Lesson12

ElementaryFunctions

3rd ESO

Carlos Alberto Cortijo Bon

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Table of Contents
1.ConstantFunctions..................................................................................................................................1 2.Linearfunctions.......................................................................................................................................1 3.Functionsfordirectandinverseproportionality.....................................................................................2 3.1.Directproportionality(linearfunctions)................................................................................................ 2 3.2.Inverseproportionality(hyperbolicfunctions).......................................................................................3 4.Hyperbolicfunctions................................................................................................................................4 5.Quadraticfunctions.................................................................................................................................5 5.1.Quadraticfunctionsoftheformax2...................................................................................................... 5 5.2.Quadraticfunctionsoftheformax2q................................................................................................ 6 5.3.Quadraticfunctionsoftheforma(xp)2.............................................................................................. 7 5.4.Quadraticfunctionsoftheforma(xp)2q......................................................................................... 7 5.5.Quadraticfunctionsoftheformax2+bx+c........................................................................................... 9 5.5.1.Generalequationforthevertexofaquadraticfunction..............................................................10

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Mathematics Lesson 12: Elementary Functions

3rd ESO

1. Constant Functions
A constant function is of the form:

y = c , where c
Thegraphicalrepresentation ofaconstant function isan horizontal straightline. Forexample,thefunctions y =3 and y =1 areconstantfunctions.

2. Linear functions
A linear function is of the form:

y = m x n , where m , n
The graphical representation of a linear function is a straight line . Type1: If

n = 0 , then the y = m x , where m .

function

has

the

form

These functions pass through the point

0,0 .

m is the slope of the line . It is the increase of y when x increases by 1 .

If the slope is positive, then the line goes upwards

as

x increases. x increases.

If the slope is negative, then the line goes

downwards as

Carlos Alberto Cortijo Bon

Mathematics Lesson 12: Elementary Functions

3rd ESO

Inthisgraph,fourfunctionsofthistypeareshown.Threeofthemhave apositiveslope,andoneofthemhasanegativeslope.

Type2: Functions of the form

y = m x n , where m , n y = m x n , where m , n , is a straight

The graphical representation of a function of the form line with y-intersect equal to n and slope equal to m .

Theselineshaveslopeequalto2anddifferentxintersects

Theselineshavexintersectequalto1anddifferentslopes

3. Functions for direct and inverse proportionality

The relation between two directly or inversely proportional magnitudes can be described with a function. One of the magnitudes can be represented by the independent variable x , and the other by the dependent variable y .

3.1. Direct proportionality (linear functions)

If two magnitudes have a relation of direct proportionality, then a multiplication of the first magnitude by a given factor implies a multiplication of the second magnitude by the same factor. Thus, the quotient of the values for both magnitudes is equal to a constant, that is called the direct proportionality constant.

Carlos Alberto Cortijo Bon

Mathematics Lesson 12: Elementary Functions

3rd ESO

For instance, let x be the weight of a fruit in kg and y its cost in . x and y are two directly proportional magnitudes. Double the weight of fruit, for instance, costs double the price. If a value of 4 for x

y 8 = 2 (the direct proportionality is constant and equal to x 4 y constant of y with respect to x ). In this case, this is the price in per kg). = 2 y =2 x . x
corresponds to a value of 8 for

y , then

x 4 8 1 3 5

y 8 16 2 6 10

y = 2 y =2 x x

In general, the function that describes the relation between two directly proportional magnitudes is a linear function of the form y = c x where c is the direct proportionality constant.

3.2. Inverse proportionality (hyperbolic functions)

If two magnitudes have a relation of inverse proportionality, then a multiplication of the first magnitude by a given factor implies a division of the second magnitude by the same factor. Thus, the product of the values for both magnitudes is equal to a constant, that is called the inverse proportionality constant. For example: a list of people is made to collect 36. We want to know how much money must each person contribute ( y ), depending on the number of people ( x ). These are inversely proportional magnitudes. Double the people, for instance, means that each person has to contribute half as much money. And the number of people multiplied by the amount that each person has to contribute is equal to 36. In other words,

x y =36 y =

36 . x

Carlos Alberto Cortijo Bon

Mathematics Lesson 12: Elementary Functions

x 1 2 3 4 6 y 36 18 12 9 6

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x y =36 y =

36 x

Noticethatifweswapthecoordinatesofapointofthis function,thenweobtainanotherpointofthefunction. Forinstance:if(3,12)isapointofthefunction,then(12,3) isanotherpointofthefunction.

The function that describes the relation between two directly proportional magnitudes is a function of the form

y=

c where c is the inverse proportionality constant. This is an hyperbolic function . x

4. Hyperbolic functions
An hyperbolic function

c has the following characteristics that can can help when drawing it: x It passes through the points 1, c and c ,1 . If it passes through the point a , b , then it also passes through b , a , a , b and b , a . This means that the function has odd symmetry. It passes through the point c , c . It has a vertical asymptote which is the vertical line y =0 , and an horizontal asymptote x = 0 16 y= x y=
x 1 2 4 8 16 y 16 8 4 2 1

Passesthrough 1,16 and 16,1 Passesthrough 16, 16 = 4,4 Passesthrough a , b passesthrough b , a , a ,b and b , a .Oddsymmetry. Verticalasymptotey=0andhorizontalasymptotex=0.

The following graph shows hyperbolic functions for different values of c

Carlos Alberto Cortijo Bon

Mathematics Lesson 12: Elementary Functions

3rd ESO

Frominsidetooutside: y = , y =

Thegraphseparatesmorefromtheaxesforlarger valuesoftheconstant.

9 x

16 32 64 , y = , y = x x x

Frominsidetooutside:

y=

9 x

y=

16 x

y=

Theconstantcanbenegativenumber.

32 x

y=

64 x

5. Quadratic functions
A quadratic function is a polynomial function of but no higher power of
3 4 5

x where the second power of x , e.g. x 2 , appears,

x , such as x , x , x , etc., appear. y = ax 2 b x c , where a , b , c and a 0

A quadratic function has the general form

5.1. Quadratic functions of the form ax2

The simplest quadratic function is y = x 2 .

Carlos Alberto Cortijo Bon

Mathematics Lesson 12: Elementary Functions

3rd ESO

The graph of a quadratic function is always a parabola. In this function we can observe the following characteristics, common to all quadratic functions:
It is symmetric with respect to a vertical line.

This vertical line is the axis. In this case, the axis is the vertical line given by x =0 .
An extreme point (the vertex) exists in the axis.

In this case, the vertex is a minimum of the function.

It has infinite branches. In this case, they are

upward branches. This means that the function grows forever to the left and to the right of the vertex.

The following graph represents several quadratic functions of the form y = ax 2 for several values of

a.

The following conclusions can be drawn from comparing these graphics.

The symmetry axis is the y-axis, or the axis

given by x=0.
When a>0, the function opens upward. When

a<0, the function opens downward.

When a>0, the vertex is a minimum. When a<0,

the vertex is a maximum.

The infinite branches are more open for smaller

absolute values of

a.

5.2. Quadratic functions of the form ax2q

By adding a constant to any function, the function is shifted upwards (if the constant is positive) or downwards (if the constant is negative).

Carlos Alberto Cortijo Bon

Mathematics Lesson 12: Elementary Functions

3rd ESO

This graph represents the functions

1 y = x 2 , 2

1 1 y = x 2 2 and y = x 23 . 2 2
Otherwise stated, it represents the functions

1 y = x 2 q for q = 0 , q = 2 and q =3 . 2
Thesecondistheresultofshiftingthefistadistance oftwoupwards.Thethirdistheresultofshiftingthe firstadistanceofthreedownwards.

5.3. Quadratic functions of the form a(xp)2

By replacing x by x p in a function, the function is shifted to the left (if the constant is positive) or to the right (if the constant is negative).

This graph represents the functions

1 y = x 2 , 2

1 1 y = x 2 2 and y = x 3 2 . 2 2
Otherwise stated, it represents the functions

1 y = x p 2 for p= 0 , p= 2 and p=3 . 2

Thesecondoneistheresultofshiftingthefistonea distanceoftwototheright.Thethirdoneistheresult ofshiftingthefirstoneadistanceofthreetotheleft.

5.4. Quadratic functions of the form a(xp)2q

By adding or subtracting a constant

q upwards or downwards. By replacing x by x p or by x p , where p 0 , we shift the function a distance of p to the

of right or to the left.

q , where q 0 , to a function, we shift the function a distance

Carlos Alberto Cortijo Bon

Mathematics Lesson 12: Elementary Functions

3rd ESO

This table summarizes all the possible combinations: a) If

p , q 0 ,
2 y = a x p q isthe

b)

y= a x p q y = a x p q y= a x p q
2 2

the c) function d)

resultof shifting adistanceof the function

right

upwards andadistanceof q downwards upwards downwards

p tothe
left

y = ax

And these graphs show the relation between the original function and the new one in each case. a) b)

c)

d)

Carlos Alberto Cortijo Bon

Mathematics Lesson 12: Elementary Functions

3rd ESO

5.5. Quadratic functions of the form ax2+bx+c

The usual form of a quadratic function is y = ax 2 bx c . Let's see with examples how to draw these functions.
Example1:

y = x 2 8 x 7 .

We know that this is a parabola. We expect it to have a symmetry axis in which the axis is located. 1. Find the axis. First we find the image of

x = 0 : y = 7 . The function passes through 0,7 . x with image 7: x 2 8 x 7=7 x 2 8 x =0 x x 8 =0

Then we find another value of

x= 0 or . The function passes through 0,7 and 8,7 . Thus, the axis must be in the middle x= 8 0 8 =4 . point between x = 0 and x = 8 . The axis is in x = 2 2. Calculate the vertex. The vertex is in the axis x = 4 . The image of x = 4 is y = 42 84 7= 1632 7=9 . Thus, the vertex is 4, 9 .
3. We start the graph with the three points that we have. 4. From the drawing we see that this function intersects with the x-axis. We can obtain the x-intersects from the

8 82 417 2 8 64 28 8 36 8 6 x = 7 x= . x= = 1 2 2 2 Thus, we have two more points of the function: 1,0 and 7,0 . We also draw them.
equation:

x 2 8 x 7=0 x =

5. For a more precise graph, we can compute more points around the axis x = 4 , for example x = 2 , x =3 , x = 5 and x = 7 . With all these points we can approximately draw the function.

Carlos Alberto Cortijo Bon

Mathematics Lesson 12: Elementary Functions

Example 2:

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y = x 2 x 3 .

1. Find the axis.

x = 0 : y =3 . The function passes through 0, 3 . 2. Then we find another value of x with image -3: x 2 2 x 3=3 x 2 2 x = 0 x =0 . The function passes through 0, 3 and 2, 3 . Thus, or x x 2 = 0 x 2 = 0 x = 2 0 2 =1 . the axis must be in the middle point between x = 0 and x = 2 . The axis is in x = 2 3. Calculate the vertex. The vertex is in the axis x = 1 . The image of x = 1 is y =12 213 =12 3 =2 . Thus, the vertex is 1, 2 .
First we find the image of

4. We already have three points and the axis. We start the graph with them. 5. This function opens downward, because the coefficient of x 2 is -1. And the vertex is below the x-axis. Thus, it has no xintersects. 6. For a more precise graph, we compute several other points around the axis, for instance x =1 , x =2 , x = 3 and x = 4 . With all these points we can approximately draw the function.

5.5.1. General equation for the vertex of a quadratic function

Let

y = ax 2 bx c be a quadratic function for which we want to obtain the vertex.

We can generalize the procedure that we have used in the previous example to obtain the vertex.

x = 0 y =c . One point of the function is 0, c .

Now we obtain another point for which the image is

c.

Carlos Alberto Cortijo Bon

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Mathematics Lesson 12: Elementary Functions

3rd ESO

y = ax 2 bx c = c 0 = a x bx 0 = x a x b 0 = x a x b

x =0 or

b a x b =0 x = a

Both

x = 0 and x = b a

b havethesameimage.Thus,thevertexmustbehalfwaybetweenthem.This a

is

0 2

b a b = = 2 2a y = ax 2 bx c isin x = b 2a

Thus,thevertexofthequadraticfunction

Carlos Alberto Cortijo Bon

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Mathematics Lesson 12: Elementary Functions

3rd ESO

Fill in the blanks to complete the glossary Lnearecta Funcinlineal Slope(ofastraightline) Interseccinconelejex/Interseccinconelejey Direct/inverseproportionality Constantedeproporcionalidaddirecta/inversa Hyperbolicfunction Asntotavertical/horizontal Eje Ejes Quadraticfunction Parbola Vertex(ofaparabola) Unaparbolatieneramashaciaarriba/abajo

Carlos Alberto Cortijo Bon

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