FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS

MODULE
10FUNCTIONS AND EQUATIONS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

1. Define equation
2. Discuss adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing terms
3. Solve equation problems

INTRODUCTION

Functions describe situations where one quantity determines another. For

example, the return on $10,000 invested at an annualized percentage rate of
4.25% is a function of the length of time the money is invested. Because we
continually make theories about dependencies between quantities in nature and
society, functions are important tools in the construction of mathematical models.

In school mathematics, functions usually have numerical inputs and outputs

and are often defined by an algebraic expression. For example, the time in hours it
takes for a car to drive 100 miles is a function of the car’s speed in miles per hour,
v; the rule T(v) = 100/v expresses this relationship algebraically and defines a
function whose name is T.

The set of inputs to a function is called its domain. We often infer the domain
to be all inputs for which the expression defining a function has a value, or for
which the function makes sense in a given context.

A function can be described in various ways, such as by a graph (e.g., the

trace of a seismograph); by a verbal rule, as in, “I’ll give you a state, you give me
the capital city;” by an algebraic expression like f(x) = a + bx; or by a recursive
rule. The graph of a function is often a useful way of visualizing the relationship of
the function models, and manipulating a mathematical expression for a function can
throw light on the function’s properties.

Functions presented as expressions can model many important phenomena.

Two important families of functions characterized by laws of growth are linear
functions, which grow at a constant rate, and exponential functions, which grow at
a constant percent rate. Linear functions with a constant term of zero describe
proportional relationships. A graphing utility or a computer algebra system can be
used to experiment with properties of these functions and their graphs and to build
computational models of functions, including recursively defined functions.

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FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS
MOTIVATION

A function relates an input to an output. It is like a machine that has an input

and an output. And the output is related somehow to the input.

"f(x) = ... " is the classic way of writing a function.

And there are other ways, as you will see!

We will see many ways to think about functions, but there are always three
main parts: The input, The relationship, and The output

"Multiply by 2" is a very simple function.

Here are the three parts:

Input Relationship Output

0 ×2 0
1 ×2 2
7 ×2 14
10 ×2 20
... ... ...

For an input of 50, what is the output?

LESSON

FUNCTION
First, it is useful to give a function a name.

The most common name is "f", but we can have other names like "g" ... or even
"marmalade" if we want.

But let's use "f":

Image: flexbooks.ck12.org

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FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS
What goes into the function is put inside parentheses () after the name of the
function:

So f(x) shows us the function is called "f", and "x" goes in

And we usually see what a function does with the input:

f(x) = x2 shows us that function "f" takes "x" and squares it.

Example: with f(x) = x2:

an input of 4
becomes an output of 16.
In fact, we can write f(4) = 16.

Don't get too concerned about "x", it is just there to show us where the input
goes and what happens to it. It could be anything!

So this function: f(x) = 1 - x + x2

Is the same function as:

f(q) = 1 - q + q2
h(A) = 1 - A + A2
w(θ) = 1 - θ + θ
The variable (x, q, A, etc) is just there so we know where to put the values:

f(2) = 1 - 2 + 22 = 3

Example: this tree grows 20 cm every year, so the height of the tree is related to
its age using the function h:

h(age) = age × 20

So, if the age is 10 years, the height is:

h(10) = 10 × 20 = 200 cm

Here are some example values:

age h(age) = age × 20

0 0
1 20
3.2 64
15 300
... ...

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FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS
But a function has special rules:

It must work for every possible input value

And it has only one relationship for each input value
This can be said in one definition:
A function relates each element of a set with exactly one element of another
set (possibly the same set).

The Two Important Things!

1. "...each element..." means that every element in X is related to some element in
Y. We say that the function covers X (relates every element of it). (But some
elements of Y might not be related to at all, which is fine.)

2. "...exactly one..." means that a function is single valued. It will not give back 2
or more results for the same input.

So "f(2) = 7 or 9" is not right!

"One-to-many" is not allowed, but "many-to-one" is allowed:

(one-to-many) (many-to-one)
This is NOT OK in a function But this is OK in a function
When a relationship does not follow those two rules then it is not a
function ... it is still a relationship, just not a function.

Example: The relationship x → x2

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FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS
Could also be written as a table:

It is a function, because Every element in X is related to Y. No element in X has two

or more relationships. So it follows the rules. (Notice how both 4 and -4 relate to
16, which is allowed.)

Example: This relationship is not a function:

It is a relationship, but it is not a function, for these reasons:

Value "3" in X has no relation in Y

Value "4" in X has no relation in Y
Value "5" is related to more than one value in Y
(But the fact that "6" in Y has no relationship does not matter)

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FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS

Ordered Pairs
And here is another way to think about functions:

Write the input and output of a function as an "ordered pair", such as (4,16).

They are called ordered pairs because the input always comes first, and the output
second:

(input, output)

So it looks like this:

( x, f(x) )

Example:

(4,16) means that the function takes in "4" and gives out "16"

Set of Ordered Pairs

A function can then be defined as a set of ordered pairs:

Example: {(2,4), (3,5), (7,3)} is a function that says

"2 is related to 4", "3 is related to 5" and "7 is related 3".

Also, notice that:

the domain is {2,3,7} (the input values)

and the range is {4,5,3} (the output values)
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FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS
But the function has to be single valued, so we also

say "if it contains (a, b) and (a, c), then b must equal

c"

Which is just a way of saying that an input of "a" cannot produce two different
results.

Example: {(2,4), (2,5), (7,3)} is not a function because {2,4} and {2,5}
means that 2 could be related to 4 or 5.

In other words it is not a function because it is not single valued

EQUATION
Equation is an equation says that two things are equal.

It will have an equals sign "=" like this:

7 + 2 = 10 − 1

That equation says: what is on the left (7 + 2) is equal to what is on the right (10
− 1)

So an equation is like a statement "this equals that"

SOLVING EQUATIONS USING THE ADDITION PROPERTY

The Addition Property for Equations states that the same number
can be added to or subtracted from each side of the equation without changing
the solution to the equation.

Example 1:

Solve for k: -15 = 48 + k

Solution:

Isolate the k-term by cancelling the 48

from the right side of the equation.

-15 = 48 + k

-48 -48
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FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS
-63 = k

Example 2:

Solve for c:

Solution:

Isolate the c -term

by cancelling from the left

side of the equation.

The constants cancel on the left side of

the equation. Write each fraction on the right side of the equation using the
common denominator: 6

The solution to is .

SOLVING EQUATIONS USING THE MULTIPLICATION PROPERTY

The Multiplication Property for Equations states that an equation can be

multiplied or divided by the same number on each side of the equation without
changing the solution to the equation.

Example 1:

Solve for w: 13w = -52

Solution:

Isolate the w by dividing each side of the equation by 13.

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FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS
w = -4

Example 2:

Solve for f:

Solution:

Isolate the f-term by multiplying each side of the equation by the reciprocal of its

coefficient. The coefficient of f is . The reciprocal of the f-coefficient is .

Multiply each side of the equation by .

Multiply the fractions on the left side of the equation. On the right side of the
equation, the constants cancel to leave a coefficient of 1.

The solution to is .

Example 1: Solve for x in the following equation.

x - 4 = 10

Add 4 to both sides of the equation:

x = 14

The answer is x = 14

Check the solution by substituting 14 in the original equation for x. If the left
side of the equation equals the right side of the equation after the
substitution, you have found the correct answer.

Example 3: Solve for x in the following equation.

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FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS

Add to both sides of the equation and simplify:

The answer is x = 4.

Check the solution by substituting 4 in the original equation for x. If the left side of
the equation equals the right side of the equation after the substitution, you have
found the correct answer.

Example 3:

First make a note of the fact that you cannot take the square root of a negative

number. Therefore, or .
Square both sides of the equation.

Add 8 to both sides of the equation.

The answer is x=17.

Check the solution by substituting 17 in the original equation for x. If the left side
of the equation equals the right side of the equation after the substitution, you
have found the correct answer.

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FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS

LESSON SUMMARY

A function relates inputs to outputs

A function takes elements from a set (the domain) and relates them to elements in
a set (the codomain).
All the outputs (the actual values related to) are together called the range
A function is a special type of relation where:
Every element in the domain is included, and
Any input produces only one output (not this or that)
An input and its matching output are together called an ordered pair
So a function can also be seen as a set of ordered pairs

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FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS
EVALUATION (STUDENT ASSESSMENT QUESTION-SAQ)

FUNCTIONS AND EQUATIONS

Direction. Answer the following as required.

1. How do you differentiate Function and Equation.

Answer:

2. Give examples of function in real-life situation.

Answer:

3. Discuss the ways/methods to solve equation problems.

Answer:

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FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS
TEST

Direction: Read and answer the following questions. Choose the correct answer. One (1) point
will be given for each correct response in each item.

1. Which one of the following relations is not a function?

2. Which one of these graphs does not illustrate a function?

3. The function f is defined on the real numbers by f(x) = 2 + x − x2

What is the value of f(-3)?

A. -10 B. -4 C. 8 D. 14

4. Solve for x: 5x - 6 = 3x - 8

A. -1 B. -2 C. 1 D. 2

5. The larger of two numbers is 5 less than twice the smaller number, and their sum is 28. What
are the numbers?
A. 11, 17 B. 11, 12 C. 15,17 D. 15, 12

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FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS
ASSIGNMENT

PROBLEM POSING. Create your own word problem and solve it. Your work will be rated using
the rubric below:

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FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS
ANSWER SHEET (STUDENT ASSESSMENT QUESTION)

Name: Score: Rating:

Course Yr. & Sec. Date Submitted:

Direction. Answer the following as required.

1. How do you differentiate Function and Equation.

Answer:

2. Give examples of function in real-life situation.

Answer:

3. Discuss the ways/methods to solve equation problems.

Answer:

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FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS
ANSWER SHEET (TEST) (pls. provide solution if applicable)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

ANSWER SHEET (ASSIGNMENT)

PROBLEM-POSING

Topic:

Problem:

Given:

Asked:

Operation to be used:

Solution

Final Answer:

REFERENCES

https://sites.austincc.edu/tsiprep/math-review/
https://teacherphysicslesson.wordpress.com/relation/
https://www.purplemath.com/modules/fcns2.htm
https://www.mathsisfun.com/sets/function.html

WHAT’S NEXT: EQUATIONS AND FORMULA

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