LECTURE 1

REVIEW ON FUNCTIONS

1.1 Concepts on Functions

1. A function is a set of ordered pairs of numbers (𝑥, 𝑦) in which no two distinct ordered
pairs have the same first number. The set of all admissible values of 𝑥is called the
domain of the function, and the set of all resulting values of 𝑦 is called the range of the
function.
2. If 𝑓 is a function, then the graph of 𝑓 is the set of all points (𝑥, 𝑦) in 𝑅2 for which (𝑥, 𝑦)
is an ordered pair in 𝑓.
3. The graph of a function can be intersected by a vertical line in at most one point.
4. Given the two functions 𝑓 and 𝑔:

a. their sum, denoted by 𝑓 + 𝑔, is the function defined by (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥 ) = 𝑓 (𝑥 ) +

𝑔 (𝑥 )
b. their difference, denoted by 𝑓 − 𝑔, is the function defined by (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥 ) =
𝑓 (𝑥 ) − 𝑔 (𝑥 )
c. their product, denoted by 𝑓 ⋅ 𝑔, is the function defined by (𝑓 ⋅ 𝑔)(𝑥 ) = 𝑓 (𝑥 ) ⋅
𝑔 (𝑥 )
𝑓 𝑓 𝑓 ( 𝑥)
d. their quotient, denoted by 𝑔, is the function defined by (𝑔) (𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑥) where
𝑔 (𝑥 ) ≠ 0

5. Given the two functions 𝑓 and 𝑔, the composite function, denoted by 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔, is defined
by (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥 ) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥 )) and the domain of 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 is the set of all numbers 𝑥 in the
domain of 𝑔 such that 𝑔(𝑥 ) is in the domain of 𝑓.
6. A function 𝑓 is said to be an even function if for every 𝑥 in the domain of 𝑓, (𝑓 )(−𝑥 ) =
𝑓 (𝑥 ).
7. A function 𝑓 is said to be an odd function if for every 𝑥 in the domain of 𝑓, (𝑓 )(−𝑥 ) =
−𝑓 (𝑥 ).
8. The linear function is a polynomial function of degree 1.
9. The linear function defined by 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 is called the identity function.
10. The quadratic function is a polynomial function of degree 2.
11. The cubic function is a polynomial function of degree 3.
12. If a function can be expressed as the quotient of two polynomial functions, it is called a
rational function.
13. An algebraic function is one formed by a finite number of algebraic operations on the
identity function and a constant function.

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14. Transcendental functions include trigonometric functions, logarithmic functions,
exponential functions and, hyperbolic functions.
15. A piecewise defined function is a function defined by at least two equations, each of
which applies to a different part of the domain. It can take on a variety of forms. The
equations may be all linear, or a combination of functional forms such as constant,
linear, quadratic, cubic, radical and transcendental.
16. The absolute value function is defined by 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = |𝑥 |
17. The greatest integer function is defined by ⟦𝑥 ⟧, which is used to denote the greatest
integer less than or equal to 𝑥 that is ⟦𝑥 ⟧ = 𝑛 𝑖𝑓 𝑛 ≤ 𝑥 < 𝑛 + 1,
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟

Examples

1. Evaluate the following:

3
a. 𝑓(0), 𝑓 (− ), 𝑓(2ℎ), if 𝑓(𝑥) = √25 − 𝑥 2
4
2𝜋
b. 𝑓 ( ), 𝑓(2𝑘𝜋), if 𝑓(𝑥) = cos 2 𝑥 − tan 2𝑥
3
Solution:
3
a. 𝑓(0), 𝑓 (− ), 𝑓(2ℎ), if 𝑓(𝑥) = √25 − 𝑥 2
4

𝑓(𝑥) = √25 − 𝑥 2
𝑓(0) = √25 − 02
𝑓(0) = √25
𝑓(0) = ±5

𝑓(𝑥) = √25 − 𝑥 2
3 3 2
𝑓 (− ) = √25 − (− )
4 4
3 9
𝑓 (− ) = √25 −
4 16

3 400−9
𝑓 (− ) = √
4 16
3 391
𝑓 (− ) = √
4 16
3 √391
𝑓 (− ) = ±
4 4

𝑓(𝑥) = √25 − 𝑥 2
𝑓(2ℎ) = √25 − (2ℎ)2
𝑓(2ℎ) = √25 − 4ℎ2

2𝜋
b. 𝑓 ( ), 𝑓(2𝑘𝜋), if 𝑓(𝑥) = cos 2 𝑥 − tan 2𝑥
3

2
 𝑓(𝑥) = cos 2 𝑥 − tan 2𝑥
2𝜋 2𝜋 2𝜋
𝑓 ( ) = cos 2 ( ) − tan 2 ( )
3 3 3
2𝜋 1 2 4𝜋
𝑓( ) = (− ) − tan ( )
3 2 3
2𝜋 1
𝑓 ( ) = − √3
3 4
2𝜋 1−4√3
𝑓( ) =
3 4

angle 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦) sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 tan 𝜃 cot 𝜃 sec 𝜃 csc 𝜃

2𝜋 1 √3 √3 1 −√3 1 -2 2
120° 𝑜𝑟 (− , ) − −
3 2 2 2 2 √3 √3
4𝜋 1 √3 √3 1 √3 1 2 2
240° 𝑜𝑟 (− , − ) − − −
3 2 2 2 2 √3 √3

𝑓(𝑥) = cos 2 𝑥 − tan 2𝑥

𝑓(2𝑘𝜋) = cos 2 (2𝑘𝜋) − tan 2(2𝑘𝜋)
𝑓(2𝑘𝜋) = (1)2 − tan(4kπ)
𝑓(2𝑘𝜋) = 1 − 0
𝑓(2𝑘𝜋) = 1

angle 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦) sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 tan 𝜃 cot 𝜃 sec 𝜃 csc 𝜃

0° 𝑜𝑟 0 (1, 0) 0 1 0 𝑢𝑛𝑑 1 𝑢𝑛𝑑

3𝑥 𝑔°ℎ−𝑓(2)
2. Given the functions 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 1, 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 , find ,
𝑥 2 −1 𝑓2
Solution:

𝑔°ℎ−𝑓(2)
contains the expression 𝑔°ℎ, 𝑓(2) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓 2 . We will find the value of each before we
𝑓2
𝑔°ℎ−𝑓(2)
substitute to . Doing so, we obtain the following:
𝑓2

3𝑥 2 3𝑥 2
𝑔°ℎ = 𝑔(ℎ) = 𝑔(𝑥 2 ) = (𝑥 2)2 =
−1 𝑥 4 −1

𝑓(2) = √2 + 1 = √3

2 2
(𝑓(𝑥)) = (√𝑥 + 1) = 𝑥 + 1

𝑔°ℎ−𝑓(2)
Substituting the values to , we obtain
𝑓2

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 3𝑥2 3𝑥2−√3(𝑥4 −1)
𝑔°ℎ−𝑓(2) −√3 3𝑥 2 −√3𝑥 4 +√3 3𝑥 2 −√3𝑥 4 +√3
𝑥4 −1 𝑥4 −1
= = = =
𝑓2 𝑥+1 𝑥+1 (𝑥+1)(𝑥 4 −1) 𝑥 5 +𝑥 4 −𝑥−1
3. Find the domain of the variable 𝑥 for which the following equations determine 𝑦 as a real
function of 𝑥.

a. 𝑦 = √4 − 𝑥 2
b. 𝑦 = cot 𝑥
c. 𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔(1 − 2𝑥)

Solution:
a. 𝑦 = √4 − 𝑥 2
Domain: 𝑥 ≤ 2

𝑦 = √4 − 22 = √4 − 4 = 0
𝑦 = √4 − 32 = √4 − 9 = √−5 = 𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑦 = 𝑖√5

b. 𝑦 = cot 𝑥
Domain: 𝑥 ≠ ±𝑘𝜋

𝑘 = 0: cot 0 = 𝑢𝑛𝑑
𝑘 = 1: cot 𝜋 = 𝑢𝑛𝑑
𝑘 = 2: cot 2𝜋 = 𝑢𝑛𝑑

c. 𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔(1 − 2𝑥)
Domain: 𝑥 < 0.5

𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔(1 − 2(0)) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔(1 − 0) = log 1 = 0

1
𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 (1 − 2 ( )) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔(1 − 1) = log 0 = 𝑢𝑛𝑑
2
1 1 1
𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 (1 − 2 ( )) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 (1 − ) = log ( ) = −0.301
4 2 2
𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔(1 − 2(1)) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔(−1) = 𝑢𝑛𝑑

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 Values of the Trigonometric Functions of Special Angles (r=1)

angle 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦) sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 tan 𝜃 cot 𝜃 sec 𝜃 csc 𝜃

𝜋 1 1 2 2
30° 𝑜𝑟 √3 1 √3 √3
6 ( , ) 2
2 2 2 √3 √3
𝜋 1 √3 √3 1 1 2 2
60° 𝑜𝑟 √3
3 ( , ) 2
2 2 2 √3 √3
𝜋 1 1 2 2
45° 𝑜𝑟 √2 √2 √2 √2 or √2 or √2
4 ( , ) √2 √2
2 2 2 2

Values of the Trigonometric Functions of Quadrantal Angles (r=1)

angle 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦) sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 tan 𝜃 cot 𝜃 sec 𝜃 csc 𝜃

0° 𝑜𝑟 0 (1, 0) 0 1 0 𝑢𝑛𝑑 1 𝑢𝑛𝑑

𝜋 (0, 1) 1 0 𝑢𝑛𝑑 0 𝑢𝑛𝑑 1

90° 𝑜𝑟
2

180° 𝑜𝑟 𝜋 (−1,0) 0 -1 0 𝑢𝑛𝑑 -1 𝑢𝑛𝑑

3𝜋 (0, −1) -1 0 𝑢𝑛𝑑 0 𝑢𝑛𝑑 -1

270° 𝑜𝑟
2

−90° 𝑜𝑟
𝜋
−
2