Functions: Domain and Operations

Mathematics 100
Institute of Mathematics

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Outline

Functions Domain of Some Functions Operations on Functions

Lecture Exercise

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Functions

"Intuitive" Denition
A function can be thought of as a correspondence from a set X of real numbers x to a set Y of real numbers y , where y is unique for a specic value of x. We say that "y is a function of x", and write this symbolically as y = f (x), (read y equals f of x).

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Functions

Example
The equation y = x2 + 1 denes a function from the set of real numbers to the set of real numbers. x y = f (x) = x2 + 1 4 17 3 10 2 5 1 2

Another way to denote a function is by the rule method which is used to describe a set. The function given above can be denoted by f = {(x, y )

R2 : y = x2 + 1}.

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Functions
The function can be pictured by an arrow diagram.

Remark: Observe that a function can have the same value at two different values of x from X , but each x is assigned to a single element y of Y .

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Functions

Denition
Let X and Y be nonempty sets. A function f from X to Y , denoted f : X Y , is a rule that assigns to each element x X a unique element y Y . The set of all admissible values of x is called the domain of the function, written dom f . The set of all resulting values of y is called the range of the function, written ran f .

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Remarks

A function may be written as y = f (x) where x is called the independent variable while y is the dependent variable. Alternatively, a function f is a set of ordered pairs (x, y ) in which no two distinct ordered pairs have the same rst coordinate. Moreover, (x, y ) f if and only if y = f (x).

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Functions

Example
The equation x + y = 1 denes a function. To see this, we isolate the dependent variable on the left hand side so that y = x + 1 . Note that for any given value of x, there is exactly one value for y .

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Functions

Example
The equation |y | = x + 1 does not dene a function. Observe that (x, y ) = (1, 2) and (x, y ) = (1, 2) both satisfy the given equation. So there are two distinct ordered pairs having the same x-coordinate that satisfy the given equation.

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Functions

Example
Is x2 + y = 3 a function? Solution: It is equivalent to y = x 2 + 3 . Any value of x will give exactly one resulting value of y . Therefore, the given equation denes y as a function of x.

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Functions

Example
Is x2 + y 2 = 4 a function? Solution: Solve for y in terms of x: y= 4 x2 .

So any value of x will correspond to two values of y . Therefore, it is not a function.

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Functions
Example
The equation y =

4 x2 denes a function.

Recall: y denotes the principal square root of 4 x2 , which is unique, whenever it is dened.

Example
The expression y 3x + 2 does not dene a function. Note that the ordered pairs (x, y ) = (1, 5) and (x, y ) = (1, 6) satisfy the given expression.

The examples which do not dene a function are called relations.

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Domain of Some Functions

Polynomial Functions - functions of the form f (x) = an xn + an1 xn1 + . . . + a1 x + a0 , where an , an1 , . . . , a1 , a0 dom f =

R with an = 0 and n is a nonnegative integer

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Domain of Some Functions

Rational Functions - functions of the form f (x) =

h(x) , where h and g are g (x) polynomial functions, and g is not the constant zero function dom f = {x

R : g(x) = 0}

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Domain of Some Functions

Functions involving radicals - functions of the form f (x) = If n is a positive even integer, then dom f = {x If n is a positive odd integer, then dom f = {x

g ( x)

R : g(x) 0}. R : g(x) R}.

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Domain of Some Functions

Example
Consider the function f (x) = x 3. dom f =

R, since f is a polynomial function

Example
Consider the quadratic function dened by g (x) = x2 + 5x + 6. dom g =

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Domain of Some Functions

Example
Find the domain of h(x) =

4 x2 .

Solution: Since h is a radical function with even index, then dom h = {x Solve the inequality: 4 x2 0

R : 4 x2 0}.

(2 x)(2 + x) 0

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Domain of Some Functions

Solution contd.: Table of Signs: (, 2) 3 + (2, 2) 0 + + + (2, +) 3 +

Test number 2x 2+x (2 x)(2 + x)

Note that equality holds when x = 2 or x = 2. Therefore, dom h = [2, 2].

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Domain of Some Functions

Example
Find the domain of f (x) = 4 . x2 9

Solution: Since f is a rational function, dom f = {x

R : x2 9 = 0} = {x R : x = 3} = R \ {3}.

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Domain of Some Functions

Example
Find the domain of g (x) = Solution: Since g is a radical function, dom g = {x |x + 3| 4.

= {x

R : |x + 3| 4 0} R : |x + 3| 4}
x + 3 4 x 7

Next, we solve the inequality |x + 3| 4: x+34 x43 x1 Therefore, dom g = (, 7] [1, +).
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or

Domain of Some Functions

Example
Find the domain of h(x) =

x2

x+2 . 1

Solution: Since h is written as a fraction, we want all values of x for which its denominator is nonzero. At the same time, the numerator must be dened. numerator - always dened for any real number value of x denominator dom h = {x

R : x2 1 = 0} = R \ {1}.

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Operations on Functions

Denition
If f and g are functions, then their sum, denoted by f + g , is the function dened by (f + g )(x) = f (x) + g (x); difference, denoted by f g , is the function dened by (f g )(x) = f (x) g (x); product, denoted by f g , is the function dened by (f g )(x) = f (x) g (x); quotient, denoted by f /g , is the function dened by
f g

(x) =

f (x) g (x) ,

g (x) = 0;

with dom (f + g ) = dom (f g ) = dom (f g ) = dom f dom g, and dom (f /g ) = (dom f dom g ) \ {x : g (x) = 0}.

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Operations on Functions

Let f (x) = 4 x and g (x) = 3 + x. Find the functions f + g , f g , f g and f /g , and nd their respective domains. Solution: (f + g )(x) = f (x) + g (x) = 4x+ 3 + x, (4 x)(3 + x),

Example

(f g )(x) = f (x) g (x) = 4 x 3 + x, (f g )(x) = f (x) g (x) = 4 x 3 + x = f f (x) 4x 4x (x) = = . = g g ( x) 3+x 3+x

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Operations on Functions
Solution contd.: The domains of f and g are: dom f = {x

R : x 4} = (, 4], dom g = {x R : x 3} = [3, +).

The intersection of these domains is (, 4] [3, +) = [3, 4]. Thus, dom (f + g ) = dom (f g ) = dom (f g ) = [3, 4]. Since g (3) = 0, x = 3 must be excluded from the domain of the quotient function. Hence, dom (f /g ) = (3, 4].

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Composition of Two Functions

Denition
If f and g are functions, their composite function, denoted by f g , is dened by (f g )(x) = f (g (x)). The domain of f g is the set of all real numbers x in the domain of g such that g (x) is in the domain of f . That is, dom (f g ) = {x

R : x dom g and g(x) dom f }.

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Composition of Two Functions

Example
Find f g and its domain given f (x) = Solution: We rst state the domains of f and g : dom f = {x

4 x2 and g (x) =

3 x.

R : 4 x2 0} = [2, 2], dom g = {x R : 3 x 0} = (, 3].

= f ( 3 x) = 4 ( 3 x)2 = = 4 (3 x) 1 + x.

Now, let us nd the composition (f g )(x) = f (g (x))

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Composition of Two Functions

Solution contd.: Even though 1 + x is dened for all x 1, we must restrict the domain of f g to those values that are also in the domain of g . Thus, dom (f g ) = {x

R : x 1 and x 3} = [1, 3].

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Composition of Two Functions

Example
1 Given f (x) = |x + 3| 2 and g (x) = . Find the composite functions f g x and g f , and their respective domains.

Solution: Note that dom f = For f g :

R and dom g = (0, +).

(f g )(x) = f (g (x)) = f = = = 1 x

1 +3 2 x 1 +32 x 1+ x x

Thus, dom (f g ) = (0, +).

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Composition of Two Functions

Solution contd.: For g f : (g f )(x) = g (f (x)) = g (|x + 3| 2) 1 = |x + 3| 2

Now, |x + 3| 2 > 0 when x (, 5) (1, +). Since we need f (x) > 0 in order for g (f (x)) to be dened, we have dom(g f ) = (, 5) (1, +).

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Lecture Exercise

Let f (x) =

1 x and g (x) =

x1 . Find the composite function f g x+1

and its domain.

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