Functions and Relations

Goal: Decide whether a relation is a

function and use function notation
 Definitions
Relation - Any set of ordered pairs

Function -A type of relation

where there is exactly one
output for every input. For
every x there is exactly one y.
 x y x y
1 6 1 6
2 7 2 7
Not a Function Function
 y = 2x
x-y chart mapping
xy input output
-2 -4 -2 -4
-1 -2 -1 -2
0 0
00 1 2
12 2 4
24 Function
Determine whether the equation is a function.

y x x y
x y input output x y input output
-2 2 -2 0 2 -2 0 -2
-1 1 -1 1 -1 -1
0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0
1 1 1 1 1 1
2 2
2 2 2 2 2 2

Function Not a Function

 Vertical Line Test - Functions
y y y y

x x x x

Function

y y y y

x x x x
 Vertical Line Test - Functions
y y y y

x x x x

Function Function

y y y y

x x x x
 Vertical Line Test - Functions
y y y y

x x x x

Function Function Not a

Function
y y y y

x x x x
 Vertical Line Test - Functions
y y y y

x x x x

Function Function Not a Function

Function
y y y y

x x x x
 Vertical Line Test - Functions
y y y y

x x x x

Function Function Not a Function

Function
y y y y

x x x x

Not a Function Not a Not a

Function Function Function
Tell whether the relation below is a function.
1) input output 3) y
0
1 x
Not a
5 Function
2 Function
3
2) x y 4) input output
-3 -1 -2 3
-3 0 4
Not a -1 Not a
-3 1 Function 5
0 Function
-3 2 6
 Function Notation
y  2x  3 f (x)  2x  3
when x  1, y  5 f (1)  5
when x  2, y  7 f (2)  7
when x  3, y  9 f (3)  9
when x  4, y 11f (4)  11
f ( 4)  5
 g(x)  x 2
h(x)  3x  2
Evaluate the following.
1) g(4)  16 5) h(4)  g(1) 
10  1  11
2) h( 2)  8 6) h( 5)  g( 2) 
17  4  68
3) g( 3)  9 7) g  h(3)  
g(7)  49
4) h(5)  13 8) h  g(2)  
h(4)  10
Evaluate the function over the domain,
x = -1, x = 0, x = 2.
1) f (x)  4x
{4, 0, 8 }
2) g(x)  3x  9
{12,  9,  3 }
3) h(x)  x  1
2

{ 0,  1, 3 }
Graph the linear function.
f (x)   x  3 f(x)
x f (x)
-3 6
-2 5
-1 4
x
0 3
1 2
2 1
3 0
 Domain and Range
• Suppose, we are given a function from X into Y.

• Recall, for each element x in X there is exactly one

corresponding element y=f(x) in Y.

• This element y=f(x) in Y we call the image of x.

• The domain of a function is the set X. That is a collection

of all possible x-values.

• The range of a function is the set of all images as x varies

throughout the domain.
 Name the Domain and Range
The following set of ordered pairs has a
limited number of points.
Ex:{(2,3),(-1,0),(2,-5),(0,-3)}
Domain:  1, 0, 2 
Range: 5,  3, 0, 3
*If a number occurs more than once, you do
not need to list it more than one time.
 Name the Domain and Range
From a Graph

The set of ordered

pairs may be an
infinite number of
points as described
by a graph.

Domain:{all real numbers}

Range:{y:y≥0}
 Find the Domain and Range
The set of ordered pairs may be an infinite number of points
as described by an equation.
Find the domain and range of y  x5
What limits do we have for x? x - 5 must be a positive
value so x – 5 > 0.
What limits do we have for y? Square roots are always
positive.
Domain:  x : x  5
Range:  y : y  0
 More Examples

• Consider the following relation:

• Is this a function?
• What is domain and range?
Visualizing domain of
Visualizing range of
• Domain = [0, ∞) Range = [0, ∞)
Identify the domain and range.
Identify the domain and range.
 Just a thought…
• Mathematical models that describe real-world
phenomenon must be as accurate as possible.

• We use models to understand the phenomenon and

perhaps to make a predictions about future behavior.

• A good model simplifies reality enough to permit

mathematical calculations but is accurate enough to
provide valuable conclusions.

• Remember, models have limitations. In the end, Mother

Nature has the final say.