Functions and their graphs

Calculus 1
Functions
• Numerical relationship where every input has exactly one output
• For every X, there is exactly one Y
• Vertical line test
Composite functions
• Function written inside another function
f(x) = 3x – 4
g(x) = x2 – 3
f[g(x)] = ?
• Function composition done by substituting one function into another
f[g(x)] = f(x2 – 3) = 3 (x2 – 3) – 4 = 3x2 – 13
Example 1
f(x) = 5x + 2

g(x) = x3 – 4

f[g(2)] = ?

g[f(-1)] = ?
Example 2
• f(x) = x2 – 1
• • y = h(x)

a) f[g(2)] = ?
b) f[h(2)] = ?
c) h{g[f(2)]} = ?
Basic functions
and their graphs
Transformations

Function notation Type of transformation Change to coordinate point

f(x) + d Vertical translation up d units (x, y) to (x, y + d)
f(x) - d Vertical translation down d units (x, y) to (x, y - d)
f(x + c) Horizontal translation left c units (x, y) to (x – c, y)
f(x - c) Horizontal translation right c units (x, y) to (x + c, y)
- f(x) Reflection over x-axis (x, y) to (x, -y)
f(- x) Reflection over y-axis (x, y) to (-x, y)
- f(- x) Reflection over origin (x, y) to (-x, -y)
f-1(x) Reflection over y = x (x, y) to (y, x)
Example 1
• For the absolute x function, draw the following graphs:

• f(x) + 2

• f(x) - 2

• f(x + 2) Function notation Type of transformation Change to coordinate point

f(x) + d Vertical translation up d units (x, y) to (x, y + d)
f(x) - d Vertical translation down d units (x, y) to (x, y - d)
• f(x - 2) f(x + c) Horizontal translation left c units (x, y) to (x – c, y)
f(x - c) Horizontal translation right c units (x, y) to (x + c, y)
- f(x) Reflection over x-axis (x, y) to (x, -y)
f(- x) Reflection over y-axis (x, y) to (-x, y)
- f(- x) Reflection over origin (x, y) to (-x, -y)
f-1(x) Reflection over y = x (x, y) to (y, x)
Example 2
• For the square root of x function, draw the following graphs:

• -f(x)

• f(-x)

• -f(-x) Function notation Type of transformation Change to coordinate point

f(x) + d Vertical translation up d units (x, y) to (x, y + d)
f(x) - d Vertical translation down d units (x, y) to (x, y - d)
• f-1(x) f(x + c) Horizontal translation left c units (x, y) to (x – c, y)
f(x - c) Horizontal translation right c units (x, y) to (x + c, y)
- f(x) Reflection over x-axis (x, y) to (x, -y)
f(- x) Reflection over y-axis (x, y) to (-x, y)
- f(- x) Reflection over origin (x, y) to (-x, -y)
f-1(x) Reflection over y = x (x, y) to (y, x)
Example 3
• Draw the graph of the function y = Ix – 2I + 3

Function notation Type of transformation Change to coordinate point

f(x) + d Vertical translation up d units (x, y) to (x, y + d)
f(x) - d Vertical translation down d units (x, y) to (x, y - d)
f(x + c) Horizontal translation left c units (x, y) to (x – c, y)
f(x - c) Horizontal translation right c units (x, y) to (x + c, y)
- f(x) Reflection over x-axis (x, y) to (x, -y)
f(- x) Reflection over y-axis (x, y) to (-x, y)
- f(- x) Reflection over origin (x, y) to (-x, -y)
f-1(x) Reflection over y = x (x, y) to (y, x)
Example 4
• Draw the graph of the function y = -

Function notation Type of transformation Change to coordinate point

f(x) + d Vertical translation up d units (x, y) to (x, y + d)
f(x) - d Vertical translation down d units (x, y) to (x, y - d)
f(x + c) Horizontal translation left c units (x, y) to (x – c, y)
f(x - c) Horizontal translation right c units (x, y) to (x + c, y)
- f(x) Reflection over x-axis (x, y) to (x, -y)
f(- x) Reflection over y-axis (x, y) to (-x, y)
- f(- x) Reflection over origin (x, y) to (-x, -y)
f-1(x) Reflection over y = x (x, y) to (y, x)
Odd, even, neither functions
• Even functions: f(-x) = f(x)

• Odd functions: f(-x) = -f(x)

• Neither (even nor odd) functions: f(-x) ≠ f(x); f(-x) ≠ -f(x)

• Tip: if all exponents in the function are even, function will be even; exponents
odd – function odd; both even and odd – neither (but you‘ll have to prove it
by replacing x with -x)
Example 1
• f(x) =
Example 2
• f(x) =
Example 3
• f(x) =
Example 4
• f(x) =
Example 5
• f(x) = + 2
Graphs

• Even – symmetric about y-axis

• Odd – symmetric about origin

• Neither – not symmetric about y-axis/origin

Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6
Example 7
Example 8
Domain and range
• Domain - set of possible input values
(consists of all the input values shown
on x-axis)
• Range - set of possible output values
(shown on y-axis)

• D (-∞, ∞)
• R (-∞, ∞)
Example
• Determine domain and range of following graphs
y = 1/x

• Asymptote – line that curve approaches as it heads towards infinity

Example 1
• Draw the graph for y = + 3 and determine D and R

Function notation Type of transformation Change to coordinate point

f(x) + d Vertical translation up d units (x, y) to (x, y + d)
f(x) - d Vertical translation down d units (x, y) to (x, y - d)
f(x + c) Horizontal translation left c units (x, y) to (x – c, y)
f(x - c) Horizontal translation right c units (x, y) to (x + c, y)
- f(x) Reflection over x-axis (x, y) to (x, -y)
f(- x) Reflection over y-axis (x, y) to (-x, y)
- f(- x) Reflection over origin (x, y) to (-x, -y)
f-1(x) Reflection over y = x (x, y) to (y, x)
y=
End behavior of a function
• Describes behavior of function graphs at the "ends" of x-axis
• Trend of graph if we look to the right end of the x-axis (as x
approaches +∞) and to the left end of the x-axis (as x approaches −∞)
Calculating domain

• If there are no fractions or square roots in the function, D (-∞, ∞)

• Linear function: f(x) = 2x – 7

• Quadratic function: f(x) = x2 + 3x – 5

• Polynomial function: 2x3 - 5x2 + 7x - 3

Rational functions
f(x) =

• Denominator can‘t be 0! (function can‘t be undefined)

x–2≠0
Example 2
• f(x) =
Radical functions
f(x) =

• If index number is odd, D (-∞, ∞)

• If index number is even, the inside of the square root can‘t be
negative
• Note: if you get more than one result with functions involving square roots,
do the sign test!
x–4≥0
Example 1
• f(x) =
Example 2
• f(x) =
Example 3
• f(x) =
Example 4
• f(x) =