I.E.S.

Izpisa Belmonte
Seccin Europea
Matemticas I Seccin Europea
80

FUNCTIONS.

DEFINITIONS.

A function is a rule that relates how one quantity depends on other quantities.
Whenever a relationship exists between two variables (or quantities) such that for
every value of the first, there is only one corresponding value of the second, then we
say: "The second variable is a function of the first variable."
The first variable is the independent variable (usually x), and the second variable is
the dependent variable (usually y). The independent variable and the dependent
variable are real numbers.
We normally write functions as: f(x) and read this as "function f of x". We can use
other letters for functions. Common ones are g(x) and h(x).

Domain and range.

The domain of a function is the complete set of possible values of the independent
variable in the function. In plain English, this definition means: The domain of a
1function is the set of all possible x values which will make the function "work" and
will output real y-values.
When finding the domain, remember:
- The denominator (bottom) of a fraction cannot be zero
- The values under a square root sign must be positive or zero
- The values inside a logarithm sign must be positive
- Sometimes the context of a real problem determines the domain


The range of a function is the complete set of all possible resulting values of the
dependent variable of a function, after we have substituted the values in the domain.
In plain English, the definition means: The range of a function is the possible y
values of a function that result when we substitute all the possible x-values into the
function.
y = f(x)
DOMAIN
X
Y


R
A
N
G
E
I.E.S. Izpisa Belmonte
Seccin Europea
Matemticas I Seccin Europea
81


When finding the range, remember:
- Substitute different x-values into the expression for y to see what is
happening
- Make sure you look for minimum and maximum values of y
- Draw a sketch!

GRAPH OF A FUNCTION.
The graph of a function f is the set of all points in the plane of the form (a, f(a)). So,
the second coordinate is the image of the first one.

Normally, the values of the independent variable (generally the x-values) are
placed on the horizontal axis, while the values of the dependent variable (generally
the y-values) are placed on the vertical axis.
The x-value, called the abscissa, is the perpendicular distance of P from the y-axis.
The y-value, called the ordinate, is the perpendicular distance of P from the x-axis.
The values of x and y together, written as (x, y) are called the co-ordinates of the
point P



Vertical Line Test
A set of points in the plane is the graph of a function if and only if no vertical line
intersects the graph in more than one point.
I.E.S. Izpisa Belmonte
Seccin Europea
Matemticas I Seccin Europea
82



I.E.S. Izpisa Belmonte
Seccin Europea
Matemticas I Seccin Europea
83

ELEMENTARY FUNCTIONS.

1.-LINEAR FUNCTION.
The term linear function is sometimes used to mean a first-degree polynomial
function of one variable. These functions are known as "linear" because they are
precisely the functions whose graph in the Cartesian coordinate plane is a straight
line.

So, the equation of a linear function is y=mx+n, where m is the slope or gradient
and n is the y-intercept
The graph of the linear function y=mx+n is a straight line that passes through
the point (0,n), so the y-intercept, n, tells us the point where the line cuts the
y-axis.
m is the gradient or slope and is a measure of the slant of the line(when m is
positive the straight line is an increasing function, but when m is negative
then the straight line is a decreasing function). The slope.
The different values of m determine the slant of the straight line, when
m is almost 0 then the straight line is almost horizontal and when m is a
huge number then the line is almost vertical.
Two parallel lines have the same slope.
You can calculate the slope using the following formula.


2.- QUADRATIC FUNCTION.


In general, a quadratic function is a
polynomial function of the form



The graph of a quadratic function is
a parabola whose axis of symmetry is parallel to
the y-axis. A parabola intersects its axis of
symmetry at a point called the vertex of the
parabola.
The vertex of a parabola is the place where it
turns, hence, it's also called the turning
point. The x-coordinate of the vertex is

How to draw a parabola:
Firstly calculate the vertex.
Determine, if it is possible the points where the function intercepts the
coordinates axes.
0 a>
0 a <
I.E.S. Izpisa Belmonte
Seccin Europea
Matemticas I Seccin Europea
84

Make a chart.
Plot the points.
Draw the parabola.
The meaning of the coefficients:
a:
- If a>0 the parabola opens upward (U).
- If a<0 the parabola opens downward ().
The coefficient a controls the speed of increase (or decrease) of the quadratic
function from the vertex, bigger positive a makes the function increase faster and
the graph appear more closed, the leading coefficient "a" indicates how "fat" or how
"skinny" the parabola will be.
b:
The coefficients b and a together control the axis of symmetry of the parabola (also
the x-coordinate of the vertex) which is at x = -b/2a.
c:
The coefficient c controls the height of the parabola, more specifically, it is the point
where the parabola intercept the y-axis.

3.- FUNCTIONS TRANSFORMATIONS.




I.E.S. Izpisa Belmonte
Seccin Europea
Matemticas I Seccin Europea
85









I.E.S. Izpisa Belmonte
Seccin Europea
Matemticas I Seccin Europea
86


I.E.S. Izpisa Belmonte
Seccin Europea
Matemticas I Seccin Europea
87

4.- PIECEWISE FUNCTIONS.

A piecewise-defined function (also called a piecewise function) is a function
whose definition changes depending on the value of the independent variable.


















5.- ABSOLUTE VALUE OF A FUNCTION.
The absolute value of a real number is the number if positive and its opposite if the
number is negative. In general the absolute value of a function is
|| {












1 y =
y x =
2
2 1 y x x = + +
1 y =
3 y x =
2
2 1 0
1 0 4
3 4
x x si x
y si x
x si x
+ + s

= < <

>

2
1 2
x si x
y
si x

s
=
>
( ) y f x =
( ) y f x =
I.E.S. Izpisa Belmonte
Seccin Europea
Matemticas I Seccin Europea
88

6.- INVERSELY PROPORTIONAL FUNCTIONS.
Their equation is
k
y
x
= .Graphically they are hyperbolas whose assymptotes are the
coordinates axes. The functions
ax b
y
cx d
+
=
+
are also hyperbolas as we can see
dividing.







7.- ROOT FUNCTIONS.
Function x y = is continuous and increasing (when x increases, then x
increases too), the bigger x is, the more slowly the increase is and its domain
is [0, +). Function
3
x y = is continuous and increasing, its domain is








x y =
3
x y =
1
2
3
y
x
= +

2 5
3
x
y
x

=

I.E.S. Izpisa Belmonte

Seccin Europea
Matemticas I Seccin Europea
89

8.- EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS.
Their equation is y=a
x
, with a a positive number different to 1.
Properties:
a>1 0<a<1
Passes through (0,1) and (1,a)
Domain
Range
Continuous
Increasing Decreasing
x-axis is an asymptote (left) x-axis is an asymptote (right)

y=e
x
is very important in maths.







9.- LOGARITHM FUNCTIONS.
a
y Log x = , with a a positive number different to 1
Properties
a>1 0<a<1
Passes through (1,0) and (a,1)
Domain
Range
Continuous
Increasing Decreasing
y-axis is a vertical asymptote y-axis is a vertical asymptote

ln
e
y Log x x Lx = = = called the natural logarithm function is very important in maths.
This function is the inverse function of the exponential function
x
y e = .

2
x
y =
1
2
x
y
| |
=
|
\ .
I.E.S. Izpisa Belmonte
Seccin Europea
Matemticas I Seccin Europea
90







10.- TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS AND THEIR INVERSES.
Name
Usual
notation
Domain of x for real
result
Range
Graph
sine y= sinx All real numbers [-1,1]

cosine y= cos x All real numbers [-1,1]

2
y Log x =
1
2
y Log x =
y Lnx =
x
y e =
I.E.S. Izpisa Belmonte
Seccin Europea
Matemticas I Seccin Europea
91

tangent y =tan x
{

}




Name Usual notation Definition Domaint Range (radians) Graph
arcsine y= arcsinx x=sin y 1 x 1 /2 y/2

arccosine y= arccos x x = cos y 1 x 1 0 y

arctangent y = arctan x x=tany all real numbers /2 <y</2



I.E.S. Izpisa Belmonte
Seccin Europea
Matemticas I Seccin Europea
92

Composition of Functions
"Function Composition" is applying one function to the results of another:
)] ( [ ) ( x f g x f g = . The notation gf is read as "g circle f", or "g round f", or "g
composed with f", "g after f", "g following f", or "g of f".
In general, this operation is not commutative, so f g is different to g f .
Examples
Given 5 3 ) ( ) (
2
= = x x g x x f then 5 3 ) ( )) ( ( ) )( (
2 2
= = = x x g x f g x f g andy
2
) 5 3 ( ) 5 3 ( )) ( ( ) )( ( = = = x x f x g f x g f .

Inverse function.

Given y=f(x) , the inverse function of f is another one denoted
1
f such as:
x x f f x x f f = =

) )( ( ) )( (
1 . 1
.An inverse function goes in the opposite
direction!

One function and its inverse have graphs symmetric from the line y=x.

A function has an inverse if this function is injective (there arent two or more
points with the same image).

Solve Using Algebra
You can work out the inverse using Algebra. Put "y" for "f(x)" and solve for x:
The function:

f(x) = 2x+3
Put "y" for "f(x)":

y = 2x+3
Subtract 3 from both sides:

y-3 = 2x
Divide both sides by 2:

(y-3)/2 = x
Swap sides:

x = (y-3)/2
Solution (put "f
-1
(y)" for "x") :

f
-1
(y) = (y-3)/2
This method works well for more difficult inverses.