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LESSON 4: Graphs of a Function

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this lesson, the students are expected to accomplish the
following:
sketch the graph of a function;
determine the domain and range of a function from its graph; and
identify whether a relation is a function or not from its graph.
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES:
Students should be acquainted to the concept of graphing a function. It plays
a very important role in their studies of calculus, especially in the discussion of
geometric interpretation of derivatives.
It is advisable to let them graph all the functions in Example 4.1 by pointplotting in order for them not to forget that this method of graphing is a good tool
to trace the curve. Example 4.2 must also be emphasized to students for them
to
analyze the graphical significance of evaluating a function. Example 4.3
enhances their visual understanding of domain and range of a function.
Exercise nos. 1 and 2 may be solved as board works and nos. 3 and 4 may
be used as a research work.
DISCUSSION OF THE TOPICS:
As we mentioned in our previous lesson, a function can be represented in
different ways and one of which is through a graph or its geometric
representation. We also mentioned that a function may be represented as the
set of ordered pairs (x, y). That is plotting the set of ordered as points on the
rectangular coordinates system and joining them will determine a curve called
the graph of the function.

The graph of a function f consists of all points (x, y whose coordinates

satisfy y = f(x), for all x in the domain of f. The set of ordered pairs (x, y)
may also be represented by (x, f(x)) since y = f(x).

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Knowledge of the standard forms of the special curves discussed in Analytic
Geometry such as lines and conic sections is very helpful in sketching the graph
of a function. Functions other than these curves can be graphed by pointplotting.
To facilitate the graphing of a function, the following steps are suggested:
1. Choose a suitable values of x from the domain of a function and
construct a table of function values y = f(x) from the given values of x.
2. Plot these points (x, y) from the table.
3. Connect the plotted points with a smooth curve.

Example 4.1. Sketch the graph of the following functions:

a) f(x) = x2
e) h(x) = 9 x 2
b) F(x) = 9 x
f) g(x) = 3 + |x + 2|

c) G(x) = x2 + 4

x 2 3x 2
d) h(x) =
x 1

Solution:
a) f(x) = x2

4 if x 2

g) H(x) = 2 if 1 x 2

3 if x 1

3x 2 if x 1
h) f(x) =
2
x if x 1
b) F(x) =

9x

(9,0)

c) G(x) = x2 + 4

d) h(x) =

x 2 3x 2
x 1

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(-1, 1)
(0, 4)

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e) h(x) =

9 x2

f) g(x) = 3 + |x + 2|

(0, 3)

(-3, 0)

(3, 0)

4 if x 2

g) H(x) = 2 if 1 x 2

3 if x 1

(-2, 3)

3x 2 if x 1
h) f(x) =
2
x if x 1

(1, 1)

Example 4.2. Suppose f(x) = x 2 is a function whose graph is given in problem

4.1: a.)What is the value of the function when x = -2?, b.) Find f(1).
Solution:
a) Since (-2, 4) is a point of the graph of f, the y-coordinate 4 must be the
value of f at the x-coordinate 2, that is, f(-2) = 4.
b) To solve f(1), we look at the y-coordinate of the point in the graph where
x = 1. From the figure, we see that (1, 1) is on the graph of f.
Thus, f(1) = 1.
When the graph of a function is given, one can easily determine its domain
and range. Geometrically, the domain and range of a function refer to all the xcoordinate and y-coordinate for which the curve passes, respectively.

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Example 4.3. Determine the domain and range of the function of the following
functions:
a) f(x) = x2
b) F(x) = 9 x

4 if x 2

c) H(x) = 2 if 1 x 2

3 if x 1

d) ) h(x) =

x 2 3x 2
x 1

Solution:
a) The graph of the function f in example 4.1a is a parabola that opens
upward with vertex at (0, 0). From its graph, the x-values are all the real
numbers since the curve increases and decreases infinitely. Hence, its
domain is the interval (-, +). Its y-values increase infinitely starting
from 0, thus, its range is the interval [0, ).
b) From its graph as shown in example 4.1b, its domain is the interval (-,
9] and its range is the interval [0, ).
c) Referring to the graph of H illustrated in example 4.1g, the graph has xvalues which extends from - to + while y-values are only 4, 2 and 3.
Therefore, the domain and range of H is the interval (-, +) and the set
{4, 2, -3}, respectively.
d) The graph of h is shown in example 4.1d. As shown, its graph has a
break at point (-1, -1). This break represents the exception to the
domain and range of h. In other words, its domain and range are both
the interval (-, +) except -1.
Recall that all relations are not functions. A function is one that has a unique
value of the dependent variable for each value of the independent variable in its
domain. Geometrically speaking, this means:
A relation f is said to be a function if and only if, in its graph, each vertical
line cuts or touches the curve at no more than one point. This is called the
vertical line test.

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Example 4.4. Consider the relation defined as {(x, y)|x 2 + y2 = 9}. When
graphed, a circle is formed with center at (0, 0) and having a
radius of 3 units. It is not a function because for any x in the
interval (-3, 3), two ordered pairs have x as their first element. For
example, both (0, 3) and (0, -3) are elements of the relation.
Using the vertical line test, a vertical line when drawn with in 3
x 3 intersects the curve at two points. Refer to the figure below.

(0, 3)

(3, 0)

(-3, 0)

(0, -3)

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EXERCISES:
1. Given the following functions, determine the domain and range, then
sketch the graph:
a) H: y = 4x 3
b) F: y = 1 x
c) G: y = |1 2x|
d) h: y = x2 + 3
e) f: y =

x 2 2x 1
x 1

f) g: y2 = 4 + x2

g) s:

x 1 if x 3
y
2x 1 if x 3

h) F:

3 if x 1

y 1 if 1 x 2
3 if x 2

i) G: y =
j) H: y

4x

( x 2 3 x 4)( x 2 9)
( x 2 x 12)( x 3)

2. The graph of f and g are given:

a) Find the values of f(0) and g(-2).
b) For what values of x is f(x) = g(x)?

G
F

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c) State the domain and range of f.

d) State the domain and range of g.
e) For what values of x is f(x) = 0?
3. The graph of the function f is shown below. Define f(x) piecewise.
(-1,2)

-2

(1,2)

4. Sketch the graph of the signum function sgn(x) and also, the function
sgn(x+2)