Functions

1
Objectives:
- Determine whether a relation represents a function (p. 43)
- Find the value of a function (p. 46)
- Find the domain of a function defined by an equation (p. 49)
- Form the sum, difference, product, and quotient of two functions (p. 51)

A. Definition of a Function

















Determine if the relation defines y as a function of x. For each function,
state the domain and range.
Video tutorial for Parts A, B, C

1. { (-2, 5), (-1, 3), (3, 7), (4, 12)}




2. {(-4, 4), (-3, 3), (-2, 2), (-1, 1), (-4, 0)}


- A function is a rule. A function f is a rule that assigns to each element x in a set
A exactly one element, f(x), in a set B.
- Given a relation in x and y, we say y is a function of x if for every element x
in the domain, there corresponds exactly one element y in the range.
- This just means that a function cant repeat any x-coordinates
- A function can repeat y-coordinates
- Any set of ordered pairs (x, y) is called a relation in x and y.
- The set of first components in the ordered pairs is called the domain of the
relation
- The set of second components in the ordered pairs is called the range of the
relation
- Hint: Domain vs. Range
o D comes before R in the alphabet, just as x comes before y
o So, D goes with x and R goes with y
- When you list the numbers in the Domain and Range
o List each number only ONCE



Functions
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B. Determining Whether an Equation is a Function






Determine whether the equation defines y as a function of x.

1.
2
1
x
y = 2. x y 3 5 = 3.
2
2y x = 4. 1 2 3
2 3
+ = x x y

C. The Vertical Line Test







Use the Vertical Line Test to determine whether the relations define y as
a function of x.

1. 2.









3. 4.




- Solve the equation for y. If you get two solutions for y, the equation is not a
function.
- Some equations that are NEVER a function:
o An equation that has y
2
is never a function
o An equation that has represents two solutions and is not a function




How do we determine if a relation is a function from a graph?
Apply a Vertical Line Test
If a vertical line passes through two points, or through the graph twice, it,
FAILS the Vertical Line Test, and it is NOT a function




Functions
3
D. Obtaining Information about the Graph of a Function
Video tutorial
Consider the function: ( )
2
1
2
+

=
x
x
x f
a) Is the point (2, 1) on the graph of f?
b) If x = 4, what is f(x)? What point is on the graph of f?
c) If f(x) = -8, what is x? What point(s) are on the graph of f?
d) List the x-intercepts, if any, of the graph of f.
e) List the y-intercept, if there is one, of the graph of f.
f) What is the domain of f?
g) What are the zeros of f?





























Functions
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a) Find ( ) 0 f and ( ) 6 f .
b) Find ( ) 2 f and ( ) 2 f .
c) Is ( ) 3 f positive or negative?
d) Is ( ) 1 f positive or negative?
e) For what values of x is f(x) = 0?
f) For what values of x is f(x) < 0?
g) What is the domain of f ?
h) What is the range of f ?
i) What are the x-intercepts?
j) What are the y-intercepts?
k) How often does the line y = -1
intersect the graph?
l) How often does the line x = 1
intersect the graph?
m) For what value of x does f(x) = 3?
n) For what value of x does f(x) = -2?
o) What are the zeros of f ?

E. Use the given graph of the function f to answer parts (a) (o).























Video tutorial a-g
Video tutorial h-o
Functions
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F. Determine whether the graph is that of a function by using the
vertical-line test. If it is, use the graph to find:
a)The domain and range b) The intercepts, if any c) Any symmetry with respect to the x-axis, the y-
axis, or the origin.

1.


















Video tutorial #1




2.













Video tutorial #2
Functions
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3.

















Video tutorial #3




4.


















Video tutorial #4
Functions
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G. Function Notation











Evaluate the function at the indicated function values.









When a function is defined by an equation, we often use function notation.
For example, y = 2x can be written as ( ) 2 f x x = .
f is the name of the function. (It can be g(x) or h(x), etc
x is an input value from the domain of the function
f(x) is the function value (y-value) corresponding to x.
The notation f(x) is read as f of x or the value of the function f at x
A function may be evaluated at different values of x by substituting x-values
from the domain into the function.
The ordered pairs you get are the same as (x, y), but they are (x, f(x))
So, if f(5) = 10, the ordered pair is (5, 10).


( )
( )
( )
( )
( ) =
=
= +

=
x f
x f
x f
f
f
2
1
1
0
Video tutorial for #1
1. ( ) 1 2
2
+ = x x x f
Functions
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2. ( ) 2 3 f x x =
(5)
( 4)
f
f
=
=
Video tutorial for #2

( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( ) =
=
=
= +
= +
=
x f
x f
x f
x f
h x f
f
2
1
0
Video tutorial for #3

3.
( )
5 3
1 2

+
=
x
x
x f

Functions
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H. How do you find the domain?






Find the domain of the function in interval notation.
1.
7
( )
2 1
x
f x
x
+
=

Video tutorial for #1-9

2.
2 1
9
x
x
+

3.
2
4
( )
9
x
f x
x

=
+






4.


1) Is it a fraction?
a. Set the denominator equal to zero and solve for x.
b. Domain: ( ) ( ) ___, ___ ,
2) Is it an even index radical?
a. Set the inside expression >0 and solve for x.
b. Domain: | ) ( | ___ , be could it or ___,
3) All other expressions
a. Domain is all real numbers or: ( ) ,



( ) 1 2
2
+ = x x x f
Functions
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5. ( ) 4 f x t = +





6. ( ) 3 4 f x x =





7.
2
( ) 3 f x t t =





8.
5
( )
x
f x
x

=





9. ( ) 8 f x x t =