Relations and Functions

Relations
A relation is any rule that displays some connection between two (or more) variables.
A relation can be described in terms of a set of ordered pairs given some equation that relates 𝑥 and 𝑦.
{(𝑥, 𝑦): equation relating 𝑥 and 𝑦, restrictions}

Example Example Example Example

{(1, 1), (1, 2), (2, 1), (2, 2) } {(𝑥, 𝑦): 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 1} {(𝑥, 𝑦): 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 1|𝑥 ≥ 0} {(𝑥, 𝑦): 𝑥𝑦 = 1|𝑥 ≠ 0}

Functions
A function is a rule that maps every element in one (or more) set (domain) to exactly one element in
another set (range). More than one element in the domain can map to the same element in the range,
but one element in the domain cannot map to two different elements in the range.

The Vertical Line Test

Tests how many 𝑦-values are have the same 𝑥-value by sliding a vertical line across the entire graph and
checking the number of intersections the graph has with the vertical line at every 𝑥-value.

A graph is a function if for all values Example Example Example Example Example
of 𝑥, the vertical line crosses the
graph at most once.

If any one vertical line crosses the

graph more than once, it is not a
function. Function Function Function Not a function Not a function

Function Notation / Mapping Notation

To map an element of a set, means to take it from one set and match it with an element in another set.

𝑓: 𝑋 → 𝑌, where 𝑓(𝑥) = an expression in terms of 𝑥

The function, named 𝑓, is such that the set domain, 𝑋, is mapped onto the set co-domain, 𝑌, where 𝑓 of 𝑥
is equal to an expression in terms of 𝑥.

Note that 𝑌 is not the range, it is the co-domain. It is the set of values the range can come from.
The co-domain is generally all real numbers for functions of a real variable.

Example Example Example

𝑓: {1, 2, 3} → 𝑁, 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥
The function, 𝑓, is such that
the set {1, 2, 3} is mapped
onto the natural numbers,
where 𝑓 of 𝑥 is equal to two
times 𝑥.
𝑔: [0, 1) → 𝑅, 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 1
ℎ: 𝑅 ∖ {1} → 𝑅, ℎ(𝑥) = ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
𝑥−1
The function, 𝑔, is such that the set The function, ℎ, is such that the set
zero to one, including zero and of all real numbers excluding one is
excluding one, is mapped onto the mapped onto the real numbers,
real numbers, where 𝑔 of 𝑥 is equal where ℎ of 𝑥 is equal to one divided
to two times 𝑥. by 𝑥 minus 1.

Substitution
The notation 𝑓(⬚) allows us to substitute a value, variable, or expression for the variable in the function.

Example
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 1

𝑓(2) = (2) + 2(2) + 1 1 1 1 𝑓(𝑎) = 𝑎 + 2𝑎 + 1

𝑓(−2) = (−2) + 2(−2) + 1 𝑓 ⎯⎯ = ⎯⎯ + 2 ⎯⎯ + 1 𝑓(𝑏 + 3) = (𝑏 + 3) + 2(𝑏 + 3) + 1
2 2 2
  ⎯⎯   ⎯⎯   ⎯⎯
𝑓 √2 = √2 + 2 √2 + 1