Business Mathematics

Functions and Graphs

N.M. Aloysius
B. Sc.(Agric.)
Lecturer / Consultant
National Institute of Business Management
 Variables
• Variable x is called independent variable
• Variable y is called dependent variable
• The ordered pair in new notation becomes:
• (x, y)

• Domain: set of all possible input (x) numbers

• Range: set of all output numbers

• For each element x in X there is exactly one

corresponding element y=f(x) in Y
 Functions
A function is a relation in which each element of the
domain is paired with exactly one element of the
range
Another way of saying it is that there is one and only
one output (y) with each input (x)

x y
f(x)

h(x) / g(x)
Domain = [0, ∞) Range = [0, ∞)

Can be written as intervals

 Vertical Line Test (pencil test)

If any vertical line passes through more

than one point of the graph, then that
relation is not a function

Are these functions?

 Given f(x) = 3x - 2, find:
1) f(3)

3 3(3)-2
7
2) f(-2)
 Given h(z) = z2 - 4z + 9

Find h(-3)
 Even and Odd Functions
• Take the function and plug –x in for x, and then simplify

• If you end up with the exact same function that you started
with (that is, if f (–x) = f (x), so all of the signs are the
same), then the function is even

• If you end up with the exact opposite of what you started

with (that is, if f (–x) = –f (x), so all of the signs are
switched), then the function is odd

• In all other cases, the function is "neither even nor odd"

Determine algebraically whether f (x) = –3x2 + 4 is
even, odd, or neither
Determine algebraically whether f (x) = 2x3 – 4x is
even, odd, or neither
Determine algebraically whether f (x) = 2x3 – 3x2 – 4x + 4
is even, odd, or neither
Positive / NegativeRegions
Increasing or Decreasing
The function (graph) is increasing from the
point (-5,-3) to the point (-2,1), which is
described as increasing when -5 < x < -2

It also increases from the point (1,1) to the

point (3,4), described as increasing when 1 <
x<3
The graph shown above is decreasing from
the point (3,4) to the point (5,-5), described as
decreasing when 3 < x < 5.

The graph shown above is constant from

the point (-2,1) to the point (1,1), described
as constant when -2 < x < 1.
Relative Extreme Values
Straight Line Function
Quadratic Functions