Introduction to Functions
Vocabulary
• A set of ordered pairs is also called a relation.
• The domain is the set of x-coordinates (first
components) of the ordered pairs.
• The range is the set of y-coordinates (second
components) of the ordered pairs.
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Example
Determine the domain and range of the relation {(4,9), (–4,9), (2,3), (10,
–5)}
•Domain is the set of all the first coordinates of the ordered pairs: {4, –4,
2, 10}
•Range is the set of all the second coordinates of the ordered pairs: {9,
3, –5}
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Example
Find the domain and range of the following
relation.
Input (Animal) Output (Life Span)
•Polar Bear 20
•Cow
•Chimpanzee 15
•Giraffe
•Gorilla 10
•Kangaroo
•Red Fox 7
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Example (cont)
Domain is {Polar Bear, Cow, Chimpanzee,
Giraffe, Gorilla, Kangaroo, Red Fox}
Range is {20, 15, 10, 7}
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Functions
Some relations are also functions.
A function is a relation in which each first component in
the ordered pairs corresponds to exactly one second
component.
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Example
Is the relation{(4,9), (–4,9), (2,3), (10, –5)}, also a
function?
Since each element of the domain is paired with only one
element of the range, it is a function.
Note: It’s okay for a y-value to be assigned to more than
one x-value, but an x-value cannot be assigned to more
than one y-value (has to be assigned to ONLY one y-
value).
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Example
Is the relation y = x2 – 2x a function?
Since each element of the domain (the
x-values) would produce only one element
of the range (the y-values), it is a function.
8
Example
Is the relation x2 – y2 = 9 a function?
Since each element of the domain (the
x-values) would correspond with 2
different values of the range (both a
positive and negative y-value), the
relation is NOT a function.
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Vertical Line Test
Graphs can be used to determine if a relation is a
function.
Vertical Line Test
If no vertical line can be drawn so that it
intersects a graph more than once, the graph
is not the graph of a function.
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Example
y
Use the vertical line
test to determine
whether the graph to
the right is the graph
of a function.
x
Since no vertical line
will intersect this
graph more than
once, it is the graph
of a function.
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Example
y
Use the vertical line
test to determine
whether the graph to
the right is the graph
of a function.
x
Since no vertical line
will intersect this
graph more than
once, it is the graph
of a function.
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Example
y
Use the vertical line
test to determine
whether the graph to
the right is the graph
of a function.
Since vertical lines x
can be drawn that
intersect the graph
in two points, it is
NOT the graph of a
function.
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Vertical Line Test
Since the graph of a linear equation is a line, all linear
equations are functions, except those whose graph is a
vertical line
Note: An equation of the form y = c is a
horizontal line and IS a function.
An equation of the form x = c is a vertical line
and IS NOT a function.
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Example
y
Find the domain and
range of the function Domain
graphed to the right.
Use interval
notation.
x
Range
Domain is [–3, 4]
Range is [–4, 2]
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Example
y
Find the domain
and range of the
function graphed to
the right. Use Range
interval notation.
x
Domain is (– , )
Range is [– 2, ) Domain
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Helpful Hint
Note that f(x) is a special symbol in mathematics used to
denote a function. The symbol f(x) is read “f of x.” It does
not mean f • x (f times x).
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Example
Find each function value.
a. If f(x) = 4x – 1, find f(2).
f(2) = 4(2) – 1 = 7
b. If g(x) = x2 – 2x, find g(–3).
g(–3) = (–3)2 – 2(–3) = 9 – (–6) = 15
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Example
y
Given the graph of
the following function,
find each function
value by inspecting
the graph. f(x)
f(5) = 8
x
f(4) = 3
f(5) = 1
f(6) = 7
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