Four ways to represent a function

What is a function
To simplify, when the number depends on the other to calculate, it is called a function.
Function arises whenever one quantity depends on another in 4 ways.

1) The rule is there are three elements, constant number, fixed number, and variable
number, each link and depend on each other. With each possible variable number, one value
of a constant number is associated. And we say that a constant number is a function of a
fixed number. For instance:

2) Or the value of 2 numbers change together over time, for example, X is the months and C
is the temperature X(c) corresponds (to the x value). Therefore the X is equivalent to 1 value
of C, X(c), we call X is a function of C.

3) When the value of X have to depend on/link to the value of Y to calculate, even though
there is no certain formula connected, there is a rule to calculate X when Y is know.

4) Function also appear in graph, the X axis is the vertical line and Y axis is the horizontal line,
X and Y link to each other, with a specific value of Y equivalent to specific value of X that
usually proportional.

A function f is a rule that assigns to each element x in a set D exactly one element, called
f(x), in a set E.

An example of how functions work: machine diagram and arrow diagram.

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 ∈ D }

Example: To identify the value of any f(x) we need to compare to the value of x equivalent in
the graph. (from the story of mathematics)
Four ways to represent a function

The graph of function f is shown above:

(a) Find f(1) and f(3):

Seen from the graph that the point (1,3) lies on the graph of f, so
the value of f at 1 is f(1) = 16 (In other words, the point on the graph that lies above x = 1 is
16 (approximately) units above the x-axis).

When x = 3, the graph lies about 8 units above the x-axis, so just
like the f(1) we estimate that f(3) approximately 8.

b) We see that f(x) is defined when x goes from -∞ to +∞ , so the domain of f is he closed (-
∞ ;+∞ ¿. Notice that f takes on all values from (-∞ ;+∞ ¿ so the range of f is also (-∞ ;+∞ ¿,
and we call the ∞ ;+∞ ¿ is R . However in another below example, the range of X is from -2 to
4. Range of X is the range of number of value that f(x) consist.

The vertical line test of a curve in the xy-plane is the graph of a function of x if and only if
no vertical intersects the curve more than once.
Four ways to represent a function

Another example for more claritifaction:

(a) Find the domain and range of the function

f(x) = 2x- 1 g(x) = x 2

(a) The equation of the graph is y − 2x 2 1, and we recognize this as being the equa-

tion of a line with slope 2 and y-intercept 21. 7. The expression 2x 2 1 is defined for all real
numbers, so the domain of f is the set of all real numbers, which we denote by R. The graph
shows that the range is also R.

(b) Since g(2) = 22 = 4 and g(-1) = (−1)2 = 1, we could plot the point (2,4) and (-1;1), together
with a few other points on the graph, and join them to produce the graph. The equation of
the graph is y = x 2, which represent a parabola. => The domain of g is R, however there are
some condition of x.

Because x of g(x) is the x 2, x 2 have ¿ be positive , => x 2 x 2 0 for all x value and any positive
number y is a square. => The range of g is {y ≥ 0} = [0; ∞ ) .

In a nutshell,
D stand for domain, and the domain of number is all possible output number of the
function.
Range is all the value that the function consists of.
Four ways to represent a function

There are some rule about the x in the function to make sure that all the value are possible.

If x 2=¿ x have ¿ ≥ 0
If x ∈thedenominator=¿ x have ¿ ≠ 0
If √ x=¿ x have ¿ ≥ 0
If √ x∈the denominator=¿ x have ¿> 0

Domain Convention:
If a function is given by a formula and the domain is not stated explicity, the convention is
that the domain is the set of all numbers for which the formula makes sense and defines a
real number.

Example:

f ( a+h )−f (a)|

If f(x) = 3 x 2 – 6x + 4 and h ≠ 0 ,
h

Evaluate f(a + h) by replacing x by a + h in the expression for f(x):

2
f ( a+h ) =3 ( a+h ) −6 ( a+h )+ 4

¿ 3 ( a 2+2 ah+ h2 )−6 ( a+h ) + 4

2 2
¿ 3 a +6 ah+3 h −6 a−6 h+ 4

Then substitute into the given expression and simplify:

f ( a+ h )−f (a) ( 3 a2 +6 ah+ 3 h2−6 a−6 h+ 4 ) −(3 a2 – 6 a+ 4)

=
h h
2 2 2
3 a +6 ah+3 h −6 a−6 h+ 4−3 a +6 a−4
=
h
2
= 6 ah−6hh+3 h = 6a – 6 +3h

How to represent a function

Four ways to represent a function

 Verbally ( words description)

 Numerically (By table)
 Visually ( By graph)
 Algebraically (explicit formula)

Function represent by table

Function represent by graph

Four ways to represent a function

Function represent in algebraical

The 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.

The curves in the right is represent a function because the line intersects the curve only
one, the other curves intersects the line twice so it is not represent the function.

Another example to clarify:

These 3 graph only witness 2 correct curves represent the function. Which is graph (b) and
(c), and (a) is not a function because the curves insects the line twice.
Four ways to represent a function

The equation x= y 2−2 implies y 2=x +2 , so y=± √ x +2.Thus the upper and lower halves of
the parabola are the graphs of the functions f(x) = √ x+ 2 and g(x) = -√ x+ 2. If reverse the
roles of x and y, then the equation x = h(y) = y 2−2 does define x as a function of y (with y as
the independent variable and x as the dependent variable) and the parabola now appears as
the graph of function h

Piecewise defined Functions

What is the piecewise defined functions: The functions defined by different formulas in
different parts of their domains are called piecewise defined function.

The absolute value of a number a, denoted by |a|, is the distance from a to 0 on the real number
line. Distance are always positive or 0, so we have:

|a|≥0 for every number a

If a is negative, then -a is positive

Example 1: f(x) = x +2if x< 0

1−x if x ≥ 0

Evaluate f(-1), f(-2) and f(0) and sketch the graph.

First look at the value of the input x. If it happens that x ¿ 0, then the value of f(x) is x + 2. On the
other hand, if x ≥ 0, then the value of f(x) is 1 - x.

Since−1<0=¿ f (−1 ) =−1+ 2=1

Since−2<0=¿ f (−2 ) =−2+2=0

Since0 ≥ 0=¿ f ( 0 ) =1−0=0

As the example shown, to evaluate any value of f(x), first consider the condition of x , wether x ¿ 0 or
x ≥ 0 (for example), then subtitude the x value to the function formula given, finally calculate. Don’t
forget some special condition of |x|.

Example 2: f ( x )=−1if x ≤1

7−2 x if x >1

Since−3 ≤ 1=¿ f (−3 )=−1

Since0 >1=¿ f ( 0 )=7−2.0=7

Four ways to represent a function

Sinc e 2>1=¿ f ( 2 )=7−2.2=3

Increasing and decreasing functions

Example for more clarification:

(a) From which value function increasing/decreasing.

F(x) increasing on the interval (-∞ ;−1.5 ¿ ∪ (1.2; +∞ ¿

F(x) decreasing on the interval (-1.5; 1.2)

Four ways to represent a function