Chapter2: Functions and Graphs

2.1: Basics of Functions and Their Graphs

Definition of a Relation
A relation is any set of ordered pairs. The set of all first components of the
ordered pairs is called the domain of the relation and the set of all second
components is called the range of the relation.

Example1: Find the domain and range of the relation:

{(1,2), (3, 4), (5, 5), (-4,7), (-6, -2), (0, -3)}

Definition of a Function
A function is a correspondence from a first set, called the domain, to a
second set, called the range, such that each element in the domain
corresponds to exactly one element in the range.

Example2: Determine whether each relation is a function. Give the domain and range
for each relation.
A) {(1, 6), (1, 4), (1, 5)} B) {(2, -2), (3, -2), (4, 1), (2, 9)}

C) {(3, -2), (5, 3), (7, -1), (4, 4)} D) {(3, 1), (5, 1), (7, 1) , (4,1)}

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Chapter2: Functions and Graphs
2.1: Basics of Functions and Their Graphs

Functions as Equations:
Functions are usually given in terms of equations rather than as sets of ordered pairs.
The variable 𝑥 is called the independent variable, and the variable 𝑦 is called the
dependent variable.
Note that: Not all Equation represent function!!
Solve each equation for 𝑦 in term of 𝑥. If two or more values of y can be obtained for a
given 𝑥, the equation is not a function.
Example3: Determine whether each equation defines y as a function of x:
a) 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 = 16 b) 𝑦 2 = 𝑥

c) 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 16 d) 𝑥 + 𝑦 3 = 8

e) 𝑥 = |𝑦| f) 𝑦 = |𝑥|

Function Notation:
When the equation represents a function the function is often named by a letter such as
𝑓, 𝑔, 𝐹, 𝐺.
Suppose that 𝑓 names a function. The special notation 𝑓(𝑥), read
“f of x” or “ f at x ” , represents the value of function at the number 𝑥.
For example:
If 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 5, then 𝑦 = 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 5.

Example4: If ℎ(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 4 − 𝑥 2 + 1, then evaluate

a) ℎ(2) = b) ℎ(−1) =

c) ℎ(−𝑥 ) = d) ℎ(3𝑎)

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Chapter2: Functions and Graphs
2.1: Basics of Functions and Their Graphs

Example5: If 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 6 + 3, evaluate

a) 𝑓(−6) = c) 𝑓(10) =

b) 𝑓(𝑥 − 6) = d) 𝑓(10 − 𝑟)

The Vertical Line Test:

If any vertical line intersects a graph in more than one point, the graph does not define
𝑦 as a function of 𝑥.
y y y

x x x

The first graph is a function, the second and the third one is not.

Example 6: Use the vertical line test to identify graphs in which 𝑦 is a function of x.

y y y

x x x

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Chapter2: Functions and Graphs
2.1: Basics of Functions and Their Graphs

Identifying Domain and Range from a Function’s Graph.

Domain: set of inputs (Found on the x-axis)
Range: set of outputs (Found on the y-axis)
y y
4

range
1

−2 5 x
x
domain

Example7: Use the graph of each function to identify its domain and its range.

4 4 4
3 3 3
2 2 2
1 1 1

-4 -3 -2 -1 -1 1 2 3 4 -4 -3 -2 -1 -1 1 2 3 4 -4 -3 -2 -1 -1 1 2 3 4
-2 -2 -2
-3 -3 -3
-4 -4 -4

Domain Domain Domain

Range Range Range

Identifying Intercepts from a Function’s Graph:

x-intercept (the zeros of the function): the points at which
the graph crosses the x-axis.
y-intercept: the points at which the graph crosses the y-axis.

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Chapter2: Functions and Graphs
2.1: Basics of Functions and Their Graphs

Example8: Use the graph of 𝑓 to find each indicated function value.

1) 𝑓(4) = 2) 𝑓(−4) = 3) 𝑓(0) =

4) 𝑓 (−3) = 5) 𝑓(3) = 6) 𝑓(1) =

7) Domain 8) Range

Example9: Use the graph to find:

1) 𝑔(3) =

2) For what values of 𝑥 is 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 3?

3) For what values of 𝑥 is 𝑔(𝑥 ) = −2?

4) Domain of 𝑔

5) Range of 𝑔

Graph of 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥)

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Chapter2: Functions and Graphs
2.1: Basics of Functions and Their Graphs

Example 10: Use the graph to complete the table

Domain

Range

x-intercept

y-intercept

𝑓(−2) =

𝑓 (2) =

Domain

Range

x-intercept

y-intercept

𝑓(−4) =

𝑓(4) =

Domain

Range

x-intercept

y-intercept

𝑓(−2) =