MAT01A1:

Functions and Mathematical Models

Chapter 1.1 and 1.2 (Stewart Calculus)

Introduction to functions
A function can be thought of as a rule (or
machine) which takes some input and returns
an output.
Think of a machine which takes a blank
canvas as an input. It then paints this canvas
and outputs the painted canvas on a
conveyor belt.
We can think of this machine as a function
because it takes an input (blank canvas) and
returns an output (painted canvas).
Familiar examples
Consider the function f defined by
f (x) = x2.
We can think of this as a rule or machine
which takes a real number x as an input and
outputs the square of x.
Consider the function g defined by
g(x) = sin(x).
We can think of this as a rule or machine
which takes a real number x as an input and
outputs the sine of x.
Further examples
The area of a circle depends on the radius r:
A = πr2.
The historical population of the World
depends on the time: P (1950) = 2.56 × 109.
The time T taken to complete a job depends
on the number n of people employed to work
on the job: T (n). As n increases, T (n)
decreases.
Further examples (Continued)
The revenue R generated by an advertising
campaign depends on the advertising budget
x: R(x).
As the advertising budget increases, the
revenue generated increases as well, i.e. as x
increases, R(x) increases as well.
A more precise look at
functions
Domain and range of functions
A function f is a rule which assigns to each
element x in a set D exactly one element,
f (x), in a set E.
The set D is the domain of f . The range of
f is the set of all possible values of f (x) as
x varies through the domain.
We use the symbols Dom(f ) and Ran(f ) to
denote the domain and range of a function f
respectively.
A symbol representing an arbitrary element of
the domain is called an independent variable.
A symbol representing an arbitrary element
of the range is called a dependent variable.
In the example involving the circle, r is the
independent variable while A is the
dependent variable.
Example Find the domain of
√
f (x) = x + 2.
Example Find the domain of
1
f (x) = .
x2 − x
Example Find the domain of
1
f (x) = .
1 − 2 cos(x)
Graphs of functions: a common way of
representing a function is by a graph.
Formally, the graph of the function

f is the
set of ordered pairs { x, f (x) | x ∈ D }.
7

1
1 4 7
Dom(f )= [1,6] and Ran(f )=[1,7]
Representations of functions

There are four ways to represent a function:

Verbally (describe in words)
Tables - A table of values describing the
inputs x together with the respective outputs
f (x).
Graphically - A diagram constructed on the
Cartesian Plane.
Algebraically - A formula representing f (x)
in terms of x.
The vertical line test

How do we know if a curve is a function?

A curve in the xy-plane is a function of x if

and only if, no vertical line intersects the
curve more than once.
The curve x2 + y 2 = 4 is not a function:

√
The curve y = 4 − x2 is a function:
Piecewise defined functions
We are already familiar with one example of
a piecewise defined function, the absolute
value function:
(
x if x > 0
f (x) = |x| =
−x if x < 0
Example: step functions
 Example: step functions
Consider the cost of travelling on the Rea Vaya. Here
x is the number of km travelled and C(x) is in rands:



 9.50 if 0 6 x 6 5

12.00 if 5 < x 6 10





14.50 if 10 < x 6 15



C(x) = 16.00 if 15 < x 6 25

18.00 if 25 < x 6 35








 20.00 if 35 < x 6 45


25.00 if 45 < x
Example Sketch the graph of the piecewise
defined function:
(
1 − x if x ≤ 1
f (x) =
x2 if x > 1
Properties of functions
Symmetry in functions
If a function f satisfies

f (−x) = f (x) for all x ∈ D

then f is an even function.

Another way of defining an even function is
to say that it is a reflection about the y-axis.
Symmetry in functions (continued)
A function f is odd if

f (−x) = −f (x) for all x ∈ D

An odd function is a reflection about the

origin.
Example
Is the function f (x) = x2 even, odd or
neither?
Example
Is the function f (x) = x3 even, odd or
neither?
Example
Is the function f (x) = sin(x) even, odd or
neither?
Example
Is the function f (x) = |x| even, odd or
neither?
Example
Is the function f (x) = cos(x) even, odd or
neither?
Example
Is the function f (x) = x2 + x even, odd or
neither?
A property of odd functions
If f is an odd function and 0 is in its domain,
then f (0) = 0 (this is a well-known fact
about odd functions).
We can prove this fact as follows:
Since f is odd =⇒ f (−x) = −f (x).
Letting x = 0 we have that f (−0) = −f (0)
=⇒ f (0) = −f (0)
=⇒ f (0) + f (0) = 0
=⇒ 2f (0) = 0
=⇒ f (0) = 0.
Increasing and decreasing functions
A function f is increasing on an interval I if
whenever x1 < x2, we have f (x1) < f (x2).
A function f is decreasing on an interval I if
whenever x1 < x2, we have f (x1) > f (x2).
Example: The function f defined by
f (x) = x2 is decreasing on (−∞, 0] and
increasing on [0, ∞).
Ch 1.2: a catalogue of essential
functions
Mathematical models
A mathematical model is a mathematical
description, using a function or an equation,
of a real-world problem.
If y is a linear function of x then the graph is
a straight line:

y = mx + c

where m is the slope of the graph, and c is

the y-intercept.
Example of a linear model: A real estate
company currently owns 10 properties.
Example of a linear model: A real estate
company currently owns 10 properties. Each
property generates an annual income of
R50, 000.00. The company would like to
purchase a number of new properties.
Each new property will generate R60, 000.00
in annual income.
Let n be the number of new properties
purchased and let R be the annual revenue
of the company.
Then, we can express R as a linear function
of n: R(n) = 60000n + 500000.
Functions from data: We can try to
determine a function using empirical data.
Year Number of registered cars in SA
2005 4,500,000
2006 4,670,000
2007 4,890,000
2008 5,100,000
2009 5,310,000
2010 5,540,000
2011 5,770,000
2012 5,900,000
For the last example we can try to find a
function which fits the data by calculating
the slope of the line which goes through the
first and last points.
5, 900, 000 − 4, 500, 000
m=
2012 − 2005
Therefore m = 200, 000.

To be more accurate, we can use a statistical

technique known as linear regression.
More types of functions
Polynomials
These are functions of the form:

f (x) = anxn +an−1xn−1 +. . .+a2x2 +a1x+a0

where a0, . . . , an are constants. If the

leading coefficient an 6= 0 then f (x) is a
polynomial of degree n.
I polynomial of degree 1 = linear function

I polynomial of degree 2 = quadratic

function
I polynomial of degree 3 = cubic function
Examples
The following are examples of polynomials:
f (x) = 2x2 − 7x + 5
f (x) = 5x4 − 13x3 + 25x2 − x + 24
f (x) = 3x − 9
f (x) = 4x3 + x − 4
Here are examples of graphs of polynomials:
Power functions
These are functions of the form

f (x) = xa

Note that a can be

I a positive integer

I a =
1
n where n is a positive integer
I a negative integer, so f (x) = a
1
x
Graph of f (x) = x2
Graph of f (x) = x2

We can observe that Dom(f ) = R. The

range is all real numbers greater than or
equal to 0, so Ran(f ) = [0, ∞).
Graph of f (x) = x3

We can observe that Dom(f ) = R and

Ran(f ) = R.
Graph of f (x) = x4

We can observe that Dom(f ) = R and

Ran(f ) = [0, ∞).
Graph of f (x) = x5

We can observe that Dom(f ) = R and

Ran(f ) = R.
From the previous examples we can observe
the following general rule:
Suppose that n is a positive integer and let
f (x) = xn.
If n is even then Dom(f ) = R and
Ran(f ) = [0, ∞).
If n is odd then Dom(f ) = R and
Ran(f ) = R.
Notice that curves of even powers of x have
similar shapes, but they are not identical.
For odd powers of x we again observe that
the shapes of the curves are similar, but
different.
 1
Consider f (x) = xa when a = and
n 1 √
n ∈ Z+. Below we sketch f (x) = x 2 = x
1 √
and f (x) = x 3 = 3 x.

√
Notice that f (x) = x is a function. There
is only one output value for each x. Also
note that Dom(f ) = [0, ∞) when n is even.
Below we sketch y = xa when a is a negative
integer. On the left is y = x−1 = x1 and on
the right we have y = x−2 = x12 .

Notice that y = x1 is an odd function, while

y = x12 is an even function.
Rational functions
A rational function f is a ratio of two
polynomials

P (x)
f (x) =
Q(x)
Example:
2x4 − x2 + 1
f (x) =
x2 − 4
In the second semester you will learn how to
sketch the curves of rational functions like
2x4 − x2 + 1
f (x) = .
x2 − 4
Algebraic functions
An algebraic function is one that can be
formed by using the algebraic operations of
addition, subtraction, multiplication, powers,
division and taking roots.
Note: any rational function is automatically
an algebraic function.
Examples:
√ x4 − 16x2
f (x) = x2 + 1 h(x) = √
x+ x
Trigonometric functions
Functions that express the ratio between x, y
and r when angles are plotted on the
xy-plane.
Examples:
f (x) = sin(x)
f (x) = cos(x)
f (x) = tan(x)
f (x) = csc(x)
f (x) = sec(x)
f (x) = cot(x)
Graph of f (x) = sin(x)

We can observe that Dom(f ) = R and

Ran(f ) = [−1, 1]. This function has a period
of 2π since it repeats itself every 2π radians.
Graph of f (x) = cos(x)

We can observe that Dom(f ) = R and

Ran(f ) = [−1, 1]. This function has a period
of 2π since it repeats itself every 2π radians.
Graph of f (x) = tan(x)

tan(x) is defined for all real numbers x

except for those real numbers of the form
π
2 + πn where n ∈ Z.
Graph of f (x) = tan(x) (Continued)
Therefore, the domain of f (x) = tan(x) is
the set of all real numbers x except for those
real numbers of the from π2 + πn where
n ∈ Z.
We observe that Ran(f ) = R. This function
has a period of π since it repeats itself every
π radians.
Reciprocal trig functions
Recall also the graphs of the reciprocal trig
functions:
It can be useful to use the graph of y = sin x
to help you sketch y = csc x, and also to use
y = cos x to help you sketch y = sec x.
Exponential functions
These are functions of the form

f (x) = ax

where a > 0 is constant.

Examples:
f (x) = 2x
f (x) = 0.5x
f (x) = ex
f (x) = 2x

Notice that f (x) = 2x is increasing on

(−∞, ∞).
f (x) = 0.5x

f (x) = 0.5x is decreasing on (−∞, ∞).

Exponential functions (continued)
Suppose that a > 0 is a constant. Consider
the exponential function f (x) = ax.
Then, Dom(f ) = R and Ran(f ) = (0, ∞).
Logarithmic functions
f (x) = loga x where a > 0 is a constant
(also known as the base). Logarithmic
functions are the inverse of exponential
functions. That is,

if y = ax then loga y = x.
f (x) = log2 x
Logarithmic functions (continued)
Suppose that a > 0 is a constant. Consider
the logarithmic function f (x) = loga(x).
Then, Dom(f ) = (0, ∞) and Ran(f ) = R.
Make sure that you are comfortable
with the sketches of exponential and
logarithmic functions. Know their
shape and where the intercepts occur.

Please study Table 3 on page 32 of

the textbook to familiarise yourself
with all of the functions covered in
this section.
Prescribed tut problems
I Section 1.1:
4(a)–(f), 15, 16, 17, 18, 33, 42, 51, 52,
58, 65, 68, 76, 81, 85
I Section 1.2:
2(a)–(f), 4, 9, 14