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Math 150 Exam 1 Review Sheet

This review sheet covers key concepts for Math 150 Exam 1, including: 1) Functions are mappings that assign each element in the domain to exactly one element in the range. The composition of functions f and g is (f ◦ g)(x) = f(g(x)). 2) Exponential functions with a > 1 increase without bound while those with 0 < a < 1 are bounded. A function is one-to-one if no two x-values map to the same y-value. 3) The inverse of a one-to-one function f is defined as f^-1(y) = x iff f(x) = y. To find the inverse, switch

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57 views3 pages

Math 150 Exam 1 Review Sheet

This review sheet covers key concepts for Math 150 Exam 1, including: 1) Functions are mappings that assign each element in the domain to exactly one element in the range. The composition of functions f and g is (f ◦ g)(x) = f(g(x)). 2) Exponential functions with a > 1 increase without bound while those with 0 < a < 1 are bounded. A function is one-to-one if no two x-values map to the same y-value. 3) The inverse of a one-to-one function f is defined as f^-1(y) = x iff f(x) = y. To find the inverse, switch

Uploaded by

TuongVNguyen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Math 150 Exam 1 Review Sheet

Function: A function is a mapping that assigns each element x in a set D, called the domain,
to exactly one element in a set R, called the range.
Domain and Range: Given a function f (x), the domain is the set of values which can be
plugged in for x (common restrictions to the domain include values that result in zero
denominators or negatives under even radicals). The range is the set of all possible answers
(y-values).
Composition of Functions: The composition of f and g is given by (f g)(x) = f (g(x)).
The domain includes all x in the domain of g such that g(x) is in the domain of f . In practice,
we find the domain by finding the domain of the inside function and of the final result, and
then taking the intersection of these two.
Exponential Functions: The function f (x) = ax with a > 0 has the following general
shapes:
a<1

a>1
r

(0,1)

One-to-One Function: A function f is 1:1 no two x-values are assigned to the same y-value,
ie. f (x1 ) 6= f (x2 ) whenever x1 6= x2 .
Inverse Function: If f is a 1:1 function with domain A and range B, there is an inverse
function f 1 (x) with domain B and range A defined by any of the following:
i) f 1 (y) = x f (x) = y;
ii) f 1 (f (x)) = x for every x in A and f (f 1 (x)) = x for every x in B;
iii) f 1 (x) is the reflection of f (x) through the line y = x.
Steps to find f 1 : (1) Rewrite f (x) as y; (2) Switch all xs and ys; (3) Solve for y;
(4) Rewrite y as f 1 (x)

Logarithmic Functions: The log function is defined as the inverse of the exponential
function, and therefore satisfies loga x = y ay = x and has domain (0, ) and range
(, ). Since log and exponentials are inverses, we have loga (ax ) = x and aloga x = x. If
the base of the logarithm is e, we write ln x, called the natural logarithm.
Limit as x approaches a: We write limxa f (x) = L if as x gets closer to a from either side
of a (but unequal to a), f (x) becomes arbitrarily close to L. If f (x) becomes arbitrarily large
or small as x approaches a, we write limxa f (x) = and limxa f (x) = , respectively.
For the limit to exist, the limits from the left (x < a) and the right (x > a) must be equal, ie.
limxa f (x) = limxa+ f (x). Otherwise, the limit does not exist.
Evaluating limxa f(x): For polynomials and rational functions in which a is in the domain,
we can evaluate the limit by simply replacing x by a, ie. limxa f (x) = f (a). For rational
functions that have vertical asymptotes at a, we must consider the signs as the denominator
approaches 0.
*Definition of Limit: We say limxa f (x) = L if for every > 0, there is > 0 such that
0 < |x a| < |f (x) L| < .
Continuity: A function f is continuous at a if limxa f (x) = f (a). The three types of
discontinuities are holes (removable discontinuities), gaps (jump discontinuities), and vertical
asymptotes (infinite discontinuities).
*The Intermediate Value Theorem: Suppose that f is continuous on the interval [a, b] and
f (a) 6= f (b). Then for every number N between f (a) and f (b), there is a number c satisfying
a < c < b and f (c) = N.
Limits at Infinity: We say limx f (x) = L if as x grows larger, f (x) becomes arbitrarily
close to L. The line f (x) = L is then a horizontal asymptote. The definition for x
approaching is similar.
Shortcuts for Computing Limits at Infinity: Given a rational function f (x) = p(x)/q(x),
we have the following rules:
i) limx f (x) = 0 if degree(p) < degree(q);
ii) limx f (x) = Ratio of Leading Coefficients if degree(p) = degree(q);
iii) limx f (x) = if degree(p) > degree(q), where the resulting sign must be
determined based on the behavior of the leading terms of p and q.

Asymptotes: For a rational function, vertical asymptotes (of the form x = k) occur at the
zeros of the denominator, provided there is no cancellation of the corresponding factor. For
x2
1
example, f (x) = xx2
2 4 = (x2)(x+2) = x+2 has a vertical asymptote only at x = 2.
Horizontal asymptotes are given by y = limx f (x).

*Slopes and Derivatives: The slope of the tangent line to the function f (x) at x = a is given
by the derivative f (a). This is formally computed asf (a) = limh0

f (a+h)f (a)
.
h

*The Derivative as a Function: The derivative of the function f (x) is formally computed as
(x)
f (x) = limh0 f (x+h)f
.
h
Average and Instantaneous Velocity If position is given by the function s(t), the
instantaneous velocity at any time t is given by the function v(t) = s (t).
*Formula will be provided.

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