CHAPTER 3

Functions and Linear Equations

3-1. Relations and Functions y

A coordinate plane is formed by the horizontal 4
line called the x - axis and the vertical line called Quadrant II 3 Quadrant I
the y - axis, which meet at the origin (0, 0) . 2
(−2, 2) (2,1)
The axes divide the plane into four parts called 1
quadrants. x
−4 −3 −2 −1 O 1 2 3 4
An ordered pair gives the coordinates and location −1
of a point. The ordered pairs (2,1) , (−2, 2) , (−4, −4) , −2 (3, −2)
and (3, −2) are located in Quadrant I, Quadrant II, Quadrant III −3 Quadrant IV
Quadrant III, and Quadrant IV respectively. (−4, −4) −4

A relation is a set of ordered pairs. A relation can

be represented by a graph, a table, or a mapping.
Table Mapping
The domain of a relation is the set of all x- coordinates
x y
and the range of a relation is the set of all y - coordinates x y
from the ordered pairs. −3 2
−3 2
A function is a special type of relation in which each
1 −1
element of the domain is paired with exactly one element 1 −1
of the range. 2 3
2 3

Example 1 □ Express each relation below as a set of ordered pairs and determine whether
it is a function.

a. b. c.
y
x y y
x
−3 7 1 −2
−1 −2 x 2 3
O
0 5 3 5

4 −9 4 −2

Solution □ a. {(−3, 7), (−1, −2), (0, −2), (4, −9)}

The mapping represents a function.

b. {(1,1), (−2,3), (−2, −1), (3, −4)}

The element −2 in the domain is paired with both 3 and −1 in the range.
This relation does not represent a function.

c. {(1, −2), (2,3), (3,5), (4, −2)}

The table represents a function.
38 Chapter 3

You can use the vertical line test to see if a graph represents a function. A relation is a function
if and only if no vertical line intersects its graph more than once.

Function Not a Function Function

y y y

x x x
O O O

No vertical line intersects A vertical line intersects No vertical line intersects

the graph more than once. the graph at two points. the graph more than once.

Function Values
Equations that are functions can be written in a form called function notation.
y 2 x + 3 is written as f ( x=
In function notation, the equation = ) 2x + 3 .
The function value of f at x = c is denoted as f (c) . For instance, if f ( x=
) 5 x − 3 , f (2) is the
value of f at x = 2 and f (2)= 5(2) − 3= 7 .

Example 2 □ If f ( x=
) 3 x + 2 , find each value.

a. f (−2) b. f (c − 2)
1
c. −2[ f (−1)] + f (−2) d. f (− x + 1)
2

Solution □ a. f (−2) = 3(−2) + 2 Substitute −2 for x .

=−6 + 2 =−4 Multiply and simplify.

b. f (c − 2) = 3(c − 2) + 2 Substitute c − 2 for x .

= 3c − 6 + 2 Multiply.
= 3c − 4 Simplify.

c. −2[ f (−1)] + f (−2)

=−2[3(−1) + 2] + [3(−2) + 2] Substitute −1 for x and −2 for x .
=−2[−3 + 2] + [−6 + 2] Multiply.
=−2[−1] + [−4] Simplify.
= 2−4 Simplify.
= −2 Simplify.

1 1 1
d. f (− x + 1) =3(− x + 1) + 2 Substitute − x + 1 for x .
2 2 2
3
=− x + 3 + 2 Multiply.
2
3
= − x+5 Simplify.
2
Functions and Linear Equations 39

Exercises - Relations and Functions

1 4
What is the domain of the function that contains 1
points at (−5, 2), (−2,1), (0, 2), and (4, −3) ? If f ( x) =−2 x + 7 , what is f ( x + 3) equal to?
2

A) − x + 1
A) {−3, 1, 2}
B) − x + 3
B) {−2, 1, 0} C) − x + 5
C) {−5, − 2, 1, 2} D) − x + 10

D) {−5, − 2, 0, 4}

g (=
x) kx3 + 3
2
For the function g defined above, k is a constant
x y
and g (−1) = 5 . What is the value of g (1) ?
−5 7
−2 −1
A) −3
2 4
5 8 B) −1
C) 1
Which of the following relation is a correct D) 3
representation of the mapping shown above?

A) {(−5, 7), (−2, −1), (2, 4), (5,8)}

6
B) {(−5,8), (−2, 7), (2, −1), (5,8)}
1
If f ( x + 1) =− x + 6 , what is the value of f (−3) ?
C) {(7, −5), (−1, −2), (4, 2), (8,5)} 2

D) {(8, −5), (7, −2), (−1, 2), (8,5)}

3
If point (7, b) is in Quadrant I and point (a, −3) 7
is in Quadrant III, in which Quadrant is the point
( a, b) ? f ( x=
) x2 − b

In the function above, b is a constant.

A) Quadrant I
If f (−2) = 7 , what is the value of f (b) ?
B) Quadrant II
C) Quadrant III
D) Quadrant IV
54 Chapter 3

Answer Key 2. B

Section 3-1 The ordered pairs {(−5,8), (−2, 7), (2, −1), (5,8)}
is a correct representation of the mapping shown.
1. D 2. B 3. B 4. A 5. C
6. 8 7. 12
3. B
Section 3-2 If point (7, b) is in Quadrant I, b is positive.
5 If point (a, −3) is in Quadrant III, a is negative.
1. A 2. C 3. D 4. or 2.5
2 Therefore, point (a, b) is in Quadrant II.
29 1
5. 12 6. or 14.5 7. or 0.25 4. A
2 4
f ( x) =−2 x + 7
Section 3-3
1 1
1. C 2. B 3. D 4. B 5. D To find f ( x + 3) , substitute x + 3 for x , in
2 2
the given function.
Section 3-4 1 1
f ( x + 3) = −2( x + 3) + 7
3 2 2
1. B 2. D 3. C 4. 14 5. or 1.5
2 =− x − 6 + 7 =− x + 1
6. 3
5. C
Section 3-5
g (=
x) kx3 + 3
4
1. B 2. B 3. or 0.8 4. C g (−1) = k (−1)3 + 3 = 5 g (−1) =
5
5
−k + 3 = 5 Simplify.
4
5. 1 6. or 1.33 k = −2 Solve for k .
3
Substitute −2 for k in the given function.
Section 3-6 g ( x) =kx3 + 3 =−2 x3 + 3
1. D 2. A 3. A 4. D 5. C g (1) =−2(1)3 + 3 =1
6. 3
6. 8
1
Chapter 3 Practice Test f ( x + 1) =− x+6
2
1. C 2. B 3. C 4. C 5. B To find f (−3) , first solve x + 1 =−3 .
6. A 7. B 8. C 9. D 10. 3
x + 1 =−3 ⇒ x = −4 .
11. 2 12. 6
Substitute −4 for x in the given function.
1
f (−3) =− (−4) + 6 =8 .
2

Answers and Explanations

7. 12
Section 3-1 f ( x=
) x2 − b

1. D 7 ⇒ (−2) 2 − b =
f (−2) = 7
⇒ 4−b = 7 ⇒ b = −3
The domain of a function is the set of all
x- coordinates. Therefore, {−5, −2, 0, 4} is Therefore, f ( x=
) x2 + 3 .
the domain of the given function. f (b) = f (−3) =(−3) 2 + 3 =12