Function Basics

College Algebra
 Characteristics of Functions

A relation is a set of ordered pairs. The set of the first components of

each ordered pair is called the domain and the set of the second
components of each ordered pair is called the range.
Consider this set of five ordered pairs: 1,2 , 2,4 , 3,6 , 4,8 , (5,10)
The domain is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 . The range is 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 .
Each value in the domain is also known as an input value and each value in
the range is also known as an output value.
 Functions
A function 𝑓 is a relation in which each possible input value leads to
exactly one output value.

Given a relationship between two quantities, determine whether

the relationship is a function:
1. Identify the input values
2. Identify the output values
3. If each input value leads to only one output value, classify the
relationship as a function. If any input value leads to two or more
outputs, do not classify the relationship as a function
 Function Notation

The notation 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) defines a function named 𝑓.

This is read as ”𝑦” is a function of ”𝑥”.

The letter 𝑥 represents the input value, or independent variable.

The letter 𝑦, or 𝑓(𝑥), represents the output value, or dependent variable.

 One-to-One Function
A one-to-one function is a function in which each output value corresponds to
exactly one input value

The function in part (a) shows a relationship that is not a one-to-one function
because inputs 𝑞 and 𝑟 both give output 𝑛. The function in part (b) shows a
relationship that is a one-to-one function because each input is associated with
a single output. The relation in part © is not a function.
 Desmos

Topic: use the vertical line test to verify a one-to-one function

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 Evaluate and Solve Functions

Given the formula for a function, evaluate:

1. Replace the input variable in the formula with the value provided.
2. Calculate the result.

Example: 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 4 + 3𝑥 − 4. Evaluate 𝑓(2)

𝑓 2 = 24 + 3 7 2 − 4
𝑓 2 =6
 Evaluate and Solve Functions

Given a function in equation form, write its algebraic formula.

1. Solve the equation to isolate the output variable on one side of the equal
sign, with the other side as an expression that involves only the input
variable.
2. Use all the usual algebraic methods for solving equations, such as adding
or subtracting the same quantity to or from both sides, or multiplying or
dividing both sides of the equation by the same quantity.
Example: Express the relationship 2𝑛 + 6𝑝 = 12 as a function 𝑝 = 𝑓 𝑛

6𝑝 = 12 − 2𝑛
1
𝑝 =𝑓 𝑛 =2− 𝑛
3
 Evaluate a Function in a Tabular Form

Given a function represented by a table, identify specific input and

output values.

1. Find the given input in the row (or column) of input values.
2. Identify the corresponding output value paired with that input value.
3. Find the given output values in the row (or column) of output values,
noting every time that output value appears.
4. Identify the input value(s) corresponding to the given output value.
 Finding Function Values from a Graph

The vertical line test can be used to determine whether a graph represents a
function.

1. Inspect the graph to see if any vertical line drawn would intersect the curve more
than once
2. If there is any such line, determine that the graph does not represent a function
 Finding Function Values from a Graph

Once we have determined that a graph defines a function, an easy way to determine
if it is a one-to-one function is to use the horizontal line test.

1. Inspect the graph to see if any horizontal line drawn would intersect the curve
more than once
2. If there is any such line, determine that the function is not one-to-one
 Constant Function

𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑐,
where 𝑐 is a constant

Domain: −∞, ∞
Range: 𝑐, 𝑐
 Identity Function

𝑓 𝑥 =𝑥

Domain: −∞, ∞
Range: −∞, ∞
 Absolute Value Function

𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥

Domain: −∞, ∞
Range: [0, ∞)
 Quadratic Function

𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥4

Domain: −∞, ∞
Range: [0, ∞)
 Cubic Function

𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥<

Domain: −∞, ∞
Range: −∞, ∞
 Reciprocal Function

1
𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥

Domain: −∞, 0 ∪ 0, ∞
Range: −∞, 0 ∪ 0, ∞
 Reciprocal Squared Function

1
𝑓 𝑥 = 4
𝑥

Domain: −∞, 0 ∪ 0, ∞
Range: 0, ∞
 Square Root Function

𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥

Domain: [0, ∞)
Range: [0, ∞)
 Cube Root Function

?
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥

Domain: −∞, ∞
Range: −∞, ∞
 Set-Builder and Interval Notation

Set-builder notation is a method of specifying a set of elements that

satisfy a certain condition. It takes the form {𝑥|statement about 𝑥} which is
read as, “the set of all 𝑥 such that the statement about 𝑥 is true.” For
example, 𝑥 4 < 𝑥 ≤ 12 .

Interval notation is a way of describing sets that include all real numbers
between a lower limit that may or may not be included and an upper limit
that may or may not be included. The endpoint values are listed between
brackets or parentheses. A square bracket indicates inclusion in the set, and
a parenthesis indicates exclusion from the set. For example, (4, 12].
Comparing Inequality, Set-Builder, and Interval Notation

Inequality Notation Set-builder Notation Interval Notation

5 < ℎ ≤ 10 ℎ 5 < ℎ ≤ 10 (5, 10]

5 10

5 ≤ ℎ < 10 ℎ 5 ≤ ℎ < 10 [5,10]

5 10

5 < ℎ < 10 ℎ 5 < 10 5,10

5 10

ℎ < 10 ℎ ℎ < 10 −∞, 10

5 10

ℎ ≥ 10 ℎ ℎ ≥ 10 [10, ∞)
5 10

All real numbers ℝ −∞, ∞

5 10
 Domain and Range

We can visualize the domain as a “holding area” that contains “raw materials”
for a “function machine” and the range as another “holding area” for the
machine’s products.

Find the domain of the following function: {(2,10), (3,10), (4, 20), (5,30), (6,40)}
Solution: Identify the input values. The input value is the first coordinate in
an ordered pair. The domain is the set of the first coordinates of the ordered
pairs: 2,3,4,5,6
 Write Domain and Range in Interval Notation
1. Identify the input values
2. Identify any restrictions on the input and exclude those values from the domain
3. Write the domain in interval form, if possible

GHI
Example: Find the domain of the function 𝑓 𝑥 =
4JG

Solution: We must exclude values of 𝑥 that would make the denominator equal
to zero, in this case 2. Therefore, in interval notation the domain is
−∞, 2 ∪ (2, ∞)
where ∪ is the union operator, combining the two intervals
 Find Domain and Range From a Graph

The domain on a graph consists of all the

input values shown on the 𝑥-axis and the
range is the set of possible output values,
shown on the 𝑦-axis.

On this example graph, the domain is [−5, ∞)

and the range is (−∞, 5].
 Piecewise-Defined Functions

A piecewise function is a function in which more than one formula is used

to define the output. Each formula has its own domain, and the domain of
the function is the union of all these smaller domains. We notate this idea
like this:
formula 1 if 𝑥 is in domain 1
𝑓 𝑥 = Kformula 2 if 𝑥 is in domain 2
formula 3 if 𝑥 is in domain 3

For example, the absolute value function can be defined as:

𝑥 if 𝑥 ≥ 0
𝑥 = W
−𝑥 if 𝑥 < 0
 Quick Review

• What is the difference between a relation and a function?

• What is the domain of a function?
• What is the range of a function?
• How do you evaluate a function for a given value in the domain?
• What is the general shape of a quadratic function?
• What is the difference between brackets and parentheses in interval
notation?
• What is the range of the square root function?
• How do you notate a piecewise function?