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2.1 and 2.2 Basics of Functions and Graphs

Vertical Line Test:
If any vertical line crosses a graph more than once, the graph does not represent y as a function of x.
Examples:
Which of the following represent functions? Why?

Functions:
A function is a relation for which each input results in only one output.
 Each input can have at most one output. You can’t be in two places at one time. For example, I
can’t be at the mall and at the grocery store at the same time.
 Output values can be used more than once. Lots of people can be at the mall at the same time.
Examples:
Determine whether each relation is a function. Give the domain and range of each relation.
1. { (1, 3), (2, 6), (-1, -4), (0,3)}
Domain:
Range:

2. { (0, 10), (1, 4), (0, 3), (-623, 2) }

Domain:
Range:

3. { (5, 4), (3, 7), (5, 4), (2, -3) }

Domain:
Range:

Function Notation 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙):

The special notation f(x), read “f of x” or “f at x”, represents the value of the function at the number x.
We often use ( ) to denote multiplication, but f(x) is NOT f times x.

Functions as Equations:
If an equation is solved for y and more than one value of y can be obtained for a given x, then the
equation does not define y as a function of x.
The input variable, usually x, is the independent variable. The output variable, usually y, is the
dependent variable, because it depends on what you put in.
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Examples:
1. Given 6𝑥 2 + 3𝑦 = 3, is y a function of x?

2. Given 2𝑦 2 − 12𝑥 = 8, is y a function of x?

Even POWERS of DEPENDENT variable  NOT a function

Absolute values of DEPENDENT variable  NOT a function

Finding values of functions:

Replace whatever was inside the parentheses with whatever is now in the parentheses and simplify.
Examples:
Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 − 2
1. Find 𝑓(−2).
2. Find 𝑓(𝑥 − 1).

Interval Notation
Number lines are VERY helpful when converting between inequalities and interval notation.

 Parentheses indicate endpoints that are not included in an interval. Square brackets indicate endpoints
that are included in an interval. Parentheses are always used with ∞ or −∞.
 Order matters! In interval notation, you must have the smallest number on the left and get bigger as you
move from left to right.
 How do you know if (2, 5) is the ordered pair x = 2, y = 5 or the interval of numbers from 2 to 5? Context.

Examples:
Write the following in interval notation.
1. 𝑥 ≥ −3
2. −2 < 𝑥 ≤ 7
3. 𝑥 < 8
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Obtaining Information from the Graph:

 Closed dot is a stop sign that includes that endpoint in the graph
 Open dot is a stop sign that does NOT include the endpoint
 Arrow indicates that the graph extend indefinitely in the direction the arrow is pointing

The domain of a function is the set of all real numbers input values (usually x) that give out something
that is real and well-defined. To find the domain from a graph, look at the smallest x-value that
corresponds to a point on the graph and the largest x-value. If there are gaps in your graph, there may
be gaps in your domain. In interval notation, domain = x-min, x-max , then think about if you use round
or square brackets.

The range of a function is the set of all output values (usually y). To find the range from a graph, look at
the smallest y-value that corresponds to a point on the graph and the largest y-value. If there are gaps in
your graph, there may be gaps in your range. In interval notation, range = y-min, y-max , then think
about if you use round or square brackets.

In function notation, the x-intercept a can be written as 𝑓(𝑎) = 0. The x-intercepts are sometimes
called the zeros of a function, since they are the x-values that give out a function value of zero.

In function notation, the y-intercept b can be written as 𝑓(0) = 𝑏. The y-intercept is the function value
when x = 0. A function can have more than one x-intercept, but at most one y-intercept. WHY?

Range and y-intercepts are two of the very few places in mathematics where your final answer will be a
y-value or a range of y-values. Answers in this course are almost always x-values.

Increasing, Decreasing, and Constant Functions:

A function is increasing if the y-values get bigger as the x-values get bigger (from left to right).
A function is decreasing if the y-values get smaller as the x-values get bigger (left to right).
A function is constant if the y-values stay the same as x gets bigger.

When asked about increasing, decreasing, and constant, you look at the y-values to find the interval, but
you answer with x-values.

Always use ( or ) with increasing, decreasing, and constant in Precalculus.

Example:
a. Find 𝑓(1). b. If 𝑥 = −2, what is 𝑓(𝑥)?

c. For what value(s) of x is 𝑓(𝑥) = 1? d. Solve 𝑓(𝑥) = −2.

e. Find the domain of 𝑓(𝑥). f. Find the range of 𝑓(𝑥).

g. Find all x-intercepts, if any. h. Find all y-intercepts, if any.

i. On what intervals is 𝑓(𝑥) increasing? Decreasing? Constant?

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Relative Maxima and Relative Minima:

A function value 𝑓(𝑎) is a relative maximum of 𝑓 if there exists an open interval containing 𝑎 such that
𝑓(𝑎) > 𝑓(𝑥) for all 𝑥 ≠ 𝑎 in the open interval.
Translation: If the point (a, k) is at the top of a hill on the graph of f(x), then f(x) has a relative maximum
of k at x = a.
A function value 𝑓(𝑏) is a relative minimum of 𝑓 if there exists an open interval containing 𝑏 such that
𝑓(𝑏) < 𝑓(𝑥) for all 𝑥 ≠ 𝑏 in the open interval.
Translation: If the point (b, n) is at the bottom of a valley
on the graph of f(x), then f(x) has a relative
minimum of n at x = b.
Example:
Use the given graph to answer the questions.
1. a. Find the numbers, if any, at which f has a relative maximum.
b. What is the relative maximum?
2. Find all relative minima. Write your answers as ordered
pair(s).

Even and Odd Functions:

The function f is an even function if 𝒇(−𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) for all 𝑥 in the
domain of f. The right side of the equation of an even function
does not change if 𝑥 is replaced with −𝑥.
Even functions are symmetric with respect to the y-axis. A graph is
symmetric with respect to the y-axis if things line up when you
fold your graph on the y-axis.

The function f is an odd function if 𝒇(−𝒙) = −𝒇(𝒙) for all 𝑥 in

the domain of f. Every term on the right side of the equation of
an odd function changes its sign if 𝑥 is replaced with −𝑥.
Odd functions are symmetric with respect to the origin. A graph
is symmetric with respect to the origin if things line up when
your graph is folded on BOTH the x-axis and the y-axis.

Example 1:
Determine whether each function is even, odd, or neither. Justify
your answer.
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 𝑥

2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 4 − 2𝑥 2 + 5

3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2

A polynomial function whose exponents are all even or zero will always be even.
A polynomial function that has only odd exponents will always be odd.
You cannot easily determine if a rational function is even or odd by just looking at the exponents!
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Example 2:
Use the given graph of f to determine each of the following.
Where applicable, use interval notation.
a. Is the function even, odd, or neither?
b. the domain.
c. the range.
d. the x-intercepts.
e. the y-intercepts.
f. intervals on which f is increasing
g. intervals on which f is decreasing
h. values of x for which 𝑓(𝑥) ≤ 0
i. the numbers at which f has relative maxima
j. the relative maxima of f
k. all relative minima. Write your answer(s) as ordered pair(s).
l. 𝑓(3)
m. the values of x for which 𝑓(𝑥) = 3 (or solve 𝑓(𝑥) = 3)

Difference Quotient:
𝑓(𝑥+ℎ)−𝑓(𝑥)
Given 𝑓(𝑥), find the difference quotient , ℎ ≠ 0.
ℎ
 You do not need to memorize this formula. It will be given whenever it is needed.
 Bite size pieces! Find 𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ), subtract off 𝑓(𝑥), then divide by ℎ.

Examples:
𝑓(𝑥+ℎ)−𝑓(𝑥)
1. Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 3, find the difference quotient , ℎ ≠ 0.
ℎ

𝑓(𝑥+ℎ)−𝑓(𝑥)
2. Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 1, find the difference quotient , ℎ ≠ 0.
ℎ

3 𝑓(𝑥+ℎ)−𝑓(𝑥)
3. Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥, find the difference quotient , ℎ ≠ 0.
ℎ