J EEMAIN.

GURU

Function 107

11. Transcendental function : A function which is not algebraic is called a transcendental function
e.g., trigonometric; inverse trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions are all
transcendental functions.
(i) Trigonometric functions : A function is said to be a trigonometric function if it involves
circular functions (sine, cosine, tangent, cotangent, secant, cosecant) of variable angles.
(ii) Inverse trigonometric functions
Definition
Function Domain Range
of the function
y = sin −1 x
sin −1 x [ −1, 1] [ −π / 2, π / 2] ⇔ x = sin y
y = cos −1 x
cos −1 x [ −1, 1] [0, π ] ⇔ x = cos y
y = tan −1 x
tan −1 x ( −∞, ∞ ) or R ( −π / 2, π / 2 ) ⇔ x = tan y
y = cot −1 x
−1
cot x ( −∞, ∞ ) or R ( 0, π ) ⇔ x = cot y
y = cosec −1 x
cosec −1 x R − ( −1, 1) [ −π / 2, π / 2] − {0} ⇔ x = cosec y
y = sec −1 x
sec −1 x R − ( −1, 1) [0, π ] − {π / 2} ⇔ x = sec y
(iii) Exponential function : Let a ≠ 1 be a positive real number. Then f : R → ( 0, ∞ ) defined
by f ( x ) = a x called exponential function. Its domain is R and range is ( 0, ∞ ) .

Y Y
a>1 0 < a <1

(0, 1) f ( x) = ax f ( x) = ax (0, 1)

X´ X X´ X
O O

Y´ Y´
Graph of f ( x ) = a , when a > 1
x
Graph of f ( x ) = a , when 0 < a < 1
x

(iv) Logarithmic function : Let a ≠ 1 be a positive real number. Then f : ( 0, ∞ ) → R defined

by f ( x ) = log a x is called logarithmic function. Its domain is ( 0, ∞ ) and range is R .
Y Y
f ( x ) = log a x

(1, 0)
X´ X X´ X
O (1, 0) O
f ( x ) = log a x
Y´ Y´
Graph of f ( x ) = log a x, when a > 1 Graph of f ( x ) = log a x, when 0 < a < 1
J EEMAIN.GURU

108 R. K. Malik’s Formulae of Mathematics

12. Explicit and implicit functions : A function is said to be explicit if it is expressed directly in
terms of the independent variable. If the function is not expressed directly in terms of the
independent variable or variables, then the function is said to be implicit e.g. y = sin −1 x + log x is
explicit function, while x 2 + y 2 = xy and x 3 y 2 = ( a − x ) ( b − y ) are implicit functions.
2 2

13. Constant function : Let k be a fixed real number. Then a function Y

f ( x ) given by f ( x ) = k for all x ∈ R is called a constant
function. The domain of the constant function f ( x ) = k is the f ( x) = k
k
complete set of real numbers and the range of f is the singleton X´ X
set {k } . The graph of a constant function is a straight line parallel O
to x-axis as shown in figure and it is above or below the x-axis
according as k is positive or negative. If k = 0 , then the straight line
Y´
coincides with x-axis.

Y
14. Identity function : The function defined by f ( x) = x for
all x ∈ R , is called the identity function on R. Clearly, the domain f ( x) = x
and range of the identity function is R.
The graph of the identity function is a straight line passing X´ X
O
through the origin and inclined at an angle of 45° with positive
direction of x-axis.
Y´

Y
15. Modulus function : The function defined by
 x, when x ≥ 0
f ( x) = x =  is called the modulus
 − x, when x < 0 f ( x) = −x f ( x) = x
function. The domain of the modulus function is the set R of X´ X
all real numbers and the range is the set of all non-negative real O
numbers.

Y´
Y
16. Signum function : The function defined by
 x  1, x > 0 (0, 1)
 , x≠0 
f ( x) =  x or f ( x ) =  0, x = 0
0, x=0 −1, x < 0 X´ O X
 
is called the signum function. The domain is R and the range is the (0, –1)
set {−1, 0, 1} .
Y´
J EEMAIN.GURU

Function 109

Y
17. Reciprocal function : The function that associates each non-zero
1 f ( x ) = 1/ x
real number x to be reciprocal is called the reciprocal function.
x
The domain and range of the reciprocal function are both equal to
X´
R − {0} i.e., the set of all non-zero real numbers. The graph is as O
shown.

Y´
18. Power function : A function f : R → R defined by, f ( x ) = xα , α ∈ R is called a power
function.
EVEN AND ODD FUNCTION
1. Even function : If we put ( − x ) in place of x in the given function and if f ( − x ) = f ( x ) , ∀x ∈ domain
then function f ( x ) is called even function
e.g. f ( x ) = e x + e − x , f ( x ) = x 2 , f ( x ) = x sin x, f ( x ) = cos x, f ( x ) = x 2 cos x all are even functions.
2. Odd function : If we put ( − x ) in place of x in the given function and if f ( − x ) = − f ( x ) , ∀ x ∈ domain
then f ( x ) is called odd function. e.g., f ( x ) = e x − e − x , f ( x ) = sin x, f ( x ) = x 3 , f ( x ) = x cos x ,
f ( x ) = x sin x all are odd functions.
2

PROPERTIES OF EVEN AND ODD FUNCTION

1. Every function defined in symmetric interval D (i.e., x ∈ D ⇒ − x ∈ D ) can be expressed as a sum of an
even and an odd function.
 f ( x) + f (−x)   f ( x) − f (−x) 
f ( x) =  + 
 2   2 
 f ( x) + f (−x)   f ( x) − f (−x) 
Let h ( x ) =   and g ( x ) =   . It can now easily be shown that h ( x ) is even
 2   2 
and g ( x ) is odd.
2. The first derivative of an even differentiable function is an odd function and vice-versa.
3. If x = 0 ∈ domain of f, then for odd function f ( x ) which is continuous at x = 0 , f ( 0 ) = 0 i.e., if for a
function, f ( 0 ) ≠ 0 , then that function can not be odd. It follows that for a differentiable even function
f ' ( 0 ) = 0 i.e., if for a differentiable function f ' ( 0 ) ≠ 0 then the function f can not be even.
4. The graph of even function is always symmetric with respect to y-axis. The graph of odd function is
always symmetric with respect to origin.
5. The product of two even functions is an even function.
6. The sum and difference of two even functions is an even function.
7. The sum and difference of two odd functions is an odd function.
8. The product of two odd functions is an even function.
9. The product of an even and an odd function is an odd function. It is not essential that every function is
even or odd. It is possible to have some functions which are neither even nor odd function.
e.g., f ( x ) = x 2 + x 3 , f ( x ) = log e x, f ( x ) = e x .
J EEMAIN.GURU

110 R. K. Malik’s Formulae of Mathematics

10. The sum of even and odd function is neither even nor odd function.
11. Zero function f ( x ) = 0 is the only function which is even and odd both.
PERIODIC FUNCTION
A function f : X → Y is said to be a periodic function if there exists a positive real number T such that
f ( x + T ) = f ( x ) , for all x ∈ X . The least of all such positive numbers T is called the principal period or
fundamental period of f. All periodic functions can be analysed over an interval of one period within the
domain as the same pattern shall be repetitive over the entire domain.
To test for periodicity of the function we just need to show that f ( x + T ) = f ( x ) for same T ( > 0 )
independent of x whereas to find fundamental period we are required to find a least positive number T
independent of x for which f ( x + T ) = f ( x ) is satisfied for all x.
The following points are to be remembered :
If f ( x ) is periodic with period T , then af ( x ) + b where a, b ∈ R ( a ≠ 0 ) is also periodic with period T.
T
1. If f ( x ) is periodic with period T , then f ( ax + b ) where a, b ∈ R ( a ≠ 0 ) is also period with period .
a
2. Let f ( x) has period T1 = m / n ( m, n ∈ N and co-prime ) and g ( x) has period T2 = r / s
LCM of ( m, r )
( r , s ∈ N and co-prime ) and T be the LCM of T1 and T2 i.e., T = .
HCF of ( n, s )
Then T shall be the period of f + g provided there does not exist a positive number k ( < T ) for which
f ( k + x ) + g ( k + x ) = f ( x ) + g ( x ) else k will be the period. The same rule is applicable for any other
algebraic combination of f ( x ) and g ( x ) .
Note :
LCM of p and q always exist if p / q is a rational quantity. If p / q is irrational then algebraic
combination of f and g is non-periodic.
(a) sin n x, cos n x, cosec n x and sec n x have period 2π if n is odd and π if n is even.
(b) tan n x and cot n x have period π whether n is odd or even.
(c) A constant function is periodic but does not have a well-defined period.
(d) If g is periodic then fog will always be a periodic function. Period of fog may or may not be the
period of g.
(e) If f is periodic and g is strictly monotonic (other than linear) then fog is non-periodic.
COMPOSITE FUNCTION
If f : A → B and g : B → C are two function then the composite function of f and g .
gof A → C will be defined as gof ( x ) = g  f ( x )  , ∀ x ∈ A
Properties of composition of function :
1. f is even, g is even ⇒ fog even function.
2. f is odd, g is odd ⇒ fog is odd function.
3. f is even, g is odd ⇒ fog is even function.
4. f is odd, g is even ⇒ fog is even function.
5. Composite of functions is not commutative i.e., fog ≠ gof .
6. Composite of functions is associative i.e., ( fog ) oh = fo ( goh ) .
J EEMAIN.GURU

Function 111

7. If f : A → B is bijection and g : B → A is inverse of f . Then fog = I B and gof = I A . Where I A and I B

are identity functions on the sets A and B respectively.
8. If f : A → B and g : B → C are two bijections, then gof : A → C is bijection and ( gof ) = f −1og −1 .
−1
( )
9. fog ≠ gof but if, fog = gof then either f −1
= g or g = f also, ( fog )( x ) = ( gof )( x ) = ( x ) .
−1

10. gof ( x ) is simply the g-image of f ( x ) , where f ( x ) is f-image of elements x ∈ A.

11. Function gof will exist only when range of f is the subset of domain of g.
12. fog does not exist if range of g is not a subset of domain of f.
13. fog and gof may not be always defined.
14. If both f and g are one-one, then fog and gof are also one-one.
15. If both f and g are onto, then gof and fog are onto.
INVERSE OF A FUNCTION
If f : X → Y be a function defined by y = f ( x ) such that f is both one-one and onto, then there exists a
unique function g : Y → X such that for each y ∈ Y , g ( y ) = x if and only if y = f ( x ) . The function g so
defined is called the inverse of f and denoted by f −1 . Also if g is the inverse of f, then f is the inverse of g and
the two functions f and g are said to be inverses of each other.
The condition for existence of inverse of a function is that the function must be one-one and onto.
Whenever an inverse function is defined, the range of the original function becomes the domain of the inverse
function and domain of the original function becomes the range of the inverse function.
Note : fof −1 ( x ) = f −1of ( x ) = x always and the graph of f and f −1 are symmetric about the line y = x .
Methods of Finding Inverse of a Function :
1. If you are asked to check whether the given function y = f ( x ) is invertible, you need to check that
y = f ( x ) is one-one and onto.
2. If you are asked to find the inverse of a bijective function f ( x ) , you do the following :
If f −1 be the inverse of f, then
f −1of ( x ) = fof −1 ( x ) = x (always)
Apply the formula of f on f −1 ( x ) and use the above identity to solve for f −1 ( x ) .
Properties of Inverse function :
1. Inverse of a bijection is also a bijection function.
2. Inverse of a bijection is unique.
(f )
−1
−1
3. = f
If f and g are two bijections such that ( gof ) exists then ( gof ) = f −1og −1 .
−1
4.
5. If f : A → B is bijection then f −1.B → A is an inverse function of f . f −1of = I A and fof −1 = I B . Here
I A is an identity function on set A, and I B , is an identity function on set B.