Pre-Calculus

Functions and Graphs

What is a function?

Functions in the Real World

What is a function?
A function f is a rule that
assigns to each element x in
a Set A exactly one element,
called f(x), in a Set B.
Consider the formula for
the area of a circle in terms
of its radius: A = r2
For any given value of r,
there is only one
corresponding value of A.
Thus, for example, if the
radius of the circle is 3, its
area will be 9.

Furthermore, the area will

always be 9 when the
radius is 3. It will not
sometimes be 9 and
sometimes something else.
Now consider the formula,
B2 = G.
For any given value of G
(except 0), there will be two
values of B. Thus, for
example, if G = 4, then
either B is 2 or B is 2.
A is a function of r, but B is
not a function of G.

Types of functions
Linear Functions: f(x) = mx + b
Power Functions: f(x) = xn
Root Functions: f(x) = (x)1/n

Reciprocal Functions: f(x) = 1/xn

Absolute Value Functions: f(x) = lxl
Greatest Integer Functions: f(x) = x

Types of Functions
One-To-One Function

A function from set A to set B

is said to be an One-To-One
(injective) function if no two or
more elements of set A have
the same elements mapped or
imaged in set B.

Types of Functions
Many-to-one Function

A function from set A to

set B is said to be a manyto-one (surjective) function
if two or more elements in
set A processed through
the function produces the
same output or same
element in set B.

Types of Functions (Summary)

Identifying a Function
Determine if each of the following are
functions.
(a) f(x) = x2 + 1
(b) (f(x))2 = x + 1

Solution
(a) The first one is a function. Given any value
for x which is placed into the function, f(x)
gives only one answer.
(b) The second one is not a function. With
certain values for x which are placed into the
function, f(x) gives more than one answer.

Identifying a Function

Power Functions
A function of the form f(x) = xn, where n is any
real number constant is called a power
function.
E.g. f(x) = x2

f(x) = x5

Polynomial Functions
f(x) = anxn + an-1xn-1 + .. + a1x1 + a0 where n
Z+ and a0, a1, . , an are constants with an
0 is called a polynomial function in x. The term
in which x has the greatest exponent is anxn.
This exponent is called degree of the function
and an is the leading co-efficient.
Example f(x) = 3x4 - x3 + 2x2 +5x - 2

Polynomial Functions

Graphs of Polynomial Functions

Identifying a Function Cont

Identifying a Function Cont

Rational Functions
A rational function is a quotient of two
polynomials P(x) and Q(x).
f(x) = P(x) = anxn + an-1xn-1 + + a2x2 + a1x1+ a0
Q(x) Cnxn + Cn-1xn-1 + + C2x2 + C1x1 + C0

E.g. f(x) = x2 + 4x + 1
x2 + 3

Evaluating a Function
Let f(x) = 3x2 + x 5. Evaluate each function
value.
(a) f(4)

(b) f(-2)

(c) f()

Evaluating a Function
Solution
(a) f(4) = 3(4)2 + 4 5
f(4) = 3(16) + 4 5
f(4) = 47
(b) f(-2) = 3(-2)2 + (-2) 5
f(-2) = 3(4) + (-2) 5
f(-2) = 5

Evaluating a Function
Solution
(c) f() = 3()2 + 5
f() = 3() + 5
f() = - 15 4

Absolute Value Function

For any real number x the absolute value or
modulus of x is denoted by |x|and is defined
as
x
if x 0
x
if x < 0
x

The absolute value of a number is always

positive or zero.

Properties of Absolute Value

Property

Example

a 0

3 3 0

a a
ab a b
a
a

b
b

5 5

25 2 5
12
12

3
3

Piecewise Defined Function

A piecewise defined function is defined by
different formulas on different parts of its
domain.
A function f is defined by
if x 1
1 x
f ( x) 2
if
x
>
1
x

Evaluate f(0), f(1) and f(2)

Solution

Since 0 1, we have f(0) = 1 0 = 1

Since 1 1, we have f(1) = 1 1 = 0
Since 2 > 1, we have f(2) = 22 = 4

Exercises
Evaluate the function at the indicated values.
1. f(x) = 2x + 1;
f(1), f(-2), f(), f(a), f(-a) f(a + b)
2. f(x) = x2 + 2
f(0), f(3), f(-3), f(a), f(-x), f(a-1)

Exercises
3.

1 x
f ( x)
;
1 x

f(2), f(-2), f(), f(a), f(a 1)

4. f(x) = 2x2 +3x 4 ;

f(0), f(2), f(-2) f(

), f(x +1), f(-x)

Exercises
5. f(x) = 2|x 1|;
f(-2), f(0), f(), f(2), f(x + 1), f(x2 + 2)
6. f(x) = x3 4x2;
f(0), f(1), f(-1), f(), f(x2)

Exercises
Evaluate the piecewise defined function at the
indicated values.
if x -1
x2 2x

1.
if -1 < x 1
f ( x) x
1
if x > 1

f(-4), f( 3 2 ), f(-1), f(0), f(25)

Exercises

2.

3 x

f ( x) x 1
( x 2) 2

f(-5), f(0), f(1), f(2), f(5)

if x < -1
if 0 x 2
if x > 2

The Domain of a Function

The domain of a function is the set of all
'allowable inputs for the function.
The domain of the function may be stated
explicitly.
E.g. f(x) = x2
0x5

The Domain of a Function

On the other hand, the domain of a function
may not be stated explicitly.
E.g.

f(x) = 5x 3

Find the set of all values that can be plugged

into a function and have the function exist and
have a real number for a value.

The Domain of a Function

Therefore, for the domain we need to avoid:
division by zero, square roots of negative
numbers, logarithms of zero and logarithms
of negative numbers, etc.
Find the domain of the function;
f(x) = 5x 3
Domain: x or

The Range of a function

The range of a function is the set of all outputs
for the function.
E.g. Let y = f(x) = |2x - 1|
Range:

: 0

or

[ 0, )

Expressing the Domain & Range of a

Function
Consider the function y = f(x) = x2
Domain

Range

{x:-<x<}

{y:y0}

0,

Set Notation
If a and b are fixed real numbers with a < b we
define the following sets;
1. x : x a is an infinite unbounded interval. This is
described as an open left interval.
2. x : x a is an infinite unbounded interval which
contains the end point.

Set Notation
3. x : a x b is an open interval.
4. x : a x b is a closed interval.
5. x : a x b is a half-open interval.
6. x : a x b is a half-open-interval.

Set Notation & Symbol

Representation
x : x a a,

x : x a , a

x : x a a,

x : x a , a

x : a x b a, b

x : a x b a, b

x : a x b a, b

x : a x b a, b

Finding Domains of Functions

Examples

1
1. f ( x)
x4
Solution: the function f is not defined at x = 4,
therefore its domain is { x : x 4 }.
Domain: ( - , 4) (4, )

Finding Domains of Functions

Examples
2.

f ( x) x

Solution: the function f is not defined for

negative x, therefore its domain is
{ x : x 0 }.
Domain:

[0 , )

Finding Domains of Functions

Example
3.

x4
f ( x) 2
x 2 x 15

Solution: the function f is undefined if

2
x 2 x 15 0 x = -3, x = 5
Domain:

x : x 3, x 5

or

,3 5,

Finding Domains of Functions

Example
4.

f ( x) 6 x x 2

Solution: the function f is undefined if

6 + x - x2 0
Domain: { x : - 2 x 3 }

or

[-2,3]

Finding Domains & Ranges of

Functions
Examples
1. Let y = f ( z) = |z - 6| - 3
Solution: the function f is an absolute function
and is defined for any real value.

Finding Domains & Ranges of

Functions
Domain: { z : - z }

Range: 3

or

(- ,)

or 3 ,

Finding Domains & Ranges of

Functions
Examples
2. Let y = f (t ) 4 7t
Solution : the function f is not defined for square
root of any negative real values.

Finding Domains & Ranges of

Functions
Domain:

Range:

0,

4
,
7

or

: <

or

4
7

Finding Domains and Ranges of

Functions
Examples
3. = 8
Solution: the function f is a constant function
and is defined at 8.

Finding Domains and Ranges of

Functions
Domain:

Range: 8

< <

or

Exercises
Find the domain of the following functions.

1. = 2 + 1
2. = 2
3. =

4. =

1
3 6
1
3

1 5

Exercises
5. =

6. =

+2
2 1

7. =

8. =

4
2 + 6