Functions and Graphs
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What is a function?
* A function is a relation between a set of inputs, called the domain and a set
of possible outputs, called the range.
* Elements of the domain are often denoted by "x" whereas the outputs are
denoted by "y".
Example:
y = 2x is a function because it describes a relationship between
inputs(x-values) and outputs(y-values). To get a value of "y", you have to
multiply an x-value by 2.
Let us unpack further
One-to-one relationship: Every x-value corresponds with a single y-value
Many-to-one relationship: more than one x-value corresponds with a single
y-value
One-to-many relationship: exactly one x-value corresponds with multiple
y-values.
NB: Once a relation is one-to-many, we cannot call it a function
* From the above example (y=2x), you will notice that in order to get the
y-value you will need to multiply every x-value by 2. This tells you that values
of y depend on values of x. That is why we call 'x' the independent variable
and 'y' the dependent variable.
Notation
Functions are often denoted by f(x)
Where:
* f is the name of the function
* x is the input
* y/f(x) is the output
Types of Functions
1. Linear functions: has a general expression y = mx+c e.g y = 2x+9
2. Quadratic functions: has a general expression y = ax²+bx+c e.g y =
2x²+4x+9
3. Hyperbola function: has a general expression y = a/(x+p) + q
4. Exponential function: has a general expression y = a.b^(x) + q
The linear function
y = mx+c
Where:
* m denotes the slope of the straight line(how y-values change given a
change in x-values)
* c denotes the y-intercept
How to draw a graph of a linear function?
* Calculate the intercepts with the axes
* Identify the value of m, if m>0 the straight line will slope upwards but if m<0
it will slope downwards.
Example:
y = x+1
Step 1: Calculate the intercepts with the axes
x-intercept (let y=0)
0 = x+1
x= -1
y-intercept(let x=0)
y=1
Step 2: Identify the value of m
m=1 (m>0)
The line is upward sloping
Please do not forget to label your axes, intercepts with the axes, the origin as
well as defining your function.
The Parabola
f(x) = ax²+bx+c
Where:
* a determines the shape of the curve, if a>0 the parabola concaves up
whereas it concaves down if a<0.
* c denotes the y-intercept
Are there any other representations of a quadratic function?
The answer is yes, here are the representations:
1. f(x) = ax²+bx+c
2. f(x) = a(x-x1)(x-x2)
3. f(x) = a(x+p)²+q
The third representation is very useful because we can easily read off the
turning point from it.
Example:
y = 2(x+3)²+9
The turning point is (-3;9)
How do we draw a parabola graph?
* Calculate the intercepts with the axes
* Determine the turning point
* Identify the value of 'a' which helps with the shape of the parabola
Example:
y = x²-7x+10
Step 1: Calculate the intercepts with the axes
x-intercept(let y=0)
0 = x²-7x+10
0 = (x-5)(x-2)
x=5 or x=2
y-intercept(let x=0)
y = (0)²-7(0)+10
y=10
Step 2: Determine the turning point
For this representation, we use the formula x=-b/2a to calculate the axis of
symmetry and substitute the x-value to the function to get the y-value of the
turning point.
x=-(-7)/2(1)
x=7/2
y=(7/2)²-7(7/2)+10
y=-9/4
Turning point is (7/2;-9/4)
Step 3: Identify the value of 'a':
a=1
Since a>0, we can conclude that the parabola concaves up
The Hyperbola
f(x) = a/(x+p) + q
where p and q represents the horizontal and vertical shifts respectively
* Recall that the mother graph (y=a/x ) had a vertical asymptote at x=0 and
horizontal asymptote at y=0.
* Because of the effect of vertical and horizontal shifts, the vertical and
horizontal asymptotes will be x=-p and y=q respectively.
Example:
y = 2/(x+7) + 9
Vertical asymptote is given by x=-7
Horizontal asymptote is given by y=9
How do we draw a hyperbola graph?
* Calculate the intercepts with the axes
* Determine the asymptotes
* Identify the value of 'a' which tells you in which quadrants the graph is
located.
Example:
f(x) = 1/(x+2) + 3
Step 1: Calculate the intercepts with the axes
x-intercept(y=0)
0=1/(x+2) +3
-3=1/(x+2)
-3(x+2) = 1
x+2 = -1/3
x=-7/3
y-intercept(x=0)
f(0) = 1/(0+2) + 3
y=7/2
Step 2: Determine the asymptotes
x=-2 and y=3
Step 3: Identify the value of 'a'
a=1 which implies that our graph will be located in the 1st and 3rd quads
* The dashed lines represents the asymptotes.
* Our graph is drawn in red.
The Exponential function
f(x) = a.b^(x) + q
where:
* 'a' determines whether the graph lies above/below the horizontal asymptote.
If a>0, the graph lies above the asymptote, whereas if a<0 it lies below the
asymptote
* 'b' determines whether the graph is increasing/decreasing for all values of
x.
If b>1, the graph increases for all values of x , whereas it decreases if 0<b<1
* The horizontal asymptote is denoted by 'q'.
How do we draw an exponential graph?
* Calculate the intercepts with the axes
* Determine the horizontal asymptote(y=q)
* Identify the values of 'a' and 'b'
Example:
y = 3.2^(x) +4
Step 1: Calculate the intercepts with the axes
x-intercept(y=0)
0=3.2^(x) + 4
3.2^(x) = -4
2^(x) = -4/3
No solution, which implies that there is no x-intercept
y-intercept(x=0)
y=3.2^(0) + 4
y=3(1)+4
y=7
Step 2: Determine the horizontal asymptote
y=q
y=4
Step 3: Identify the values of 'a' and 'b'
a=3
Since a>0, it tells us that our graph will lie above y=4
b=2
Since b>1, it tells us that our graph is increasing for all values of x.
Domain and Range
What is a domain?
* A domain of a function is a set of all possible inputs (x-values) for which the
function is defined.
The domain of a straight line
A straight line is defined for every possible value of x, as long as it is real.
Domain of a straight line is x€R
The domain of a parabola
A parabola also takes all values of x, as long as it is in the set of real
numbers.
Domain of a parabola is a x€R
The domain of a hyperbola
A hyperbola does not take all values of x because of the vertical asymptote.
Recall that a graph does not intersect the asymptote, but it only approaches it
Domain of a hyperbola is x€R , x≠-p
The domain of an exponential graph
An exponential graph takes all values of x in the set of real numbers.
Domain of an exponential is x€R
What is a range?
The range of a function is the set of all possible outputs (y-values) that a
function can produce. The range depends on the domain.
The range of a straight line
The straight line takes all values of y in the set of real numbers.
Range of a straight line is y€R
The range of a parabola
The parabola does not take all values of y because it turns at a certain point.
If a>0, the parabola attains a minimum value at y=q, which tells you that the
function does not take any y-values below q.
If a<0, the parabola attains a maximum value at y=q, which tells you that the
function does not take any values above q.
Proposition: If a>0, the range of a parabola will be y>=q. If a<0, the range of the
parabola will be y<=q.
Example:
y=(x+2)²+9
The range of the function is y>=9 because a>0
y=-(x+2)²+9
The range of the function is y<=9 because a<0
The range of a hyperbola
The hyperbola does not take all values of y because of the horizontal
asymptote.
The range of a hyperbola is y€R, y≠q
The range of an exponential
An exponential function does not take all real x-values because of the
horizontal asymptote
The range of an exponential is y€R, y≠q
What is a root?
A root of an equation is a value of the variable(usually x) that makes the
equation true, or equal to zero.
Example:
x²-7x+10=0
The roots of this equation are x=-5 and x=-2 because when you substitute
them into the equation, you get 0.
What is a discriminant?
It is the value that can be calculated from the coefficients of a quadratic
equation. It determines the nature of the roots of the equation.
