Precalculus Honors 1.

2 Notes

Objectives: Be able to determine if a relation is a function.

Be able to find the domain of a function algebraically.

Be able to determine if a function is continuous.

Be able to determine if a function is bounded.

Be able to determine the intervals a function is increasing, decreasing or constant.

Be able to find the local and absolute extrema of a function.

Be able to understand what it means for a function to be even or odd and be able
to use the symmetry tests for even/odd functions.

Be able to find vertical asymptotes and removable discontinuities form the

equation of a function.

Be able to find horizontal asymptotes and describe the end behavior of a function
using limits.

1) Functions and relations.

Definition of a relation.
Any set of ordered pairs (x,y) where x is the input and y is the output.

Definition of a function.
A function is a rule for a set of ordered pairs (x, y) that assigns a unique y
value in the range for each x value in the domain.

Domain
The set of all input values x, x is the independent variable. All x-coordinates
that correspond to points on the graph.

Range
The set of all output values y, y is the dependent variable (y depends on x).
All y-coordinates that correspond to points on the graph.
 2) Do the graphs of each relation describe a function? Why or why not?
A)
B) C)

D) E)

3) Do the equations describe a function? Why or why not?

x
a) y  b) y  x2 c) y2  x d) y  x e) y  x
x

4) Find the domain of the function algebraically. Look for restrictions in the
domain.

Restrictions: Radicals and denominators. The expression under a radical may not
be negative and the denominator of a fraction may not be zero.

16  x2
fx 
1x
5) Continuity
Graphically speaking a function is continuous at a point if the graph does not
come apart at that point. We can illustrate the concept with a few graphs.

a) Continuous at all x. For x values close to any particular real

number a for the function f we are assured that the f(x) values
will be close to f(a).

b) This graph is continuous everywhere except at x = a. For x values

close to any particular real number a for the function f we are not
assured that the f(x) values will be close to f(a). In this case, f(x) is
a smaller than f(a) for x values near a. This is called a removable
discontinuity because it can be patched by redefining f(a) so as to plug
the hole at x=a.

c) This graph also has a removable discontinuity at x=a. For x values

close to any particular real number a for the function f we are not
a
assured that the f(x) values will be close to f(a). In this case, f(a) does
not even exist. It is removable because redefining f(a) could plug the
hole and make f continuous at x=a.

d) This is a jump discontinuity and is not removable because there is

more than just a hole at x=a. There is no way to redefine f(a) to plug
a the gap with a single point (a, f(a)).

e) This is a function with an infinite discontinuity at x=a.

a
 6) Boundedness

Which of the following functions are bounded above? Which of the following
functions are bounded below? Which of the following functions are bounded?
1
a) y  x2 b) y  x3 c) y  x d) y  x e) y  2x f) y  sin x g) y 
x

7) Local and Absolute Extrema

The function has local maximums at P and R, a local minimum at Q,
and an absolute maximum at R. It has no absolute minima.
A function f is increasing on an interval if, for any two points in the interval, a positive
change in x results in a positive change in f(x).

A function f is decreasing on an interval if, for any two points in the interval, a positive
change in x results in a negative change in f(x).

A function f is constant on an interval if, for any two points in the interval, a positive
change in x results in a zero change in f(x).

8) a) On what intervals is the function increasing?

b) On what intervals is the function decreasing?

c) Local maxima y = ___ at x = ___

Local maxima y = ___ at x = ___

Local maxima y = ___ at x = ___

d) Local minima y = ___ at x = ___

Local minima y = ___ at x = ___

e) Absolute maxima y = ___ at x = ___ f)Absolute minima y = ___ at x = ___

9) Does the function have absolute maxima or absolute minima?

10) Describe the increasing and decreasing
intervals.

End Behavior Asymptotes

11) End Behavior shows how a function behaves as the x values approach
positive or negative infinity. If the behavior is a horizontal line we describe
this behavior with horizontal asymptotes. This is a behavior that is not
created from a domain restriction therefor the graph of the function can
cross/touch the horizontal asymptote.

12) Use your graphing calculator to find the end behavior of each graph and
determine the end behavior model.
3x 3x2 3x3
a) y  2 b) y  2 c) y  2
x 1 x 1 x 1
13) Vertical asymptotes and removable discontinuities are the effects of
domain restrictions. Use your graphing calculator to determine the behavior
of the function as the x value approaches x = 2 from the left and the right
for the functions f, g, and h. Find the removable discontinuities, vertical and
horizontal asymptotes and end behavior.
1
a) f  x  
x 2

x  x  2
b) g  x  
x 2

x  x  2
c) h  x  
 x  2 x  2
 14) Even and Odd functions and symmetry tests.

Graphically

With Respect to the y-axis (EVEN) With Respect to the origin (ODD)

Summary of EVEN – NEITHER - ODD:

(x,y) (-x,y) (x,y) ( x,-y) (x,y) (-x,-y)

f(x) = f(-x) f(x) = - f(x) f(x) = - f(-x) Equivalently - f(x) = f(-x)

15) Are the following relations even,oddor neither ? Perform the symmetry tests.
a) f  x   2 x  x2

x3
b) g  x  
4  x2

c) h  x    x  1 
2