326 RELATIONS, FUNCTIONS AND SEQUENCES (Chapter 14)

OPENING PROBLEM
A piece of paper measures 30 cm by 21 cm. 30 cm
If squares of equal size are cut from its
corners, the shape remaining can be formed
into an open box. open 21 cm

Things to think about:

1 If 3 cm squares are removed, what is the box’s

a height b length c width d capacity?
2 If 5 cm squares are removed, what is the box’s
a height b length c width d capacity?
3 Does the capacity of the box depend on the size of the squares removed?
4 Is there a formula which allows us to connect the capacity of the box with the side
length x cm of the cut out squares?
5 If such a formula exists, how can it be used to answer questions like:
“What size squares should be removed to create the box of maximum capacity?”

A RELATIONS AND FUNCTIONS

Sue-Ellen wants to send a parcel to a friend. The cost of posting the parcel a fixed distance
will depend on its weight. So, cost is the dependent variable and weight is the independent
variable.
The table alongside shows the costs of posting parcels Postal Charges
of various weights from Sue-Ellen to her friend.
Weight w kg Cost $C
For example, the table shows that it will cost $8:00 to 1 kg 6 w < 2 kg $5:00
post a parcel weighing at least 2 kg but less than 5 kg.
It will therefore cost $8:00 to post a parcel weighing 2 kg 6 w < 5 kg $8:00
2 kg or 3:6 kg or 4:955 kg. 5 kg 6 w < 10 kg $12:00
We can illustrate the postal charges on a graph. 10 kg 6 w < 15 kg $16:00
15 kg 6 w 6 20 kg $20:00
25
cost C ($)
20
An end point that is included has a filled in circle.
15
An end point that is not included has an open circle.
10
5 We can say that there is a relationship between the
weight (kg) variables weight and cost, so the table of costs is an
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 example of a relation.
A relation may be a finite number of ordered pairs, for example f(2, 8), (3, 8), (4, 8),
(5, 12)g, or an infinite number of ordered pairs such as the relation between the variables
weight and cost in the postal charges example above.
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 RELATIONS, FUNCTIONS AND SEQUENCES (Chapter 14) 327

The table of postal charges shows weights of parcels of 1 kg up to and including 20 kg, so
we can write 1 6 w 6 20. This set of possible values of the independent variable is called
the domain of the relation, so in this case the domain is fw j 1 6 w 6 20g.
The costs for posting the parcels are $5, $8, $12, $16 and $20. This set of possible values
of the dependent variable is called the range of the relation, so in this case the range is
f5, 8, 12, 16, 20g.
We will now look at relations and functions more formally.

RELATIONS
A relation is any set of points on the Cartesian plane.

The following are examples of relations: y

3
(1) The set of 8 points represented by the dots is a
relation. x
-3 3
There is no equation connecting the variables x
and y in this case.
-3

(2) The set of all points on and within the illustrated y

square is a relation.
1
It could be specified by
f(x, y) j ¡1 6 x 6 0, 0 6 y 6 1g -1 x

(3) The set of all points on this parabola is a relation. y (3,¡4)

It can be specified by an equation connecting all x
points (x, y) lying on the curve 1 5
y = ¡x2 + 6x ¡ 5. -5

DOMAIN AND RANGE

The domain of a relation is the set of possible values that x may have.
The range of a relation is the set of possible values that y may have.

The domain and range of a relation are often described using interval notation.
For example, consider the line segment from (1, 3) to (5, ¡2):
y The domain consists of all real x such
(1,¡3) that 1 6 x 6 5 and we write this as

fx j 1 6 x 6 5g.
x range
the set of all such that

(5,-2) The range is fy j ¡2 6 y 6 3g.

domain
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328 RELATIONS, FUNCTIONS AND SEQUENCES (Chapter 14)

x For numbers between a and b we write a < x < b.

a b

x For numbers ‘outside’ a and b we write x < a or x > b.

a b

a b
x would be written as a 6 x < b.

A filled in circle indicates the inclusion of the end point. x

An open circle indicates the non-inclusion of that point. a b

In (1) on the previous page, the domain is f¡3, ¡2, ¡1, 1, 2g

and the range is f¡2, ¡1, 0, 1, 2g.
In (2), the domain is fx j ¡1 6 x 6 0g and the range is fy j 0 6 y 6 1g.
In (3), the domain is fx j x 2 R g as x can take any real value, and
the range is fy j y 6 4g as the greatest value of y is 4 and y
values could be very large and negative.
Further examples are:
y
(4) All values of x < 2 are possible.
) the domain is fx j x < 2g. x
All values of y > ¡1 are possible. (2,-1)
) the range is fy j y > ¡1g.
y
(5) x can take any value. y = 12 x2 - 2
) the domain is fx j x 2 R g. x
-2 2
y cannot be < ¡2
) range is fy j y > ¡2g. -2

y
(6) x can take all values except x = 0: y= 3
x
) the domain is fx j x 6= 0g.
y can take all values except y = 0: x
) the range is fy j y 6= 0g.

Example 1 Self Tutor

For each of the following graphs, state the domain and range:
a y b y
(3,¡4)

x
x
(-4,-2)

(4,-4)

a Domain is fx j x 2 R g. b Domain is fx j x > ¡4g.

Range is fy j y 6 4g. Range is fy j y > ¡4g.