1.

2 ALGEBRAIC
FUNCTIONS
MATH 14 AB
2nd Semester 2012 - 2013
Cartesian Plane
Cartesian Plane
Graph of a Relation
The graph of a relation f is the set of all
points (x, y) in the Cartesian plane such
that (x, y) is in f.

Graphs can be generated by plotting a

finite number of points and then
connecting them (depending on the
domain of f).
 How do we recognize a
graph of a function?
VERTICAL LINE TEST
Given the graph of a relation, if any
vertical line constructed intersects (or
passes) the graph in at most one point,
then the relation described is a function.

Any vertical line must intersect the

graph of a function in at most one point.
Graphs of Functions
Graphs of Non-Functions
Algebraic Functions
Two main types of functions:
• Algebraic functions – functions that can be
obtained by a finite combination of
constants and variables together with the
four basic operations.

• Transcendental functions – non-algebraic

functions.
Examples: exponential, logarithmic,
circular (trigonometric) functions
Polynomial Functions
Polynomial Functions are algebraic functions
that are of the form:
n 1
P( x)  an x  an 1 x
n
 ...  a2 x  a1 x  a0 .
2

where: n is a non-negative integer ; and

an, an-1, … , a2, a1, a0 ∈ R

Note: Domain: Dp = R (set of real numbers)

Polynomial Functions
Types of Polynomial functions
depending on the degree:
Constant Function: n = 0
Linear Function: n = 1
Quadratic Function: n = 2
Cubic Function: n=3
CONSTANT FUNCTIONS
Form of a constant function:
y  f  x  k
where k is a fixed real number.

Properties:  D f  R

 R f   y | y  k   k
CONSTANT FUNCTIONS
Example: f  x  4

Df  R
R f   4
CONSTANT FUNCTIONS
Example: g  x   3

Df  R
R f    3
LINEAR FUNCTIONS
A linear function is of the form:
y  f  x   mx  b
where m, b are real numbers and a ≠ 0.

Properties:

 Domain : R  Range : R
INTERCEPTS
y – intercept:
The point where the graph of the
function crosses the y – axis.
(The point where x = 0.)

x – intercept:
The point where the graph crosses the x
– axis.
(The point where y = 0.)
LINEAR FUNCTIONS
Example: h  x   2 x  4

Dh = R
y – intercept: (0, 4)
x – intercept: (2, 0)
Rh = R
LINEAR FUNCTIONS
3x  5
Example: j  x  
2

Dj = R
Rj = R
 2
y – intercept: 0, 5

x – intercept:  5 ,0 
3
LINEAR FUNCTIONS
y  f  x   mx  b
Note:
if m > 0, the graph slants to the right.
if m < 0, the graph slants to the left.

m is the slope of the line.

b is the y – intercept.
QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
A quadratic function is a function of the form:
y  f  x   ax  bx  c
2

where a, b, c are real numbers and a ≠ 0.

Properties:
Domain: R
The graph is a parabola opening either
upward or downward.
Range: (depends on the value of a)
QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
If a is positive:

vertex

If a is negative:
QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
VERTEX – the lowest or highest point on the
parabola. If the equation of a quadratic
function is
f  x   ax  bx  c,
2

then the vertex V is given by:

 b 4ac  b 2   b   b 
V   ,   V   , f  .
 2a 4a   2a  2a  
QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
If a > 0, the graph is opening upward. Thus the
vertex is the lowest point on the parabola.
Hence the value of y has a minimum which is the
y – coordinate of the vertex.

 4ac  b 2 
Therefore , range:  y | y  , if a  0.
 4a 
Likewise, if a < 0, the range is
 4ac  b 
2

y | y  , if a  0.
 4a 
QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
Example: Find the domain, range and vertex of
g  x  1  x .
2

Solution:
Domain: Dg = R
Note that a = – 1, b = 0 and c =1. So the vertex
is at: V  0, 1.
Since a = – 1 < 0, the graph opens downward.

Rg   y | y  1    ,1.
QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
Example: Find the domain, range and vertex of
h x   x  4 x  5.
2

Solution:
Domain: Dg = R
Note that a = 1, b = 4 and c = – 5. So the vertex
is at: V   2,9 .
Since a = 1 > 0, the graph opens upward.

Rg   y | y  9    9, .
QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
Sketch the graphs of:

1.) g  x   1  x 2

2.) h x   x  4 x  5
2

3.) m x   2 x  x  2
2
QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
Note that the graph of a quadratic
equation is symmetric with respect to
the line:
b
x .
2a
What have we done?
Learned how to plot points on the two-
dimensional Cartesian plane,
Determined whether a relation is a
function based on its graph (via the
Vertical Line Test),
Determined the domain and range of the
different polynomial functions, and
Sketched the graphs of the different
polynomial functions.