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FUNCTIONS.
DEFINITIONS.
A function is a rule that relates how one quantity depends on other quantities.
Whenever a relationship exists between two variables (or quantities) such that for
every value of the first, there is only one corresponding value of the second, then we
say: "he second variable is a function of the first variable."
he first variable is the independent variable (usually x), and the second variable is
the dependent variable (usually y). he independent variable and the dependent
variable are real numbers.
We nor!ally write functions as: f(x) and read this as "function f of x". We can use
other letters for functions. "o!!on ones are g(x) and h(x).
Domain and rane.
he do!ain of a function is the co!plete set of possible values of the independent
variable in the function. #n plain $nglish, this definition !eans: he do!ain of a
%function is the set of all possible x values which will !a&e the function "wor&" and
will output real y'values.
When finding the do!ain, re!e!ber:
he deno!inator (botto!) of a fraction cannot be (ero
he values under a square root sign !ust be positive or (ero
he values inside a logarith! sign !ust be positive
)o!eti!es the context of a real proble! deter!ines the do!ain
y = f(x)
DOMAIN
X
Y
RANGE
he rane of a function is the co!plete set of all possible resultin !alues of the
dependent variable of a function, after we have substituted the values in the do!ain.
#n plain $nglish, the definition !eans: he rane of a function is the possible y
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values of a function that result when we substitute all the possible x'values into the
function.
When finding the rane, re!e!ber:
)ubstitute different x'values into the expression for y to see what is
happening
*a&e sure you loo& for minimum and ma"imum values of y
Dra# a s$etc%&
'()*+ OF ) FUNCTION.
he graph of a function f is the set of all points in the plane of the for! (a, f(a)). )o,
the second coordinate is the i!age of the first one.
+or!ally, the values of the independent variable (generally the x'values) are
placed on the hori(ontal axis, while the values of the dependent variable (generally
the y'values) are placed on the vertical axis.
he x'value, called the a,scissa, is the perpendicular distance of P fro! the y'axis.
he y'value, called the ordinate, is the perpendicular distance of P fro! the x'axis.
he values of x and y together, written as (x, y) are called the co-ordinates of the
point P
Vertical Line Test
A set of points in the plane is the graph of a function if and only if no vertical line
intersects the graph in more than one point.
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E.E/ENT)(0 FUNCTIONS.
1.-.INE)( FUNCTION.
he ter! linear function is so!eti!es used to !ean a first'degree polyno!ial
function of one variable. hese functions are &nown as "linear" because they are
precisely the functions whose graph in the "artesian coordinate plane is a strai%t
line.
)o, the equation of a linear function is 23m"4n, where m is the slope or radient
and n is t%e 2-intercept
he graph of the linear function y,!x-n is a straight line that passes through
the point (.,n), so the y'intercept, n, tells us the point where the line cuts the
y'axis.
! is the gradient or slope and is a !easure of the slant of the line(when ! is
positive the straight line is an increasing function, but when ! is negative then
the straight line is a decreasing function). he slope.
he different values of ! deter!ine the slant of the straight line, when
! is al!ost . then the straight line is al!ost hori(ontal and when ! is a
huge nu!ber then the line is al!ost vertical.
wo parallel lines have the sa!e slope.
/ou can calculate the slope using the following for!ula.
5.- 6U)D()TIC FUNCTION.
#n general, a quadratic function is a
polyno!ial function of the for!
0 a >
he graph of a quadratic function is a parabola
whose axis of sy!!etry is parallel to the y'axis.
A parabola intersects its axis of sy!!etry at a
point called the !erte" of the parabola.
0 a <
he !erte" of a parabola is the place
where it turns, hence, it0s also called the turning point.
he x'coordinate of the vertex is
b
2a
1ow to draw a parabola:
2irstly calculate the vertex.
3eter!ine, if it is possible the points where the function intercepts the
coordinates axes.
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*a&e a chart.
4lot the points.
3raw the parabola.
he !eaning of the coefficients:
a:
#f a5. the parabola opens upward (6).
#f a7. the parabola opens downward ( ).
he coefficient a controls the speed of increase (or decrease) of the quadratic
function fro! the vertex, bigger positive a !a&es the function increase faster and
the graph appear !ore closed, the leading coefficient "a" indicates how "fat" or how
"s&inny" the parabola will be.
b:
he coefficients b and a together control the axis of sy!!etry of the parabola (also
the x'coordinate of the vertex) which is at x , 'b89a.
c:
he coefficient c controls the height of the parabola, !ore specifically, it is the point
where the parabola intercept the y'axis.
7.- FUNCTIONS T()NSFO(/)TIONS.
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8.- *IECE9ISE FUNCTIONS.
A piecewise'defined function (also called a piecewise function) is a function
whose definition changes depending on the value of the independent variable.
2
2 1 0
1 0 4
3 4
x x si x
y si x
x si x
+ +

< <
'

2
1 2
x si x
y
si x

'

>
2
2 1 y x x + +
1 y
3 y x
1 y
y x
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:.- )BSO.UTE ;).UE OF ) FUNCTION.
he absolute value of a real nu!ber is the nu!ber if positive and its opposite if the
nu!ber is negative. #n general the absolute value of a function is
y= f ( x)=
{
f ( x) if f ( x)0
f ( f ) if f ( x) <0
( ) y f x
( ) y f x
<.- IN;E(SE.0 *(O*O(TION). FUNCTIONS.
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heir equation is
k
y
x

.:raphically they are hyperbolas whose assy!ptotes are the

coordinates axes. he functions
ax b
y
cx d
+

+
are also hyperbolas as we can see
dividing.
1
2
3
y
x
+

2 5
3
x
y
x

=.- (OOT FUNCTIONS.

2unction
x y
is continuous and increasing (when x increases, then
x
increases too), the bigger x is, the !ore slowly the increase is and its do!ain
is ;., -<). 2unction
3
x y
is continuous and increasing, its do!ain is
R
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x y
3
x y
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>.- E?*ONENTI). FUNCTIONS.
heir equation is y,a
x
, with =a> a positive nu!ber different to %.
Properties:
a>1 0<a<1
Passes through (0,1) and (1,a)
Domain R
Range (0, )
Continuous
Increasing Decreasing
x-axis is an asymtote (!e"t) x-axis is an asymtote (right)
y,e
x
is very i!portant in !aths.
2
x
y 1
2
x
y
_

,
@.- .O')(IT+/ FUNCTIONS.
a
y Log x
, with =a> a positive nu!ber different to %
Properties
a>1 0<a<1
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Passes through (1,0) and (a,1)
Domain (0, )
Range R
Continuous
Increasing Decreasing
y-axis is a #ertica! asymtote y-axis is a #ertica! asymtote
ln
e
y Log x x Lx
called the natural logarith! function is very i!portant in !aths.
his function is the inverse function of the exponential function
x
y e
.
y Lnx
x
y e
2
y Log x
1
2
y Log x
10.- T(I'ONO/ET(IC FUNCTIONS )ND T+EI( IN;E(SES.
Name
s!al
n"tati"n
D"main "f x f"r real
res!lt
Ran#e
Gra$%
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sine y! sinx All real num"ers #$1%1&
c"sine y! cos x All real num"ers #$1%1&
tan#ent y !tan x
R
{
( 2k+1)

2
; k Z
}
R
Name s!al n"tati"n Definiti"n D"maint Ran#e (ra&ians) Gra$%
arcsine y! arcsinx x!sin y '1 (x( 1 ')*2 (y()*2
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arcc"sine y! arccos x x ! cos y '1 ( x ( 1 (y( )
arctan#ent y ! arctan x +!tany all real num"ers ')*2 ,y,)*2
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Composition of Functions
"2unction "o!position" is applying one function to the results of another:
)] ( [ ) ( x f g x f g
. he notation g f is read as "g circle f", or "g round f", or "g
co!posed with f", "g after f", "g following f", or "g of f".
#n general, this operation is not co!!utative, so
f g
is different to
g f
.
$xa!ples
:iven
5 3 ) ( ) (
2
x x g x x f
then
5 3 ) ( )) ( ( ) )( (
2 2
x x g x f g x f g
andy
2
) 5 3 ( ) 5 3 ( )) ( ( ) )( ( x x f x g f x g f
.
In!erse function.
:iven y,f(x) , the inverse function of f is another one denoted
1
f
such as:
x x f f x x f f

) )( ( ) )( (
1 . 1

.An inverse function goes in the opposite
direction?
@ne function and its inverse have graphs sy!!etric fro! the line y,x.
A function has an inverse if this function is inAective (there arenBt two or !ore
points with the sa!e i!age).
)olve 6sing Algebra
/ou can wor& out the inverse using Algebra. 4ut "y" for "f(x)" and solve for x:
he function: f(x) , 9x-C
4ut "y" for "f(x)": y , 9x-C
)ubtract C fro! both sides: y'C , 9x
3ivide both sides by 9: (y'C)89 , x
)wap sides: x , (y'C)89
)olution (put "f
'%
(y)" for "x") : f
'%
(y) , (y'C)89
his !ethod wor&s well for !ore difficult inverses.
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