RELATIONS AND

FUNCTIONS
 INTRODUCTION TO
FUNCTIONS
Defintion of a Relation
Relations are correspondences between
two groups of elements. Each element in
one group relates or corresponds to the
one or more elements in the other group.
RELATIONS
David
15
Brenda
12
James
18
A relation is represented as a set of ordered pairs.

The domain is the set of all x values in the relation

domain = {-1,0,2,4,9}
These are the x values written in a set from smallest to largest

This is a
{(2,3), (-1,5), (4,-2), (9,9), (0,-6)} relation

These are the y values written in a set from smallest to largest

range = {-6,-2,3,5,9}

The range is the set of all y values in the relation

 A relation assigns the x’s with y’s

1
2
2
4
3
6
4 8
5 10

Domain (set of all x’s) Range (set of all y’s)

This relation can be written {(1,6), (2,2), (3,4), (4,8), (5,10)}

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4 8
5 10

Set A is the domain Set B is the range

Whew! What
This is a function
did that
---it meets oursay? Must use all the x’s
conditions
The x value can only be assigned to one y
 Let’s look at another relation and decide if it is a function.
The second condition says each x can have only one y, but it CAN
be the same y as another x gets assigned to.
No
1 xh
are 2 tha as
’s ed 2 m
x
All sign
4 ass n one ore
3 ign y
as 6 ed
4 8
5 10

Set A is the domain Set B is the range

This is a function
---it meets our Must use all the x’s
conditions
The x value can only be assigned to one y
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1
2
2
4
3
6
4 8
5 10

2 was assigned both 4 and 10

Is the relation shown above a function? NO Why not???
 Check this relation out to determine if it is a function.
It is not---3 didn’t get assigned to anything
Comparing to our example, a student in maths must receive a grade

1
2
2
4
3
6
4 8
5 10

Set A is the domain Set B is the range

This is not a
function---it Must use all the x’s
doesn’t assign
each x with a y The x value can only be assigned to one y
 Check this relation out to determine if it is a function.
This is fine—each student gets only one grade. More than one can
get an A and I don’t have to give any D’s (so all y’s don’t need to be
used).
1
2
2
4
3
6
4 8
5 10

Set A is the domain Set B is the range

This is a function Must use all the x’s

The x value can only be assigned to one y

 FUNCTIONS
Functions can be represented as: table of
values…
x y
2 -3
4 2
Domain Range
0 -1
-3 5

Domain: D: {-3, 0, 2, 4} From least to greatest

Range: R: {-3, -1, 2, 5} From least to greatest
 FUNCTIONS
Functions can be represented as: ordered pairs…
x y
2 -3
Ordered pairs:{ (2, -3), (4, 2), (0, -1), (-3,
4 2
5)}
Domain: D: {-3, 0, 2,
0 -1
4}
-3 5 Range: R: {-3, -1, 2, 5}
 EX 1: DETERMINE
WHETHER EACH
RELATION IS A
FUNCTION.
{(4,5),(6,7),(8,8)}

Solution We begin by making a figure

for each relation that shows set X , the
domain, and set Y , the range.
SOLUTION
{(4,5),(6,7),(8,8)}
X Y The figure shows that every
4 5 element in the domain
6 7 corresponds to exactly one
8 8
element in the range.

No two ordered pairs in the given relation have

the same first component different second
components. Thus, the relation is a function
EX 2: DETERMINE
WHETHER EACH
RELATION IS A
FUNCTION.
(5,6),(4,7),(6,6),(6,7)}

X Y The figure shows that 6

4 6 corresponds to both 6 and 7.
5
7 If any element in the domain corresponds to
6
more than one element in the range, the
relation is not a function, Thus, the relation
is not a function.
 FUNCTIONS
Functions can be represented as: graph
PRACTICE EXERCISES

Determine whether each relation is a

function. Give the domain and range
for each relation.
1. {( 7,  7), ( 5,  5), ( 3,  3), (0, 0)}
2. {(4,1), (5,1), (4, 2)}
 CHALLENGE

Is this relation
a function,
why? Show
evidence.
 VERTICAL LINE TEST

If every
vertical line
intersects a
given graph at
two points,
then the graph
does not
represents a
function.
 We commonly call functions by letters. Because function
starts with f, it is a commonly used letter to refer to
functions.
f x  2 x  3x  6
2
This means
the right The left side DOES NOT
hand side is This means MEAN f times x like
a function the right hand brackets usually do, it
called f side has the simply tells us what is on
variable x in it the right hand side.

The left hand side of this equation is the function notation.

It tells us two things. We called the function f and the
variable in the function is x.
Remember---this tells you what
is on the right hand side---it is
f x  2 x  3x  6
2

not something you work. It says

f 2  22   32  6
2
that the right hand side is the
function f and it has x in it.

f 2  24  32  6 8  6  6 8
So we have a function called f that has the variable x in it.
Using function notation we could then ask the following:
This means to find the function f and instead of
Find f (2). having an x in it, put a 2 in it. So let’s take the
function above and make brackets everywhere
the x was and in its place, put in a 2.

Don’t forget order of operations---powers, then

multiplication, finally addition & subtraction
Find f (-2). f x  2 x  3x  6
2

f  2  2 2   3 2  6
2

f  2  24  3 2  6 8  6  6 20

This means to find the function f and instead of having an x

in it, put a -2 in it. So let’s take the function above and make
brackets everywhere the x was and in its place, put in a -2.

Don’t forget order of operations---powers, then

multiplication, finally addition & subtraction
Find f (k). f x  2 x  3x  6
2

f k  2k   3k  6
2

 
f k  2 k  3k  6 2k  3k  6
2 2

This means to find the function f and instead of having an x

in it, put a k in it. So, let’s take the function above and make
brackets everywhere the x was and, in its place, put in a k.

Don’t forget order of operations---powers, then

multiplication, finally addition & subtraction
Find f (2k). f x  2 x  3x  6
2

f 2k  22k   32k  6

2

 
f 2k  2 4k  32k  6 8k  6k  6
2 2

This means to find the function f and instead of having an x in

it, put a 2k in it. So let’s take the function above and make
brackets everywhere the x was and in its place, put in a 2k.

Don’t forget order of operations---powers, then

multiplication, finally addition & subtraction
Let's try a new function Find g(1)+ g(-4).

g x   x  2 x
2

g 1 1  21  1

2

g  4  4   2 4  16  8 24

2

So g 1 g  4   1  24 23
The last thing we need to learn about functions for
this section is something about their domain. Recall
domain meant "Set A" which is the set of values you
plug in for x.

For the functions we will be dealing with, there are

two "illegals":
1. You can't divide by zero (denominator (bottom) of
a fraction can't be zero)
2. You can't take the square root (or even root) of a
negative number

When you are asked to find the domain of a function,

you can use any value for x as long as the value
won't create an "illegal" situation.
 Find the domain for the following functions:
Since no matter what value you
 choose for x, you won't be dividing
f x 2 x  1 by zero or square rooting a negative
number, you can use anything you
Note: There is
want so we say the answer is:
nothing wrong with
the top = 0 just means All real numbers x.
the fraction = 0
If you choose x = 2, the denominator
will be 2 – 2 = 0 which is illegal
x 3
g x   because you can't divide by zero.
x 2 The answer then is:
illegal if this All real numbers x such that x ≠ 2.
is zero means does not equal
Let's find the domain of another one:

hx   x  4
Can't be negative so must be ≥ 0

x  4 0 solve
this x 4
We have to be careful what x's we use so that the second
"illegal" of square rooting a negative doesn't happen. This
means the "stuff" under the square root must be greater
than or equal to zero (maths way of saying "not negative").
 Summary of How to Find the
Domain of a Function
• Look for any fractions or square roots that could cause one
of the two "illegals" to happen. If there aren't any, then the
domain is All real numbers x.
• If there are fractions, figure out what values would make the
bottom equal zero and those are the values you can't use.
The answer would be: All real numbers x such that x ≠
those values.
• If there is a square root, the "stuff" under the square root
cannot be negative so set the stuff ≥ 0 and solve. Then
answer would be: All real numbers x such that x is defined
by whatever you got when you solved.
NOTE: Of course your variable doesn't have to be x, can be
whatever is in the problem.