SH1902

Basic Concepts of Functions

I. Definition of Functions
Definition 1.1
A function is a correspondence between two (2) sets of elements such that with each
element in the first set, there corresponds only one (1) element in the second set. The
first set is called the domain, and the set of all corresponding elements in the second set
is called the range.
A function associates each element in the domain with only one (1) element in the
range. This association is called a mapping. An input must only have one (1) output.
However, two (2) inputs can have the same output.
Definition 1.2
The independent variable in a function is the variable that may take any value that is
within the function’s domain. The dependent variable in a function is the variable which
is affected by the changes in the independent variable with respect to the rule set by the
function.
Example 1.2
The equations 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑥 and 10𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 3 are functions. In the first equation, for any
real number 𝑥𝑥, 𝑥𝑥 2 is a unique real number and so is 2𝑥𝑥. Hence, 𝑥𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑥 is a unique
real number. In the second equation, if we will solve for 𝑦𝑦, we will get
𝑥𝑥 3
𝑦𝑦 =
10
and since for any real number 𝑥𝑥, 𝑥𝑥 3 is a unique real number, then the second equation
is a function. However, the equation 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 = 16 is not a function because if you
solve 𝑦𝑦 in terms of 𝑥𝑥,
𝑦𝑦 2 = 16 − 𝑥𝑥 2
𝑦𝑦 = ±�16 − 𝑥𝑥 2
You get two (2) different values: √16 − 𝑥𝑥 2 and −√16 − 𝑥𝑥 2 .

Drawing a vertical line on the graph of an equation is an easy way to determine whether the
equation is a function or not.

𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑥 10𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 3 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 = 16
https://www.desmos.com/calculator

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 SH1902

The Vertical Line Test

An equation defines a function if each vertical line in a rectangular coordinate system
passes through at most one (1) point on the graph of the equation. If any vertical line passes
through two (2) or more points on the graph of an equation, then the equation does not
define a function.

II. Evaluating Functions

To evaluate a function, simply replace its variable with a given number or expression. We call
this process substitution.

Example 2.1
Evaluate 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 2𝑥𝑥 + 1 when 𝑥𝑥 = 3
Solution:
𝑓𝑓(3) = 2(3) + 1 = 6 + 1 = 7

Example 2.2
Evaluate 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) = 3𝑥𝑥 2 − 4 when 𝑥𝑥 = −2
Solution:
𝑔𝑔(−2) = 3(−2)2 − 4
= 3(4) − 4
= 12 − 4
=8

III. Operations on Functions

Let 𝑓𝑓 and 𝑔𝑔 be functions. The four (4) basic operations on functions are:
• Addition: (𝑓𝑓 + 𝑔𝑔)(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) + 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥)
• Subtraction: (𝑓𝑓 − 𝑔𝑔)(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) − 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥)
• Multiplication: (𝑓𝑓 ∙ 𝑔𝑔)(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) ∙ 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥)
𝑓𝑓 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)
• Division: �𝑔𝑔� (𝑥𝑥) = given that 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) ≠ 0
𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥)

Example 3.1:
Given the following functions:
1
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑥𝑥 − 3 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) = ℎ(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑥𝑥 − 2
𝑥𝑥 − 3
Find the following:
a. (𝑓𝑓 + ℎ)(𝑥𝑥)
b. (ℎ − 𝑓𝑓)(𝑥𝑥)
c. (𝑓𝑓 ∙ 𝑔𝑔)(𝑥𝑥)
𝑓𝑓
d. �ℎ� (𝑥𝑥)
Solution:
a. (𝑓𝑓 + ℎ)(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) + ℎ(𝑥𝑥)
= (𝑥𝑥 − 3) + (𝑥𝑥 − 2)

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 SH1902

= 𝑥𝑥 − 3 + 𝑥𝑥 − 2
= 2𝑥𝑥 − 5
b. (ℎ − 𝑓𝑓)(𝑥𝑥) = ℎ(𝑥𝑥) − 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)
= (𝑥𝑥 − 2) − (𝑥𝑥 − 3)
= 𝑥𝑥 − 2 − 𝑥𝑥 + 3
= 𝑥𝑥 − 𝑥𝑥 − 2 + 3
=1
c. (𝑓𝑓 ∙ 𝑔𝑔)(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) ∙ 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥)
1
= (𝑥𝑥 − 3) � �
𝑥𝑥 − 3
𝑥𝑥 − 3
=
𝑥𝑥 − 3
=1
𝑓𝑓 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)
d. �ℎ� (𝑥𝑥) =
ℎ(𝑥𝑥)
𝑥𝑥 − 3
=
𝑥𝑥 − 2

Composition of two (2) functions 𝑓𝑓 and 𝑔𝑔, denoted with the symbol “∘”, is a special operation
wherein one (1) function is applied to the result of another. The operation (𝑔𝑔 ∘ 𝑓𝑓)(𝑥𝑥) is like
evaluating 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) at 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥), that is, (𝑔𝑔 ∘ 𝑓𝑓)(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑔𝑔�𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)�.

Example 3.2
Consider 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 2𝑥𝑥 + 1 and 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) = 3𝑥𝑥 − 1. Find
a. (𝑔𝑔 ∘ 𝑓𝑓)(𝑥𝑥)
b. (𝑓𝑓 ∘ 𝑔𝑔)(𝑥𝑥)

Solution:
a. (𝑔𝑔 ∘ 𝑓𝑓)(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑔𝑔�𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)�
= 𝑔𝑔(2𝑥𝑥 + 1)
= 3(2𝑥𝑥 + 1) − 1
= 6𝑥𝑥 + 3 − 1
= 6𝑥𝑥 + 2
b. (𝑓𝑓 ∘ 𝑔𝑔)(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑓𝑓�𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥)�
= 𝑓𝑓(3𝑥𝑥 − 1)
= 2(3𝑥𝑥 − 1) + 1
= 6𝑥𝑥 − 2 + 1
= 6𝑥𝑥 − 1

References
Introduction to functions. (n.d.). In Math On Web. Retrieved from
http://mathonweb.com/help_ebook/html/functions_6.htm
Hunter, J. (2017). Sets and functions. Retrieved from
https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/~hunter/intro_analysis_pdf/ch1.pdf

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