Some important definitions: The domain is the set of values that can be put into a function.

The range is the set of values that come out of a function.

y

Domain and range of some common functions: Function y= x

y = x2

Domain x 0 x x x>0 x 0
x
x

Range
y 0 y 0

A function is called one-to-one if every value in the range corresponds to a single value in the domain (and vice versa). A function is called many-to-one if some values of y correspond to several values of x

10

y =e
2 4 x

y>0
y y 0 1 y 1

Inverse functions: If f is a one-to-one function, then it is possible to 1 find an inverse function f : (1) Write the function as y = . (2) Swap over the roles of x and y. (3) Rearrange back into the form y = . If f is not a 1-1 function, then an inverse function can only be defined if the domain is restricted. The graphs of y = f ( x) and y = f 1 ( x) are related they are reflections of each other in the line y = x.
1 The domain of f is the same as the range of f. 1 The range of f is the same as the domain of f. The modulus function The function f ( x) = x | is defined | as:
y 5 4

y = ln( x )

-4

-2

-5

-10
y 10

| y = cos( x) y = tan x
2 4 x

y = sin( x )

1 y= x

3 2

-4

-2

-5

-10

Composite functions: To find the composite function fg(x), you put x into g first and then put the result into f. Example: If f ( x ) = 2 ln( x ) and g ( x ) = 3 x 2 2 , then fg ( x ) = 2 ln( 3 x 2 2) . Solving equations involving the modulus function The expression | x a | represents the difference between x and a. So, the solution of the equation | x a |= k is
x = k a or x = k + a

10

f ( x ) = x if x 0 f ( x ) = x if x < 0

8
1

6
-4 -2 2 4 x

To solve the equation | ax + b | =| cx + d | it is easiest to square both sides to remove the modulus sign. Equations of the form | ax +b | =cx + d need to be solve graphically.

This is the graph of y =| x 2 9 | . The parts of the graph that lie below the x-axis are reflected up.

4
-1

-2

-4

-2 -2

-4