Section 1.2 Basics of Functions
Section 1.2 Basics of Functions
Section 1.2 Basics of Functions
2 Basics of Functions
Relations
Domain: { sitting, walking, aerobics, tennis, running, swimming} Range: { 80,325,505,720,790} Do not list 505 twice.
Functions
A relation in which each member of the domain corresponds to exactly one member of the range is a function. Notice that more than one element in the domain can correspond to the same element in the range. Aerobics and tennis both burn 505 calories per hour.
Is this a function? Does each member of the domain correspond to precisely one member of the range? This relation is not a function because there is a member of the domain that corresponds to two members of the range. 505 corresponds to aerobics and tennis.
Functions as Equations
Here is an equation that models paid vacation days each year as a function of years working for the company. y=-0.016x 2 + .93 x + 8.5 The variable x represents years working for a company. The variable y represents the average number of vacation days each year. The variable y is a function of the variable x. For each value of x, there is one and only one value of y. The variable x is called the independent variable because it can be assigned any value from the domain. Thus, x can be assigned any positive integer representing the number of years working for a company. The variable y is called the dependent variable because its value depends on x. Paid vacation days depend on years working for a company.
Not every set of ordered pairs defines a function. Not all equations with the variables x and y define a function. If an equation is solved for y and more than one value of y can be obtained for a given x, then the equation does not define y as a function of x. So the equation is not a function.
x + 4y = 8 x 2 + 2 y = 10 x 2 + y 2 = 16
Function Notation
The special notation f(x), read "f of x" or "f at x" represents the value of the function at the number x. If a function named f, and x represents the independent variable, the notation f(x) corresponds to the y-value for a given x. f(x)=-0.016x 2 + .93 x + 8.5 This is read "f of x equals -0.016x 2 + .93x + 8.5"
We are evaluating the function at 10 when we substitute 10 for x as we see below. f (10) = -0.016 ( 10 ) + .93 ( 10 ) + 8.5
2
() .016 x,T, ,n x 2 + .93 x,T, ,n + .85 Quit this screen by pressing 2nd Mode (Quit).
Press the VARS key. Move the cursor to the right to Y-VARS. Press ENTER on 1. Function. Press ENTER on Y1. Type (10) then ENTER. You will now see the same answer that you saw on the previous screen when you evaluated the equation at x=10.
Graphs of Functions
The graph of a function is the graph of its ordered pairs. First find the ordered pairs, then graph the functions. Graph the functions f(x)=-2x; g(x)=-2x+3
x -2 -1 0 1 2
g(x)
y
f(x)
1 x 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 x 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
y 6
y 6
1
x
1 1
10
1 1
Example Use the vertical line test to identify graphs in which y is a function of x.
y
y 6
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 x 1 9 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
x 10
1 1
10
Example
9 y
2
1 x 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 1
3
7
You can obtain information about a function from its graph. At the right or left of a graph you will find closed dots, open dots or arrows. A closed dot indicates that the graph does not extend beyond this point, and the point belongs to the graph. An open dot indicates that the graph does not extend beyond this point and the point does not belong to the graph. An arrow indicates that the graph extends indefinitely in the direction in which the arrow points.
f (x) =x 2 3x 4 a. Is this a function? b. Find f(4) c. Find f(1) d. For what value of x is f(x)=-4
9 8 7 6
1 1
6
5
5
4
4
3
1
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2
x 10
1 1
Example
y
1 1
Example
6 5
1 x 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 x 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
We can identify x and y intercepts from a function's graph. To find the x-intercepts, look for the points at which the graph crosses the x axis. The y-intercepts are the points where the graph crosses the y axis. The zeros of a function, f, are the x values for which f(x)=0. These are the x intercepts. By definition of a function, for each value of x we can have at most one value for y. What does this mean in terms of intercepts? A function can have more than one x-intercept but at most one y intercept.
Example
1 x 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 x 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Example
y
1 x 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
y 6
Find f(7).
1 1
(d) 2
1 x 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 7 5 7 1 7 1
(b)
(c)
(d)