Functions
Differential Calculus (CALCULUS 1)
What is a FUNCTION?
A function is defined as a relation where each element in the domain
is related to ONLY ONE value in the range by some rule.
What is a RELATION?
It is a rule that relates values from a set of values (called the
domain) to a second set of values (called the range). A relation is a
set of ordered pairs.
All functions are relations, but not all relations are
functions.
Functions
Can be represented in five ways:
1. Ordered Pairs
2. Table of Values
3. Mapping Diagram
4. Equation
5. Graph
What is an ORDERED PAIR?
An ordered pair is a pair of numbers written in a particular
order.
(x,y)
Domai Range
n
Example
A = {(2,4),(4,5),(-2,0)}
Domain: { 2, 4, -2 }
Range: { 4, 5, 0 }
What is a FUNCTION?
A function is defined as a relation where each element in the domain
is related to ONLY ONE value in the range by some rule.
So if the domain is repeated, it is not a
function.
Example
A = {(1,2),(3,4),(-2,1),
(2,0)} FUNCTION
B = {(4,5),(4,6),(5,3),
NOT A
(6,7)} FUNCTION
Tip: Simply look at the value of “x”. If the elements
of the domain are used only once (no same x-
values), then the given set of ordered pairs is a
function.
Table of Values
To test if a table of values is a function, just look at the x column
x y x y
-1 3 2 this3 is a
this is not a
5 2 -5 5
1 4 2 function
6
function
If the x values is not repeated, it is a function.
Mapping Diagram
To test if a mapping diagram is a function, just remember:
One-to-one function = Function
Many-to-one = Function
One-to-many = Not a function
Many-to-many = Not a function
Mapping Diagram
Equation
To test if an equation is a function, just look at the exponent of y:
1. y=x+5 If the
exponent of y is even (2,4,6,8),
2. x = y4 it is not a
function.
3. y3 = -3
4. y = -2x2
5. x2 + y 2 = 1 If the
exponent of y is odd (1,3,5,7,9),
6. y = x2 it is a
function.
Graph
We can represent the relationship between two or more
variables by using mathematical symbols as we do in Algebra
or visually by graphing the function on a cartesian plane.
The input values are typically plotted on the x-axis, and the
corresponding output values are plotted on the y-axis.
A graph represents a function if any vertical line drawn on
the graph intersects the curve at most once.
We use the vertical line test to test the graph if it is a
function. If a vertical line intersects the graph at more than
one point, it means that for a single input (x-value), there are
multiple outputs (y-values), which violates the definition of a
function.
Graph
Functions
It is frequently desirable, particularly in the development of the
theory, to work with a large class of functions rather than with a
specific one.
Therefore, we use a symbol such as f(x), which is read “f of x”, to
denote a function of x.
We write y = f(x) to convey the fact that y is a function of x, without
designating the particular manner in which y is related to x.
Letters other than f are used in the same way: we may write z = w(v),
u = s(v) to indicate that z and u are functions of v.
Functions
Example: Let f(x) = x2 + 3. Find f(2), f(-4), f(0), f(u-1), f(-x).
Since f(x) = x2 + 3,
f(2) = 22 + 3 = 7.
In the same way,
f(-4) = (-4)2 + 3 = 19,
f(0) = 02 + 3 = 3,
f(u-1) = (u-1)2 + 3 = u2 – 2u +4
f(-x) = (-x)2 + 3 = x2 + 3 = f(x)
Functions
Practice test:
Let g(y) = cos 2y –2 . Find g(π), g(½π), g(0), and [g(x) + g(-x)].
Functions
Example a: A right triangle has a fixed base of length 7. Express the
length of the altitude of the triangle as a function of the length of the
hypotenuse.
h
a h2 = 49 + a2
or
a=, h > 7.
7 a is expressed as a function (explicit) of h.
Graph of a Function
The Curve
y = f(x)
is called the graph of the function f(x).
The function A = c2, c > 0, is represented graphically by half of a
parabola as exhibited in Figure 1.
A
c
Figure 1
Graph of a Function
In Example (a), we expressed the length of the altitude of a certain right
triangle in terms of the length of the hypotenuse by means of the
function shown in Figure 2.
a=, h > 7.
Classification of a Function
All functions are classed as either algebraic or transcendental.
The algebraic functions are relational integral functions, or polynomials;
relational fractions, or quotients of polynomials; and irrational functions,
of which the simplest are those formed from rational functions by the
extraction of roots. The elementary transcendental functions are
trigonometric and inverse trigonometric functions; exponential
functions, in which the variable occurs as an exponent; and logarithms.
Different Types of Function based on
Equation
Functions can be categorized based on the form of their equations, which
dictates their graphical representation and behavior. Common types include:
Linear Functions
Quadratic Functions
Cubic Functions
Polynomial Functions
Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Trigonometric Functions
Rational Functions
Absolute Value Functions
Different Types of Function based on
Equation
Linear Functions:
These have the form f(x) = mx + b, where m and b are
constants. Their graphs are straight lines.
Example: f(x) = 3x + 2
Different Types of Function based on
Equation
Quadratic Functions:
These are polynomial functions of degree two, with the general
form
f(x) = ax2 + bx + c, where a ≠ 0. Their graphs are parabolas.
Example: f(x) = x2 – 4x + 3
Different Types of Function based on
Equation
Cubic Functions:
These are polynomial functions of degree three, having the form
f(x) = ax3 + bx2 + cx + d, where a ≠ 0.
Example: f(x) = 2x3 – x + 5
Different Types of Function based on
Equation
Polynomial Functions:
A broader category encompassing linear,
quadratic, and cubic functions, defined by the general
form
f(x) = anxn + an-1xn-1 + … a1x + a0, where n is a non-
negative integer and an ≠ 0.
Different Types of Function based on
Equation
Exponential Functions:
These have the form f(x) = abx, where b>0 and b≠1. They represent
exponential growth or decay.
Example: f(x) = 2x
Different Types of Function based on
Equation
Logarithmic Functions:
These are the inverse of exponential functions, typically written as f(x) =
logb(x).
Example: f(x) = log10(x).
Different Types of Function based on
Equation
Trigonometric Functions:
These relate angles of a right triangle to ratios of its sides and are periodic in
nature. Examples include sine, cosine, and tangent functions.
Example: f(x) = sin(x).
Different Types of Function based on
Equation
Rational Functions:
These are ratios of two polynomial functions, expressed as f(x) = ,
where Q(x) ≠ 0.
Example: f(x) =
Different Types of Function based on
Equation
Absolute Value Functions:
These involve the absolute value of the variable, such as f(x) =|x|.
Their graphs typically form a “V” shape.
Example: f(x) = |x-3|
