Chapter 3:Functions

3.1 Functions
3.2 Graphing Functions
3.3 Operations on Functions; Composition
3.4 Inverse Functions

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3.1: Functions
Definition of a Function:
A function is a correspondence between two sets of elements such
that to each element in the first set there corresponds one and only
one element in the second set.

The domain is always the first set X .

The range is set of all corresponding elements in the second set Y.

Set form of the definition of a function:

A function is a set of ordered pairs with the property that no two
ordered pairs have the same first component and different second
components.

Ordered pairs Function Not a function

{(2, -3), (3, -3), (1, 4), (9, 2)}
{(8, -3), (3, 8), (9, 4), (-2, 2)}
{(1, -1), (4, 8), (9, -1), (3, 2)}
{(1, -1), (-1, 5), (1, -6), (-3, 2)}

The set of all first components in a function is called the domain of

the function and the set of all second components is called the range.

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Functions specified as sets of ordered pairs
Example 1:
Determine whether each set specifies a function. If it does, then
state the domain and range.
A. T = {(1,2), (2,3), (3,4), (4,5), (5,2)}

B. S = {(1,3), (2,5), (3,4), (1,2), (2,4)}

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Determine if an equation defines a function
Example 2:
Determine if each equation defines a function with
independent variable 𝑥.

A. 𝑦 = 𝑥 ! − 4

B. 𝑥 ! + 𝑦 ! = 16

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Finding the domain of a function.
Example 3:
Find the domain of the function defines by the equation:
𝑦 = √𝑥 − 2 assuming 𝑥 is the independent variable.

Example 4:
Find the domain of each following functions. Express the
answer in both set notation and inequality notation.
"#
A. 𝑓(𝑥) =
$%&

B. ℎ(𝑥) = 9 + 2𝑥 − 𝑥 !

'
C. 𝑔(𝑥) =
√$%'

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Evaluating Functions.
Example 4:
"#
A. Find 𝑓(2), 𝑓(𝑐 ) and 𝑓 (2 + 𝑐) for 𝑓(𝑥) =
$%&

B. Find ℎ(3), ℎ(𝑘 ) and ℎ(3 + 𝑘) for ℎ(𝑥) = 9 + 2𝑥 − 𝑥 !

'
C. Find 𝑔(4), 2𝑔(𝑏) and 𝑔(2𝑏) for 𝑔(𝑥) =
√$%'

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3.2: Graphing Functions
Each function is graphed by plotting points. Remember
that f(x)=y thus, f(x) and y can be used interchangeably.

1. constant function is any function of the form f(x)=c,

where c is any real number. Constant functions are
linear and can be written as: f(x)=0x+c. In this form, it is
clear that the slope is 0 and the y-intercept
is (0,c). Evaluating any value for x, such as x = 2, will
result in c.

The graph of a constant function is a horizontal line. The

domain consists of all real numbers ℝ and the range
consists of the single value {c}.

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2. The identity function is any function of the form of ;
f(x)=x. Evaluating any value for x will result in that same
value.

For example, f(0)=0 and f(2)=2.

The identity function is linear, f(x)=1x+0 with

slope m=1 and y-intercept (0, 0).

The domain and range both consist of all real numbers.

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3. The squaring function is any function of the
form f(x)=x , is the function obtained by squaring the
2

values in the domain.

Examples, f(2)=(2) =4 and f(−2)=(−2) =4. The result of

2 2

squaring nonzero values in the domain will always be

positive.

The resulting curved graph is called a parabola. The

domain consists of all real numbers ℝ and the range
consists of all y-values greater than or equal to
zero [0,∞).[0,∞).

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4. The cubing function is any function of the form
of f(x)=x , raises all of the values in the domain to the
3

third power. The results can be either positive, zero, or

negative. Examples, f(1)=(1) =1, f(0)=(0) =0,
3 3

and f(−1)=(−1) =−1.

3

The domain and range both consist of all real

numbers ℝ.ℝ.

Remark:
Note that the constant, identity, squaring, and cubing
functions are all examples of basic polynomial functions.
The next three basic functions are not polynomials.

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5. The absolute value function is any function of the
form of f(x)=|x| is a function where the output
represents the distance to the origin on a number line.
The result of evaluating the absolute value function for
any nonzero value of x will always be positive.
Example, f(−2)=|−2|=2 and f(2)=|2|=2.

The domain of the absolute value function consists of all

real numbers ℝ and the range consists of all y-values
greater than or equal to zero [0,∞).[0,∞).

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6. The square root function is any function of the
form of f(x)=√𝑥, is not defined to be a real number if
the x-values are negative. Therefore, the smallest value
in the domain is zero.

For example, f(0)= √0 = 0 and f(4)= √4 =2.

The domain and range both consist of real numbers

greater than or equal to zero [0,∞).

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Finding the domain and the Intercepts of a function
Example 1:
!"#$
Find the domain , 𝑥 intercept and 𝑦 intercept of 𝑓(𝑥 ) =
%$&!

Finding the domain and the range from a graph

Example 2:
A.Find the domain and range of the function 𝒇 whose graph
is shown below.
B. Find 𝑓 (−4) , 𝑓(0) and 𝑓(2).

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Graphing a linear function
Example 3:
Find the slope and intercepts , and then skitch the graph of the linear
function defined by
3
𝑓(𝑥) = − 𝑥 + 6
2

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 3.3: Operations on Functions; Composition
1. Performing operations on Functions
The sum, difference, product and quotient of the functions; 𝑓 and 𝑔
are the functions defined by:

(𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥 ) = 𝑓 (𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) sum function

(𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥 ) = 𝑓 (𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥) Difference function
(𝑓𝑔)(𝑥 ) = 𝑓(𝑥 )𝑔(𝑥) Product function
𝑓 𝑓 (𝑥 )
: ; (𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0 𝑄𝑢𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑔 𝑔 (𝑥 )

Example:
Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 # − 4.
'
Find the functions 𝑓 + 𝑔, 𝑓 − 𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 and their domains.
(

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 2. The Composition of Two Functions:
A composite function is created when one function is substituted
into another function.

For example, f(g(x)) is the composite function that is formed

when g(x) is substituted for x in f(x).
f(g(x)) is read as “f of g of x”.
f(g(x)) can also be written as (f ∘ g)(x).
In the composition (f ∘ g)(x), the domain of (f ∘ g) is the set of
all 𝑥 ∈ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑓 g, becomes g is in the domain of f .

For example:
Given f(x) = x2 + 6 and g(x) = 2x – 1, find
a) (f ∘ g)(x)
b) (g ∘ f)(x)
Solution:
a) (f ∘ g)(x)
= f(2x – 1)
= (2x – 1)2 + 6
= 4x2 – 4x + 1 + 6
= 4x2 – 4x + 7
b) (g ∘ f)(x)
= g(x2 + 6)
= 2(x2 + 6) – 1
= 2x2 + 12 – 1
= 2x2 + 11

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Example 1: Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 # + 6 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 2𝑥 − 1
Find (𝑓 𝜊 𝑔)(𝑥 ) .

Example 2: Let 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 3𝑥 − 12 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔(𝑥 ) = √𝑥,

a) Find (𝑓 𝜊 𝑔)(𝑥 )

b) Find the domain of 𝑓 𝜊 𝑔

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3.4: Inverse functions
Definition: one-to-one Function
A function is one-to-one if no two ordered pairs in the function
have the same second component and different first components.
Given the following sets of ordered Pairs:
𝑓 = {(0 , 3) , (2 , 0) , (3 , 1) , (−1 , 2)} It is one-to-one Function.
𝑔 = {(1 , 5) , (2 , 0) , (3 , 1) , (−1 , 5)} It is not one-to-one Function.
ℎ = {(0 , 4) , (1 , 5) , (3 , 1) , (−1 , 2)} It is one-to-one Function.
𝑟 = {(1 , 3) , (1 , 7) } It is not a Function.
𝑠 = {(1 , 1) } It is one-to-one Function.

Example 1: Determine whether 𝑓 is one-to-one Function for:

• 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 #
• 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 3𝑥 − 1

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Determining if a function is one-to-one
1. Horizontal Line Test:
A function is one-to-one if and only if every horizontal line
intercepts the graph of the function in at most one point.

2. Using the graph to determine if f is one-to-one

Example 2:
Which of the following graphs is a one-to-one function?
a) b)

D)
c)

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Inverse of a Function
One-to-one Function.
A function f is one-to-one if it never takes the same value twice.
That’s it, 𝑓(𝑥) ) ≠ 𝑓 (𝑥# ) 𝑖𝑓𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑓 (𝑥) ) ≠ (𝑥# )
Examples:
1. f(x) = x is one to one function,
because if x1 ≠ x2, then 𝑓 (𝑥) ) ≠ 𝑓(𝑥# ).

2. g(x) = x 2 is not a one-to-one function,

because g(−1) = g(1).

Graph of a one-to-one function

If f is a one to one function then no two points (x1, y1), (x2, y2)
have the same y-value. Therefore no horizontal line cuts the
graph of the equation y = f(x) more than once.

Example:
Compare the graphs of the above functions

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Inverse function and composition
If 𝒇%𝟏 exists, then
1- 𝑓F𝑓 %" (𝑥)G = 𝑥 for all 𝑥 in the domain of 𝑓 %" .
2- 𝑓 %" F𝑓 (𝑥 )G = 𝑥 for all 𝑥 in the domain of 𝑓.

If 𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒 − 𝑡𝑜 − 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑓𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 :

1. 𝑓F𝑔(𝑥 )G = 𝑥 for all 𝑥 in the domain of 𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑
2. 𝑔F𝑓(𝑥 )G = 𝑥 for all 𝑥 in the domain of 𝑓
Then 𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟

Example 3: Decide if these two functions are inverses.

𝑥+2
𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 3𝑥 − 2 𝑔 (𝑥 ) =
3

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Finding the Inverse of a Function
Step 1. Replace 𝑓 (𝑥) 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑦
Step 2. Interchange 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦
Step 3. Solve for 𝑦
Step 4. Replace 𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑓 ") (𝑥)

Example 4:
Find the following
a) 𝑓 ") 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3

$&#
b) 𝑔") 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑔(𝑥 ) =
!

c) ℎ") 𝑓𝑜𝑟 ℎ(𝑥 ) = √𝑥 − 1

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