Function notation and evaluating functions

In mathematics, a function is a rule that take an input value (often xx) and assigns it an output value (often yy).
What makes a function special is that for any given input, there is only one output. Function notation, which is
used in all of mathematics, is a way of writing out the rule that relates the input and output values of a
function. In this lesson, we will look at how function notation works, how to evaluate a function given the
function notation, and how to evaluate a function from its graph.

Reading function notation

Function notation is written using the name of the function and the value you want to find the output for. For
example, f(x)f(x) is read “ff of xx” and means “the output of the function ff when the input is xx”. Another
example is something like g(2)g(2). This is read “gg of 2” and represents the output of the function gg for the
input value of 2.
Example

When x=2x=2, the value of a function y=f(x)y=f(x) is 10. Use function notation to represent this.
Solution

The function is written as f(x)f(x). This means that the input of the function is xx. Since x=2x=2, we can start by
writing:
f(2)f(2)
The example says that when x=2x=2, the output is 10. Since the notation f(2)f(2) represents the output for the
input of 2, we can write this as:
f(2)=10f(2)=10

Evaluating functions using function notation

When it comes to evaluating functions, you are most often given a rule for the output. To evaluate the
function means to use this rule to find the output for a given input.

Example

For f(x)=2x+1f(x)=2x+1, find f(3)f(3).

Solution

Start with your function.

f(x)=2x+1f(x)=2x+1
Let x=3x=3 and then calculate the value of the function. To do this, replace each xx in the rule with 3.
f(3)=2(3)+1f(3)=2(3)+1
Simplify to find the final answer.

=6+1=7=6+1=7
When evaluating a function, make sure that you replace every xx in the rule with the input value. Pay close
attention, because there may be more than one xx to replace.
Example

For f(x)=3x2–5x+1f(x)=3x2–5x+1, find f(–2)f(–2).

Start with your function.
f(x)=3x2–5x+1f(x)=3x2–5x+1
Let x=–2x=–2 by replacing each xx in the rule with –2 and then simplify to find your final answer.
f(−2)=3(−2)2–5(−2)+1=3(4)+10+1=12+10+1=23f(−2)=3(−2)2–5(−2)+1=3(4)+10+1=12+10+1=23
It is also possible to evaluate a function using an input that is an algebraic expression. This is more complicated
since you usually will need simplify your answer, but it still follows the same idea of substitution.

Example

Let f(x)=–3x+7f(x)=–3x+7. Find and simplify f(m+1)f(m+1), where mm is a real number.

Solution

Start with your function.

f(x)=−3x+7f(x)=−3x+7
Just as you did with numbers, let x=m+1x=m+1 and evaluate the function. This means replace every xx in the
rule with “m+1m+1”.
f(m+1)=−3(m+1)+7f(m+1)=−3(m+1)+7
Apply the distributive property by multiplying –3 and each term within the parentheses. The combine like
terms to simplify.

=−3m−3+7=−3m+4=−3m−3+7=−3m+4
From here, you can get much more complicated with things like the difference quotient, which is used later in
calculus. Even with these more complicated examples, you will still apply the same concept we did to each of
the examples above.
Evaluating functions using a graph

The graph of a function is a way of viewing the outputs of the function for all possible inputs. Here, we
let y=f(x)y=f(x) so that each y-value represents the output and each x-value represents the input. This means
any point on the graph is:
(x,y)=(input,corresponding output)

Domain and Range of a Function

Domain The domain of a function is the complete set of possible values of the independent variable.
In plain English, this definition means:

The domain is the set of all possible x-values which will make the function "work", and will output real y-
values.

When finding the domain, remember:

 The denominator (bottom) of a fraction cannot be zero

 The number under a square root sign must be positive in this section

Example

Here is the graph of \displaystyle{y}=\sqrt{{{x}+{4}}}y=x+4:

The domain of this function is \displaystyle{x}\ge-{4}x≥−4, since x cannot be less than \displaystyle-{4}−4. To
see why, try out some numbers less than \displaystyle-{4}−4 (like \displaystyle-{5}−5 or \displaystyle-{10}−10)
and some more than \displaystyle-{4}−4 (like \displaystyle-{2}−2 or \displaystyle{8}8) in your calculator. The
only ones that "work" and give us an answer are the ones greater than or equal to \displaystyle-{4}−4. This will
make the number under the square root positive.

Range The range of a function is the complete set of all possible resulting values of the dependent variable
(y,usually), after we have substituted the domain.

In plain English, the definition means:

The range is the resulting y-values we get after substituting all the possible x-values.

How to find the range

 The range of a function is the spread of possible y-values (minimum y-value to maximum y-value)
 Substitute different x-values into the expression for y to see what is happening. (Ask yourself:
Is y always positive? Always negative? Or maybe not equal to certain values?)
 Make sure you look for minimum and maximum values of y.
 Draw a sketch! In math, it's very true that a picture is worth a thousand words.

Example 1b

Let's return to the example above, \displaystyle{y}=\sqrt{{{x}+{4}}}y=x+4.

We notice the curve is either on or above the horizontal axis. No matter what value of x we try, we will always
get a zero or positive value of y. We say the range in this case is y ≥ 0.

The curve goes on forever vertically, beyond what is shown on the graph, so the range is all non-negative
values of \displaystyle{y}y.