FUNCTIONS & THEIR

APPLICATIONS
Series 1 func ons Doc.1 By Habiba Waleed
 Table of contents
For part 1 in series 1

Functions

Examples

Domain and Range of a Function

Applications

Types of Functions

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 Func ons & their applica ons
1. Introduction
Functions are an extremely useful way of describing
many real-world business situations in which the value of one
quantity depends on, or is determined by, one another. In this
chapter you will be introduced to functions, learn how to use
functions, and learn how to apply this knowledge in a variety of
business situations.

1.1 Functions
To understand the origin of the concept of functions, we consider
some real-life examples.
In other words, each value of Y (dependent co-domain) gives only
one value of X ( independent domain)
Example 1:
The amount of income tax you pay depends on the amount of
your income. The way in which the tax is determined by income is
given by the tax law. This tax law is a brief description of a
function.
Example 2:
Suppose a rock is dropped straight down from a high point. From
Physics we know the distance travelled by the rock in t seconds is
16𝑡2 feet. Thus, the distance depends on time, say in the form:
𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 𝑓(𝑡) = 16𝑡2 . This is another, but mathematical,
description of a function.

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A common feature shared by the above two examples is each
involve two sets of numbers, which we can think of as a set of
inputs and a set of outputs.
Set of inputs Set of outputs
Example 1 All incomes All tax amounts
Example 2 Seconds elapsed Distances the rock
after dropping the travels
rock

Another common feature shared by the above two examples

is that in each example there is a definite rule by which each input
determines the output. In Example 1 the rule is given by the tax
law, which specifies how each income (input) determines a tax
amount (output). Similarly, the definite rule in Example 2 is
obviously 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 16𝑡2.
Definitions 1
A function consists of a set of input numbers called the domain, a
set of outcomes called the range, and a rule by which each input
(number in the domain) determines exactly one output (number in
the range).
The domain in Example 1 consists of all possible income
amounts, the rule is given by the tax law, and the range consists
of all possible tax amounts.
The domain in Example 2 consists of possible durations t
measured in seconds, the rule is given by 𝑓(𝑡) = 16𝑡2 , and the
range consists of all possible values of Distance where :
𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 𝑓(𝑡).

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 1.2 Examples
Example 3:
Which of the following rules describe functions?

(a) Use the optical reader at the checkout counter of the

supermarket to convert codes to prices.
Answer
For each code the reader produces exactly one price, so this is a
function.

(b) Enter a number in a calculator and press the 𝑥2 key.

Answer
This is a function because the calculator produces just one
number 𝑥2 for each number 𝑥 that is entered.

(c) Assign to each number 𝑥 the number 𝑦 given by this table

X 1 1 2 2 3 3
y 3 -3 5 -5 8 -8

Answer
Since at least one x-value corresponds to more than one y-value,
this table does not define a function.

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 1.3 Domain & Range of a function
We now turn to focus on the two terms without which the function
is not accurately defined; the domain and the range of a function.
First, note that the domain and range may or may not be the
same set.
For example, in the function given by the 𝑥2 key in the calculator,
the domain consists of all numbers (positive, negative, or 0). That
can be entered in the calculator, but the range consists of only
nonnegative numbers (since 𝑥2 ≥ 0 for every 𝑥). On another hand,
in the function given by 𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 5, both the domain and the range
are the sets of all real numbers.

Example 4
Find the domain of each of the following function.
(a) 𝑦 = 𝑥4
Answer
The domain is (−∞, ∞) because any number can be raised to the
fourth power.
(b) 𝑦 = √6 − 𝑥
Answer
For 𝑦 to be a real number, 6 − 𝑥 must be nonnegative and this
happens only when 6 − 𝑥 ≥ 0 or 6 ≥ 𝑥.
Thus, the domain is (−∞, 6] ; unlike the answer in part (a).

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 (c) 𝑦=

Answer
Because the denominator cannot be 0 ,
We force 𝑥 ≠ −3 and hence the domain consists of all real
numbers except -3; that is 𝑅 − {−3} where R denotes the set of all
real numbers.
Another way to express the answer is: The domain consists of all
numbers in the intervals (−∞, −3) or (−3, ∞).

Example 5
Let 𝑔(𝑥) = −𝑥2 + 4𝑥 − 5.
Find each of the following.
(a) 𝑔(−2)
Answer
Replace 𝑥 with -2 ,
thus 𝑔(−2) = −(−𝟐)2 + 4(−𝟐) − 5 = −17
(b) 𝑔(𝑥 + ℎ)
Answer
Do the following steps below:
𝑔(𝑥 + ℎ) = −(𝒙 + 𝒉)2 + 4(𝒙 + 𝒉) – 5
= −(𝑥2 + 2𝑥ℎ + ℎ2 ) + (4𝑥 + 4ℎ) − 5
= −𝑥2 − 2𝑥ℎ − ℎ2 + 4𝑥 + 4ℎ − 5

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 (c) 𝑔(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑔(𝑥).
Answer
Use the result from part (b) and the rule for (𝑥) , then do the
following steps below:
𝑔(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑔(𝑥) = (−𝑥2 − 2𝑥ℎ − ℎ2 + 4𝑥 + 4ℎ − 5) − (−𝑥2 + 4𝑥 − 5)
= −2𝑥ℎ − ℎ2 + 4ℎ
( ) ( )
(d) , assuming that h ≠ 0
Answer
Use the result from part (c) and do the following steps below:
( ) ( )
=
( )
=
=

1.4 Applications
Example 6
Suppose the projected sales (in thousands of dollars) of a small
company over the next ten years are approximated by the
function
𝑓(𝑥) = 0.08 𝑥4 − 0.04 𝑥3 + 𝑥2 + 9𝑥 + 54
(a) What are the projected sales this year (i.e. when 𝑥 = 0) ?

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Answer
The current year correspond to 𝑥 = 0 and the sales this year are
given by the function (𝑥) = 𝑓(0) . Substituting 0 for 𝑥 in the rule of ,
we obtain 𝑓(0) = 54.
Thus, the projected sales are $54,000.

(b) What will be the sales in the next three years ?

Answer
The sales three years from now are given by the rule (3).
This can be computed by hand or the calculator as follows:
𝑓(𝑥) = 0.08 𝑥4 − 0.04 𝑥3 + 𝑥2 + 9𝑥 + 54
𝑓(3) = 0.08 (3)4 − 0.04 (3)3 + (3)2 + 9(3) + 54
𝑓(3) = 95.4
This means that the sales are projected to be $95,400.

(c) What will be the sales in the next ten years ?

Answer
The sales three years from now are given by the rule (10) .
This can be computed by the calculator as follows:
𝑓(10) = 0.08 (10)4 − 0.04 (10)3 + (10)2 + 9(10) + 54
𝑓(10) = 1004
This means that the sales are projected to be $1,004,000.

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Example 7
The number of fliers on commuter airlines (10- to 30-seat planes)
between 1975 and 2010 is approximated by the function
𝑔(𝑥) = 0.0138 𝑥2 − 0.172 𝑥 + 1.4
where 𝑥 = 0 corresponds to year 1975 and 𝑔(𝑥) is in millions.
(a) How many fliers were there in 1975 and in 1994 ?
Answer
In 1975, 𝑥 = 0.
Then 𝑔(𝑥) = 0.0138 𝑥2 − 0.172 𝑥 + 1.4
𝑔(0) = 1.4
This means that there were 1.4 million fliers in 1975.
In 1994, 𝑥 = 19.
Then 𝑔(19) = 0.0138 (19)2 − 0.172 (19) + 1.4
𝑔(19) = 3.1138
This means that there were 3.1138 million fliers in 1994.
(b) How many fliers are projected for year 2006 ?
Answer
In 2006, 𝑥 = 31.
Then 𝑔(31) = 0.0138 (31)2 − 0.172 (31) + 1.4
𝑔(31) = 9.3298
This means that there will be 9.3298 million fliers in 2006.

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 (c) By what year would the number of fliers become 1.925
million ?
Answer
Since (𝑥) = 1.925 , we need to find the value of 𝑥 such that 𝑔
attains this value.
Then 𝑔(𝑥) = 0.0138 (𝑥)2 − 0.172 (𝑥) + 1.4 = 1.925
By solving the last equation in x , then 𝑥 = 15.
This means that the number of fliers will be 1.925 million in year
1990.

1.5 Types of Functions

It is worth mentioning that functions can take many forms.
One possible classification of functions is by dividing them to:
1- Linear Func ons
2- Nonlinear Func ons
Some of the previous examples in this document are related to
nonlinear function.
However, in the rest of this document, we will consider linear
functions and illustrate their use in applications in both the
business and management fields.

We will then discuss them in details..

END of part 1 from functions series

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