FUNCTIONS

Definition: A relation is a correspondence of two sets X to Y such that to each element of

X, there is assigned one or more elements to Y .

Definition: A function f from a set X to a set Y is a correspondence, or rule, which assigns

to each element x of X of exactly y of Y . If the element y of the set Y corresponds to the element
x of the set X, we call y the image of x under f .
Definition: The Domain of the function is the set of all admissible values of x. The Range
of the function is the set of all resulting values of y.

Note:
Every function is a relation.
Every element of the first set has an image on the second set.
An elemenet of the domain never corresponds to more than one element of the range.
An element of the range may be used more than once.
Some elements in the second set may not be in the range.
Domain and Range of Functions
Find the Domain and Range of the following functions:
1. y = 2x + 1

D:

R:

2. y = x2

D:

R:

3. y =

x2 4x + 3
x1

D:

R:

4. y =

x3

D:

R:

Graph of a function
If f is a function, then the graph of f is the set of all points (x, y) in the Real Coordinate
Plane (R2 ) for which (x, y) is an ordered pair in f .
Remark: A vertical line intersect the graph of a function in at most one point. (Vertical line
test)
Example: Determine the domain and range of the following functions and sketch the graph.

1. f (x) =


2. f(x) =

1 x2

2
2

if
if

x1
5
3. f(x) =

2x + 1

x 1
1 < x

if
if
if

x<3
x=3
3<x


4. f(x) =

3x 2
x2

if
if

x<1
1x

Function Notations and Function Values

If f is the function having as its domain variable x and as its range variable y, the symbol
f (x) (read f of x or f at x) denotes the particular value of y that corresponds to the
value of x.
If y = f (x), then we call x the independent variable since x can be chosen and we call y the
dependent variable since y depends on the choice of x.

Ex. Find the particular value given the following:

If g(x) = x2 + 3x + 1, find g(2) , g(a + b) and g(5) g(b)

Operations on Functions
Definition:Given two functions f and g:
i. their sum, denoted by f + g, is the function defined by (f + g)(x) = f (x) + g(x)
ii. their difference, denoted by f g, is the function defined by (f g)(x) = f (x) g(x)
iii. their product, denoted by f g, is the function defined by (f g)(x) = f (x) g(x)
iv. their quotient, denoted by f /g, is the function defined by (f /g)(x) =

f (x)
g(x)

where g(x) 6= 0

Example: Given that f and g are functions defined by f (x) = x + 1 and g(x) = x 4,
Define the following functions and determine the domain of the resulting function:
c)f g
d)f /g

a)f + g
b)f g

Composite Functions
Definition:Given two functions f and g, the composite function denoted by f g, is defined
by
(f g)(x) = f (g(x))
and the domain of f g is the set of all numbers x in the domain of g such that g(x) is in the
domain of f .

Example: Given f (x) = x 2 and g(x) = x2 2, find

a)f g
b)g f

c)f f
d)g g

TYPES OF FUNCTIONS
Constant Function f : f (x) = c , (c is any real number)
Linear Function f : f (x) = mx + b , (m and b are constants and m 6= 0)
Identity Function f : f (x) = x
Polynomial Function f : f (x) = an xn + an1 xn1 + . . . + a1 x + a0 , (a0 , a1 , . . . , an are real
numbers and an 6= 0 and n is a non-negative integer)
Quadratic Function f : polynomial function of degree 2
Cubic Function f : polynomial function of degree 3
Rational Function f : quotient of two polynomials
ODD and EVEN FUNCTIONS
Definition: A function f (x) is called even if f (x) = f (x) for all x. While, a function f (x)
is called odd if f (x) = f (x) for all x.
Ex.: Determine analytically whether the function is even, odd or neither
1. f (y) =

y 3 y
y 2 +1

2. g(r) =

r2 1
r2 +1

3. f (x) =

x1
x2 +1

EXERCISES
1. Find the Domain and Range of the following functions and sketch its graph.
(a) f (x) =

x2 25
x+5

x6

if x < 5
1
0
if x = 5
(c) f(x) =

1 if 5 < x
 2
x 4 if x 6= 3
(d) f(x) =
x 2 if x = 3

if
x < 5
x + 3
2
(e) g(x) =
25 x
if 5 x 5

3x
if
5<x

(b) h(x) =

2. Find the particular value given the following:

(a) If f (x) = 3x + 2, find f (x2 ) and [f (x)]2
(b) If f (x) =

2
[f (4 + h) f (4)]
, find
x+3
h

3. Tell whether the following functions are odd or even:

(a) y = x4 4x2
(b) y = 3x4 + 2x2 + 1
(c) y = x +
(d) y = 1

1
x

4. Find the values of the following if f (x) = x2 + 3 and g(x) = x 1

(a) (f + g)(x)
(b) (f g)(0)
(c) (f g)(3)
(d) (f /g)(1)
(e) (f + g)(7)

5. Find the values of the following composite functions if f (x) = 5x 1 , g(x) = 2x2 7 and
1
h(x) =
x+1
(a) (h g)(x)
(b) (f g)(x)
(c) (f h)(4)
(d) (g h)(0)
(e) ((g f )(5)

FUNCTIONS AS MATHEMATICAL MODELS

A mathematical model of the situation is a real-world sutuation in terms of a functional
relationship.
Suggestions for Solving Problems Involving a Function as a Mathematical Model
1. Read the problem carefully so that you will understand it.
2. Determine the known and unknown quantities.
3. Write down numerical facts known about the variable and the function value.
4. From the information in step 3, determine two algebraic expressions for the same number, one in terms of the variable and one in terms of the function value. From these two
expressions form a function that defines the function.
5. Solve for the unknown quantities.
Examples:

1. The Volume of a gas having a constant pressure is directly proportional to the absolute
temperature, and at a temperature of 175o the gas occupies 100m3 . (a) Find a mathematical model expressing as a function of temperature.(b)What is the volume of the gas at a
temperature of 140o ?

2. A wholesaler sells a product by the pound (or fraction of a pound); if not more than 10
pounds are ordered, the wholesaler charges $2 per pound. However, to invite large orders
the wholesaler charges only $1.80 per pound if more than 10 pounds are ordered.(a) Find
a mathematical model expressing the total cost of the order as a function of the amount of
the product ordered.(b) Sketch the graph of the function. (c) Determine the total cost of
an order of 9.5 lb and of an order of 10.5 lb.

3. In a forest a predator feeds on prey, and for the first fifteen week since the end of hunting
season the predator population is a function f of x, the number of prey in the forest, which
in turn is function of g of t, the number of weeks that elapsed since the end of the hunting
season. If
1
f (x) = x2 2x + 50 and g(t) = 4t + 52
48
where 0 t 15, do the following: (a) Find a mathematical model expressing the predator
population as a function of the number of weeks since the end of the hunting season. (b)
Find the predator population 11 weeks after the close of the hunting season.