Relations
Relations
Relations
The equation, y= 5x+2, is a relation. A relation is defined as a set of ordered pairs that abides to a
specific rule.
So with the equation, y= 5x+ 2, the specific rule that applies to it is:
When, x = 3
y = 5(3) + 2
y = 15 + 2
y = 17
That is the ordered pair in this case is, x =3 , y = 17 i.e. (3, 17)
Relations can be showed using arrow diagrams. The following arrow diagram shows the relation
between, x and y values for the equation, y = 5x+ 2.
Note: The y values in the arrow diagram above, were obtained by substituting the respective x
values in the equation, y =5x + 2, for x.
Functions
A function is a relation in which each member of the domain (this is the set of x values) is
mapped to only one member of the range (this is the set of y values), that is, a one to one
mapping. A function is also defined in terms of a many to one mapping; this is where more than
one x values in a domain are mapped to only one y value in a range.
And, y = f(x).
Recall the y values are obtained by substituting the domain values for x in the equation.
y = 5(1) + 2
y=7
Relation vs Function
The difference between a function and a relation is that for a function each domain value (x
value) should be matched to one and only one range value (y value), while for a relation the
domain value can be matched to more than one range value. This difference is shown using an
arrow diagram below, for the relation:
y = 2 x, for x = 4, 9, 16
Note: The y values in the arrow diagram above, were obtained by substituting the respective x
values in the equation, y = 2 x, for x.
Linear Functions
Linear functions are those of the form, f(x) = ax + c, where, a and c are integers, and linear
means a straight line.
Therefore, y = ax + c
Therefore, y = ax + c = mx + c
Where, m is the gradient of the line (ratio of the vertical rise over the horizontal run)
Having stated the form of linear functions, below is an example of how to draw linear functions.
Example
Draw the graph of the linear function, f(x) = 3x + 2, for the domain -2 x 2.
Method 1
Substitute the values given for x in the domain (-2, -1, 0, 1, 2), in the function, solving for the
respective f(x)/ y values.
Given, f(x) = 3x + 2
f(-1) = 3(-1) + 2 = -3 + 2 = -1
f(0) = 3(0) + 2 = 0 + 2 = 2
f(1) = 3(1) + 2 = 3 + 2 = 5
f(2) = 3(2) + 2 = 6 + 2 = 8
Therefore, the set of (x, y) values to be plotted and connected in forming the linear function are:
{(-2, -4), (-1, -1), (0, 2), (1, 5), (2, 8)}
Method 2
This method involves finding the x and y intercepts, that is the point at which the graph crosses
the x and y axis. A linear function written in its correct form, that is, f(x) = mx + c, states the y
intercept, c [in (x, y) form is (0, c)]. So, to find the x intercept, substitute 0 for y in the function
and solve for x.
Given, f(x) = 3x + 2
y = 3x + 2
0 = 3x +2 (substituting 0 for y)
3x = -2
x = -2/3 or -0.66
Using the x and y intercepts, (-0.66, 0) and (0, 2), the graph is plotted below.
Quadratic Functions
a is the coefficient of x2
b is the coefficient of x
c is the y intercept
Example
Draw the graph of the quadratic function, f(x) = x2 2x -3, for the domain -2 x 4.
Solution:
The set of (x, y) values to be plotted and connected in forming the graph representing the
quadratic function, parabola (a smooth curve), are found by substituting the values given for x in
the domain (-2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3), in the function, solving for the respective f(x)/ y values.
Given, f(x) = x2 2x 3
Therefore the set of (x, y) values are: {(-2, 5), (-1, 0), (0, -3), (1, -4), (2, -3), (3, 0), (4, 5)}
Please watch the video below to see how the graph is drawn.
Equation of a Line
In this instance, the graph of a line is given and the question requires finding the equation of the
line.
Example
Find the equation of the line above.
Solution:
Recall, c is the y intercept (the point at which the graph crosses the y axis), which is the point (0,
2)
That is, c = 2
Now substituting the (x, y) coordinates of any of the other four points on the graph, along with
the value for c (2) in the equation, solve for m.
That is, using the point (1, 5), substituting 1 for x, 5 for y, and 2 for c
Yields, y = mx + c
5 = m (1) + 2
5=m+2
m=52
m=3
If co-ordinates of two points on the line are given, and the question requires using those points to
find the equation of the line, use one of the methods below.
Example
The points, M (-3, -5) and N (5, 3) lie on a straight line L2 . Find the particular equation of the
line.
Method 1
Substitute the co-ordinates of the points in two different equations, subtracting one equation from
the other in solving for m and c.
y = mx + c
-5 = m (-3) + c
-5 = -3m + c - eq (1)
3 = m (5) + c
3 = 5m + c eq (2)
eq (2) eq (1)
3 (-5) = 5m (-3m) + c c
3 + 5 = 5m + 3m
8 = 8m
m=1
Substituting m = 1 in eq (1)
-5 = -3(1) + c
-5 = -3 + c
c = -5 + 3
c = -2
y = mx + c
y = (1) x + (-2)
y=x2
Method 2
Use the co-ordinates of the two points to find the gradient of the line (m), then using m and one
of the points to substitute in the equation of a line to find c and hence the equation of the line L2 .
Gradient, m = y2 y1/ x2 x1
m = 3 (-5)/ 5 (-3)
m=3+5/5+3
m=8/8
m=1
y = mx + c
3 = 1 (5) + c
3=5+c
c=35
c = -2
y=x2
Substitute the given quantities into the equation of a line, solving for c, and hence the equation of
the line L2.
Given, m = 1
N (5, 3)
Then, y = mx + c
3 = 1(5) + c
3=5+c
c = -2
y=x2
Bar Charts
A Bar chart is a series of rectangular bars of the same width, drawn vertically or horizontally,
with an equal space between them, with the height of each bar being a depiction of the data it is
representing.
Example
The table below lists several models of Blackberry cellular phones and the amount of each that
an electronic store has in stock. Draw a vertical and horizontal bar chart to represent the data.
Blackberry Phones Stock
Amount
Blackberry Curve 8310 75
Blackberry Curve 8320 100
Blackberry Pearl 8100 50
Blackberry Bold 9650 200
Blackberry Bold 9000 150
Blackberry Curve 8520 125
Pie Charts
A Pie chart is a circular diagram divided into sectors, with the size of each sector representing the
magnitude of data it is depicting. Each sector of a pie chart can either be displayed in percentages
(note all sectors must add up to 100%) or as an angle (note all sectors must add up to 360o).
Example
The table below lists some of the most popular football clubs and the number of students at a
given institution that supports each. Use a Pie chart to represent the information given in the
table.
The Pie Chart above depicts each sector as percentages. To calculate the percentages for each
sector use the formula below:
990
% of Chelsea fans = 5%
For Pie charts which depicts each sector as angles, the angles for each sector is found using the
formula below:
990
Note: In most cases the questions set on Pie charts require those drawn depicting sectors in
percentages.
Line Graphs
Line graphs are mostly used in depicting trends, and as such, values are in most cases plotted
against time. A line graph is drawn by connecting a line to consecutive values, with a circle/point
made at each value being depicted.
Example
The table below lists the amount of Toyota motor vehicles produced in the month of April over
the period 2000- 2010.
Histograms
A histogram is quite similar to Bar charts in that they both have rectangular bars. However, with
Histograms the bars can be of different widths, there are no spaces between each (as there is a
standard scale on the horizontal axis i.e 1, 2 etc) and the bars must be vertical. The height of
each bar is equal to the frequency which it represents.
Example
The table below lists the number of goals Chelsea scored in the first 6 matches of the 2009/2010
Barclays English Premier League Season.
Match # 1 2 3 4 5 6
Goals Scored 2 3 2 3 2 3
Frequency Polygon
Note: If drawn over a Histogram, each point on the frequency polygon is the mid-point of the top
of each respective bar.
Example
The table below displays the results of a survey of 70 persons, providing their favourite number
from the list 1-9.
Numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Frequency 0 5 9 14 20 10 7 5 0
Relations, Functions and Graphs Quiz #1
Question 1
(i) x = 4 (iii) y = -5
Solutions:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
Question 2
(ii) f(x) = 6x
Solutions:
(i) Substitute the values given for x in the domain (-1, 0, 1, 2), in the function, solving for the
respective f(x)/y values.
Given, f(x) = 2x + 3
f(-1) = 2(-1) + 3 = -2 + 3 = 1
f(0) = 2(0) + 3 = 0 + 3 = 3
f(1) = 2(1) + 3 = 2 + 3 = 5
f(2) = 2(2) + 3 = 4 + 3 = 7
Therefore, the set of (x, y) values to be plotted and connected in forming the linear function are:
Given, f(x) = 6x
f(-1) = 6(-1) = -6
f(0) = 6(0) = 0
f(1) = 6(1) = 6
f(2) = 6(2) = 12
Therefore, the set of (x, y) values to be plotted and connected in forming the linear function are:
Find the equation of the line which passes through the points A (2, 4) and B (8, 10).
Solution:
y = mx + c
4 = m(2) + c
4 = 2m + c - eq(1)
10 = m(8) + c
10 = 8m + c- eq(2)
eq(2) eq(1)
10 4 = 8m 2m + c c
6 = 6m
m=1
Substituting m = 1 in eq(1)
4 = 2m + c
4 = 2(1) + c
4=2+c
c=42
c=2
Hence the equation of the line passing through points A (2, 4) and B (8, 10) is:
y = mx + c
y = (1)x + (2)
y=x+2
Question 4
The data below are the sizes (to the nearest inch) of the waists of 30 students in a class.
20 21 23 25 26 27
20 21 23 26 26 27
20 22 23 26 26 27
21 22 24 26 27 28
21 22 24 26 27 28
Solutions:
(a)
(b)
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