed at introducing you to the aspect of functions. Under
this you will be expected to know what functions are and how they are related to relations. Once
you have a function, you will be required to obtain an inverse function as well as finding
composition of functions. The topic is, therefore, designed to prepare you to have a clear
understanding of the function and its properties.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this topic you should be able to: -

1. Define the term function

2. Find the inverse of a function
3. Define and solve problems involving composite functions

7.1 Definition (Function)

A function f : X → Y is a rule that assigns to every x  X a unique element y  Y . If a

relation R represents a function f : X → Y and xRy the we write f ( x ) = y

Now y is called the image of x under f , X is called the Domain of f while Y is called

 
the co – domain of f . The set R f = y  Y : f ( x ) = y for some x  X is called the Range of

f .

A function is also called a mapping or transformation. If f ( x ) = y , we say that f maps x to

y

Examples

1. Given two sets A = 1, 2,3, 4,5 and B = 0,1, 2,3, 4,5,6,7,8,9 . Determine whether the

relation R defined by “is 2 less than” from set A to set B is a function.

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 Solution

R is a function since each and every member of set A is linked to one and only one member
of set B i.e R : x → x + 2 or R ( x ) = x + 2

2. Given any two sets X = 1, 2,3, 4 and Y = a, b, c with the relations

R1 = (1, a ) , ( 3, c ) , ( 4, a ) , ( 2, b ) , ( 3, a ) , (1, c )

R2 = (1, c ) , ( 2, a ) , ( 3, c )

R3 = (1, b ) , ( 2, c ) , ( 3, a ) , ( 4, a )

Find out whether R1 , R2 and R3 are functions

Solution

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 R1 is a one – many relation hence not a function

R2 is a many – one relation hence not a function since

DR2  X i.e R2 ( 4 ) does not exists

Note: If 4  X has an image in Y , then many – one becomes a function

R3 is a many – one relation hence a function since DR3 = X . Therefore one – one
relations and many – one relations are functions

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Note: a function is a relation but a relation is may or may not be a function.

1. A function f : X → Y is called a one – one (injective) if whenever f ( x1 ) = y and

f ( x2 ) = y , then x1 = x2

2. A function f : X → Y is called a onto (surjective) if R f = Y i.e y  Y there exists

some x  X such that f ( x ) = y

3. A One- one and onto function is called a bijective function.

Example

Let X = 1, 2,3, 4 and Y =  p, q, r . Then:

a) f1 : X → Y defined by (1, p ) , ( 2, r ) , ( 3, q ) , ( 4, r )

• f1 is onto since y  Y , f ( x ) = y for some x  X

• f1 is not one – one since f1 ( 2 ) = r and f1 ( 4 ) = r but 2  4

b) f 2 : X → Y such that f 2 = (1, p ) , ( 2, r ) , ( 3, q )

• f 2 is not a function for f 2 ( 4 ) does not exists

7.2 Inverse of a Function

−1
If f : X → Y is one – one and onto, then we define f : ( y, x ) : ( x, y )  f  as a function

from Y onto X . This is called the inverse of f

The D f −1 = codomain of f

Examples

Find the inverse of the following functions:

a) f : x → 2 x − 11

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Solution

f ( x ) = 2 x − 11

Let y = 2 x − 11; make x the subject of the formula

2 x = y + 11

y + 11
x= ; replace y with x on R.H .S
2

x + 11
f −1 ( x ) =
2

x+5
b) g ( x) =
x−6
Solution

x+5
Let y=
x−6

Then yx − 6 y = x + 5

x ( y − 1) = 6 y + 5

6y + 5
x=
y −1

6x + 5
 g −1 ( x ) =
x −1

6 (10 ) + 5 65
g −1 (10 ) = =
10 − 1 9

c) f ( x ) = 5x − 9

Solution

Let y = 5 x − 9

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 Then y 2 = 5x − 9

5x = y 2 + 9

y2 + 9
x=
5

x2 + 9
 f −1 ( x ) =
5

7.3 Composition of Functions

Consider f ( x ) = 3 − x + x , then
2

f ( 0) = 3

f (1) = 3

f ( −1) = 5

f (k ) = 3 − k + k 2

f ( k + 1) = 3 − ( k + 1) + ( k + 1) = 3 + k + k 2
2

If we let g ( x ) = x + 1, then f ( x + 1) = f  g ( x )  is called the composition of g followed by f

or a composite function written as f g

Note:

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 1. The order in which the operations must be performed is from right to left.
2. Composition of functions is not the same as multiplication of functions.

Examples

g f ( x)
1. Given that f ( x ) = 2 x + 1 and g ( x ) = 3x + 1. Find f g ( x ) and g f ( x )

Solution

f g ( x ) = f  g ( x ) 

= f ( 3x − 1)

= 2 ( 3x − 1) + 1
= 6x −1

g f ( x ) = g  f ( x ) 

= g ( 2 x + 1)

= 3 ( 2 x + 1) − 1
= 6x + 2

Note: f g  g f in general i.e composition is not a commutative operation

2. Given that f ( x ) = 3x − 2 and g ( x ) = 2 x + 3 . Find f g ( x ) and g f ( x )

7 x −1
Solution

f g ( x ) = f  g ( x ) 

 2x + 3 
=f 
 7x −1 
 2x + 3 
= 3 −2
 7x −1 
6x + 9
= −2
7 x −1

6 x + 9 − 2 ( 7 x − 1)
=
7 x −1

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 11 − 8 x
=
7 x −1

g f ( x ) = g  f ( x ) 

= g ( 3x − 2 )

2 ( 3x − 2 ) + 3
=
7 ( 3x − 2 ) − 1

6x −1
=
21x − 15

7.4 Cyclic Composition

Given that f ( x ) = x , compute f ( x ) , f ( x ) , f ( x ) , f ( x ) and hence deduce f ( x )

2 3 4 5 54

x −1

and f ( x )
69

Solution

For f ( x ) = x
x −1

f 2 ( x ) = f  f ( x ) 

 x 
= f 
 x −1 
x
= x −1
x
−1
x −1
x
= x −1 =x
1
x −1

f 3 ( x) = f f 2 ( x)

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 x
= f ( x) =
x −1

f 4 ( x) = f f 3 ( x)

 x 
= f =x
 x − 1 

x
f 5 ( x) = f f 4 ( x) = f ( x) =
x −1

f 54 ( x ) = x

x
f 69 ( x ) =
x −1

7.5 Inverse of Composite Functions

Examples

If f ( x ) = x + 3 and g ( x ) = 2 x, find ( f g ) ( x) f −1 ( x )
−1 −1
and g

Solution

(f g )( x ) = f  g ( x ) 

= f ( 2x)
= 2x + 3

Let y = 2 x + 3
2x = y − 3

y −3
x=
2

x −3
(f g) ( x) =
−1

2

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For g ( x ) = 2 x

Let y = 2 x
y
x=
2

x
 g −1 ( x ) =
2

And for f ( x ) = x + 3

Let y = x + 3
x = y −3

 f −1 ( x ) = x − 3

g −1 f −1 ( x ) = g −1  f −1 ( x ) 

= g −1 ( x − 3)
x −3
=
2

Hence ( f g ) ( x ) = g −1
−1
f −1

Topic Summary

In this topic, you have learned what functions are, types of relations that qualify to be functions
and how to find the inverse of functions. In addition you have learned how to define composite
functions and solve problems involving the inverses of composite functions.

In summary, you learned that;

▪ A function f : X → Y is a rule that assigns to every x  X a unique element y  Y . If a

relation R represents a function f : X → Y and xRy the we write f ( x ) = y

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 Now y is called the image of x under f , X is called the Domain of f while Y is


called the co – domain of f . The set R f = y  Y : f ( x ) = y for some x  X  is called
the Range of f .
▪ One – one relations and many – one relations are functions
▪ A function is a relation but a relation is may or may not be a function.

▪ A function f : X → Y is called a one – one (injective) if whenever f ( x1 ) = y and

f ( x2 ) = y , then x1 = x2

▪ A function f : X → Y is called a onto (surjective) if R f = Y i.e y  Y there exists

some x  X such that f ( x ) = y

▪ A One - one and onto function is called a bijective function.

▪ If f : X → Y is one – one and onto, then the inverse of f is defined from Y onto X
−1
as f : ( y, x ) : ( x, y )  f  .
▪ In working out the composition of functions, it is worth noting that:
➢ The order in which the operations must be performed is from right to left.
➢ Composition of functions is not the same as multiplication of functions.

Glossary
A function – f : X → Y is a rule that assigns to every x  X a unique element y  Y .

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