Evaluating function

Learning objectives

At the end of the lesson, learners are expected to:

recall the process of substitution;

Types Of functions

Constant Function - A constant function is a function that has the same output value no matter what
your input value is. Because of this, a constant function has the form f(x) = b, where b is a constant (a
single value that does not change).

ex: y=7

Identity function - The Identity Function is a function which returns the same value, which was used as
its argument. In other words, the identity function is the function f(x) = x, for all values of x

ex: F(2) = 2

Polynomial function -A polynomial function is defined by y= a + a²x + a²x² + a"x", where n is a non
negative integer and aº, a¹, a2,..., n ∈ R. +…
E.g Linear, Quadratic and Cubic Function

Linear Function - The polynomial function with degree one. It is in the form y = mx + b.

Example: y = 2x + 5

Quadratic Function - If the degree of the polynomial function is two, then it is a quadratic function. It is
expressed as y = ax² + bx+c, where a ≠ 0 and a, b, c are constant and x is a variable

Example: y = 3x² + 2x + 5

Cubic Function - A cubic polynomial function is a polynomial of degree three and can be denoted by f(x)
= ax³ + bx² + cx + d, where a ≠ 0 and a, b, c, and d are constant and x is a variable

Example: y = 5x3 + 3x² + 2x + 5

Power Function - A power function is a function in the form y = ax where b is any real constant number.
Many of our parent functions such as linear functions and quadratic functions are in fact power
functions.

Example: f(x) = 8x5

Rational Function - A rational function is any function which can be represented by a rational fraction
say, P(x) in which q(x) numerator, p(x) and denominator, q(x) are polynomial functions of x, where q(x) ≠
0.
Example: f(x) = x² - 3x + 2 x²-4

Exponential Function - These are functions of the form y = ab, where x is in an exponent and a and b are
constants. (Note that only b is raised to the power of x; not a.) If the base b is greater than 1 then the
result is exponential growth.

Example: y = 2x

Logarithmic Function - Logarithmic functions are the inverse of exponential functions, and any
exponential function can be expressed in logarithmic form. Logarithms are very useful in permitting us
to work with very large numbers while manipulating numbers of a more manageable size. It is written in
the form y = logx x > 0, where b > 0 and b ≠ 1.

Example: y = log, 49

Absolute Value Function - The absolute value of any number, c is represented inthe form of | subset| . If
any function f / R -> R is defined byf(x) = |x| is known as absolute value of function. Foreach non-
negative value of x, f(x) = x and for eachnegative value of x, f(x)=-x,i.e.,f(x)=\ x, ifx \ge0; - x if x < 0 \ .

Example: y = |x - 4| + 2

Greatest Integer Function - If a function f / R -> R is defined by f(x) = [x], x \in X Itround-off to the real
number to the integers less thanthe number. Suppose, the given interval is in the form of(k, k+1), the
value of greatest integer function is k whichis an integer.

Example: f(x) = ||x|| + 1 where ||x|| is thegreatest integer function.

Evaluating Functions
Evaluating function is the process of determining thevalue of the function at the number assigned to a
givenvariable. Just like in evaluating algebraic expressions, toevaluate function you just need to

a.) replace each letter in the expression with theassigned value and

b.) perform the operations in the expression using thecorrect order of operations.

Examples

Example 1: Given f(x) = 2x - 4 find the value of the function if x = 3

Solution:

f(3) = 2(3) - 4

f(3) = 6 - 4

f(3) = 2

Substitute 3 for x in the function.

Simplify the expression on the rightside of the equation.

Answer: Given f(x) = 2x - 4 f(3) = 2

Function Notation
Function Notation is another way to write y in an equation.y = x + 2f(x) = x + 2

if(xead allowedas "f'of x

Function Notation

can be written with other variables to representdifferent equations g(x), h(t) k(y) etc.f(x) = x + 2g(x) = x +
2h(t) = t + 2

(Input, Outpu)(x,y)(x, f(x))

Ex. Given f(x) = x + 2 find f(1)f(1) = 1 + 2f(1) = 3

Pro Tip:Use parenthesis when plugging in.

Example

g(x) = 5 - 3x evaluate g(2)

Explanation using PEMDAS

P (none)E (none)

Pro Tip:Use parenthesis when plugging in.

Example
g(x) = 5 - 3x evaluate g(2)g(2) =5-3 (2)=5-6-1

Explanation using PEMDAS

P (none)E (none)M/D (Multiply 3 times 2)A/S (Subtract 5 minus 6)

Pro Tip:M/D and A/S are completed from left right.

Example

Explanation using PEMDAS

P (none)

h(x) = 3/4 * x - 3 + 5 find h(-8)h(- 8) = 3/4 * (- 8) - 3 + 5= - 2/44 - 3 + 5= - 6 - 3 + 5 = - 9 + 5 = - 4

E (none)

M/D (Multiply 3 times -8)(Divide -24 by 4)A/S (Subtract -6 minus 3)(Add -9 plus 5)

Pro Tip:Parenthesis in PEMDAS says to do what is inside parenthesis first.

Example
Explanation using PEMDAS

v(t) = 500 * (1 + 0.5) ^ E find v(3)v(3) = 500 * (1 + 0.5) ^ 3=500(1.5) 3=500(3.75)1687.5

P (add 1 and 0.5)

E (1.5 times 1.5 times 1.5)

M/D (500 times 3.75)

A/S (none)