RELATIONS &

FUNCTIONS
A RELATION is a set of ordered pairs,
usually defined by some sort of rule.
It is a correspondence between two sets
(domain and range) such that each element
of the domain, there is one or more
elements of range.).
 D O M A I N – set of all the first elements
(abscissas) of the ordered pairs (the
permitted x values if graphing the relation).
It is the complete set of all possible values
of the independent variable in the function.
 R A N G E – set of all second elements
(ordinates) of the ordered pairs (the
permitted y values if graphing the relation).
• A FUNCTION is a relation in
which no two distinct ordered
pair have the same first element.
All functions are relation but not
all relations are functions.
 Function
𝟏. {(𝟐, 𝟏), (−𝟑, 𝟒), (𝟓, 𝟎)} (one-to-one correspondence)
𝟐 𝑫 = {𝟐, −𝟑, 𝟓}
−𝟑 −𝟔 𝑹 = {𝟏, 𝟒, 𝟎}
−𝟐 −𝟏
−𝟏 Function
𝟎
𝟎 (one-to-one correspondence)
𝟑
𝟏 𝐃 = {−𝟑, −𝟐, −𝟏, 𝟎, 𝟏}
𝟏𝟓
R = {𝟑, −𝟔, 𝟎, 𝟏𝟓, −𝟏}
𝟑. Function (many-to-one)
𝑫 = {−𝟑, −𝟐, −𝟏, 𝟎, 𝟏}
𝑹 = {−𝟔}

Not a Function (Relation only;

𝟒. one-to-many)
𝑫 = {−𝟑, −𝟐, −𝟏, 𝟎, 𝟏}
𝑹 = {−𝟔, −𝟏, 𝟎, 𝟑, 𝟏𝟓, 𝟎}
 Not a Function (one element
in the domain has no
𝟓. corresponding element in the
range)
𝑫 = {−𝟑, −𝟐, −𝟏, 𝟎, 𝟏}
𝑹 = {−𝟔, −𝟏, 𝟎, 𝟑}
 when given the graph of the relation
Use the VLT (Vertical Line Test),i.e. if every vertical line
intersects the graph no more than once, the graph represents a
function.
when given the equation of the relation:
A relation is NOT A FUNCTION if any of the following conditions is
satisfied:
if y has an even exponent
if y is absent from the equation
if y is enclosed in an absolute values.
if the statement is an inequality
• A vertical line can intersect the graph of a function of 𝒙 at
most once. This observation provides a convenient visual
test, called the VERTICAL LINE TEST, for functions of 𝒙.
That is, a graph in the coordinate plane is the graph of a
function of 𝒙 if and only if no vertical line intersects the
graph at more than one point.
LINEAR FUNCTIONS
Functions Domain & Range Examples
𝑦=5
Constant Function Domain = 𝑥 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅
Domain= 𝑥 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅
𝟏. 𝒚 = 𝒌 Range = 𝑦 𝑦 = 𝑘
Range = 𝑦 𝑦 = 5
𝑦=𝑥
Identity Function Domain = 𝑥 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅
Domain= 𝑥 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅
𝟐. 𝒚 = 𝒙 Range = 𝑦 𝑦 = 𝑥
Range = 𝑦 𝑦 = 𝑥
Linear Function 𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 7
Domain= 𝑥 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅
𝟑. 𝒚 = 𝒎𝒙 + 𝒃, Domain= 𝑥 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅
Range = 𝑦 𝑦 ∈ 𝑅
𝒎≠𝟎 Range = 𝑦 𝑦 ∈ 𝑅
QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
Domain= 𝑥 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 2
Range 𝑎 = 3, 𝑏 = −5, 𝑐 = −2
4𝑎𝑐 − 𝑏2 4 3 −2 − −5 2
4𝑎𝑐 − 𝑏2 4𝑎
=
4 3
𝑦≥ , −49
4𝑎 =
𝒚 = 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄 12
if 𝑎 is positive
=
4𝑎𝑐 − 𝑏 2 Domain= 𝑥 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅
𝑦≤ , Since 𝑎 is positive,
4𝑎 −49
if 𝑎 is negative Range = 𝑦 𝑦 ≥
12
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS
Example:
2𝑥 − 5
𝑦=
𝑥−3
Domain: You have to find the Range: You have to solve for 𝑥 in
restrictions, since division by zero is not terms of 𝑦 and find the restrictions.
defined. 2𝑥 − 5
𝑦=
𝑥−3
2𝑥 − 5 = 𝑥𝑦 − 3𝑦
𝑥−3 ≠0 2𝑥 − 𝑥𝑦 = 5 − 3𝑦
𝑥 2 − 𝑦 = 5 − 3𝑦
5 − 3𝑦
𝑥=  𝑦≠2
∴ 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 = 𝒙 𝒙 ∈ 𝑹; 𝒙 ≠ 𝟑 2−𝑦
∴ 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 = 𝒚 𝒚 ∈ 𝑹; 𝒚 ≠ 𝟐
RADICAL FUNCTIONS
1. 𝑦 = linear function

𝑏 𝑦= 2𝑥 + 5
Domain= 𝑥 𝑥 ≥ − 5
𝑦= 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 𝑎 Domain= 𝑥 𝑥 ≥ −
Range = 𝑦 𝑦 ≥ 0 2
Range = 𝑦 𝑦 ≥ 0

𝑏 𝑦 = − 2𝑥 + 5
Domain= 𝑥 𝑥 ≥ − 5
𝑦 = − 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 𝑎 Domain= 𝑥 𝑥 ≥ −
Range = 𝑦 𝑦 ≤ 0 2
Range = 𝑦 𝑦 ≤ 0
RADICAL FUNCTIONS
2. 𝑦 = quadratic function of the form

Domain= 𝑦 = 𝑥2 − 9
𝑥 𝑥 ≤ −𝑟 or 𝑥 ≥ 𝑟 Domain=
𝑦= 𝑥2 − 𝑟2 Range= 𝑦 𝑦 ≥ 0 𝑥 𝑥 ≤ −3 or 𝑥 ≥ 3
For any constant, 𝑟. Range = 𝑦 𝑦 ≥ 0

Domain= 𝑥 −𝑟 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑟 𝑦 = 9 − 𝑥2
Range = 𝑦 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 𝑟 Domain =
𝑦= 𝑟2 − 𝑥2
For any constant, 𝑟. 𝑥 −3 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3
Range = 𝑦 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 3
ABSOLUTE VALUE FUNCTIONS
𝑦= 𝑥
𝑎=1>0 𝑑=0
Domain= 𝑥 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅
Range = 𝑦 𝑦 ≥ 0
Domain= 𝑥 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅 𝑦=−𝑥
Range= 𝑎 = −1 < 0 𝑑=0
𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 + 𝑑
𝑖𝑓 𝑎 > 0, 𝑦 ≥ 𝑑 Domain= 𝑥 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅
𝑖𝑓 𝑎 < 0, 𝑦 ≤ 𝑑 Range = 𝑦 𝑦 ≤ 0
𝑦 = 4 2𝑥 − 5 + 3
𝑎=4>0 𝑑=3
Domain= 𝑥 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅
Range = 𝑦 𝑦 ≥ 3
The following show the graphs of six basic functions.
The following show the graphs of six basic functions.
FINDING THE DOMAIN & RANGE
Determine if each of the following relations is
EXERCISES: a function. If it is a function, find its domain
and range:
𝟏. 𝐲 = 𝟐𝐱 − 𝟓 𝟔. 𝐲 = 𝟑 𝟏𝟏. 𝐲 = 𝐱 𝐱 + 𝟏
𝟏
𝟐. 𝐲 = 𝟐𝐱 𝟐 − 𝟓 𝟕. 𝐲+𝟐 =𝐱 𝟏𝟐. 𝐲 =
𝟐𝐱 + 𝟏
𝟐𝐱
𝟑. 𝐲 = 𝟓𝐱 𝟖. 𝐲 = 𝟏𝟔 − 𝐱 𝟐 𝟏𝟑. 𝐲 =
𝟑𝐱 − 𝟓
𝟒. 𝐲 = 𝟑𝐱 − 𝟓 + 𝟒 𝟗. 𝐲 = 𝐱 + 𝟏 𝟏𝟒. 𝐲 = − 𝟐𝐱 − 𝟓
𝐱−𝟐
𝟓. 𝐱 = 𝟔 𝟏𝟎. 𝐲 = 𝐱+𝟐 𝟏𝟓. 𝐲 = 𝟐
𝐱 −𝟒
EVALUATING FUNCTIONS
Functions are referred to by the letter name f, but f need not be the
only letter used in function names.
The following are but a few of the notations that may be used to
name a function: 𝒇 (𝒙), 𝒈(𝒙), 𝒉(𝒂), 𝑨(𝒕), ...
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟐 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟒 𝒉 𝒂 = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝟓𝒂 + 𝟒 𝑨 𝒕 = 𝟏𝟔𝒕𝟐 − 𝟒𝒕 − 𝟏
Note: The f (x) notation can be thought of as another way of
representing the y-value in a function, especially when
graphing. The y-axis is even labeled as the f (x) axis, when graphing.

To evaluate a function, simply replace (substitute) the function's

variable with the indicated number or expression.
EVALUATING FUNCTIONS
EXAMPLES:
1. A function is represented
by 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟓.
Find 𝒇 (𝟑).
To find 𝒇(𝟑) , replace
the x-value with 3.
𝒇 𝟑 =𝟐 𝟑 +𝟓
𝒇 (𝟑) = 𝟏𝟏
2. Find the value of
𝑹 𝒗 = 𝒗𝟑 + 𝟑𝒗𝟐 − 𝟓𝒗 − 𝟔
when 𝒗 = −𝟐
Replace the 𝒗 -values with
− 𝟐.
𝑹 −𝟐
= −𝟐 𝟑 + 𝟑 −𝟐 𝟐 − 𝟓 −𝟐 − 𝟔
= −𝟖 + 𝟏𝟐 + 𝟏𝟎 – 𝟔
𝑹(−𝟐) = 𝟖
EVALUATING FUNCTIONS
EXAMPLES:
3. Find the value of 4. Find 𝒇(𝟑𝒉 + 𝟐)
𝒉 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟑 when 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏
when 𝒙 = 𝟒𝒂 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏
𝒇 𝟑𝒉 + 𝟐
𝒉(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟑 = 𝟑𝒉 + 𝟐 𝟐 + 𝟐 𝟑𝒉 + 𝟐 – 𝟏
𝒉 𝟒𝒂 = 𝟐 𝟒𝒂 𝟐 + 𝟔 𝟒𝒂 − 𝟑 = 𝟗𝒉𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒉 + 𝟒 + 𝟔𝒉
𝒉 𝟒𝒂 = 𝟑𝟐𝒂𝟐 + 𝟐𝟒𝒂 − 𝟑 +𝟒– 𝟏
𝒇(𝟑𝒉 + 𝟐) = 𝟗𝒉𝟐 + 𝟏𝟖𝒉 + 𝟕
Let f and g be two functions 𝟏. (𝒇 + 𝒈) (𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) + 𝒈(𝒙)
with overlapping domains. Then
for all x common to both 𝟐. (𝒇 − 𝒈) (𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒈(𝒙)
domains. The sum, difference,
product, and quotient of f and g 𝟑. (𝒇𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) · 𝒈(𝒙)
are defined as follows. 𝒇 𝒇 𝒙
𝟒. 𝒙 = ;𝒈 𝒙 ≠ 𝟎
𝒈 𝒈 𝒙
Illustrative Examples:
•𝒇 (𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 – 𝟏
The composition of the Given 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 2
function f with the function and 𝑔 𝑥 = 4 − 𝑥 2, find
g is 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑔 𝑥 . the following.
The domain of 𝑓 ° 𝑔 is the
set of all x in the domain of 1. 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 𝑥
g such that 𝑔 𝑥 is in the
domain of f. 2. 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓 𝑥
3. 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓 −2
COMPOSITION OF FUNCTIONS
EXAMPLE:
1. Let 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 and 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟐 ,
𝒇
find 𝒇 + 𝒈, 𝒇 − 𝒈, 𝒇 ∙ 𝒈, , 𝒇 ∘ 𝒈, 𝒈 ∘ 𝒇
𝒈
2. Given 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟓 and 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟓
evaluate each of the following
a. 𝒇 −𝟏 b. 𝒈 𝟒 c. 𝒈 𝒈 𝟐
d. 𝒇 𝒈 𝒙 e. 𝒇 ∘ 𝒈 𝟐
EVALUATING FUNCTIONS
EXERCISES:
A. Evaluate the following 4. Given:
functions: 𝒙−𝟏
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐
𝒙 +𝟐
1. If 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟒, find 𝒇(𝟐) Find:
2. Let 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟏, a. 𝒇 𝟎
find 𝒇(−𝟏) and 𝒇(𝟑) b. 𝒇 −𝟏
c. 𝒇 𝟐𝒂
3. 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙, find 𝒇 𝒃 𝟏
and 𝒇(𝒂 − 𝟓) d. 𝒇
𝒙
e. 𝒇(𝒙 + 𝒉)
COMPOSITION OF FUNCTIONS
EXERCISES:
B. Given 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟏, 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝒙 − 𝟓 and
𝒉 𝒙 = 𝟑𝒙, evaluate each of the following:

1. 𝒇 ∘ 𝒈 −𝟏 3. 𝒇∘𝒈∘𝒉 𝟐
2. 𝒈∘𝒉 𝟑 4. 𝒉∘𝒈∘𝒇 𝟎