RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig

MODULE NO. 2C
Title : LANGUAGE OF FUNCTIONS AND RELATIONS

Definition of Relations, Domain, Range

Definition of Function
Functions and Its Representations
Illustrative Examples of Functions
Relations and Its Representations
Illustrative Examples of Relations

Overview

Our lives are filled with situations in which we encounter relationship between two
sets. For example:
⌲ To each item in a supermarket, there corresponds a price.
⌲ To each automobile, there corresponds a license plate number.
⌲ To each taxpayer, there corresponds a tax identification number.
⌲ To circle there corresponds a circumference.
⌲ To each number there corresponds a square.

An ordered pair is a set of inputs and outputs and represents a relationship

between the two values. A relation is a set of inputs and outputs, and a function is a
relation with one output for each input.
Some relationships make sense and others don’t. Functions are relationships that
make sense. All functions are relations, but not all relations are functions.
There are many real-world situations in which the value of one variable depends
on the value of other variable. A function is a set of ordered pairs that has, at most , one
value for the dependent variable for each value of the independent variable.
A function is a relation that for each input, there is only one output.

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At the end of Module 6 the student shall be able to :

1. Know what relation is and how it is expressed and represented.
2. Show correspondence in a relation
3. Know what a function is, and how it is mapped or expressed and represented.
4. Differentiate relation from a function.
5. Kinds of Functions..
6. Illustrate function graphically.

Topic Presentation

Language of Functions and Relations

Relations and Functions

Let’s start by saying that a relation is simply a set or collection of ordered pairs.
Nothing really special about it. An ordered pair, commonly known as a point, has two
components which are the x and y coordinates.

This is an example of an ordered pair.

Main Ideas and Ways How to Write or Represent Relations

As long as the numbers come in pairs, then that becomes a relation. If you can write a
bunch of points (ordered pairs) then you already know how a relation looks like. For
instance, here we have a relation that has five ordered pairs. Writing this in set
notation using curly braces,

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Relation in set notation:

However, aside from set notation, there are other ways to write this same relation.
We can show it in a table, plot it on the 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠, and express it using a mapping
diagram.

 Relation in table Relation in graph Relation in mapping

diagram

We can also describe the domain and range of a given relation.

Introduction
An ordered pair is a set of inputs and outputs and represents a relationship between
the two values. A relation is a set of inputs and outputs, and a function is a relation
with one output for each input.
What is a Function?
Some relationships make sense and others don’t. Functions are relationships that
make sense. All functions are relations, but not all relations are functions.

A function is a relation that for each input, there is only one output.
Here are mappings of functions. The domain is the input or the x-value,
and the range is the output, or the y-value.

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Each x-value is related to only one y-value.

Although the inputs equal to -1 and 1 have the same

output, this relation is still a function because each input has just one output.

Is the relation expressed in the mapping diagram a function?

What do you think? Does each value in the domain point to a single value in the
range? Absolutely! There’s nothing wrong when four elements coming from the
domain are sharing a common value in the range. This is a great example of a
function as well.

This mapping is not a function. The input for -2 has more than one output.

Messy? Yes! Confusing? Not really. The only thing I am after is to observe if an
element in the domain is being “greedy” by wanting to be paired with more than one
element in the range. The element 15 has two arrows pointing to both 7 and 9. This is
a clear violation of the requirement to be a function. A function is well behaved, that
is, each element in the domain must point to one element in the range. Therefore,
this relation is not a function.

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A single element in the domain is being paired with four elements in the range.
Remember, if an element in the domain is being associated with more than one
element in the range, the relation is automatically disqualified to be a function.
Thus, this relation is absolutely not a function.

Is the mapping diagram a relation, or function?

Let me show you this example to highlight a very important idea
about a function that is usually ignored. Your teacher may give
you something like this just to check if you pay attention to the
details of the definition of a function.
So far it looks normal. But there’s a little problem. The element
“2” in the domain is not being paired with any element in the
range.

Here’s the deal! Every element in the domain must elements in

the range for it to be considered a relation, at least. Since this is
not a relation, it follows that it can’t be a function.

So, the final answer is neither a relation nor a function.

What Makes a Relation a Function?

On the other hand, a function is actually a “special” kind of relation because it follows
an extra rule. Just like a relation, a function is also a set of ordered pairs;
however, every x-value must be associated to only one y-value.

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Graphing Functions

Using inputs and outputs listed in tables, maps, and lists, makes it is easy to plot points on a
coordinate grid. Using a graph of the data points, you can determine if a relation is a function by using
the vertical line test. If you can draw a vertical line through a graph and touch only one point, the relation
is a function.
Take a look at the graph of this relation map. If you were to draw a vertical line through each of the
points on the graph, each line would touch at only one point, so this relation is a function.

Special Functions
Special functions and their equations have recognizable characteristics.

Constant Function Identity Function

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥
The c-value can be any number, so the graph of a For the identity function, the x-value is the same
constant function is a horizontal line. y-value.
The graph is a diagonal line going through the
origin.
Here is the graph of f(x) = 4

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Linear Function Absolute Value Function

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏 𝒇(𝒙) = |𝒙|
An equation written in the slope-intercept form is the The absolute value function is easy to
recognize with its
equation of a linear function, and the graph of the V-shaped graph. The graph is in two
pieces and is one of
function is a straight line. the piecewise functions.
Here is the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 4

This is just a sample of the most common

special functions.

Inverse Functions
An inverse function reverses the inputs with its outputs.
𝑓 (𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 4, 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑦
The inverse of a function is denoted by the symbol of
𝑓 −1 (𝑥)
Change the inputs with the outputs to create the inverse of this function.
Steps:
⇒ interchange the position of 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦
𝑓 (𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 4,
𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 4, ⇒ 𝑥 = 3𝑦 − 4
⇒solve for y 𝑥 + 4 = 3𝑦
𝑥+4
=𝑦
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⇒ change 𝑦 to 𝒇−𝟏 (𝒙),
𝒙+𝟒
the inverse of the function 𝑓 (𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 4, is 𝒇−𝟏 (𝒙) =
𝟑

Function Operations
You can add, subtract, multiply, and divide functions.
𝑓 (𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) = (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥)
𝑓 (𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥) = (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥)
𝑓 (𝑥) ∗ 𝑔(𝑥) = (𝑓 ∗ 𝑔)(𝑥)
𝑓 (𝑥 ) 𝑓
= ( ) (𝑥 )
𝑔 (𝑥 ) 𝑔

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Example:
Let 𝑓 (𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 4
𝑓
Find (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥), (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥), (𝑓𝑔)(𝑥), 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ( ) (𝑥)
𝑔
Solution:
 (𝒇 + 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) + 𝒈(𝒙) (𝒇 − 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒈(𝒙)
= (2𝑥 + 1) + (𝑥 2 − 4) = (2𝑥 + 1) − (𝑥 2 − 4)
= 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 = −𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟓

𝑓 𝒇(𝒙) 𝟐𝒙+𝟏
 (𝒇𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) x 𝒈(𝒙) ( ) (𝑥 ) = =
𝑔 𝒈(𝒙) 𝒙𝟐 −𝟒
2
= (2𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 4)
= 𝟐𝒙𝟑 + 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟖𝒙 − 𝟒

More Examples
1 1
a. 𝑖𝑓 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔(𝑥) = , 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠 (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥)?
𝑥−2 𝑥+2
Solution:
1 1
subtract then: −
𝑥−2 𝑥+2
common denominator:(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)
𝑥+2 𝑥−2
becomes: (𝑥−2)(𝑥+2)
− (𝑥−2)(𝑥+2)
(𝑥+2)−(𝑥−2)
simplify: (𝑥−2)(𝑥+2)
𝑥+2−𝑥+2
simplify: (𝑥−2)(𝑥+2)
𝟒
simplify:
𝒙𝟐 −𝟒

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b. If 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 6 and (𝑥) = , then what is (𝑓𝑔)(𝑥)?
𝑥+3

Solution:

1
(𝑓𝑔)(𝑥) = (𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 6) ( )
𝑥+3

𝑥 2 +𝑥−6 (𝑥−2)(𝑥+3)
= =
𝑥+3 𝑥+3
= (𝒙 − 𝟐 )

c. 𝑓 (𝑥) = (𝑥 − 3)2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔(𝑥) = (5 − 𝑥)2 , what is (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥)?

Solution
(𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 3)2 − (5 − 𝑥)2
= (𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9) − (25 − 10𝑥 + 𝑥 2 )
= 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9 − 25 + 10𝑥 − 𝑥 2
= 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟏

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Another way to combine two functions to create a new function is called

composition of functions. In the composition of functions we substitute an
entire function into another function.
The notation of the function 𝑓 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑔 𝑖𝑠 (𝑓°𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) and is read f of g
of x. It means that whenever there is an x in the function f, it is replaced with
the function g(x). The domain of 𝑓°𝑔 is the set of all x in the domain of g such
that g(x) is in the domain of f.

Example:
a. Let 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 2 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 3. Find 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥))
Solution:
𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 2
= (𝑥 − 3)2
= 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟔𝒙 + 𝟗

b. Let 𝑓 (𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 1 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2. Find 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥))

Solution:
𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑓 (𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 1
= 2(𝑥 + 2) − 1
= 2𝑥 + 4 − 1
= 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑

c. Let 𝑓 (𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 1 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 3

Find 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) and 𝑔(𝑓(𝑥))
Solution:
 𝒇(𝒈(𝒙))𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏
= 3(2𝑥 − 3) + 1
= 6𝑥 − 9 + 1
= 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟖

 𝒈(𝒇(𝒙)) 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑

= 2(3𝑥 + 1) − 3
= 6𝑥 + 2 − 3
= 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟏

𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒇(𝒈(𝒙)) ≠ 𝒈(𝒇(𝒙))

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