Functions and their Graphs

Relation
 Relation – pairs of quantities that are related
to each other

 Example: The area A of a circle is related to

its radius r by the formula

A = r . 2
Function
 There are different kinds of relations.

 When a relation matches each item from one

set with exactly one item from a different set
the relation is called a function.
Definition of a Function
 A function is a relationship between two
variables such that each value of the first
variable is paired with exactly one value of
the second variable.

 The domain is the set of permitted x values.

 The range is the set of found values of y.

These can be called images.
Is it a Function?
 For each x, there is
only one value of y. Domain, x Range, y
1 -3.6
 Therefore, it IS a 2 -3.6
function. 3 4.2
4 4.2
5 10.7
6 12.1
52 52
Is it a function?
 Three different y-
values (7, 8, and 10) Domain, x Range, y
are paired with one x- 3 7
value. 3 8
3 10
 Therefore, it is NOT a
4 42
function
10 34
11 18
52 52
Function?
 Is it a function? State the domain and range.
{(5, 8), (6, 7), (3, -1), (4, 2), (5, 9), (12, -2)

 No. The x-value of 5 is paired with two

different y-values.
 Domain: (5, 6, 3, 4, 12)
 Range: (8, 7, -1, 2, 9, -2)
Vertical Line Test
 Used to determine if a graph is a function.
 If a vertical line intersects the graph at more
than one point, then the graph is NOT a
function.

NOT a Function
Is it a function? Give the domain and range.

FUNCTION
Domain : − 4,2
Range : − 4,4
Give the Domain and Range.

Domain : x  1 Domain : −2  x  2
Range : y  2 Range : 0  y  3
Functional Notation

◼ We have seen an equation written in the form

y = some expression in x.

◼ Another way of writing this is to use

functional notation.

◼ For Example, you could write y = x²

as f(x) = x².
Functional Notation: Find the following
f ( x) = 3 x 2 − x + 2 f ( x) = x − x + 2
2

f ( −3) f ( m + 3)

3(− 3) − (− 3) + 2
2
(m + 3) − (m + 3) + 2
2

27 + 3 + 2 (m + 3)(m + 3) − m − 3 + 2
30 + 2
m 2 + 3m + 3m + 9 − m − 3 + 2
32
m 2 + 5m + 8
Let’s look at Functions
Graphically
Find: f ( 2) + g ( 4)
1 + 4 =5

f ( x) g ( x)
Find: f (5) − g ( 0)
3 - (-4) = 7

f ( x) g ( x)
Find: f ( 4)  g ( −1)

f ( x) g ( x)
Piecewise-Defined Function

◼ A piecewise-defined function is a function that is

defined by two or more equations over a specified
domain.

◼ The absolute value function f (x ) = x

can be written as a piecewise-defined function.

◼ The basic characteristics of the absolute value

function are summarized on the next page.
Absolute Value Function is a
Piecewise Function
Example

◼ Evaluate the function when x = -1 and 0.

Domain of a Function

◼ The domain of a function can be implied by

the expression used to define the function

◼ The implied domain is the set of all real

numbers for which the expression is defined.

◼ For example,
◼ The function has an implied
domain that consists of all real x other than
x = ±2

◼ The domain excludes x-values that result

in division by zero.
◼ Another common type of implied domain is
that used to avoid even roots of negative
numbers.
◼ EX:
is defined only for x  0.

The domain excludes x-values that result

in even roots of negative numbers.
Domain & Range of a Function
What is the
domain of
the graph of
the function
f?

A : − 1, 4 )
Domain & Range of a Function
What is the
range of
the graph of
the function
f?

− 5,4 
Domain & Range of a Function
Find f (− 1) and f (2 ).

f (− 1) = − 5

f (2 ) = 4
◼ Let’s look at domain and range of a
function using an algebraic approach.

◼ Then, let’s check it with a graphical

approach.
 Find the domain and range of
f (x ) = x − 4.

◼ Algebraic Approach

The expression under the radical can not be negative.

Therefore, x − 4  0. Domain
A: x  4 Since the domain is never negative the
or range is the set of all nonnegative real
4,  ) numbers.
A: y  0
or Range
0,  )
 Find the domain and range of
f (x ) = x − 4.

◼ Graphical Approach
Step Functions and
Piecewise-Defined Functions
Because of the vertical jumps, the greatest integer function is an example
of a step function.
 Let’s graph a Piecewise-
Defined Function

◼ Sketch the graph of

 2 x + 3, x  1
f (x ) = 
 − x + 4, x  1
Notice when open
dots and closed
dots are used. Why?
Even and Odd Functions
Graphically
 Algebraically

Let’s look at the graphs again and see if this applies.

Graphically

☺ ☺
Example

◼ Determine whether each function is

even, odd, or neither.
 Graphical –
Algebraic Symmetric to
Origin
Algebraic
Graphical –
Symmetric to y-
axis
 Graphical – NOT
Algebraic Symmetric to
origin OR y-axis.
You Try

◼ Is the function
f (x ) = x

◼ Even, Odd, of Neither?

 f (x ) = x
Solution

Symmetric about the y-axis.

One-to-one functions
◼ A function is one-to-one if each
element in the co-domain has a unique
pre-image
 Meaning no 2 values map to the same
result a 1
a 1
e 2
e 2
i 3
i 3
o 4
o 4
5
5
A function that is
A one-to-one function not one-to-one 42
More on one-to-one
◼ Injective is synonymous with one-to-
one
 “A function is injective”
◼ A function is an injection if it is one-to-
one a 1
e 2
i 3
o 4
◼ Note that there can
5
be un-used elements
in the co-domain A one-to-one function
43
Onto functions
◼ A function is onto if each element in
the co-domain is an image of some
pre-image
 Meaning all elements in the right are
mapped to
a 1
a 1
e 2
e 2
i 3
i 3
o 4
o 4
5
u

A function that
An onto function 44
is not onto
More on onto

◼ Surjective is synonymous with onto

 “A function is surjective”
◼ A function is an surjection if it is onto
a 1
e 2
◼ Note that there can i 3

be multiply used o 4
u
elements in the
co-domain An onto function
45
 Onto vs. one-to-one
◼ Are the following functions onto, one-to-
one, both, or neither?
a 1 a 1
a 1
b 2 b 2
b 2
c 3 c 3
c 3
4 d 4
4
1-to-1, not onto Both 1-to-1 and onto Not a valid function

a 1 a 1
b 2 b 2
c 3 c 3
d d 4
46
Onto, not 1-to-1 Neither 1-to-1 nor onto
Bijections
a 1
b 2
◼ Consider a function that is
c 3
both one-to-one and onto: d 4

◼ Such a function is a one-to-one

correspondence, or a bijection

47
Identity functions

◼ A function such that the image and the

pre-image are ALWAYS equal

◼ f(x) = 1*x
◼ f(x) = x + 0

◼ The domain and the co-domain must

be the same set 48
Inverse functions
Let f(x) = 2*x

R f R

f-1

f(4.3)
4.3 8.6
f-1(8.6)

Then f-1(x) = x/2

49
 More on inverse functions
◼ Can we define the inverse of the following functions?

a 1 a 1
b 2 b 2
c 3 c 3
4 d

What is f-1(2)? What is f-1(2)?

Not onto! Not 1-to-1!

◼ An inverse function can ONLY be done defined on a

bijection
50
Compositions of functions

◼ Let (f ○ g)(x) = f(g(x))

◼ Let f(x) = 2x+3 Let g(x) = 3x+2

◼ g(1) = 5, f(5) = 13

◼ Thus, (f ○ g)(1) = f(g(1)) = 13

51
Compositions of functions
f○g

A B C
g f

g(a) f(a)

a f(g(a))
g(a)

(f ○ g)(a)

52
Compositions of functions
Let f(x) = 2x+3 Let g(x) = 3x+2
f○g

R R R
g f

g(1) f(5)
f(g(1))=13
1
g(1)=5

(f ○ g)(1)

f(g(x)) = 2(3x+2)+3 = 6x+7 53

 Compositions of functions
Does f(g(x)) = g(f(x))?

Let f(x) = 2x+3 Let g(x) = 3x+2

f(g(x)) = 2(3x+2)+3 = 6x+7 Not equal!

g(f(x)) = 3(2x+3)+2 = 6x+11

Function composition is not commutative! 54