Lesson Plan

Subject: Mathematics
Grade: 10
Date: May 2021
Topic: Functions
Reference Material: Textbook (Mathematics: A Complete Course,
Volume 1 by Raymond Toolsie)
Specific Objectives: At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
1. Explain what is meant by the image of 𝑥
2. Calculate the image of 𝑥
3. Identify what makes a function undefined.
4. Find the value of 𝑥 that would make a function undefined.

Image of 𝐱
For a function 𝑓 and any element 𝑥 in the domain of 𝑓, the image of x is
denoted by 𝑓(𝑥), where 𝑥 and 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) are variables. We can use the
function notation to determine the image of 𝑥, i.e., the value of 𝒇(𝒙) for
a given value of 𝒙.

Example: If 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 1, determine the value of 𝑓(−3)

Therefore,

𝑓 (−3) = 2(−3)2 – 3(−3) + 1

= 2(9) + 9 + 1

1
 = 18 + 9 + 1

= 28.

So, to find 𝑓(−3) we replace every occurrence of 𝑥 in the given

function with −3

Example 2: If 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 4𝑥 + 5, evaluate:

i) 𝑔(2)
𝑔(2) = 4(2) + 5
=8+5
= 13

ii) 𝑔(3) + 𝑔(5)

𝑔(3) = 4(3) + 5 𝑔(5) = 4(5) + 5
= 12 + 5 = 20 + 5
= 17 = 25
𝑔(3) + 𝑔(5) = 17 + 25
= 42
4𝑥+3
Example 3: Given that ℎ(𝑥 ) = , Evaluate ℎ(2)
2𝑥+1

4(2) + 3
ℎ(2) =
2(2) + 1
8+3
=
4+1

2
 11
=
5
= 2.2

Sometimes, letters, other than f, are used. The most common are
f, g, and h.

Activity

1. Given that ℎ(𝑥 ) = 2𝑥 2 − 5, Evaluate:

i) ℎ(2)
ii) ℎ(0)
iii) ℎ(−3)
2. Given that 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 3𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 + 3, Evaluate:
i) 𝑓(1)
ii) 𝑓(0)
iii) 𝑓(−2)
2𝑥−2
3. Given that 𝑔(𝑥 ) = , Evaluate:
3𝑥+4

i) 𝑔(2)
ii) 𝑔(−1)
iii) 𝑔(0)

3
 4. Given that 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 7𝑥 − 10, Evaluate:
i) 𝑔(1) + 𝑔(0)
ii) 𝑔(−4) + 𝑔(3)
iii) 𝑔(5) + 𝑔(0)

Undefined Functions

What makes a function undefined?

First recall what mathematically represents undefined. It is when a

4
number is divided by zero. Put in your calculator, what do you get?
0

Error

So, a function is undefined when its denominator is equal to zero.

4𝑥+3
Given that ℎ(𝑥 ) = , what value of 𝑥 would make the function
2𝑥+1

undefined?

That means that the denominator must be equal to zero. Therefore, 2𝑥 +

1 = 0, Now we just solve for 𝑥 and we have our answer.

2𝑥 + 1 = 0

2𝑥 = −1

1
𝑥=−
2
1
Therefore, for the function to be undefined 𝑥 must be −
2

4
Activity
2𝑥−2
1. Given that 𝑔(𝑥 ) = , what value of 𝑥 would make the function
3𝑥+4

undefined?
𝑥−4
2. Given that 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = , If 𝑓(𝑥 )is undefined what is the value of
2𝑥−6

𝑥?